“Charlotte’s right,” Cary Ann pipes up from at the end of the table, brandishing her work tablet and drawing Logan’s gaze. It’s been several days since I last saw her, but she looks like she’s had a long night, judging by the bags under her eyes. Her red cashmere sweater and white dress pants look nice on her, though. “There have been several studies done that show pop-up ads only piss off users, and some have actually resulted in lawsuits.”
Logan swivels back around to appraise Harold who’s looking like he’s about to blow steam out of his ears, his face red as a tomato. I feel sorry for the poor guy. And I didn’t mean to embarrass him, but I know I'm right in this.
“Is there anything else you would like to add, Harold?” Logan asks easily, seemingly unaffected.
For a moment, it looks like Harold's going to start yelling at me and branding me the demon bitch from hell, but instead he shakes his head and says, “Thank you for listening, sir.” And he returns to his seat.
Close by, Eva gives me a thumbs up. She thinks I’ve done a good job, but I feel horrible. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, and I’m pretty sure I’ve just made a new enemy. Great.
For the rest of the meeting, several people get up to speak and I do a better job at paying attention, but I catch Logan gazing at me every time I look at him. I spend awhile thinking about what just happened before the meeting and what it all means. A part of me wants to apologize to Logan for how I treated him, and how quick I was to accuse him of being an asshole. Another part of me wants to just quit this job and run away from this stress.
When Logan dismisses the meeting, I grab my briefcase and get up to leave, intending on putting everything behind me, but I freeze when Logan issues a command. “I need a moment to speak with you, Miss Harrison.”
Holy hell. Not again.
Slowly, I lower myself back in my seat, anxiety twisting my stomach. I’m not sure what Logan could want with me, but whatever it is, it can’t be good. Not with what happened earlier.
I sit there, my pulse picking up speed as everyone slowly files out of the room. Eva is one of the last to go and she sends me a flirty wink as if to say, ‘he has the hots for you, girl’ and then she leaves the room and I’m all alone with Logan.
God. If only she knew.
Chapter 18
Logan
I can feel her eyes back on me. She’s back to being lost in thought as the meeting wraps up. She’s so beautiful and intelligent with a poise I admire. Yet I’ve damaged that. That’s what I do, it’s what I’m good at.
I’m not used to giving a fuck. But I brought her close, and I know damn well I’m responsible for that hurt look and distant stare. She doesn’t realize how fucking obvious it is.
Hastings is watching her like a hawk.
They’re going to think I yelled at her or did some fucked up thing to her. And I did.
I didn’t realize it though.
I shouldn’t be pushing this; I should show some fucking restraint. But she’s all worked up and feeling insecure because of me. Not about what’s between us, but over her job. I don’t fucking like that. I didn’t even consider that it would be an issue.
I never considered it because it’s simply not a matter I’ve ever had to worry about.
It’s been bugging the shit out of me since she left my office. I feel like a fucking prick.
This isn’t a good look for me. I really don’t give a fuck about the office, but for a woman I’ve slept with… I don’t like her thinking I was going to hurt her. It makes me uneasy. I need to make this right.
Harold Geist wraps up his presentation. He’s completely deflated now that Charlotte’s corrected him. She didn’t mean to shut him down. She’s right though. It would have been a horrible move. I was at least going to wait for his talk to be done to tell him no. But Charlotte stepping up and telling him outright how his decision would negatively affect sales only proves to me more that I made the right decision.
I don’t want to lose her.
My heart twists in my hollow chest and I’m not sure that I like how strongly I feel toward her. “That’s all for today.” I end the meeting abruptly. “We’ll reassess next week.”
Charlotte’s quick to stand, and I know she’s going to bolt. I’m an asshole for taking advantage of my position, but I call out, “I need a moment to speak with you, Miss Harrison.”
At least this time it’s for her benefit, not mine. I still can’t look her in the eyes. I can feel the gaze of several people in the room, but I ignore them.
I couldn't care less about them and what they think about me.