Chapter 49
Leigh’s POV
The 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
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
Raleigh pov“The blue shirt or the pink.” I held my two options out side by side for my cousin to inspect them. After all, she was the one who worked for a huge fashion brand. As a secretary though, but whatever. A fashion brand was a fashion brand.“The blue shirt says you’re begging for this promotion and the pink says you wish you could get it.” Imogen looked up from her coffee to reply. “So neither?” “Neither. Wear that cute zebra print blouse and the wide legged black pants.”She made a chef’s kiss motion. “You’d look like a boss bitch that knows that promotion is hers.” I gave her a look. “I don’t want to come off as too cocksure.” She rolled her eyes at me, swinging her legs down from the barstool.“You’ve busted your ass for that promotion, it’s yours, you deserve it, and everybody knows that.” She raised one shoulder in a shrug. “There’s nothing cocksure about that.” I took a deep breath. “You’re right. I’m gonna go get dressed. "Oh my God."I can’t believe I’m about to becom
Raleigh pov“Congratulations!” Mo screamed, confetti rained in the air as I stepped into our apartment minutes past five pm on the day that should have been the best day of my life but turned out to be a complete shit show. All thanks to Mikel Summers. She must have registered the look on my face because her smile immediately died off. “Oh no, you didn’t get it. You know what, fuck that job, fuck Mr. Dunner, how could they not see how hard you’ve worked. You should totally sue them. That’d teach them to be unjust assholes.” She growled.I laughed at her fearsome expression. She really was my biggest champion. “Whoa, whoa, put your brakes on. Yes, I didn’t get the promotion, but it has nothing to do with justice.” “You had better not be about to defend whatever made them pass you by.” “I’m not.Can you just let me talk?” I asked in exasperation. “Well, we’re not letting my effort go to waste, that’s for sure.” She said, “Let’s gorge on chocolate cake while you tell me.” “Have I told yo
Raleigh pov It was my third official day working for Sprocks and I was elated. So far, everything had been perfect and if it continued like this, I was going to win this thing by a landmine. Mikel Summers who? Everyone was so nice, the environment was relaxed and productive.The himbo boss wasn't slacking off, he actually showed up to work on time and put on inappropriate outfits regardless. In fact, I seemed to be the odd one at the office. The outfits ranged from loosely formal to completely relaxed, I guessed everybody was taking a book off Mason’s page. It was sweltering and no amount of AC was chasing away the melting heat. In lieu of that, I had decided to fit in better and combat the heat by showing up to work in more casual clothes. Mo had told me it was a good idea and helped me pick out the peach floral playsuit which I paired with brown sandal heels.I looked beautiful and best of all, I now fit the laid back vibes of the office. I walked in with a box of Mo made chocolate
I stormed into the house.How coud that pathetic jerk disrespect me in such a manner?Who does he think he is? Well, he is the co-founder of Sprockers but he had absolutely no right whatsoever to demean me in that manner.I should have given him a slap on the face,or better still, spilled coffee on his shirt! That would have taught him a great lesson.“Calm down babe.”Mo said.“I should have said something terrible that would pierce his heart of stone.”At that moment, the clever things that I would have said that would probably hit him hard badged into my head.“Mason never told me this was what you'd encounter. I'm really sorry.”“No, it's totally not his fault.It's the asshole’s”.“It's his fault.Why didn't he give this Logan of a guy heads-up that you'd be there?”She meant it now.She was in no way feigning concern. I hoped she wouldn't lash out at him.“He wasn't present. Look, I'm done with talking about that fool.How do I go about the project now?I think I'd have to let g
Raleigh povWe had to do the dishes, at least to find a way to pay off the unmerited debt. Before I knew it, a lady walked in with a stack of plates.“You have to clean this too.” She said and gave a stern face and left.“ See where your so-called kindness has led us. Some people aren't just worth it.” I said in anger.“ How long should I keep apologizing?” Mo pleaded.“As long as I wish.” I lashed I felt a splash of water.Where did that come from? I asked myself and realized it was from Mo. She did it again!“ Can you quit being childish now?”“ Not until you've forgiven me.” She retorted and splashed more on me.I picked up the damp sponge and aimed at her dress. She feigned being upset and that's how it began. The kitchen flooded with water and detergent.Abruptly, the door flung open and we didn't hesitate to become statues.“ What the hell happened here?” a lady asked in rage. She was average sized, fairly beautiful with the specs she had on but one could tell she was the clever
Raleigh pocIt was dawn already. I stressed my arms and cracked my knuckles. No, no, no, I'll never try this shit, ever (passing the night in the sitting room;on the ground!). I quickly got up and headed to the kitchen only to see Mason in his boxer shorts. My mouth gaped open. I had seen the forbidden, but to be honest, this dude was damn cute. His muscles were well built, the six packs was…I'll prefer to say no more. Unlike some guys which only have undigested pancakes hanging in there. I had better control myself cause this was someone's man, why the crush?I was quickly snapped of the thought when he gazed at me, then looked back. He was frying pancakes on one side and brewing coffee on the other.“ Good morning,” He said. “ I trust you had a great night. I suppose that question must have been posed to Mo, why me? Anyways, I nodded slightly, forcing a smile on my face. “ What are you preparing?” I asked even when I knew, perhaps I asked to not just look weird.“ Pancakes and cof
Raleigh povFear gripped my soul as I made entry into my office. No one was present. I had to check my time only to discover it was past twelve. There was no Victoria, no Jason nor the piece of trash in human form. Hmph, you know him, of course Mikel.“ Hello?” I said, hoping to get a response from obviously no one.My heart raced now, where could they have gone? I proceeded into looking for Jason first. I ran into the secretary’s palatable office, he wasn't there. Normally, that was where he hung out cause he secretly disclosed to me he had a crush on her, which was enough reason for him to be there, but nope, he wasn't.Wait, I just remembered the receptionist wasn't at her post either, what could be going on, I asked myself. Or could it be a prank? Because I had watched stuff like that on Tik Tok and they turned out to be pranks. Oh my, this wasn't getting funny anymore. I rushed to other offices and found no one. Mr. Dunner’s door which was usually open was not. Something must re
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