Raleigh's POV*Flashback*I left the office feeling strange. My head was spinning, and I couldn’t shake off the weird kiss I had with Logan. It was like my mind and heart were fighting. I didn't want to think about it too much, but I couldn’t help it. What did it mean? Did he like me? Did I like him? I wasn't sure.As I walked home, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message from Mikel, I opened the message and my heart sank. It was a picture of me and Logan kissing!When I got home, I found Mo sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone. She looked up and smiled. “Hey, how was work?”“Not great,” I said, trying to sound normal, but I could feel my voice shake. I sat down next to her. “Mikel sent me a picture. A really bad one.”Mo frowned. “What kind of picture?”I took a dee
Raleigh’s POVI stood in front of Mr. Dunner’s office, my stomach twisting into tight knots. I felt scared, more scared than I’d been in a long time. I wiped my sweaty hands on my skirt and took a deep breath. This was it. This was where I’d find out if I was getting fired. I just knew it had to be about the kiss with Logan. How could it not be?The picture of me and Logan kissing. Mikel had sent it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. What if Mr. Dunner had seen it? What if everyone in the office had seen it? My heart was racing just thinking about all the horrible things they might be saying about me. Would they think I was using Logan to get ahead? I wasn’t, but people love to make up stories.I knocked softly on the door, hoping maybe he wouldn’t hear it. But of course, he did."Come in," Mr. Dunner’s voice called from the other side.I pushed the door open slowly, feeling like my feet were too
Raleigh’s POVMy hands were trembling as I left Mr. Dunner’s office. I kept trying to calm myself down, but my mind was racing. He hadn’t mentioned the picture, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Did he know? Was he waiting for the right moment to bring it up? I felt like a balloon, ready to pop from all the pressure building up inside me.I walked back to my desk, but I couldn’t focus. My thoughts kept jumping back to Mikel. He was the one who had the picture. If Mr. Dunner didn’t know about it yet, maybe Mikel was saving it as a weapon, waiting for the right moment to strike. I glanced across the office at his desk. He was there, looking as smug as ever, typing away on his computer like nothing was wrong.I had to talk to him again. I needed to know what he was planning. If he’d already shown the picture to someone else, I’d be in big trouble. And if he hadn’t yet, I h
Logan’s POVI was sitting at my desk, going over some papers for the new tech launch. It had been a long day, but I wasn’t even close to being done. My head was buried in work when the door to my office swung open without a knock. I didn’t even have to look up to know who it was.“Francesca,” I muttered under my breath.She strolled in like she owned the place, her heels clicking sharply on the floor. I couldn’t believe she was here again. I’d told her a thousand times that I didn’t want to see her anymore, but she never listened.“What are you doing here?” I asked, not bothering to hide my irritation. “I thought I made myself clear.”Francesca didn’t answer right away. Instead, she walked up to my desk and threw something down in front of me. I looked at the paper. It was a picture.A picture of me and Raleigh kissing.My heart stopped for a second. How did
Logan’s POVI sat at my desk, staring at the papers in front of me. My mind was full of thoughts about the kiss with Raleigh. It was a surprise and felt good, but now I was confused. To crown it all, Francesca has threatened to expose that and only God knows what that will do to my business…Geez, things are becoming harder than I expected…How the hell do I handle this now?Suddenly, the door burst open. I looked up, and there was Raleigh, looking furious. Her hair was messy, and her eyes were wide with anger. I felt my heart race. I didn’t know what she was going to say.“What do you want?” I asked, trying to sound cool, but my voice came out a bit shaky.“You!” she shouted. “You’re the reason my life is a mess right now!”I felt my cheeks heat up. “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice quieter now. “It was just a kiss.”&
Raleigh’s POVI sat across from Logan in his office, my notebook on my lap, pen in hand. This was supposed to be an interview, but it didn’t feel like one. We were both trying to act professional, but there was still a lot of tension between us. I didn’t like him, and I knew he didn’t like me either. But I needed to finish this interview if I wanted to get my job back.I cleared my throat and looked at my list of questions. I didn’t even want to be here. After everything that had happened—the kiss, my entire job being in the hands of Mikel… But I had no choice.“So,” I started, trying to keep my voice steady, “tell me about your company. How did you start it?”Logan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn’t look too happy to be answering my questions, but he sighed and began to speak. “I started the company about six years ago. It began
Logan’s POVI sat at my desk, staring at the papers scattered in front of me. My mind was filled with numbers and plans for my next project. I knew I had to face Raleigh sooner or later.I heard a soft knock on the door. I looked up and saw her standing there, looking unsure.“Can I come in?” she asked, her voice shaky.“Yeah, sure,” I replied, trying to sound calm. “I need to talk to you about your article.”Raleigh stepped inside and closed the door. The air felt thick with tension. I didn’t want to deal with this, but I had to. I picked up some papers, pretending to be busy.“I have some questions about your business,” she said, pulling out her notepad. I noticed her hands were trembling a bit.“Okay,” I replied, leaning back in my chair. “Go ahead.”Raleigh began asking questions about my company. “What are your future pl
Logan’s POVI was in my office, looking at my phone. Another message from Francesca. I didn’t want to open it, but I had to.The message was short, but it made my stomach drop.“Tell her to leave, Logan, or I’ll post the picture of you two.”I gripped my phone tight. I didn’t even want Raleigh here, but now I was trapped. If Francesca posted that picture, it would ruin everything. People would see it, and they’d think Raleigh and I were together. They’d believe we were close when really, we couldn’t stand each other. That picture would look like something it wasn’t. It would look like Raleigh and I were a real couple, like there was something between us.Raleigh didn’t even like me. She only wanted this interview for her job. She wanted a promotion, and she thought I was her ticket to getting it. She didn’t care about me as a person; I was just her big interview, her big chance at work. I didn’t know why Francesca even cared. Raleigh didn’t mean anything to me. I could barely tolerate
Logan’s POVThe night of the event had finally arrived, and as I adjusted the cuffs of my suit, I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of excitement and dread. Mason, my closest confidant, leaned against the doorframe, watching me with a smirk.“You clean up nice,” he said, crossing his arms. “Trying to impress anyone tonight?”I gave him a sideways glance. “No one in particular.”“Sure,” he drawled. “And I suppose that extra polish on your shoes was just for the fun of it?”I rolled my eyes and turned back to the mirror. The suit fit perfectly, tailored to precision. The dark navy fabric contrasted sharply with the crisp white shirt underneath. A black bow tie completed the look, simple but elegant.“It’s a business event,” I said, adjusting my tie. &ldquo
Chapter 49Leigh’s POVThe invitation sat on the counter like it was mocking me. Mo had put it there as a reminder after our little talk. The event was tonight, and she was convinced that dragging me out of this apartment would somehow fix everything. I wasn’t so sure.I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My hair was a mess, my eyes were puffy, and my clothes hung on me like they didn’t belong. This wasn’t me. This wasn’t the Leigh who used to brighten a room just by walking into it.I sighed and pulled my hair into a loose ponytail. Mo knocked on my door and poked her head in. “You’re not even dressed yet?” she asked, exasperated.I shrugged. “I’m not sure I’m going.”“Yes, you are,” she said, stepping fully into the room. “I didn’t pressure you into this j
Leigh’s POVDays blended into each other, each one feeling heavier than the last. I couldn’t remember the last time I truly smiled or even felt like myself. All I did was sit on the couch, stare at the TV, and eat whatever junk food was within reach.My mornings had no structure anymore. I used to wake up with purpose—excited to head to work, grab a coffee, and tackle the day’s challenges. Now, I woke up because I had no choice. I’d lie in bed for hours, staring at the ceiling, wondering how my life had unraveled so quickly.“Leigh, do you want breakfast?” Mo’s voice called from the kitchen one morning.“No, thanks,” I muttered, even though my stomach growled. Food didn’t even taste good anymore.I shuffled to the couch, the one place that had become my refuge. I grabbed a bag of chips from the table
Logan’s POVIt had been a week of chaos and unanswered questions, and the city streets offered the only reprieve I could find. Driving through the bustling nightlife in my Benz, I tried to clear my mind. The soft hum of the engine was soothing, but no amount of speed could quiet the storm of thoughts raging inside me. Francesca’s name lingered like a ghost in my head, her voice from our last conversation echoing in my ears.The woman was a master of manipulation, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that she had her fingerprints all over the mess between Leigh and me. Every time I thought I’d left Francesca in the past, she found a way to creep back into my life. And now, with Leigh in the picture, it felt deliberate—like she was trying to dismantle everything I cared about.The streets were alive with energy: neon signs flickered, couples walked arm in arm, and laughter spilled ou
Leigh’s POVI sat on the couch, legs folded under me, staring at the wall like it held all the answers I needed. My head felt heavy, and my chest even more so. Everything was going wrong. The whispers at work, the photos online, the endless judgment. It all pressed down on me like a weight I couldn’t carry anymore.Mo walked into the room, a steaming cup of tea in her hand. She placed it gently on the table in front of me and sat down beside me.“You’ve been sitting there all day,” she said softly, like she was afraid her words might shatter me.I shrugged, still staring at the wall. “What else am I supposed to do, Mo? Pretend everything’s fine? Because it’s not. My life’s falling apart.”Mo reached over and put a hand on my shoulder. “Leigh, I know it feels like that right now, but this isn’t the end. You’ll get through this.”I turned to her, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “How, Mo? How am I supposed to get through this? Everywhere I turn, people are talking about me. At work,
Logan’s POVThe knock on my office door was sharp and impatient. Before I could answer, the door opened, and Mr. Grayson stepped in. His face was red, and his jaw was tight. I knew immediately this wasn’t going to be a friendly visit.“Logan,” he said, slamming the door behind him. “We need to talk. Now.”“Good morning to you too, Mr. Grayson,” I said, forcing a calm tone. I gestured to the chair across from me. “Please, have a seat.”“I won’t be sitting,” he snapped, his voice cold. “Explain this nonsense!”He threw a newspaper onto my desk. I didn’t need to look at it to know what it was about. The headline blared something ridiculous about me being caught with a “secret lover.” The photo of Leigh and me was front and center.I sighed, l
Logan’s POVI stared at the headlines on my phone, my stomach twisting. The photo of Leigh and me was everywhere. The media was having a field day, spinning the narrative as if we were more than an interviewer and her subject. The words burned into my eyes: “Logan Hunt and Mysterious Woman: Secret Affair Exposed?”This wasn’t just unfair—it was cruel. Leigh didn’t ask for this, and now her career might be at risk. All because she had the misfortune of crossing paths with me.I tossed my phone onto the desk and rubbed my temples. My mind raced, trying to figure out who would stoop this low. Only one name stood out. Francesca.She always had a knack for stirring trouble. Ever since we broke up, she’d been bitter, finding ways to remind me she could still cause chaos in my life. I had no proof it was her, but my gut told me she was involved.
Leigh’s POVI kept staring at the comments, my hands shaking. Who would take such a private moment and share it with the world? My stomach twisted as I scrolled through the comments. People were calling me names, questioning my character. Some said I was using Logan for money, others thought I was unfit for my job.I couldn’t stay in the office and wait for anything, I needed to talk to Logan.I got dressed quickly, my heart racing. I just grabbed my bag and headed out the door.The ride to Logan’s office felt like forever. My thoughts were loud, questions circling in my mind. How could he let this happen? Why didn’t he warn me?When I got to his office, I stormed past the receptionist. She tried to stop me, but I wasn’t in the mood. “I need to see Logan,” I said, my voice sharp.She stood up, looking worried. “Ma’am, he’s in a meeting.”“I don’t care,” I snapped, walking straight to his door and pushing it open.Logan was sitting at the head of a long table, his board members around
Logan’s POVThe morning had started out normal, calm. I was just getting ready to head into the office when my phone buzzed. I ignored it, thinking it was probably just a random email or reminder, but then it buzzed again, then again, and again. That was strange.When I finally picked it up, my screen was flooded with notifications—texts, emails, missed calls. I blinked, trying to process what was going on. My heart picked up a bit. Something felt off, but I couldn’t tell what it was yet.I decided to open one of the news alerts to see what was happening. And then I saw it. Right there, on the front page of a popular news site, was a picture of me… and Leigh. We were close, her face right up to mine, and my hand was wrapped around her waist. It was unmistakable; we were kissing. It was the kind of photo that left no room for guessing.For a second, I couldn’t even move. I just stared at the screen, trying to process what I was looking at. How? How could this picture be out there? I di