“Logan works very hard,” Chelsea adds, uninvited. “He’s been essential to the Denver acquisition.”
Donovan makes a sound that might be a cough or might be a laugh. I don’t look at him.
“Logan’s contributions have been noted,” I say, which is corporate speak for mostly useless.
Logan’s jaw tightens. He never argues. Never fights back. That’s his problem. He’s been handed everything and learned nothing about earning it.
Dessert is chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis. Samantha barely touches hers. She’s too busy watching the dynamics at this table like she’s trying to crack a code.
I wonder what she’s really looking for.
When dinner ends, I stand. “Logan, Donovan. My office in fifteen minutes. Kai, you’re handling gala details with Chelsea.”
Kai groans. “Why am I stuck with party planning?”
“Because you won’t make the event planner cry,” Donovan says, heading out.
Logan hesitates, looking between Samantha and Chelsea. “Sam, will you be okay? I might be a while.”
“I’ll be fine.” Her voice is bright and hollow. “I’ll just read or something.”
“Chelsea can show you to the library,” Logan offers.
“I’m sure I can find it myself.” There’s steel under the sugar now.
I almost smile.
They scatter, Logan trailing Donovan like a puppy, Chelsea and Kai heading toward the east wing. Samantha stands alone in the dining room with her shoulders straight despite being abandoned on her first night here.
“Samantha.” I stop at the doorway.
She turns, those sharp eyes locking on mine.
“Welcome to the family.” I let the words carry weight.
The meeting in my room starts fifteen minutes later.
I pour myself two fingers of whiskey and settle behind my desk, pulling up the Denver acquisition files on my screen.
“Let’s make this quick,” I say. “We need to finalize the offer before their board meets on Thursday.”
Logan drops into the chair across from me, looking bored. Donovan takes the seat beside him with his tablet open.
“I was thinking,” Logan starts, “we could leverage the Denver acquisition to expand into the tech sector. Maybe look at some startups in Silicon Valley.”
Donovan looks up from his tablet. “We’re acquiring Denver Tech Solutions for their existing client base and infrastructure, not for expansion opportunities. The market analysis you clearly didn’t read shows tech startups are overvalued right now.”
“I read it,” Logan lies. “I just think?—”
“You think we should dump capital into a saturated market during a downturn.” Donovan finally looks at him. “Based on what research?”
Logan’s face goes red. “I just meant?—”
“You meant you skimmed the executive summary and missed the part where three major venture capital firms pulled out of tech investments last quarter.” Donovan taps his screen. “Page forty-seven. Did you get that far?”
Silence.
“The Denver acquisition is about consolidating our position in existing markets,” I say, saving Logan from further embarrassment. “Not chasing trends. Next topic.”
