Chapter 0218
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Logan knew better than to check his collar, or to show any reaction at all. People like Cameron were sharks in the water, circling for any sign of weakness.
He might have Hazel’s lipstick on his collar. His clothes were suspiciously rumpled, he knew that.
Cameron might know the truth. Dawn could have shared her evidence before she disappeared, or they could have talked about it.
More than likely Cameron was just guessing, though, and any outward reaction from Logan would only confirm her suspicions.
The only option open to him was to deny, deny, deny.
“Cameron, I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Cameron narrowed her eyes. “It’s right there,” she said, pointing.
“Have a good morning, Cameron.” Logan turned, ready to head to the stair.
“Maybe we should have a meeting later!” Cameron called. “At the office.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Logan said and started walking.
“What if we invited your grandfather? I’m sure he’d love to hear what I have to say.”
Logan paused. He was so sick of being blackmailed. He’d just dealt with Dawn, and now here comes her apprentice, not nearly so clever or subtle.
Over his shoulder, Logan gave Cameron a withering look. “My grandfather will not take calls from you.”
“He will when he learns what I have to say.”
Logan shook his head. “People call him ten times a day with wild accusations. Until you have proof…”
She jutted out her chin. “Who says I don’t have proof?”
Logan turned away from her. He was already running late, since he needed to stop home to change before going into the office.
If she had proof, she would say so.
“Have a productive day, Cameron,” Logan said. “Your numbers lately have been shallow.”
As he continued down the stairs, he swore he could feel the angry weight of her gaze following him.
“Logan,” she said.
He looked up from the landing of the stairs to her standing above.
“I have the video,” she said. “I don’t think I need to explain more than that.”
Damn it. So Dawn did share it.
Logan schooled his face, even as he fumed from within. He had thought Dawn would be back for more money. Instead, it seemed, that now she just wanted to help take care of her friends.
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Chapter 0218
To hell with her, for thinking that Logan would go for that again.
“Still think we don’t need a meeting?” she asked.
“How much?” Forget a meeting. Logan already knows what she wants. Same thing Dawn wanted. Money.
“A million,” Cameron said.
At least this was cheaper than Dawn’s payoff.
Yet he knew this was again just another beginning. He would pay the amount, and then Cameron or Dawn or some new person would come out of the woodwork and attempt to blackmail him all over again.
What he needed was a better solution, or all these payoffs would start looking exceedingly suspicious all his own. Plus, he wanted his money to go to his wife and future family, not people about to hurt them.
“I need time,” Logan said. Let Cameron think he needed time to collect that much money. It would be true, if he had any intention of giving her a penny. Instead, he was buying time for him to handle this a different way.
“Don’t make me wait long.” Cameron said.
“I’ll contact you.” Logan started walking again. They had nothing left to say to each other.
I felt bright and happy that morning, practically bouncing her way to work. Everything seemed to be going okay. Well, until I actually arrived at the office. Then, I noticed everyone else’s continued discontent.
Logan had promised to set everything right that very day, but I couldn’t go around shouting that over the work chat. If I didn’t keep my insider knowledge secret, I could accidentally cast suspicion on or reveal my relationship to Logan.
I couldn’t jeopardize either of our careers like that, especially not to get people to like Logan again.
Keeping my mouth shut was difficult though. Even secret, Logan was my husband, and I didn’t like people thinking badly of him when he didn’t deserve it.
For the first time in a really long time, I arrived to my desk ahead of Logan. Since I already knew why Logan was running late, I tried not to make a scene of it. The other assistants looked at Logan’s empty office with curiosity. I didn’t say one word.
Logan arrived twenty minutes later looking sharp and freshly showered.
As he walked past my desk, he said, “Hazel, I’m calling my grandfather. Please keep me from being disturbed for the next half hour.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, eager and happy to hear it.
A call to his grandfather meant a negotiation against these new productivity standards. If everyone could just be patient, then
My phone buzzed with a text. Picking it up, I saw it was from Maria. When I read it, my blood ran cold.
There’s a walkout planned for today. 2pm.
Oh, no. I understood my co–workers finally ready to take a stand, but this was such poor timing. Logan was literally on the phone with his grandfather right at this moment!
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Chapter 0218
There was too much to text, so I replied, Meet me in the locker room in 10 mins.
Maria and I had gotten in trouble before for socializing during work hours, but that had been some time ago. Besides, with all of the employee discontent right now, all kinds of people were probably meeting up In secret.
A walkout wasn’t likely to have been organized in the work chat.
It was my duty as Logan’s secretary and his wife to try to save his public image. A walkout would look tremendously bad for his management skills, especially after negotiating with his grandfather.
I had to convince everyone that Logan could be trusted, that he was currently doing the right thing, and everyone just needed to wait.
As Logan’s secretary, I doubted they would listen to me. But Maria? If I could convince her and have her support, it would so much easier to turn the rest.
Ten minutes later, Logan was still on the phone. I asked my fellow assistants to please monitor Logan’s calls and guests, and then excused myself.
Maria was already in the locker room when I arrived. She was pacing, her arms crossed and a worried look on her face. When she saw me, she said before I could even open my mouth, “I told you so you could be prepared, not so you could attempt to change my mind.”
I’d known she was mad, but she seemed even more fired up than usual when she was passionate about something. Just how involved in this walkout was she?
God, I could already guess she was probably one of the main organizers.
Well, okay. That could work in my favor, though. If I could convince her to wait, the rest might follow like toppling a house of cards.
“I need you to hear me out,” I tell her. Quickly I scan the rest of the locker room, but at this time of day, we’re alone in here.
“Whatever you have to say, it won’t change anything.” she said.
“Maria.” I walked closer to her. “He’s on the phone with his grandfather right at this very moment, trying to make things better.”
“Bullshit,” she said,
“I’m serious.”
“I’ll believe it when I hear it.”
“Then you just need to wait…”
Maria scoffed. “It’s already too late.”
