Chapter 3

Ava’s POV

As I left the bathroom, I was determined to avoid any further confrontation with Logan. I wanted to ignore him and avoid conflict at all costs. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself—or to the unmistakable water stains clinging to my clothes like a badge of humiliation.

And yet, there he was. Logan. Leaning casually against the wall, as if waiting for someone—as if waiting for me. His dark eyes flicked up from his phone, sharp and focused the moment he saw me.

"Ava," he said, his tone neutral but tinged with concern. "What happened? You’re soaked."

"It’s nothing," I replied quickly, brushing past him. "I’m fine."

But of course, Logan didn’t listen. He never did. I felt his hand, warm and steady, close gently around my arm. I stopped, but I didn’t turn to face him.

"You can’t walk around like this," he said and Logan take off his coat and try to offer it to me to cover my wet blouse. "Let me help you. Here—"

"I don’t need your help, Logan." I snapped, glaring at him.

His gaze dropped briefly, and I realized too late what he’d noticed.

But as I walked down the hallway, I heard his footsteps behind me, quickening to catch up.

"Ava, wait," Logan called out, his voice filled with concern. "Your clothes are soaked. Let me help you."

I kept walking, refusing to look back. "I'm fine, Logan. Just leave me alone."

But he didn't give up. He reached out and gently grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "Ava, please. I can see your underwear through your wet clothes. Let me help you."

His touch was gentle but firm, and I could feel the sincerity in his voice. But it only fueled my anger. I pulled away from him, my eyes blazing. "Logan, stop it! I don't need your help. Just stay away from me."

He sighed, his expression pained. "Ava, I'm just trying to help. You don't have to go through this alone."

"Alone?" I snapped, my voice rising. "You think I need your help after everything you've done? You're a hypocrite, Logan. You pretend to care, but all you do is hurt people."

Logan's face tightened, but he didn't back down. "Ava, I know I've made mistakes. But I'm trying to make things right."

I shook my head, my anger boiling over. "You can't just fix everything with a few kind words and gestures. Your actions speak louder than your words, and they've shown me exactly who you are."

Before Logan could respond, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned to see Emma and our boss, Luke, coming down the hallway. Emma's eyes widened when she saw me, and she quickly pulled a scarf from her bag.

"Ava, here," she said, wrapping the scarf around my shoulders. "This should help."

Luke, ever the opportunist, looked between Logan and me with a curious glint in his eye. "Well, well, what's going on here? Ava, do you know our new CEO?"

I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. "No, not really. We just ran into each other."

Logan's eyes met mine, and I could see the hurt and confusion in them. But he didn't contradict me. Instead, he nodded and took a step back. "Yes, just a coincidence."

Logan excused himself and walked away.

Luke raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, and he also walks away. "Alright then. Let's get back to work."

As we walked away, I felt a mix of relief and sadness. Emma, ever the jokester, couldn't resist making a comment.

"Ava, you seem to have a mysterious relationship with Logan," she teased, a playful glint in her eye.

I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "No, it's nothing like that. We just happened to run into each other."

"Oh, really? Okay." Emma raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but she didn't press further. I was grateful for that.

By the afternoon, the office was buzzing with news. It had been announced that our company was allowed to bid for a major project with Logan's corporation. The excitement was palpable, and everyone was eager to be part of the process.

"Can you believe it? Black Wood Tech is expanding its partnerships," Sarah exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "This is such a huge opportunity for us!"

"Yeah, it's incredible," Emma added, nodding enthusiastically. "If we land this project, it could mean big things for the company."

I tried to share in their enthusiasm, but my mind was elsewhere. I assumed that the cooperation had nothing to do with me, given my unrelated past projects. I tried to focus on my work, hoping to stay under the radar.

Just as I was settling back into my routine, Amanda, our manager, called a meeting. "Everyone, gather in the conference room," she announced. "We need to discuss the final selection for the Black Wood project bid. This is a significant opportunity for our company," she said, her eyes scanning the room. "We need to put our best foot forward."

"Ava, I need you to join us in the conference room," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I followed her, my mind racing with questions. As we entered the room, I saw my colleagues gathered around the table, their expressions a mix of anticipation and curiosity.

Amanda began the meeting, outlining the details of the bid and the importance of the project.

"Alright, team," Amanda began, her clipped tone cutting through the chatter. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our company. Logan’s corporation is a big name, and they’re known for being… selective about their partners. We’ll need our best efforts to make an impression. "

I listened intently, trying to absorb the information. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Logan. His name was everywhere today, and I couldn’t escape it. The way he had looked at me in the hallway, the way he had walked away without another word. Why did it still bother me?

As Amanda continued to speak, I couldn't shake the feeling of suspense hanging in the air. The stakes were high, and the future uncertain. I knew that whatever happened next, it would have a profound impact on both my professional and personal life.

What role would she play in this? And how would our past affect the outcome?

The unanswered questions lingered, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more complicated.