Page 75 of The Secret Heir Next Door

Maybe it’s a fake engagement right now, but it won’t be long before it’s the real thing. I’ve fallen for her.

17

SERENA

Logan's office feels like a sanctuary from the chaos outside, with its sleek furniture, warm lighting, and the faint hum of city life beyond the windows. I step inside, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease slightly. Logan is seated at his desk, looking every bit the powerful CEO, but his eyes soften when they meet mine. I can’t help but smile despite the stress of the situation.

But it also feels like I’m extremely out of place with everyone in business suits that cost more than my rent.

"Hey," I say, closing the door behind me.

"Hey yourself," he replies, standing to greet me. He walks around his desk, and I’m momentarily distracted by how effortlessly handsome he is, even in the middle of a crisis. "How are you?"

I take a deep breath. "Glad that we’re doing this together, I guess. It’s a lot to process, but I’m ready to fight."

"That’s my girl," he says with a grin that makes my heart flutter.

He pulls me into a brief hug, and I melt into his warmth, feeling more secure than I have in days.

We pull apart just as Emily and Brant enter the office. Emily is chatting animatedly, her hands gesturing wildly as she tells Brant some story that has him chuckling. There’s an easy rapport between them, and it makes me smile. Emily catches sight of us and waves.

"Sorry we’re late! We got caught up in a riveting discussion about the merits of cat videos," she says with a laugh, her eyes sparkling.

Brant shakes his head, still grinning. "You have no idea how passionate she is about this topic."

“I do actually,” I giggle.

Emily shoots me a mock glare before laughing. "I swear, cat videos only take up some of my time. We’re going to fix this, I promise."

"I know," I reply, feeling a surge of gratitude. "I trust you guys."

We all settle into seats around Logan’s desk, and the atmosphere shifts as we dive into business. Logan leans forward, his eyes focused and determined.

"So, here’s what we’re dealing with," he begins, glancing at some notes on his tablet. "Donald Levy is pushing forward with the eviction, and it seems like he’s got backing from some pretty powerful people. They want to turn the entire building into executive studio apartments, which means not just Serena’s store but also the local coffee shop, the bookstore, and a few other small businesses are at risk."

Brant nods, looking serious. "Levy is in deep with these developers. They’re offering him a deal he can’t refuse, and he’s not going to back down unless we give him a reason to."

Emily taps her chin thoughtfully. "We need to hit him where it hurts. Public opinion. If we can get the community on our side, we might be able to apply enough pressure to make Levy rethink this deal."

"Exactly," Logan says, his eyes locking onto mine. "Serena, your store is a staple in the community. People love it. If they knew it was at risk, they’d rally behind you. And if we can get the other businesses involved, it could turn into a full-blown movement."

My, how has this man changed in the span of such little time!

I nod, the wheels in my head already turning. "We could go to the local newspaper—tell them what’s happening. Get the word out that these small businesses are being pushed out for yet another overpriced apartment complex. People hate that."

Emily snaps her fingers. "And we can leverage social media. Start a campaign with hashtags—get people talking. We’ll make it impossible for Levy to ignore us."

Brant leans back in his chair, crossing his arms as he considers our options. "We’ll need to gather as much information as possible. Show the community exactly what they’re losing if these businesses go under. I’m talking about history, personal stories, everything."

Logan nods in agreement, his gaze never leaving mine. "Serena, you’re the heart of this. We need to show people why your store matters, not just as a business but as a part of their lives."

His words touch something deep inside me, and I feel a swell of emotions—gratitude, determination, and something more, something that makes my heart beat a little faster. "I can do that," I say firmly. "I’ll talk to the other business owners, get their stories. We can make this work."

There’s a brief pause as we all exchange looks, a sense of camaraderie and purpose settling over us. For the first time in days, I feel like we’re not just reacting to what’s happening. We’re taking control.

Emily pulls out her phone and starts typing furiously. "I’ll start drafting some ideas for the social media campaign. We’ll need to create content that’s shareable, maybe some short videos or infographics that highlight what’s at stake."

Brant glances at Logan. "I can reach out to some contacts in the press and see if we can get an article or two published. Something that’ll get people talking."

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