‘How else would you explain your fascination with me?’ Logan folded his arms and sneered. ‘Your insistence on seeing me less than twenty-four hours after our last meeting is proof enough.’Alessia feigned innocence, her voice laced with amusement. ‘Me? Fixated on you? Don’t flatter yourself, Mr Wilde. Your mercurial temper isn’t exactly a turn-on.’Logan’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in closer. ‘Is that so? Because from where I’m standing, your fixation on me speaks volumes.’Alessia’s cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and defiance. ‘You wish. Don’t get ahead of yourself.’They stared at each other.They thought they were arguing, but to Terence, it sounded so much like flirting, he was half afraid they’d tear off each other’s clothes right there on the doorsteps.The assistant shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat. ‘Um, sorry to interrupt, but I believe we should focus on the matter at hand.’Startled, Logan and Alessia broke eye contact.Alessia nodded. ‘Y
‘Please have a seat, Miss Jansen,’ Terence offered, summoning a secretary. ‘Would you like coffee or tea?’‘No, thanks. I’ll be leaving right after the meeting with Mr Wilde.’ Alessia took a seat on the nearest sofa.With Brayden and Connie in the same building, beverages were the last thing on her mind.‘Let’s go with coffee then,’ Terence suggested.Alessia shook her head. ‘No, let’s stick with tea. I’m not much of a coffee person.’‘All right.’After a brief wait, green tea was brought in.The secretary smiled, serving the tea, and nodded before discreetly leaving.Alessia admired the secretary’s professional attire and demeanour.‘With a dress like that, she probably earns double what I make at BuzzBeat,’ she thought.Terence settled into a chair opposite Alessia. ‘Miss Jansen, what did you wish to discuss on behalf of BuzzBeat?’‘Well, we’re interested in securing a portion of your company’s advertising budget.’ Alessia got straight to the point. ‘As you know, we are a tabloid pa
Connie’s voice remained collected. ‘Brayden, patience is our virtue now. Knowing what we know about Logan Wilde, waiting for five minutes instead of twenty is already a blessing.’Brayden let out a sigh of resignation. ‘Connie, your composure never ceases to amaze me.’‘Well, of the two of us, someone has got to keep a cool head. As Redwood’s CEO, I can’t act any way I please.’‘Connie, dear, I know how much you’ve sacrificed for the company,’ Brayden’s voice was gentle and soothing. ‘But remember, you don’t have to face any of it alone. You still have me.’Then came a long silence.Alessia guessed the lovey-dovey couple were either exchanging a passionate kiss or gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes.Then she heard a hiss of pain from Connie.Brayden’s voice changed to one of concern. ‘Are you okay? What’s wrong, Connie?’Alessia strained to catch every word, pressing her ear against the wall that separated her from the couple in the next room.Connie must have said something, too
Alessia left the Skye Tower and found herself standing on the kerb, waiting to hail a cab.Her mind was filled with all kinds of thoughts.How would she deal with Jeramy, who was bound to fly into a rage when she returned empty-handed?‘Alessia?’Startled, she around to find Brayden Scott stepping out of a car, striding towards her.Seeing him, memories of past pain and betrayal flooded Alessia’s mind.Instinctively, she looked down, relieved to find she was wearing pants today but disappointed when she realised she didn’t have her pepper spray.‘Alessia, what are you doing here?’ Brayden approached, standing in front of her with a mix of curiosity and delight.Glancing at the empty car, Alessia wondered where Connie was.She thought the couple were going shopping together.Something seemed amiss.Remaining silent, Alessia kept a safe distance, taking a step back.Brayden’s expression faltered as he witnessed her caution.Pain flickered in his eyes, overshadowed by a sense of embarras
‘An old friend?’ Logan’s eyes narrowed.Alessia and Brayden Scott knew each other?She never told him that.But then, there were so many things she didn’t tell him, and whatever she did reveal could very well end up being a lie.Logan smiled slyly. ‘I didn’t get a good look at her face, but judging from the view behind, she’s got quite a figure, with long, luscious locks. Must be a stunner, then. I take it that by “old friend,” you really mean “old girlfriend,” huh?’Brayden felt a chill in Mr Wilde’s cold, almost interrogative, stare.He shuffled his feet, suddenly uncomfortable. ‘Mr Wilde, if my wife were to hear this, it would easily lead to an argument.’Logan’s eyes turned steely.He smiled faintly and said, ‘So it’s really an ex-girlfriend, then.’Brayden didn’t attempt to clarify.In Logan’s eyes, Brayden’s silence was an admission.‘Chatting with your ex-girlfriend in your wife’s absence?’ he sneered. ‘I may not be married, but even I know that’s a recipe for disaster. If you
Alessia tried to distract herself with work.But the more she thought about the conversation with Jeramy, the angrier she became.An idea struck her.She abruptly stood up and headed towards the restroom.After five minutes, she returned to her seat, her face blank.Shortly after, a man’s agonised screams echoed from the restroom, resembling the sound of a pig being slaughtered. ‘Aah! Who did this?’The chief editor’s pain-filled cries startled everyone, leaving them shocked and wondering what could be happening to him.Alessia, however, maintained her composure and continued working without flinching.Several male colleagues hurriedly rushed to the restroom to investigate.Lara Morris stepped out of her office, her eyes locked onto Alessia, who sensed the scrutiny but pretended not to notice.A few minutes later, Jeramy Chavez was assisted out of the restroom by two men.His shirt was missing, his hair was damp and his face bore a bruise the size of a grapefruit.The editor demanded
At five thirty p.m., a sleek Bentley sped through the bustling streets, attracting attention from passersby.‘Terence, tell me about Brayden Scott and his wife. What’s the status of their relationship?’ Logan’s low and deep voice cut through the air.Terence, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned back towards Logan. ‘Sir, everyone says they’re a sweet and happy couple,’ he replied with a tinge of uncertainty.Logan’s forehead furrowed.He hadn’t forgotten what he saw hours earlier.If the Scotts’ relationship was so blissful, why was Brayden talking to Alessia and trying to grab her?Logan posed another question. ‘Between Alessia Jansen and Connie Scott, who do you find more beautiful?’Terence blinked, taken aback by the unexpected inquiry.He stole a quick glance at his boss, finding the billionaire’s gaze fixed upon him.Realising he needed to respond, he stammered, ‘Sir, Miss Jansen is more beautiful, I think. Her natural beauty shines even without makeup. Mrs Scott, on the
Alessia, her cheek still stinging, met Logan’s gaze, gratitude flickering in her eyes.She nodded, acknowledging his intervention. ‘Thank you, Mr Wilde.’Logan studied her face intently.After a moment of silent observation, he asked, ‘Does it hurt?’Alessia, who had been trying to maintain a tough facade, was almost undone by those three simple words.She felt a wave of relief wash over her, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.Logan reached out and gently brushed a tear from her cheek.‘Alessia, why didn’t you call me? You have my number,’ he chided softly, his voice filled with a mix of disappointment and worry.Alessia sniffled but said nothing.How could she call him after he so unceremoniously dismissed her from his office earlier that day?Jeramy Chavez, his face contorted with regret, suddenly realised that Alessia was more than just a plaything to Mr Wilde.The gravity of his actions hit him like a ton of bricks, and he found himself sincerely apologising to Alessia. ‘Al