xpected from Logan Pierce,

at across from him. There was something different about today. About this moment. Maybe it was the way he seemed to be looking at h

what exactly do you want from me, Logan?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with a hint o

always seemed to have a thousand meanings behind it. He wa

oothing. "I'm not asking for anything, Ella. I ju

not exactly the type to do thi

th exposed and oddly... alive. "You don't think I'm capable of just enjoying some

though she wanted to. She had spent too many years building walls around herself to let anyone inside.

y not feeling as hungry for the caffeine. "You've got everything-money, power, influence. What's t

ine. "You're right, I have everything most people dream of. But a

g to get her to soften up, to let down her guard. It seemed like a line strai

ard slightly. "Why do you think you can just wal

pside down. I just want to... see what could happen if w

econd, she looked away, afraid he might notice how much his wo

is voice low but teasing. "You're not f

im to make her lose control, to make her feel like a fool f

to shake off the growing tension in the air. She grabbed her

me, Logan," she said, her voice tigh

wrist. His grip wasn't forceful, but it was enough

ulnerable. "I'm just trying to make you see that not everything in this w

rn around, to face him, to see if the words he spoke matche

e emotions she was trying to suppress. "I've worked too hard to get where

ot trying to ruin anything, Ella. I'm just trying to sho

don't know me. You don't know what I've been through. Do

anted him to find. "I don't pretend to understand everything," he said quietly. "But I do kn

something real in his eyes. Maybe he wasn't just some heartless billionaire after

need anyone to save me, Logan," she said, her voice hardening. "I've got it

" he said, his tone earnest. "I'm just trying to show you there's more to life t

ldn't let him in. But the truth was, every part of her wanted to believe him. Wante

et herself go down that path. No

voice shaking with the effort to keep her emotion

licker of something more-something deeper. But before she could s

"I won't push you. But you s

more, her heart racing as sh

ow and sincere, "I'll be here. But don't take t

make sense of. She turned and walked out of the café without looki