Page 76 of The Secret Heir Next Door

Logan nods, his expression thoughtful. "And I’ll work on Levy. There has to be something we can use to get him to back off—or at least to reconsider. If we can’t convince him directly, we’ll make it too costly for him to proceed."

I lean forward, my mind racing with possibilities. "We should also think about hosting an event. Something that brings the community together and highlights the importance of these businesses. Maybe a block party or a fundraiser?"

Emily’s eyes light up. "That’s a great idea! We can use it to drum up support and get people invested in the cause. Plus, it’ll give us a platform to speak out against the eviction."

Logan smiles, looking impressed. "You’re brilliant, you know that?"

I blush, feeling a warmth from his praise. "Just trying to think outside the box."

He reaches across the desk and takes my hand, reassuringly squeezing it. "That’s why we’re going to win this. We’ve got the best team in town right here."

Our eyes meet, and it feels like the rest of the world fades away. I feel like I’m truly seeing Logan for the first time, not just as the CEO or the man I’m falling for, but as someone who cares deeply about the people around him. The complete opposite of the man I first spilled my coffee on.

Brant clears his throat, breaking the spell. "So, how are we dividing the tasks? Who’s doing what?"

Emily grins. "I’ll handle the social media and event planning. Serena, you focus on getting the stories from the other business owners. Brant, you work on the press angle. And Logan, you keep working on Levy and see if you can find any leverage."

We all nod in agreement, and the conversation shifts to the finer details of our plan. There’s an infectious energy in the office. As we talk, I notice how Brant and Emily exchange jokes. There’s a spark between them that’s hard to miss, and it makes me smile.

“Do we know who the buyers are?” Emily asks. “Did Levy mention any names?”

“No,” Logan says quickly. “He just kept reiterating that it was someone he couldn’t say no to.”

“I’m researching it to see if I can figure out who. It may be that Logan can reach out to them directly to buy and save the store that way.”

“Perfect,” Emily nods. “I’ll do a little digging too.”

As the meeting winds down,Logan pulls me aside, his voice low and serious. "Serena, I just want you to know that I’m all in on this. Whatever it takes, we’ll make sure your store and all the other businesses stay right where they belong."

We stand there for a moment, his testimony hanging in the air between us. I feel closer to him than ever. The professional crisis has brought us together in ways I never expected, and I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for us.

But for now, I push those thoughts aside. There’s work to be done, and we’re in this together. As we leave the office, our hands brush and I feel a thrill of anticipation. Whatever happens next, I know we’ll face it as a team.

The next fewhours are a whirlwind of activity. True to her word, Emily dives headfirst into the social media campaign, creating a series of posts that quickly gain traction. She’s a natural at this, her creativity and passion shine through in every piece of content she creates. Meanwhile, Brant works his contacts in the press, securing a few key articles highlighting the importance of the businesses at risk.

Later that afternoon, I’m sitting in the store, going over the notes I’ve collected when Logan walks in, looking a little worse for wear but still managing to give me a warm smile.

"Rough day?" I ask, tilting my head in concern.

He chuckles, dropping into the chair across from me. "You could say that. Levy is playing hardball, but I think we’re starting to get to him. He’s been more cautious lately, which means we’re making progress."

"That’s good, right?" I ask.

"We’ll see, I guess. Do you want to grab dinner?”

“Sure,” I shrug. “I’m just finishing up here.”

I quickly close out the register as Logan starts cleaning up. I giggle to myself, knowing that my scatterbrained ways drive him nuts, but instead of complaining, he tries to help.

There’s a car waiting for us outside, and before long, we’re pulling up to a large brick building. The restaurant is one of those places you see in movies, the kind where everything gleams, and the waitstaff moves like shadows.

Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden light over the room, and the low murmur of conversation mixes with the sound of silverware against porcelain. I take it all in, feeling a bit like I’ve wandered into the wrong world.

I glance down at my flowy sundress, a light pink number with tiny flowers that flutter as I walk. It’s cute, and I love it, but here, amidst the designer suits and sleek dresses, I feel like a splash of color in a monochrome scene. The pink streaks in my hair don’t help. They stand out like a beacon, drawing more than a few curious glances.

"Hey, you okay?" Logan’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

He’s standing beside me, looking ridiculously handsome in a dark suit that fits him perfectly. His blue eyes are bright, a contrast to the understated elegance around us.

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