Chapter 0195
Dylan hadn’t noticed us yet. He was straightening his tie and adjusting his cuffs. Then he ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his face.
But even if he had yet to see us, we had no way of avoiding him for the rest of the evening, not without it seeming purposeful.
“We should say hi,” I said.
Logan sighed. “I really don’t think that’s a good shit. He’s seen us.”
Dylan had finally glanced in our direction. After initially spotting us, he stared openly, glaring at Logan.
“Now we definitely need to say hi,” I said.
“Fine,” Logan grumbled, not at all pleased about it.
I began walking first, with Logan slightly slower behind me. As we drew near, Dylan turned to face us, but he didn’t make any move himself to close the distance.
“Hello, Dylan,” I said. “It’s good to see you again.” That was the truth. What happened between the three of us was regrettable. I liked Dylan as a friend. My push to date him was an ill–conceived plan borne of heartbreak over Logan. Dylan deserved better than to be second–best.
I needed to apologize better. I missed my friend, and I know Logan did too, even if he was being stubborn about it. Somehow, if they cannot fix their friendship themselves, I would need to conspire some plan to convince them their friendship was worth salvaging.
“Hazel,” Dylan said. For me, a warm smile crossed his lips. I was so pleased to see it and gave him one of my own. That smile froze over, however, when Dylan looked up at Logan, “Logan.”
“Dylan,” Logan greeted coolly. “I see you are still alive.”
“My secretary should have sent over all the paperwork to relieve me as your attorney,” Dylan said. “Odd that I haven’t received any of the signed paperwork in return.”
Logan hadn’t signed the paperwork? I looked up at Logan in confusion. His chilly expression didn’t change.
“An oversight,” Logan said. But had it been? I placed the packet from Dylan’s office on Logan’s desk the day it arrived. Logan had assured me he would take care of it and rejected my offer to assist him. I’d thought it was strange at the time. Usually I would mail all of the outgoing letters and packages.
Because Logan and Dylan had once been good friends, I thought Logan might have wanted to handle it personally. Was his way of handling it to act like it didn’t exist?
Dylan narrowed his eyes somewhat, and yeah, I was suspicious too.
“My grandfather is here tonight,” Logan said, changing the subject.
“Your parents, too,” Dylan added. “They are all already here. I saw them inside.”
“Great.” Logan straightened, as if on instinct.
“Is this the first event where you are presenting Hazel? Dylan asked.
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Chapter 0195
“Almost everyone here has already met me,” I said.
Dylan glanced at me, curiously. “As Logan’s assistant. Not as his –”
“Assistant,” Logan said quickly. He turned his head as a pair of guests entered the ballroom from our left.
Dylan’s glare added a frown.
“Hazel is my assistant tonight,” Logan said.
Dylan glanced at me for confirmation. A touch embarrassed, I shrugged and lowered my head.
“Logan, what the actual hell.
“I don’t need a lecture, Dylan.”
“You obviously do. With our friendship ended, has no one been telling you to your face how much of an asshole you are?”
“Spare me,” Logan said.
Dylan inched forward, coming threateningly close into Logan’s space. “If you truly brought her here as your assistant and not your date, then you are working on losing her.”
“He won’t lose me,” I said, even as my heart ached.
Neither man seemed to pay me much attention, too busy glowering at one another.
“She is my wife,” Logan said.
“Then you should act like she is,” Dylan snapped. “Whatever game this is? It will not last
“I know what I’m doing.” I tried to say.
Again, both ignored me.
“I know it won’t,” Logan said. “But this is between Hazel and me. She doesn’t need you to champion her against me.”
most of them from research, as well as from television and news reports. Many of the Hatfield Supply board members were also present.
I recognized Logan’s parents in a far off corner. Logan was giving them a wide berth. His grandfather, too, was closer to where a stage and podium had been erected for speeches. Logan avoided him too.
Instead, Logan stopped among a crowd of other CEO’s, as well as a couple of board members. They were, ordering drinks from a waitress. Things seemed well enough, until she walked away.
“Such a brainless job,” said a CEO. “Someday soon, well replace all these mindless jobs with robots.”
My nerves instantly prickled, but I forced myself to be calm. I knew before coming here how stuffy and pretentious these high society types could be. Logan was depending on me to be his dutiful assistant. If I spoke out of turn, I would embarrass him.
“That day can’t come soon enough,” said another CEO. Those types shouldn’t be allowed in this room with us, rubbing elbows with those worth so much more than them.”
“It makes me feel dirty,” chimed in his pretty, young wife. She made a show of dusting off her sleeves and everyone laughed.
If the waitress’s presence upset them, I could only imagine that I was also making them uncomfortable.
Good.
“You aren’t helping matters, Logan,” one of the board said. “Why bring Hazel here? Why dress her up like a doll, when she is only your assistant?”
“Oh? I assumed she was someone important,” said the wife. “Now I feel unclean, Darling. Surely you can have that girl removed?”
I think not,” Logan said. “My assistant is paramount to my company’s success.
“A charming sentiment, Logan,” said the board member. “But this is a party, not some networking event.”
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Chapter 0196
“If you don’t see every event as a chance to network, then you are missing many opportunities, Sir,” Logan said.
The board member sneered, but the rest of the group seemed content with that response. They turned the conversation to other matters up until the moment the waitress returned with the drinks.
“Why are you working this event?” the snotty wife asked her. “Do you think you can bat your eyelashes and these old, rich men will slip money into your ratty pockets?”
A few of the group laughed.
I seethed.
“This is my job, ma’am,” the waitress replied with a stilted, customer service smile.
“A shame you can’t aspire for something greater,” said one of the CEO’s. “Instead you are here, cleaning up after this group. Although, perhaps this as close to success as you can ever hope to achieve.” That was it.
Logan glanced at me, a warning in his eyes. But I’d had more for this poor woman just doing her job, then I was going to.
than enough. If he wasn’t going to stand up
I stepped up to Mr. Better Than Everyone CEO and his snotty wife and said, “Who the hell do you think you are?”
