OBSESSION

FIFTEEN

Bethany sat at her desk, a fresh cup of coffee steaming beside her as she poured over design drafts for the upcoming project with Liam. She was feeling good—confident even.

Her weekend with Logan had been transformative, cementing a relationship that she hadn't even realized she needed. His reassurances, his attentiveness, and the way he seemed to truly see her had her walking on air.

But the morning's peace shattered with a knock on her office door. Teagan poked her head in, her usual cheery demeanor tempered with hesitation.

"Bethany," she said, her voice cautious, "you've got a meeting in the conference room in ten minutes. A new investor is coming to discuss a potential partnership."

Bethany frowned, flipping through her calendar. "I don't have anything scheduled. Who's the investor?"

Teagan hesitated, her lips pursing. "Her name's Juliette Rousseau. She's apparently some big shot from Paris."

Bethany's stomach tightened. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place it.

Teagan stepped fully into the office, her expression tinged with worry. "Beth, I think you should know... Logan's name came up in the briefing. I think there's some history there."

"History?" Bethany's heart sank. "What kind of history?"

Teagan shrugged, clearly uncomfortable. "I overheard Marcus mention something about Juliette being an ex. Just... be prepared, okay?"

Bethany nodded stiffly, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Thanks for the heads-up, Teagan."

As soon as Teagan left, Bethany felt the weight of unease settle over her. She smoothed her skirt, grabbed her tablet, and made her way to the conference room.

When she entered, Marcus, Ryan, and Liam were already seated, chatting amiably with a striking woman at the head of the table.

Juliette was breathtaking, with dark auburn hair swept into an elegant chignon, piercing blue eyes, and an aura of effortless sophistication. She was dressed in a tailored ivory suit that exuded power and poise.

Juliette turned her attention to Bethany as she walked in, her sharp gaze assessing. For a brief moment, Bethany felt like she was being sized up, and the corner of Juliette's mouth curved into a polite but knowing smile.

"You must be Bethany," Juliette said, her French accent soft but unmistakable. "I've heard so much about you."

Bethany forced a smile and extended her hand. "And you must be Juliette. Welcome to R&M."

Juliette's handshake was firm, her fingers cool and deliberate. "Thank you. It's wonderful to meet the woman who's caught Logan's attention."

The comment, so casually delivered, made Bethany's stomach flip. Marcus cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to the business at hand.

For the next forty-five minutes, Juliette presented her proposal with practiced ease. She was there to discuss a potential collaboration on a luxury condominium project in Paris, one she claimed could elevate R&M's reputation internationally. Her pitch was flawless, and her confidence filled the room.

Bethany tried to focus on the details, but her mind kept drifting. Every time Juliette mentioned Logan's name—always with a subtle familiarity—it felt like a dagger twisting in her chest. The way Juliette spoke, her gestures, her ease in commanding the room, all made Bethany feel like a novice by comparison.

When the meeting ended, Marcus and Ryan escorted Juliette to tour the office, leaving Bethany alone with Liam.

"You okay?" Liam asked, his tone surprisingly neutral.

Bethany nodded tightly. "I'm fine."

"Sure you are," Liam said with a smirk. "For what it's worth, Juliette's always had a way of making an impression. She's good at what she does—both professionally and personally."

Bethany didn't rise to the bait, her fingers gripping her tablet tightly.

Later that afternoon, Bethany found herself unable to concentrate. She decided to take a breather and headed to the break room. She barely had a moment to sip her coffee when her phone buzzed with a text.

Logan: Can we talk tonight?

She stared at the screen, her stomach twisting. She hadn't told Logan about Juliette's appearance at R&M yet.

Bethany: Sure. What's up?

Logan: We'll talk later. Are you okay?

Bethany: Fine.

The truth was, she wasn't fine. Juliette's presence had unearthed a sea of insecurities Bethany hadn't even realized she had.

When Bethany arrived at Logan's penthouse that evening, she was determined to keep her emotions in check. Logan greeted her at the door, his tie already loosened and a warm smile on his face. But the moment he kissed her cheek, he seemed to sense something was off.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowing.

Bethany hesitated, then blurted out, "Juliette Rousseau came to R&M today."

Logan's face froze for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I know. She called me this morning to say she was pitching a project to your firm."

Bethany crossed her arms. "And you didn't think to warn me?"

Logan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't think it would be a big deal. Juliette and I ended things years ago. There's nothing between us now."

"She doesn't act like there's nothing," Bethany snapped, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "The way she talked about you, the way she looked at me—it felt like she was trying to remind me that she's been where I am."

Logan stepped closer, his hands resting on her arms. "Bethany, listen to me. Juliette and I had a history, but it's over. I'm with you now, and I'm not interested in revisiting the past."

Bethany searched his eyes, wanting to believe him but still feeling raw. "Then why didn't you tell me about her before?"

"Because I didn't think it mattered," Logan said honestly. "I've never felt the way I do about you with anyone else, Bethany. Juliette is a part of my past, but you're my present—and my future."

Bethany let out a shaky breath, her hands gripping his shirt. "I just... I don't want to be in competition with her—or anyone."

"You're not," Logan said firmly. "Bethany, you're it for me. I'm not going anywhere."

His words, combined with the sincerity in his gaze, eased the knot in her chest. She nodded, letting herself relax into his embrace.

"I trust you," she whispered.

"Good," Logan murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Because you're the only woman I want."

As they stood there in the quiet of the penthouse, Bethany felt her insecurities begin to fade. Logan's past might have cast a shadow, but it was clear to her now that his future was with her—and that was all that mattered.

~*~

Logan sat in the corner booth of a quiet, upscale café on the outskirts of downtown Seattle, his jaw tight as he stared at the clock on the wall. He hated that he was here.

Meeting Juliette Rousseau was the last thing he wanted to do, but it was necessary. She had a history of playing games, and if he didn't get ahead of her, she'd undoubtedly find a way to stir up trouble for him—and for Bethany.

When the door to the café opened, Logan's gaze shifted to the figure sweeping inside. Juliette was as striking as ever, her auburn hair tumbling in effortless waves over her shoulders and her tailored red dress clinging to her figure like a second skin. She exuded the same polished confidence that had once drawn him to her, but now, as she sauntered toward him with a self-assured smirk, Logan felt nothing but contempt.

It was a sharp contrast to how he'd once felt. Years ago, Juliette had been his everything—or so he'd thought. They'd met at an international business conference, her charm and wit instantly captivating him. She'd been ambitious and intelligent, with a magnetic presence that made everyone else fade into the background. For a time, they'd been inseparable, their relationship a whirlwind of passion and shared ambition.

But it hadn't taken long for the cracks to show. Juliette's ambition turned out to be more self-serving than shared. She had a habit of manipulating people to get what she wanted, and Logan eventually realized he'd been one of her pawns. Their relationship ended explosively when Logan discovered she'd leaked confidential information about his father's company to a competitor in exchange for a lucrative deal of her own.

Now, as Juliette slid into the booth across from him, her smirk firmly in place, Logan's memories of betrayal hardened his resolve.

"Logan," Juliette purred, leaning forward with an air of familiarity that grated on him. "You look good. Seattle agrees with you."

"Juliette," Logan said coolly, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms. "Let's cut the pleasantries. What are you doing in Seattle?"

Her smirk didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—annoyance, perhaps. "Straight to business. That's new. I remember when you couldn't wait to talk to me."

"Times change," Logan said, his tone clipped. "I don't."

Juliette laughed softly, the sound as practiced as it was grating. "Oh, I think you've changed plenty. The Logan I knew wasn't nearly this cold." She tilted her head, studying him. "It suits you, though. Adds to the mystery."

Logan's patience was wearing thin. "I'm not here to play games, Juliette. You've been in Paris for the past two years. Why are you suddenly back and working with R&M? Don't tell me it's a coincidence."

Juliette's smile widened, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. "Maybe I missed the States. Or maybe I missed you."

Logan's jaw tightened. "Try again."

"Fine," she said with a dramatic sigh, leaning back in her chair. "I heard about your little venture. Legacy Realty, wasn't it? I thought I'd see how my old flame was faring in the big leagues."

Logan's eyes narrowed. "You expect me to believe you flew across the world to check up on me? Try harder."

Juliette's smile faltered slightly, and she shrugged. "Alright, you caught me. I heard you were working with R&M, and I thought it might be fun to... reconnect."

Logan's anger flared. "Reconnect?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "Is that what you call undermining me and my business?"

Juliette's eyes gleamed, and she leaned forward, her tone softening to something almost seductive. "I don't want to undermine you, Logan. I want to help you. You know we made an amazing team once. I can remind you why."

Logan stiffened as Juliette's hand brushed his arm. He pulled back, his expression hard. "Drop the act, Juliette. You're not here to help anyone but yourself. Whatever you're planning at R&M, stop it. If you don't, I'll make sure the world knows what you did in Paris—and in New York."

Juliette's composure slipped, her eyes widening slightly. "You wouldn't."

"Try me," Logan said coldly. "This is your only warning. Stay out of my business, and stay away from Bethany."

At the mention of Bethany, Juliette's expression twisted into something darker. "Bethany," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "She's a child, Logan. You could do so much better."

Logan's gaze was icy. "Bethany is everything you're not—genuine, kind, and trustworthy. If you think for one second that you can come between us, you're delusional."

Juliette's shock turned to anger, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You'll regret this," she hissed.

"No, Juliette," Logan said, standing and tossing a few bills onto the table. "You'll regret it if you don't take my advice."

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the café, leaving Juliette seething in his wake.

As Logan stepped into the brisk Seattle air, his mind was already on Bethany. Juliette's return was a complication he hadn't anticipated, but he was determined to protect what they had. No matter what.