Chapter 5

I replayed the video until my eyes burned, my vision blurring with exhaustion. Lily’s bright smile. Logan’s warm gaze. The way he leaned in. The kiss. I remembered the last birthday he celebrated for me—the night he told everyone I wasn’t suitable to be his wife. A bitter laugh slipped past my lips. Did he finally get what he wanted? A woman who didn’t challenge him? One he could parade around in public while keeping his power and influence intact? The thought left a sharp, hollow ache in my chest. I slammed my laptop shut, my mood plummeting to ice-cold indifference. Just as I was about to leave the office for the night, the door swung open. A man stepped in. Tall. Confident. Sharp features that looked like they had been sculpted by an artist. His casual yet perfectly tailored suit fit his lean frame effortlessly. But it was his eyes that held my attention—dark, knowing, filled with something unreadable. His voice was deep, smooth, familiar. "Long time no see, Olivia." A slow smile curved my lips. "Alexander Gray." Logan never knew this, but I met Alexander before I met him. Five years ago, he found me through a mutual connection, offering a tempting business proposal. Back then, I had no interest in stepping into the corporate world. The things it required—the sacrifices, the compromises—went against everything I stood for. So I turned him down. Later, I fell in love with Logan. And for him, I had thrown myself into his world, making decisions I now regretted. Maybe this was karma. Maybe I had been foolish to believe in pure love when the reality was far more cruel. We stood there, caught in an unspoken understanding. I arched a brow. “Thanks for your concern. What brings you here?” Alexander stepped forward, tossing a file bag onto my desk. “Have you regretted it?” I crossed my arms, feigning nonchalance. “Regretted what?” A slow, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Being used and discarded by Logan Pierce.” The words struck a nerve, but I refused to show it. Instead, I leaned back in my chair, nodding toward the seat across from me. “You really do have an impressive information network.” His smirk turned wry. “With Logan hell-bent on taking me down? If I weren’t prepared, I’d be at your mercy by now.” I sighed. “Enough small talk. What do you want?” He slid a blank check across the desk. “I want to work with you. Fill in whatever amount you want.” His voice was steady, unreadable. “This is just business, Olivia. It has nothing to do with emotions.” I didn’t even glance at the check. “I don’t need your money.” Alexander leaned forward slightly, intrigued. “Then what do you want?” My decision was already made. I had spent years helping Logan build his empire, sacrificing my own ambitions in the process. If he thought he could cast me aside like yesterday’s news, he was sorely mistaken. I met Alexander’s gaze, my voice steady. “After we take him down, I want half of Pierce Enterprises’ shares.” His expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his dark eyes—approval, maybe. “Deal.” We shook hands. The contract was signed. And just like that, the game had begun. Alexander had barely left when the door burst open again. Logan Pierce. His presence filled the room like a storm rolling in, his tall frame tense, his eyes burning with unspoken fury. He stalked toward my desk, planting both hands on the surface, leaning in close. “Olivia,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “What did Alexander Gray want?” I tilted my head, letting silence stretch between us. For the first time, I saw real panic flicker in his eyes. Interesting. A slow, mocking smile curled my lips. “Why do you care?” His jaw clenched. “Answer me.” I sighed, shaking my head. “You send me those pointless texts—How are you? Have you eaten?—as if they mean something. But we both know they don’t.” Logan’s gaze shifted, flickering with something uncertain. He wouldn’t even look me in the eye. I stood, closing the distance between us until we were inches apart. "Did you think I’d still be waiting? That I’d beg for another chance?" His silence was deafening. And in that moment, I knew—he wasn’t sure anymore. Good. Because this time, I wasn’t coming back. _________