Chapter 207

Watching Hazel regain her confidence inspired Logan, who had been worried for the past few days. He’d been afraid to leave her alone, knowing she was frightened. Wanting to support her as best as he could, he switched to working from his laptop so he could be there if she needed him.

But now, seeing her return to the fiery, independent woman he knew her to be, he thought it safe to return to the office.

He woke up early the next morning and tried to sneak out of bed without waking Hazel. She still stirred while he was in the shower, however, and rolled out of bed to help him tie his tie.

“Have a good day,” she said and tilted her head up for a kiss, which he immediately granted.

The entire exchange was so very domestic. It filled Logan with a sense of longing. He wanted this every morning, every day for the rest of his life.

Hazel was his perfect match. Now, he just had to fight for her.

“Get some more sleep,” Logan said. “I’ll call you at lunch.”

Hazel nodded, but instead of returning to bed, she followed Logan downstairs and went into the kitchen, stopping at the coffeemaker.

Looking back, Logan tried to memorize the sight in his mind: Hazel, eyelids heavy with sleep, hair messed from the pillow, standing at the counter in his t-shirt and bare feet.

This image would carry him forward today.

Feeling better than he had in a good long while, Logan left their little townhouse and went to work.

The moment Logan stepped out of the elevator, he could tell something had changed in the office. For one, everyone was openly gaping at him. He expected some of that, given the scandal, but this felt different. They were looking at him like they had seen a ghost. Lots of double takes and wide gazes.

Ignoring the awkwardness, Logan continued down the hallway to his office. He greeted his assistant, who paled but didn’t say a word.

Odd.

Logan opened the door to his office, went inside, and –

Someone else was sitting at his desk.

“Excuse me?” Logan asked.

The man looked up and peered at Logan through his thick glasses. “Did you need something, Mr. Hatfield?” the man asked.

Logan felt off-kilter suddenly. He double-checked that he’d walked into the right office. Then he looked back at the man sitting at what was definitely Logan’s own desk.

“Who are you?” Logan asked.

The man looked at him strangely. “I’m the new CEO of this company. Mr. Hatfield Sr. and the board assigned me yesterday. Today is my first day.” He frowned. “Surely you were told…?”

“That I’ve apparently been fired and replaced overnight?” Logan said, disgust twisting his voice. “I guess my notice was lost in the mail.”

“My apologies, Mr. Hatfield,” the man said, though made no move to get up from Logan’s chair. Why would he? The board had given him the job now.

What a joke.

“Do you mind if I call my grandfather from your phone?” Logan asked. “Just to be certain.”

The man pushed the landline phone toward the far edge of the desk, nearest Logan.

“Be my guest,” he said.

Thanks for letting me use my own phone, Logan grumbled in his mind. His diplomas were still hanging on the walls. Someone could have at least taken them down before the new guy started.

Logan grabbed the phone and dial his grandfather’s familiar number.

“I’ve been expecting your call, grandson,” Grandfather said before Logan could even say anything. “You are right on time.”

“You fired me? After all I’ve done for this company?” Logan demanded.

“Don’t act so surprised. After all, why would I keep someone in charge that I don’t trust?” Grandfather replied. “Mr. Carlisle is the perfect replacement for you. He’s certainly more agreeable. Now don’t cause a scene, Logan. Just get your personal affects and get out.”

“This isn’t over,” Logan said sharply.

“Of course it is. Give the phone to Mr. Carlisle now.”

Logan wanted to hang up but it wasn’t the poor new guy’s fault that Grandfather was the absolute worst. Logan passed over the phone.

Mr. Carlisle accepted it without question. “Yes, Sir,” he said into the receiver. “Of course, Sir. At once, Sir.”

Logan was beginning to see how Mr. Carlisle won this job. He was one of Grandfather’s yes men, eager to fulfill any of Grandfather’s whims.

After hanging up the phone, Mr. Carlisle looked up at Logan. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hatfield, but you are to leave the premises immediately. I’m to call security now.” He immediately started dialing.

With a frustrated sigh, Logan went to the wall and collected his framed diplomas. He didn’t really have much other personal affects in the office.

“Yes, please send up security to show Mr. Hatfield out,” Mr. Carlisle said into the phone.

“That won’t be necessary,” Logan said.

“Mr. Hatfield Senior insisted,” Mr. Carlisle said, and Logan immediately knew he was in for a losing battle here.

With his framed diplomas tucked under his arm, we walked out of the office and went to meet security by the elevators.

I was standing by the fridge trying to decide what I wanted for lunch when my phone rang. Checking the screen, I saw Maria’s name written there.

Shouldn’t she have been working? Why was she calling me now?

Confused and concerned, I answered the phone. “Maria?”

“Did you talk to Logan? Is he alright?” she asked.

Worry suddenly scratched to life inside of me. “Why? Did something happen?”

“They replaced him,” Maria said. “No notice. No anything. They even had security escort him out.”

My heart twisted. Logan was fired? But, wait. “Should you be talking about this right now?” Wasn’t she still at work?

“I’m on lunch. A few of us went out to talk about what’s happening,” Maria said. “Hazel, it’s a mess. This new guy doesn’t have a clue. He keeps asking his assistant what to do. It’s a nightmare. I heard accounting had to go talk to him already because he didn’t sign off on payroll.”

That didn’t sound ideal.

Mr. Hatfield Senior must have been infinitely pissed to replace Logan with someone far less competent. I supposed we should have seen this coming, but I’d thought Logan was too important to touch. I was just an assistant, easy to replace. Logan brought years of experience and expertise.

“It feels like someone is trying to tank the whole company,” Maria said. “Everyone’s working on their resumes.”

I wondered where Logan was, and why he hadn’t come back yet. I hoped he was okay.

“If anyone is trying to tank the company, it’s Mr. Hatfield Sr.,” I said. It was such a shame that so many people’s livelihood were caught up in the games he was playing.

Logan had told me about what his grandfather had said. That he’d rather see his legacy burn to the ground than have Logan taint it with weakness.

And I was that weakness.

What a mess.

“I’m sorry,” I told Maria, feeling somewhat responsible for all of this. Keeping Logan was selfish. Maybe to protect everyone, I should have agreed to the divorce.

Yet, even thinking that made me want to be sick. Grandfather controlled everything, even down to Logan’s personal life. Maybe I was selfish, but Logan deserved to be free.

“It’s not your fault,” Maria said. “Everyone agrees. There’s talk of going on strike. For real, this time.”

“Be careful,” I said. “There’s no telling what Mr. Hatfield Sr. might do…”

“Don’t worry about us,” Maria replied. “Just take care of yourself. This man is a hurricane right now. All he seems to care about is destruction.”

Just as I hung up with Maria, Logan walked through the front door. I gasped, seeing him.

He looked furious.