After the meeting, Logan took her to a small café nearby. As they sat at an outdoor table, Olivia finally allowed herself to relax.
“You were incredible in there today,” Logan said, sipping his coffee.
“I was so nervous,” she confessed, “but it was also exhilarating to be a part of it.”
“This is just the beginning. You’re building something solid for yourself, Olivia.”
She looked at him, her heart overflowing with gratitude. “None of this would be possible without you, Logan. You believed in me when I couldn’t even believe in myself.”
“All I did was open a door. You’re the one who had the courage to walk through it. The credit is all yours.”
Their quiet moment was interrupted by a call from Mrs. Harper, informing Olivia that Harper and Hazel were asking for her.
Logan smiled. “It seems your little fan club misses you.”
“They’re my shadows,” Olivia said with a laugh. “They can’t stay away for long.”
When they returned to the penthouse, the twins immediately launched themselves at their mother, wrapping her in tight hugs. Logan watched the scene, feeling his connection to the girls deepen with each passing day. He adored their boundless energy and the way their laughter could illuminate even the most stressful of days.
Later that afternoon, Logan suggested a spontaneous picnic in the rooftop garden. Harper and Hazel were thrilled and enthusiastically helped pack a basket with sandwiches, fruit, and juice. As Olivia spread a blanket on the soft grass, she watched Logan chase the girls in a game of tag.
“You’re getting more and more comfortable with them,” she observed as Logan sat down beside her, breathless and laughing.
“They’re incredible kids. It’s impossible not to love them.”
“Thank you for being so good to them, Logan. They feel so safe and happy here. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for them.”
Logan smiled, his gaze meeting hers. “They’re a part of you, Olivia. And for me, that’s more than enough.”
His words sent a jolt through her. She knew her feelings for him ran far deeper than simple gratitude, but the fear of letting her heart be vulnerable again still held her back.
As evening approached, Harper and Hazel, exhausted from their day of play, fell asleep in their mother’s arms. Logan helped Olivia carry them to their room, and together they tucked the girls into bed.
As they stood in the quiet hallway, Olivia turned to Logan. “You’ve completely changed our lives, you know that.”
“You’ve changed mine, too, Olivia.”
The intensity in his gaze made her feel both exposed and incredibly safe. She knew she could no longer deny the truth of her own feelings. Later that evening, as Olivia was in the kitchen making a cup of tea, Logan joined her. He stood silently for a moment before stepping closer.
“Olivia, there’s something I need to say.”
She turned to face him, her heart thudding in her chest.
“Since the day you and the girls came into my life,” he began, his voice low and earnest, “my world has been completely transformed. You’ve brought a warmth and a light into my life that I didn’t even realize was missing. I care about you, Olivia. More than I can properly express.”
His confession washed over her, leaving her momentarily speechless. A slow smile spread across her face, her eyes glistening.
“Logan, I care about you, too. But all of this… it’s still so new. I need a little more time.”
Logan nodded, his expression full of understanding. “I know. I’m not trying to rush you. I just wanted you to know how I feel.”
Their charged moment was interrupted by a small cry from upstairs. Harper had woken up from a bad dream. Olivia smiled and went to her daughter, leaving Logan alone in the quiet kitchen. He knew that earning Olivia’s complete trust would require patience, but he was willing to wait. What he felt for her, and for her daughters, was worth it. In the days that followed, their relationship continued to blossom, marked by small, meaningful moments. With each passing day, Olivia found herself opening up to him more and more, while Logan remained her patient, unwavering anchor. There was still a long road ahead, but they were both ready to walk it, together.
The sky over Manhattan was a canvas of bruised purple clouds, heralding an approaching storm. In Logan’s home office, Olivia was meticulously reviewing a set of quarterly reports. She felt a growing confidence in her professional abilities, yet she still approached every task with the earnest dedication of someone who knew just how much was at stake.
Logan entered the room with two mugs of coffee. He placed one on the desk beside her and took a seat opposite, observing her for a moment.
“You’re doing excellent work, you know,” he said, his tone casual but sincere.
Olivia looked up, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “I’m trying. There’s still so much to learn.”
“You’re too hard on yourself. That can be a good quality, but I want you to know that I am incredibly proud of everything you’re accomplishing.”
His compliment felt like more than just professional praise; there was a warmth in his voice that resonated deep within her. The bond between them had deepened into a comfortable, easy intimacy. Logan always found small ways to show he cared, and Olivia, in turn, found herself slowly but surely dismantling the protective fortress around her heart.
One evening, after the twins were asleep, Logan suggested they go up to the rooftop terrace. When they arrived, Olivia was captivated by the breathtaking view. The city lights glittered below like a fallen constellation, and the cool night air carried a sense of peace that was a stark contrast to the city’s usual frenetic energy.
“I used to come up here whenever I needed to think,” Logan said, breaking the comfortable silence. “But lately, I don’t feel that need as much. I think it’s because I’ve found something that brings me more peace.”
Olivia turned to him, sensing the deeper meaning behind his words. “What brings you that peace, Logan?”
“You,” he said simply, his gaze unwavering.
His directness stole her breath. He took a step closer, closing the small distance between them. “From the moment I saw you on that street corner, something shifted inside me. And as we’ve spent this time together, I’ve realized that what I feel for you is unlike anything I have ever experienced before.”
Olivia’s heart hammered against her ribs. She knew her own feelings for him were growing stronger every day, but hearing his confession aloud made everything feel terrifyingly real.
“Logan, I… This is all so new for me. I’m still trying to find my footing, to be strong for myself and for the girls.”
“I’m not asking you to rush into anything, Olivia. I just want you to know how I feel.”
She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. She saw a raw sincerity there that was impossible to deny, and for the first time in years, she felt that it might be safe to risk her heart again.
“I feel something for you too, Logan. But I need time. I need to be sure that I’m ready.”
He nodded, his expression full of respect for her hesitation. “I would wait for as long as it takes.”
A distant rumble of thunder echoed across the city, signaling the storm’s imminent arrival. In the days that followed, the atmosphere between them was charged with an unspoken emotional current. They were both navigating the delicate balance between their professional relationship and their burgeoning personal one.
One evening, Logan surprised Olivia with a special dinner. He had asked Mrs. Harper to look after the twins and had personally prepared a meal for just the two of them. When Olivia came downstairs to find the dining table elegantly set, she was speechless.
“You did all of this?” she asked in disbelief.
“I wanted to do something special for you,” he replied with a warm smile.
During dinner, the conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about work, shared childhood memories, and spoke of their dreams for the future.
“I never imagined I would have this chance to start over,” Olivia said reflectively. “If it weren’t for you, Logan, I don’t know where we would be right now.”
“You would be somewhere, fighting for your girls, just as you always have,” he said. “I just had the privilege of being there to help.”
“It was more than that. You believed in me when no one else did. That made all the difference.”
Logan reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I will always believe in you, Olivia. Always.”
His touch was warm and reassuring, and Olivia felt the last of her defensive walls begin to crumble. She still had fears, but she knew with every fiber of her being that Logan was unlike any man she had ever known.
When dinner was over, Logan walked her to her bedroom door. They stood in silence for a moment, simply looking at each other.
“Good night, Logan,” she said softly.
“Good night, Olivia.”
As she closed the door behind her, she leaned against it, her heart racing. For the first time in a very long time, she allowed herself to imagine a future where she was not alone. That night, as the rain finally began to fall, they both fell asleep with a new sense of hope, as if the future was just beginning to unfold.
The daily life of Olivia and Logan settled into a surprising and comfortable rhythm. The twins had grown deeply attached to Logan, and he, in turn, embraced his role in their lives with a genuine and heartfelt affection. Still, a sliver of doubt lingered in Olivia’s mind—not about her feelings for Logan, but about her readiness to fully trust another person with her heart.
One afternoon, while she was working in the office, her phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. When she opened it, her blood ran cold. It was a candid photo of Logan in deep conversation with a stunning, elegantly dressed woman at a restaurant. The caption beneath it read: Do you really know who he is?
Olivia’s heart began to pound. While she knew Logan had a busy professional and social life, the anonymous, insidious nature of the message deeply unsettled her. The old, familiar fears she had fought so hard to suppress came rushing back. Who was that woman? And why would someone send this to her?
When Logan arrived home later that day, he found Olivia in the living room, her expression distant and troubled. He immediately sensed that something was wrong.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sitting beside her.
Without a word, she showed him the message on her phone.
Logan’s brow furrowed as he looked at the image. “That was a business meeting. Her name is Catherine Vance; she’s a consultant my company is looking to hire for a major project.”
Olivia wanted to believe him, but the seed of doubt had been planted. “Why would someone send this to me, Logan? It feels like they were trying to warn me about something.”
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice firm, “but I will find out. Olivia, you have to trust me. I would never do anything to hurt you.”
His tone was steady and sincere. She looked into his eyes and saw the transparency of a man with nothing to hide. “I want to trust you, Logan. But this… it just threw me. My life has been full of disappointments, and it’s hard to ignore that fear.”
