The following week passed in a blur of meetings, deadlines, and the usual grind of work. I purposely did a lot to get Logan out of my mind. It's hard for me to get this person out of my mind. I tried to put Logan Pierce out of my mind, focusing on the work I was running. But no matter how hard I worked or how late I stayed at the office, he kept creeping back into my thoughts. Why can't I get Logan out of my mind? What is wrong with that man? His offer to collaborate lingered, tempting me even as I tried to convince myself that getting involved with someone like him was a bad idea.
But sometimes things are really scary. Logan is not an ordinary person. He's a powerful man and it's really scary to fight him but I don't intend to be afraid of him either. It just makes me think.
By Friday, I was running on caffeine and willpower alone. The office was mostly empty, with only a few stragglers finishing up their work before the weekend. I'm not used to leaving early. Not because of the amount of work, but because I like to lose my mind on things I don't want to think about.
I was buried in emails when my phone buzzed with a new message. I glanced at the screen and felt my heart skip a beat. And this is Logan again. I really don't want him to think that he's the one who makes himself feel this way. What the hell does he want?
"Drinks tonight?"
It was from Logan. Simple, direct, and impossible to ignore. I stared at the message for a long moment, debating whether to reply. After the lunch we’d had, I knew he wasn’t the kind of man to give up easily. And if I was honest with myself, part of me didn’t want him to. Also, I don't want to because once I get involved with him, I know that I too will be in trouble.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair, and typed back: "Where?"
I don't understand myself anymore. I don't want to be with him but I'm also curious.
His response came almost immediately: "There’s a place downtown. I’ll send the address."
I sat back, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. I knew this wasn’t just about drinks. It was about seeing how far we could push the line between business and something more. And that was dangerous territory, especially with someone like Logan.
But I’d made my decision. If I was going to meet him, I needed to be prepared. I finished up my work, shut down my computer, and headed home to change.
An hour later, I found myself standing outside a sleek, understated bar that I’d never noticed before. It was the kind of place you had to know about to find, tucked away on a quiet side street. I pushed open the door and walked in, feeling the cool, dimly lit interior wash over me.
Logan was already there, sitting at the bar with a drink in hand. He looked up as I approached, a small smile playing on his lips. “You came,” he said, his voice low and smooth.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “I was curious.”
He nodded toward the bartender, who promptly poured me a glass of wine without asking for my order. “I had a feeling you might be.”
I took the glass, sipping it slowly as I studied him. There was something different about him tonight—more relaxed, but still with that edge of intensity that seemed to follow him everywhere. “So, what’s this really about, Logan? We both know you don’t just invite people out for drinks for no reason.”
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re right. I don’t. But I meant what I said before. I think we could do something interesting together.”
“Work together, you mean?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Or is this just another test to see if I’ll play along?”
“It’s both,” he admitted, his tone honest. “I like to see how people handle themselves outside of the office. How they react when the stakes aren’t clear. You’re good at what you do, Aliyah. But I want to see how you handle a different kind of challenge.”
I wasn’t sure if I liked where this was going. “And what kind of challenge are we talking about?”
Logan paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “Let’s just say I’m interested in seeing how far you’re willing to go. Not just in business, but in everything.”
I set my glass down, feeling a knot of tension form in my stomach. There it was—that line I knew we were dancing around. He was testing me, seeing if I was willing to blur the boundaries between professional and personal. And if I crossed that line, there was no going back.
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that,” I said, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me.
His eyes darkened, but his expression remained calm. “I’m not asking you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Aliyah. But I think you and I both know there’s more to this than just work.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, the bartender interrupted, placing a small dish of olives and nuts between us. The momentary distraction gave me a chance to collect my thoughts. I wasn’t naive—I knew what Logan was hinting at. But the question was, did I want to play along?
There was a part of me that was tempted. The same part that was tired of the usual routine, of always playing it safe. But there was also a part of me that was wary, knowing that once I let Logan in, I’d be giving up control. And that was something I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
“I’m here for the challenge,” I finally said, meeting his gaze head-on. “But I’m not interested in crossing lines that could get messy. I’m here for work, Logan, not for games.”
Logan held my gaze for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Fair enough. But just know, Aliyah, that sometimes the best work comes from pushing boundaries.”
“I’m aware,” I said, picking up my glass again. “But I set my own boundaries.”
He smiled, a real one this time, not the practiced one I’d seen at the gala. “I can respect that.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking, the conversation shifting away from the tension of our earlier exchange. Logan was surprisingly easy to talk to once we got past the power dynamics. He had stories about the tech world that had me laughing and insights that made me think. It was almost too easy to forget who he was and the complications that came with it.
As the night wore on, I found myself relaxing, letting down my guard just a little. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was just Logan’s presence—confident, but not overbearing. By the time we finished our drinks, I was feeling more comfortable than I had in a long time.
But as we walked out of the bar and into the cool night air, that familiar sense of caution returned. Logan turned to me, his expression unreadable. “Thanks for coming out tonight, Aliyah. I meant what I said—I think we could do some great work together.”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “We’ll see.”
He stepped closer, just enough that I could feel the heat of his body. “I don’t want to complicate things, but I’m not going to pretend I’m not interested in more than just work.”
I swallowed, feeling my heart race. “Logan…”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said, holding up a hand. “I just wanted to put it out there. No pressure, no expectations.”
I looked at him, searching for any sign of insincerity, but there was none. Just Logan, being honest, even if it was complicated. “I appreciate that,” I finally said, my voice softer than I intended.
He nodded, stepping back. “Good night, Aliyah.”
“Good night, Logan.”
As I watched him walk away, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was making a mistake. Getting involved with Logan Pierce was like playing with fire. But as I headed home, I couldn’t deny the thrill that came with it. There was something about him that made me want to take that risk, even if I knew it could burn me in the end.
