Jean stirred slightly as the sound of knocking reached her ears, dragging her out of the restless sleep she had barely managed. Her head throbbed, a dull but persistent ache reminding her of the drinks she had last night.
She groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow, wishing the intruder to go away. But the knocking continued.
"Room service, ma'am." The housekeeper spoke, from the other side of the door.
With an irritated sigh, Jean forced herself to sit up. The sunlight seeping through the curtains only worsened her headache, making her squint as she stumbled toward the door. She barely cracked it open before a well-dressed hotel staff member handed her a pristine white envelope.
"A message for you, Ms. Adams. From Mr. Kim."
Jean accepted it hesitantly, already dreading what new ordeal awaited her. With a polite nod, the staff member turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the doorway, blinking at the envelope in her hand.
Shutting the door, she slumped onto the bed and tore it open, her eyes scanning the elegant calligraphy inside. An invitation.
A yacht gathering. 3 PM.
Jean exhaled, rolling her eyes. "At least it won't be as wild as last night," she muttered, rubbing her temple.
Despite the tension coiling in her stomach, she felt a small wave of relief knowing she had enough time to refresh and collect herself before facing whatever awaited her next.
Pushing herself off the bed, she made her way to the bathroom. A long shower helped wash away some of the exhaustion clinging to her, and by the time she stepped out, the cool water had done wonders in sharpening her mind.
Dressing in a crisp, professional yet relaxed outfit suitable for the occasion, she grabbed her phone and sent a quick text to her team.
Jean:Meet me at the breakfast area in 15 minutes. We need a quick meeting before the yacht event.
With that, she took a deep breath and stepped out, ready to regroup and face whatever Mr. Kim had planned next.
Jean stepped into the breakfast area, hoping to gather her team for a productive discussion. But, as fate would have it, the first thing… or rather, the first person, she encountered was the most irritating man in her life, Logan Kingsley.
He was seated a few tables away, effortlessly charming a young Korean woman who was all but draping herself over him. Jean arched her brow as she observed the woman's subtle yet intentional movements… her delicate fingers grazing his forearm, her head tilting just enough to make her interest obvious.
A model, perhaps. The kind of woman Logan seemed to attract effortlessly.
Jean clicked her tongue and turned away. Typical.
A strange sensation tingled at the back of her neck, a whisper of awareness slithering through her spine. Instinctively, she flicked her gaze back up… and her breath hitched.
His eyes found hers. Logan was already watching her.
Jean's heart skipped a beat before she quickly scolded herself. How does he always catch her watching him?
He had a beautiful woman in front of him, yet somehow, his gaze still sought her out, just as it always did. Even when he was with someone else, even when he was in the middle of something important, his eyes had a way of drifting toward her, as if drawn by an unseen force.
Enemy detection radar, maybe.
She looked away casually and found a table, forcing herself to focus on the menu in front of her. Anything to avoid looking back at him. Pretending to be absorbed in choosing her breakfast. Eggs or pancakes? Certainly, she had better things to focus on than whatever Logan was doing.
But curiosity killed the cat, against her better judgment, and despite herself, she stole another glance in his direction, only to find the woman gone and an empty seat where he had been. Her heart stuttered for a beat.
"Looking for me, Adams?"
Damn it.
She gasped, nearly knocking over the water glass in front of her, turning sharply. Logan stood behind her, his presence close, his voice laced with amusement. That sneaky smirk played on his lips, knowing, teasing. He had caught her… again.
Jean barely had time to recover from her gasp before Logan slid into the chair across from her, his smirk unwavering.
"What, did the cat catch your tongue Jean?" he drawled, amusement dancing in his dark eyes.
Jean straightened her shoulders, masking her embarrassment with a cool expression. "In your dreams, Kingsley. I was just looking for my team. Unlike you, I have work to do."
Logan chuckled, leaning forward slightly. "Oh? Because from where I was standing, it looked like you couldn't keep your eyes off me."
Jean scoffed, flipping the menu open with deliberate nonchalance. "Don't flatter yourself. I was just wondering how much of your time you waste entertaining random women instead of focusing on actual business."
Logan tilted his head, studying her. "You sound jealous."
Jean didn't even flinch. She met his gaze head-on. "Jealous? Of what? A man who needs constant validation? Oh Please."
Logan smirked, appreciating her quick wit, but there was something else lingering in his mind… last night. His smirk faded slightly as he sat back, watching her. "Speaking of last night…"
Jean stiffened. "What about it?"
His voice lowered, losing its teasing edge. "Junho. He was all over you. You looked uncomfortable."
Jean arched her brow. "And what exactly does that have to do with you?"
Logan hesitated. He wasn't sure why it mattered, only that it did. "I know it's not my place, Adams. But I saw your face. If he made you feel unsafe…"
"I handled it," Jean cut in, her tone sharp. "I don't need you swooping in like some knight in shining armor, Kingsley."
He studied her carefully. Her voice was firm, but there was something in her eyes, something guarded. He wouldn't push… not yet.
Instead, he leaned back, smirking again. "Fine. But if he tries anything again, don't expect me to just stand by."
Jean rolled her eyes, but for a brief second, Logan caught the flicker of something else… something she didn't want him to see.
And that only made him more determined to figure her out.