I knew he would agree to meet with us. But now that he’s here, it’s much harder to actually speak to him than I thought. We’re in a small cafe not too far from where I live. It’s quite a sunny day, so more people are outside, but the cafe is quiet enough. “You have a lot of questions, don’t you?” He says. “Yes. But that’s not entirely why I asked to meet with you,” I reply. “Well. Before we start, you might want to listen to this,” he says, setting his phone down on the table. Logan and I glance at each other at the same time as the audio begins to play. “Shannon Ambrose in my office. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise,” Andy says to her in a quite patronizing tone. “Is it so surprising that I’m here? Don’t worry, I won’t be long.” I glance at Andy, whose staring at me, maybe trying to see how I react to this. “Okay. Why are you here?” Andy’s voice comes through the speakers of his phone again. “I’m here to warn you. Whatever connection you have with Hazel, end it.” “Excuse
She falls into a fit of rage as soon as she’s in the comfort of her home, grabbing the object nearest to her reach and smashing it to the floor. She straightens up and exhales. “I really liked that vase.”She rips off her coat as Linda rushes in to clean up the mess without asking any questions. And she trudges away to her study like a child throwing a tantrum and I follow silently behind her until she’s seated at her desk, pulling at her hair, and breathing heavily against the wooden surface. I roll my eyes, walking over to her and waiting at the other side of the desk for her to calm down. “I want to destroy them all,” she sighs. “I want them dead.”My lips tug into an involuntary smile. “Is that an order?”She looks up at me and frowns. “Of course not!”I roll my eyes again. “I can make him partner with you. All I need is your permission and ten minutes alone with him,” I say. She looks at me again. “Are you going to torture him? Compel him?” She as
This has to be the busiest two weeks of my life. But it’s all done. Logan has been doing so much research, and I’ve been doing so much work that we’ve barely said a word to each other all this time. It’s all worth it, though, because soon we’ll be strong enough to confront Shannon and begin to take back what’s rightfully mine.“Very good, Miss Ambrose,” he says after we’ve gone over everything once more. “You can rest now.”Oddly, hearing this from him is calming. He has kept me on my toes, making sure I remain determined and focused. He has also brought me food and snacks to my study as if he could sense it each time I was hungry. And he has carried me to bed repeatedly instead of letting me drool over my desk all night.I’ve never felt so cared for in my life. He hasn’t slept, though. Or had a proper meal. It must be because of me. Because I haven’t been able to take care of myself and he’s been doing that for me all while preparing to defend me in more ways
I’m sitting in the board room with my shades on because my eyes can’t handle all the brightness today has to offer. I mean, Shannon and I are about to have a showdown. What is the sun so happy about? I'm just cranky and hungover but still. I’m nervous, but not too nervous. I just need this to be done. Whether today is successful or not, I won’t give up.“Why don’t you ask your assistant to get us some coffee before we begin?” Shannon says glancing at Logan.“Get it yourself,” I reply. “Logan isn’t here as my assistant today. He’s here as my lawyer,” I explain.She scoffs. “You have a lawyer as your assistant?”I don’t respond. Instead, I wait for her to call on one of her people to get us the coffee. “If you haven’t already gone through the documents that my client sent to you, you should do so now,” Logan says. “I already did. And they all seem very legitimate. Didn’t know you had a talent for forgery,” she replies.“Yeah, keep going. Have a go at
It’s 9pm. I’m waiting with a name card when she appears, smiling as soon as she spots me and dragging her luggage along. “Miss Reid?” I confirm when she stops in front of me. She smiles brightly. “That’s me.”“I’m Logan. I’ll be at your service for as long as you choose to stay. Feel free to let me know if there’s anything you need.”“Logan…” she repeats, as if trying to memorize it. “Right. Take this then,” she says giving me her suitcase. “It’s exhausting.”I take it. “Of course. Right this way, then.”“How long have you been working for Mr. Park?” she asks once we’re both seated in the car. “Not long.”“How long until we get to the hotel?” she asks after a moment of silence.“I’d say forty minutes, but I sense traffic ahead,” I reply.She reaches into her purse, pulling out a small mirror and checking her face.“I look exhausted.”She doesn’t. Her face looks several years younger than she actually is, suggesting a kind of innocen
Clinging on to every bit of patience I have managed to recharge overnight, I sit with Sydney at the Claire de Lune guests lounge at noon. “Are you sure you want to have the meeting here?” I say, sitting across from her at a small round table.“Yes,” she replies. “Now, let’s get on with it.”Resisting the urge to sigh, I begin.“Any questions?” I ask rounding up and closing the folder.“No. Everything is well understood. And to be honest, I was going to sign the contract with or without your elaboration. But now that I see how desperate he is, sending one of his men to be at my service, I do have one request.”I stare blankly at her, waiting for her to say what it is. She stands.“Come and see me later. At night. And be prepared.”***I return to the hotel to meet with Sydney at night as she instructed. When she opens the door to invite me in, she’s dressed in a pink, silky robe, and a small gold chain peaks from under it just around her neck.She beckons me in and closes the door beh
Of course, Andy is stunned when we show up at his headquarters with Sydney and they have a little chat after which she signs with him and leaves. She seems nice.I wpnder how Logan was able to pull this off overnight. "I have to say I didn't think you would actually follow through but I'm impressed," Andy says as we settle down in his office. "I couldn't allow you to underestimate me. But i want you to consider this a gift. That way we can end our petty rivalry," I reply. He smiles. "You're still trying to get me on your side?" It comes out much more like a statement than a question. I roll my eyes. He needs to be humbled."You're the one that should be working hard to get on my good side now. I know the key to everyone's heart and sooner or later, you will need me."He doesn't object. He knows I'm right. The tables are turning slowly, but surely.After we leave, I am suddenly very conscious of Logan. He's been with me all day, following me like a shadow without saying a word."You'
"Penny for your thoughts."She's been spaced out for so long. I'm guessing it's something completely random. "Are you going to be with me until I die?" She asks. It's just as I thought. "Yes," I reply. "As per the terms of our agreement."She hesitates, but asks the next question anyway. "What if I get married?" she asks. "My husband wouldn't approve." Approve?"Are we going to worry about the approval of men? You and I make unstoppable pair." Also, I don't need the approval of anyone. Except you. "Answer the question," she insists."You can always set boundries with me. You could order me to stay away, or only to do specific tasks that you think your spouse would approve of. But remember, Miss Ambrose. We have a bond. A supernatural bond that makes me feel what you're feeling and drives me to protect you."She spaces out again. But this time, it's different. She seems dazed, lost in whatever she's now thinking and feeling. It's unusual, and I've only seen this happen once before.
He said my name.He called me Hazel. For the first time since I signed the contract. Not calling me by my name was his way of keeping the distance between us. We weren't anything more than business partners. Not even friends.He didn't think about it when he said my name. The way he stood between me and a bullet was also instinctive. Like a natural inclination. Like he couldn't help himself. Even when my orders stated otherwise."Stay down. Don't move. And whatever you do, do not look up."With my head bowed, ears covered, and my eyes screwed shut, I wait.I know he's immortal, but I'm so devastated that he's already been shot that I can't think straight. I'm sobbing, my throat is dry, and I can barely breathe.I need this to be over. When I remove my palms, I know it's not completely silent around me.But the ringing sound in my ears is so loud that I can't hear what he says to me after he removes his jacket from the top of my head and helps me up.In fact, I'm completely out of
Somehow, Annie convinced Hazel to let he spend the night. Hazel must have agreed because she thought we could take care of this little situation in the morning. Well, not anymore. At around 1am, the girl escapes. I decide to let her know. She should know. She wouldn't want the girl to leave on her own even though she's an adult. Plus, she shouldn't live with the memories of what happened yesterday. We can't trust her. I knock on her bedroom door and hear her stir under the sheets. I enter before she tells me to and she switches on her bedside lamp, squinting through the dark room."What time is it?" She groans."I'm sorry to bother you but I thought you should know. The girl is gone.""Annie?" She scrambles out of the sheets, careful not to tamper with her writst. "What do you mean gone?""She sneaked out about five minutes ago.""And you just let her leave?" She scolds. Of course I did. To prove that the girl is stubborn and deserving of what's about to come her way. I couldn't ha
"There she is," Logan says. I lean off the walls of the building behind me and we follow her down the sidewalk. Apparently, she's one of the members of an underground team of hackers that get paid to do all kinds of stuff.She seems young, maybe a teenager. We pick up the pace and circle her, stopping right in front of her. She freezes, staring between us, and then backs away with a nervous laugh."Can I help you?""You're Annie, right? My name is Hazel Ambrose and this is Logan," I say with a smile.Her eyes grow even wider when she recognises me, but she's smart enough not to run."We need to talk," I add. She thinks about it for a while before she says, "okay.""We can talk over lunch," I say turning to lead the way while Logan moves behind her to make sure she doesn't escape.We watch her devour a sandwich and wait patiently. Once she's done, I ask, "are you a member of a group called 'daydream'?""I know who you are and I know what this is about. But I can't tell you anything," s
"You. Give us some privacy.""He's not going anywhere," I say, glaring daggers at her. What on earth makes her think she can walk in here and give orders?"Whetever you have to say, you can say it in front of Logan.""Fine. We'll have this discussion some other time then," she says. Taking the fruit basket from Edwin, she leaves it on the table."You brought this for her, she should have it," she says. He just stands there like a wimp, letting her do little things like that that gives everyone in the room the idea that she has control over him."I'm surprised you can still afford a room like this," she says waving her hand around."I can't believe how insensitive you are. You're not even trying to hide it. You're petty enough to show up here at a time like this when all of this is your fault. Do you really think you can intimidate me?" I say, looking into her eyes. "And you," I turn to Edwin. "Why are you still here.""Edwin and I are on the same team," she informs me. "What? Are yo
I've been forced to rest for the past few days while they run one test after the other to make sure I'm okay. I find this unusual, and I think Logan might be being my being here for so long, but the doctor here has been our family doctor for years and he has known me since I was a child so I guess he's being extra cautious. I like to think it was just one small accident even though I can barely move, to stop myself from raging over the fact that someone tried to kill me.Logan has spent every night here with me since the accident, only leaving me in the afternoons to freshen up and come back. He's also been doing most of my work, running the hotel, investigating my near-death experience and trying to help me regain my credibility.I've earned nothing but pity so far as news has spread of my condition, but I need to get out of here if I'm going to fix things for good before I go out of business.I'm alone in the private ward for only a few hours before the nurse enters with a tray, fo
"Penny for your thoughts."She's been spaced out for so long. I'm guessing it's something completely random. "Are you going to be with me until I die?" She asks. It's just as I thought. "Yes," I reply. "As per the terms of our agreement."She hesitates, but asks the next question anyway. "What if I get married?" she asks. "My husband wouldn't approve." Approve?"Are we going to worry about the approval of men? You and I make unstoppable pair." Also, I don't need the approval of anyone. Except you. "Answer the question," she insists."You can always set boundries with me. You could order me to stay away, or only to do specific tasks that you think your spouse would approve of. But remember, Miss Ambrose. We have a bond. A supernatural bond that makes me feel what you're feeling and drives me to protect you."She spaces out again. But this time, it's different. She seems dazed, lost in whatever she's now thinking and feeling. It's unusual, and I've only seen this happen once before.
Of course, Andy is stunned when we show up at his headquarters with Sydney and they have a little chat after which she signs with him and leaves. She seems nice.I wpnder how Logan was able to pull this off overnight. "I have to say I didn't think you would actually follow through but I'm impressed," Andy says as we settle down in his office. "I couldn't allow you to underestimate me. But i want you to consider this a gift. That way we can end our petty rivalry," I reply. He smiles. "You're still trying to get me on your side?" It comes out much more like a statement than a question. I roll my eyes. He needs to be humbled."You're the one that should be working hard to get on my good side now. I know the key to everyone's heart and sooner or later, you will need me."He doesn't object. He knows I'm right. The tables are turning slowly, but surely.After we leave, I am suddenly very conscious of Logan. He's been with me all day, following me like a shadow without saying a word."You'
Clinging on to every bit of patience I have managed to recharge overnight, I sit with Sydney at the Claire de Lune guests lounge at noon. “Are you sure you want to have the meeting here?” I say, sitting across from her at a small round table.“Yes,” she replies. “Now, let’s get on with it.”Resisting the urge to sigh, I begin.“Any questions?” I ask rounding up and closing the folder.“No. Everything is well understood. And to be honest, I was going to sign the contract with or without your elaboration. But now that I see how desperate he is, sending one of his men to be at my service, I do have one request.”I stare blankly at her, waiting for her to say what it is. She stands.“Come and see me later. At night. And be prepared.”***I return to the hotel to meet with Sydney at night as she instructed. When she opens the door to invite me in, she’s dressed in a pink, silky robe, and a small gold chain peaks from under it just around her neck.She beckons me in and closes the door beh
It’s 9pm. I’m waiting with a name card when she appears, smiling as soon as she spots me and dragging her luggage along. “Miss Reid?” I confirm when she stops in front of me. She smiles brightly. “That’s me.”“I’m Logan. I’ll be at your service for as long as you choose to stay. Feel free to let me know if there’s anything you need.”“Logan…” she repeats, as if trying to memorize it. “Right. Take this then,” she says giving me her suitcase. “It’s exhausting.”I take it. “Of course. Right this way, then.”“How long have you been working for Mr. Park?” she asks once we’re both seated in the car. “Not long.”“How long until we get to the hotel?” she asks after a moment of silence.“I’d say forty minutes, but I sense traffic ahead,” I reply.She reaches into her purse, pulling out a small mirror and checking her face.“I look exhausted.”She doesn’t. Her face looks several years younger than she actually is, suggesting a kind of innocen