28. Logan
28
LOGAN
T he day begins with a relentless buzz of nerves I haven’t felt since my first big deal. Today isn’t about closing a contract or buying out a competitor—it’s about Serena—about us, and about a future that I can’t wait to start building.
I’ve spent the last few weeks planning every detail of this proposal, and now, as I stand in my house, I’m running through everything one last time in my mind, hoping it’ll be perfect.
She deserves perfection.
I’ve orchestrated enough grand gestures in my career to know that the difference between good and unforgettable is in the details. And today, every single detail is for Serena. She doesn’t need any of this; she’s never asked for anything other than my time and honesty. But that’s exactly why I want to do this—because she deserves to be shown just how much she means to me in a way that only I can give her.
I glance down at my watch—everything is right on schedule. I’ve had my assistant, Grace, running interference all morning, keeping Serena distracted with a “business consultation” at her shop. Little does Serena know it’s just a ruse to keep her busy enough for me to set everything up. I’ve planned this to the last second, and the anticipation is killing me.
The ring sits in my jacket pocket, heavy with promise. It’s not just any ring—it’s a custom piece designed with Serena in mind. The center diamond is flanked by smaller sapphires, the exact color of her eyes when she’s excited. I spent hours with the jeweler, making sure every detail was right, even down to the subtle engravings on the band: “Forever, My Serena.”
But the ring is just the beginning.
I check my phone—everything’s ready. The rooftop garden at our favorite restaurant has been transformed into a romantic wonderland, draped with fairy lights and candles that’ll flicker to life as the sun sets.
I’ve got a string quartet warming up in the corner, their soft melodies already drifting up to my ears as I think about the evening ahead. And then there’s the pièce de résistance: the city skyline, spread out like a blanket of glittering stars, just for us.
I’m interrupted by a knock on the door. It’s Brant, the only person I’ve let in on my plans today. He’s dressed sharply in a black suit, holding two glasses of champagne.
“You look like you’re about to negotiate a hostile takeover,” he says with a smirk, handing me a glass. “Nervous?”
I take the glass, but I don’t drink yet. My nerves are buzzing, but it’s the kind of excitement I haven’t felt in a long time. “You have no idea.”
He chuckles, clinking his glass against mine. “Relax. You’ve got this. She’s going to love it. Serena’s crazy about you, Logan. This is just icing on the cake.”
I nod, trying to steady my nerves. “I just want it to be right. She deserves everything.”
Brant takes a sip of his champagne, eyeing me over the rim. “And she’s getting everything. You’re doing this exactly how it should be done—big, bold, and straight from the heart. Just don’t overthink it.”
Easy for him to say. But he’s right. Tonight isn’t about impressing Serena with the glitz and glamour—it’s about showing her that she’s the most important thing in my life. I take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and finally take a sip of champagne. “Thanks, man.”
Brant gives me a pat on the back. “Alright, she’ll be here soon. I’m going to head downstairs to make sure everything’s set. You’ve got this.”
I nod, and Brant disappears, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the soft music drifting up from the rooftop. I check my watch again—Serena should be arriving any minute. I take a moment to look out at the city, my city, the place I’ve built my empire, and I realize that none of it matters if I don’t have her by my side.
My phone buzzes, and my heart leaps when I see Grace’s text.
She’s on her way.
I quickly pull on my jacket, smoothing it down. The garden is set, the quartet is playing softly, and the candles are all in place, their tiny flames flickering in the evening breeze. This is it. I step onto the rooftop, the city lights reflecting off the glass walls of the surrounding buildings, creating a stunning, almost surreal backdrop.
I hear the door to the rooftop open, and there she is—Serena, standing there in a simple but beautiful dress that flows in the breeze. She looks around, her mouth falling open as she takes it all in, and I can see the exact moment she realizes that all of this is for her.
“Logan… what is this?” she asks, her voice filled with awe.
I smile, taking a few steps toward her. “Hey, beautiful. I wanted to do something special for you tonight.”
She steps forward, still looking around, her eyes wide. “This is… this is amazing. I don’t even know what to say. I thought we were just going out for dinner.”
I chuckle, feeling the tension in my chest start to ease at the sight of her smile. “Dinner’s part of it, but I wanted to start here. I’ve got a few surprises planned.”
She looks at me, her eyes glimmering in the golden light of the setting sun. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
I step closer, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I wanted to. You’re worth every bit of it, Serena.”
Her cheeks flush, and she gives me that look—one part exasperated, two parts deeply touched. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Only when it comes to you.” I lead her to the table set for two, covered with crisp white linen and soft pink roses, her favorite. The quartet starts playing her favorite song, a gentle melody that fills the evening air, and I watch Serena’s face light up as she recognizes it.
“This is beautiful,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion as I pull out her seat for her. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
I sit across from her, unable to take my eyes off her. “You make me want to do things like this. You make me want to be better, to show you how much you mean to me.”
Dinner is served, course after course of all her favorites—lobster risotto, truffle pasta, and a delicate lemon tart for dessert. We eat, talk, and laugh under the glow of the candles, and I feel this overwhelming sense of rightness. This is how it’s supposed to be. Us together, away from the noise of the world.
Serena leans back, her fingers tracing the edge of her wine glass. “Logan, I don’t know how you pulled all this off, but… thank you. No one’s ever done anything like this for me.”
I reach across the table, taking her hand in mine. “I’d do it a thousand times over if it meant seeing you smile like that.”
She blushes, but there’s something else in her eyes—something deeper, more vulnerable. It’s as if she’s letting herself truly believe that this is real, that we’re real. I stand up, taking her hand to help her up. “There’s one more thing.”
Serena follows me to the rooftop's edge, where the view is most breathtaking. The city stretches out before us, alive with lights and energy. I pull her close, wrapping my arm around her waist as we look out together.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” I say, my voice low, filled with love and hope. “You’ve changed everything for me, Serena. You’ve made me see the world in a completely different way, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You’re my best friend, my partner, and the love of my life. And I want to spend every day making you as happy as you’ve made me.”
She turns to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Logan…”
I drop to one knee, pulling the ring box from my pocket. The look on Serena’s face is priceless—pure shock, followed by a flood of emotion that leaves her speechless.
“Serena, will you marry me?”
For a moment, she just stands there, her hands covering her mouth as tears spill down her cheeks. It feels like the world has stopped, and all I can see is her, standing there with the city at our feet and the future in her eyes.
“Yes,” she breathes, her voice breaking as she nods. “Yes, Logan. A thousand times, yes.”
I slip the ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly, like it was always meant to be there. I stand up, pulling her into my arms as the quartet plays softly behind us. She kisses me, and everything else fades away—the city, the lights, the noise. It’s just us, wrapped up in this moment that’s as perfect as I’d hoped it would be.
“I love you,” she whispers against my lips, and I feel the smile vibrating there.
“I love you, too,” I say, holding her tight, feeling like the luckiest man in the world.
We stand there for a long time, watching the city lights dance around us.
Both of us lost in the promise of forever.