OBSESSION

FOURTEEN

Bethany walked into the office Monday morning, the glow of the weekend still clinging to her like a second skin. The Seattle rain couldn't dampen her mood, nor could the usual Monday morning rush as she breezed past the front desk, her smile wide enough to turn heads. She made her way to her office, coffee in hand, feeling lighter than she had in weeks.

The weekend with Logan had been everything she didn't know she needed—romantic, intimate, and filled with a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time. Now, back in the world of emails, meetings, and looming deadlines, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to him.

She settled at her desk, sipping her coffee as she opened her laptop. The early morning quiet of the office was soothing, a brief calm before the inevitable storm of the day's work. She had a meeting scheduled with Liam in less than an hour, and though she wasn't exactly thrilled about it, she was determined to approach it with the same confidence she'd displayed at the family dinner.

A knock on the door pulled her attention, and Teagan peeked her head inside, her auburn ponytail bouncing with her movements.

"Morning, sunshine!"

"Morning, Teagan," Bethany said, smiling as Teagan stepped inside, holding a cup of tea in one hand and a notebook in the other.

"You look... suspiciously cheerful for a Monday," Teagan teased, plopping into the chair opposite Bethany's desk. "Did you win the lottery or something?"

Bethany chuckled, her cheeks warming. "Not exactly. I just had a really good weekend."

Teagan raised an eyebrow, her green eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Oh? Care to share?"

Bethany hesitated for a moment, then leaned in slightly, her voice lowering. "Okay, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."

Teagan mimed zipping her lips. "Scout's honor."

Bethany grinned. "Logan and I are official now."

Teagan's eyes widened, and she practically squealed. "No way! Oh my God, Bethany! That's amazing!"

Bethany laughed, her heart warming at Teagan's excitement. "Yeah, it just... it felt right. He asked me during this amazing dinner his mom helped set up. It was perfect."

Teagan clasped her hands together dramatically. "You're living a rom-com, and I'm so here for it."

Bethany shook her head, though she couldn't stop smiling. "It's not all rainbows, though. There's something I need to tell you."

Teagan's expression sobered, and she leaned in. "What's up?"

"Sierra," Bethany said, her tone dropping. "She knows about Logan and me. She saw us together last week, and now she's using it against me."

Teagan frowned. "Using it how?"

"She basically blackmailed me into giving her the lead on Logan's account," Bethany admitted, her voice tight. "She said if I didn't, she'd go to Marcus and Ryan about us, and I can't risk losing my job over this."

Teagan's jaw dropped, her face a mixture of disbelief and anger. "Are you kidding me? That conniving little—ugh! I knew she was bad news, but this? This is a new low."

"I know," Bethany said, running a hand through her curls. "But what can I do? She has a point. If this got out, it could ruin everything."

Teagan shook her head, her eyes narrowing. "You shouldn't let her get away with this. She's just bitter and jealous because you're amazing, and she can't stand it."

Bethany smiled faintly. "Thanks, Teagan. I just... I need to figure out how to handle this without making things worse."

"You will," Teagan said firmly. "And for the record, I'm team Bethany and Logan all the way. You two deserve to be happy."

Bethany reached across the desk, squeezing Teagan's hand. "Thank you. That means a lot."

Teagan grinned, standing up and smoothing her skirt. "Anytime. Now, I better get out of here before Liam shows up and you have to explain why your assistant is lounging in your office."

Bethany laughed. "Good point. Thanks for stopping by."

As Teagan headed for the door, she turned back with a wink. "Remember, I've got your back. And if you need me to accidentally spill coffee on Sierra, just say the word."

Bethany laughed, shaking her head. "I'll keep that in mind."

The door clicked shut behind Teagan, leaving Bethany alone with her thoughts. She glanced at the clock, her nerves fluttering as the meeting with Liam grew closer. But she felt a little lighter knowing she had an ally in Teagan.

A sharp knock on the door pulled her from her reverie, and Bethany straightened in her chair. "Come in."

The door opened, and Liam stepped inside, his presence as commanding as ever. He offered a polite smile, though Bethany could see the calculating glint in his eyes.

"Good morning," he said smoothly.

"Morning," Bethany replied, standing to shake his hand.

Liam's smile widened slightly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Shall we get started?"

Bethany gestured to the chair across from her desk, her professional mask firmly in place. "Let's."

Liam sat back in the chair across from Bethany's desk, his arms folded and his gaze cool, assessing. The tension in the room was palpable, and Bethany wasn't sure if it was his natural demeanor or if he had come in with a specific agenda to rattle her.

"So," Liam began, his tone as smooth as silk but laced with an undercurrent of sharpness, "let's talk about what I'm hiring you for—or rather, what I'm considering hiring you for. Let's not pretend this is anything but a trial, regardless of who you're screwing."

Bethany froze, her fingers tightening around the pen in her hand. She stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to take a steadying breath.

"Excuse me?" she said, her voice calm but edged with steel.

"You heard me," Liam said, leaning forward slightly, his elbows on the desk. "This isn't an official deal yet. Don't think for a second that your relationship with Logan is going to give you a free pass. I'm here for results, and if you can't deliver, you'll be out faster than you can say 'family ties.'"

Bethany clenched her jaw, heat rising to her cheeks. She'd dealt with condescension before, but something about Liam's smug tone and the audacity of his implication struck a nerve she couldn't ignore.

"First of all," Bethany snapped, slamming her pen down on the desk, "my personal life has nothing to do with this meeting. If you're here to talk about business, let's talk about business. But if you think you're going to sit there and demean me while questioning my professionalism, you've got another thing coming."

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to being spoken to like this. "I'm simply stating the obvious. Don't take it so personally."

"Oh, I am taking it personally," Bethany shot back, her voice rising. "Because it's clear you've walked in here with some preconceived notion about me based on your own arrogance. You act like you're untouchable, like you're some self-made king, but let's be real, Liam. Everything you have is because you've been standing in your father's shadow. You haven't earned anything on your own."

Liam's jaw tightened, but Bethany wasn't done.

"And while we're at it, let's talk about the fact that your ambition—your constant need to one-up everyone around you—has destroyed the only meaningful relationship you've ever had with someone who truly understands you. Logan is your twin, Liam. The one person on this planet who shared a womb with you. And you've let your ego ruin that bond."

The silence that followed was deafening. Bethany's heart pounded in her chest as she realized the weight of what she'd just said. She expected Liam to snap back, to storm out, or worse, to tell Marcus and Ryan that she'd crossed a line. She braced herself for the fallout, already imagining how this could spiral into her being fired.

But instead, Liam exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing slightly. For the first time since he'd entered the room, the mask of superiority slipped, and she caught a glimpse of something more vulnerable beneath.

"You think it's that simple?" Liam asked, his voice quieter now, almost bitter. "You think I haven't noticed how things are with Logan? You think I haven't tried to fix it?"

Bethany blinked, thrown off by his unexpected response. "Then why don't you?"

Liam shook his head, leaning back in his chair. "Because every time I try, it's like talking to a wall. Logan sees me as nothing more than an extension of our father. He doesn't see the parts of me that aren't wrapped up in the business. And maybe that's my fault, but it's not as black and white as you think."

Bethany softened slightly, her own anger ebbing away as she saw the strain in his expression. "Have you ever told him that? Or are you just waiting for him to figure it out on his own?"

Liam let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "You don't know Logan. He doesn't exactly make it easy to have these kinds of conversations."

"And you think sitting in silence is easier?" Bethany countered. "You're brothers, Liam. Whatever's happened between you, it's not too late to fix it. But you can't expect him to know what you're feeling if you never say it."

Liam stared at her for a long moment, his lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained guarded. "Maybe you're right."

"I know I'm right," Bethany said firmly. "And for the record, if you want to test me in this trial period, fine. I'll prove myself with my work, not my personal life. But if you're going to keep using Logan as a weapon against me, then maybe you're the one who needs to rethink how you approach business."

Liam's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile, though it was fleeting. "Noted."

Bethany leaned back, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through her. "I'll have all the documents prepared for our next meeting, including the one with your father."

Liam stood, adjusting his suit jacket. "Good. I'll see you then." He paused at the door, turning back to look at her. "And Bethany? Thanks for the honesty. Logan's lucky to have someone who calls it like it is."

Before she could respond, he was gone, leaving her alone in the office, her mind racing. The conversation had been tense, but somehow, she felt like she'd broken through to him, even if just a little. She only hoped Liam would take her advice and talk to Logan—because if there was one thing she was certain of, it was that their family dynamics were far more complicated than they let on.