14. Logan
14
LOGAN
I ’m standing on the patio, watching the last guests filter out of the garden. The party’s winding down, but the tension in my chest hasn’t eased up. The conversation with my family earlier keeps replaying in my mind, their harsh words like daggers.
I can’t let it show, though. Not here, not now. I need to focus on Serena and make sure she’s okay after everything. But just as I’m about to head inside to find her, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen and see Donald Levy’s name flashing.
Why is he calling me now? I step away from the remaining guests, finding a quiet corner of the patio, and swipe to answer.
“Donald,” I greet him, keeping my tone neutral.
“Logan,” he replies, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. “Got an interesting message today. Said you wanted to buy my building.”
My grip on the phone tightens. “That’s right.”
He chuckles. “Not sure what’s going on, but you’re the second person who’s asked about it. I just got off the phone with the first one, though. You’re too late. It’s off the market.”
“What’s it going to take to get you to change your mind?”
He pauses, and I can almost see the smirk on his face through the phone. “Nothing, Logan. This isn’t something money can fix.”
“Everyone has a price,” I counter, my voice hardening. “What’s yours?”
Another pause, longer this time. When he speaks again, his tone is colder and more serious. “Not me. This is bigger than you think.”
I don’t like the sound of that. “What’s going on, Donald?”
There’s a rustle on the other end of the line as if he’s shifting in his seat. “A company wants to take over the entire building. They’re planning to convert it into executive studio apartments, high-end, top-dollar units. They’ve offered me a very large sum of money, plus a cut of the profits. It’s a deal I can’t pass up.”
My stomach twists.
Executive studio apartments? That was my idea, something I’d shared with my brother when I thought I might need help funding it.
Did Chaz move this fast? And does he know that kicking Serena out of her shop is part of the plan?
“You’re telling me you’re selling the building?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Yes,” Donald confirms.
“Don’t you have someone in there that’s grandfathered in? Are they aware of that?”
“Yeah, they helped me out with that annoying woman,” he laughs. “They had me send her a letter stating that she didn’t adhere to the changes I requested; therefore, she’s got thirty days to be out.”
“And you didn’t send that letter requesting the changes?”
“Nope,” he chuckles. “It’s genius, really.”
“What if she takes you to court?”
“That girl is flat-ass broke, and she’s not very bright either. She can’t afford a lawyer. She won’t know to press the issue. It’s genius. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.”
“That is pretty genius. And cutthroat.”
Fury bubbles up inside me, but I keep it in check. I need to think, to figure out how to fix this. “Donald, you need to reconsider. Whatever they’ve offered you, I can match it.”
“I’m sorry, Logan,” he says, and for the first time, there’s a hint of regret in his voice. “But I can’t renege on this deal. These people… they’re not ones you can say no to.”
A cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck. “Who are they?”
“That’s not something you need to worry about,” he says, his tone final. “Just know that I’m doing what’s best for me and my business. It’s nothing personal.”
Nothing personal .
The words sting more than they should. This is more than business, it’s Serena’s livelihood, her dream. And it’s being ripped away because of something I shared with my brother in what I thought was confidence.
This is my fault. This is my family’s doing. I know it is.
“This deal… It's moving fast. I’m going to put pressure on the girl to get her out of there sooner if I can so they can get started. You should have a drink with me when I’m down there. Maybe you can buy into the business, too.”
Chaz has always been quick to act, especially when there’s money involved. But this… this is different.
My family is known for doing people dirty and just relying on the idea that no one is smart enough or has enough money to fight them.
They’re wrong this time, though. Now, they’re messing with me.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“I’m sorry, Logan,” he repeats, and I can hear the finality in his tone. “But my decision is made. I wish it could be different, but it’s out of my hands now.”
He hangs up before I can respond, leaving me standing there, phone in hand, fury and frustration boiling inside me.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. Serena can’t lose her shop, not like this. I won’t let it happen.
I made her a promise, and I have to keep it.
This is about to be a fight, and I’m willing to go the distance with it. Brant will back me, too. He’s one of the best attorneys in the city.
Donald told me that stuff about the eviction in confidence, and it’ll come down to he said, she said. There will be no proof on his end, though, because if I know Donald, he didn’t do anything to the letter, especially not if Chaz is leading him.
I pocket my phone and head back toward the house, my mind already racing with ideas and plans. I need to talk to Chaz to figure out how deep he’s in this and if there’s any way to salvage the situation. And I need to do it now before it’s too late.
Maybe I can appeal to my brother’s softer side—especially if I offer to go in with him so that he’s away from Mom and Dad finally.
They watch him like a hawk and don’t let him make any decisions on his own, for good reasons, but I’m sure he wants away from them at his age.
As I reach the door, I spot Serena inside, still helping with the cleanup. She’s focused, but I can see the exhaustion in her posture. And now, knowing what’s at stake, I feel that weight of responsibility even more.
I need to protect her, to shield her from this mess. But how? How do I fix something that’s already in motion, something that’s threatening to take everything from her?
I need to figure this out fast. Serena can’t lose her shop, and I can’t let my brothers screw me over like this.
“Logan!” I hear Brant’s voice from behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I slow down, and he catches up to me, a concerned look on his face. “What’s wrong? You look deep in thought.”
I stop and turn to face him, letting out a long breath. “Donald just called me. Said someone else approached him to buy the building Serena’s shop is in.”
Brant frowns, clearly puzzled. “That’s sudden. What do they want with the building?”
“They’re going to renovate it into high-end executive studio apartments,” I explain, the words coming out bitterly. “They’re offering him a big sum of money and a cut of the profits, but the kicker is they want everyone out, Serena included. Donald admitted that he had sent her an eviction notice already but had not done it the proper way. And now, he’s planning to force her out even sooner.”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “That sounds awfully familiar.”
“Yeah, it does,” I agree, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Too familiar. It’s exactly the idea I shared with Chaz. I told him about my plan to buy Donald’s building and turn it into executive apartments. Now, out of nowhere, someone else swoops in with the same offer?”
“You think Chaz is working against you?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” I say, the realization settling in like a punch to the gut. “It’s too much of a coincidence. He knew about the idea. He knew about the building… it has to be him. Not to mention, Chaz and my parents just told me that if I didn’t end things with Serena, they would disown me. My mom told me that my business will suffer because they’re the reason I’m so successful.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“I’m aware. Always the type to bully and manipulate.”
Brant shakes his head in disbelief. “Damn. That’s low, even for them.”
“And now Serena’s caught in the crossfire,” I continue, the frustration boiling over. “Donald admitted he sent the eviction notice the wrong way, and he’s going to push her out as soon as he can. She has no idea what's coming. I told her I would make the eviction go away.”
“Alright, here’s what we’ll do. Call me in the morning, and we’ll go over everything. We’ll see what can be done to stop this.”
Just as I’m about to respond, I see Serena approaching out of the corner of my eye. She’s heading straight for us, her expression unreadable, but I can tell she’s heard at least part of the conversation.
“I don’t need your help,” she says, her voice cold and determined. “I already have a lawyer.”
Brant and I exchange a quick glance, both of us taken aback by the sudden change in her demeanor. “Serena,” I start, trying to explain, but she cuts me off.
“I don’t need Brant, and I don’t need you wasting your money on a lawyer,” she snaps, crossing her arms over her chest. “My sister is the best in the city, and she’s already started the process.”
I’m stunned for a moment, trying to process what she’s saying. Her sister? I didn’t even know she had one, let alone that she was a lawyer. “Your sister’s a lawyer?” I ask, more out of surprise than anything.
“That’s right,” Serena says, her chin tilted up defiantly. “And she’s damn good at what she does.”
Brant steps in, trying to diffuse the situation. “Look, Serena, we’re just trying to help…”
“I don’t need a white knight to save me,” she says sharply, cutting him off. She looks between us with a mix of determination and pride. “I can handle this on my own.”
Before I can say anything else, she turns on her heel and walks away, her back straight, her gait determined. I watch her go, a mix of frustration and admiration churning in my chest.
“Wow,” Brant mutters beside me, clearly taken aback. “She’s got fire, I’ll give her that.”
“Yeah,” I agree, my eyes still on Serena as she disappears around the corner. “But that doesn’t mean she has to do this alone.”
He gives me a look—one that tells me he’s thinking the same thing I am. Serena might not want our help, but that doesn’t mean we will sit back and let this happen. I owe it to her to make sure she doesn’t lose everything she’s worked for, even if she doesn’t see it that way right now.
“Call me in the morning,” Brant says again, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out.”
I nod, but my mind is already racing, trying to think of the next move. I can’t let Serena’s pride or my brother get in the way of what’s right. This fight is just beginning, and I’m not about to back down. Not when so much is on the line.
“Thanks, Brant,” I say, giving him a grateful nod. “I appreciate it.”
“Of course.”
As he walks away, I’m left standing there, the night quiet around me, but my thoughts are anything but. Serena might not want a white knight, but she’s getting one whether she likes it or not.
This isn’t just about the shop anymore. It’s about standing up to my brother, proving that I’m not the pushover he thinks I am. And more than anything, it’s about protecting Serena, even if she doesn’t think she needs it.
Because I know what’s at stake, and I’m not willing to lose her or let her lose everything she’s built because of some underhanded move by Chaz—or because of me.