“Something like that.” He tilts his head, studying me. “You know, this is the longest conversation I've ever had with one of Kai's girlfriends.”
“I'm not his girlfriend.”
Logan snorts. “Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
I open my mouth to argue, then close it. He's not wrong, exactly. I just don't know what we are.
“ELK wouldn't run without you,” I say instead. “I mean it.”
He's quiet for a beat too long. Fingers tap once against his knee. “Thanks, Sinclair.” His voice is lighter, but something underneath it isn't.
Movement catches my eye. Vanessa, one of Miles's loyal followers, walks past my desk. Her smirk is automatic, habitual. She's so used to the sport of belittling me that the words are out before her brain catches up.
“One wasn't enough for you?”
The silence stretches. Vanessa's smile freezes as she registers Logan. Not just another spectator. A high-level client with the power to terminate her boss's most important account.
Logan turns his head slowly. Doesn't say anything. Just looks at her.
The color drains from Vanessa's face. Mouth opens, closes. “I was just—it was a joke?—“
“Find better jokes.”
He holds her gaze until she breaks. Heels click a frantic retreat toward the breakroom.
I stare at my coffee lid. Cheeks on fire. I feel exposed, like everyone in the office just watched me get defended by someone else. Again.
“So... gossip?” Logan's tone is light, but he's probing.
“Nothing worth mentioning.” I reach for my mouse, waking up my monitor.
He hums. Doesn't push. “Well, I should get back. Let me know if you need me to charm anyone into approving one of your ideas.”
“Don't tempt me.”
He stands, shoots me a wink. “Happy to help, Sin.”
After he leaves, I sit very still. Then I reach under my desk and pull the lever on my chair, yanking the seat around until I'm facing the entrance. I shift my second monitor a few inches left, creating a gap that gives me a clear line of sight to the elevator and the main doors.
I can't sit with my back to the room anymore.
Every time the heavy doors swing open, my heart stutters. I try to focus on the ELK storyboards, but my eyes keep darting to the gap between monitors.
Waiting for the wrong person to walk through.
CHAPTER 26
THE BUTTONS
KAIDEN
The airin Maddox's workshop hums with cooling fans.
I drop the folder onto his desk. The investigator's latest photos. “How did James appear from nowhere? I asked you to find him the moment those messages started. Last night, he was standing on her doorstep.”
Maddox doesn't look up from his monitors. Fingers keep moving across the keys for a few seconds before he leans back. “The guy went off the grid. I blocked any new number in his name from reaching her phone. Strangled his digital footprint.” He meets my eyes. “I've been tracking the arsonist. Tracing the market irregularities. I haven't been sitting idle.”
I pace the narrow room. “Find out where he's staying. I want to pay him a visit.”
