Two Years Earlier

I stretched out, surprised to find myself in my own bed. I vaguely remembered Logan asking me about my keys, but I didn't remember putting myself under the covers. I lifted the sheet and found I was still wearing my dress from the night before.

I stumbled out of bed and into the kitchen. For a moment, I hoped I would find Logan asleep on my couch, but the living room was empty. However, sitting on the kitchen counter was a piece of paper. Logan's messy handwriting filled the page.

I smiled down at the note. Warm, fuzzy feelings floated through me like marshmallows in hot chocolate. For once, things seemed to be working out the way they were supposed to. I could finally feel success coming my way.

I turned on the coffee machine and went to start the shower. I still smelled like him. I almost didn't want to lose that scent, but the rest of me did not smell so nice. Plus, my hair and makeup now looked like something out of a scary movie. I stepped under the warm water, feeling the night wash free.

I'll have him again, I thought to myself. It made me shiver with anticipation. I wanted to wrap myself up in his arms again. I replayed the night in my head, humming happily as I washed my hair. I loved the way his eyes had glowed with want, but there was something more there. I knew I was falling hard for him.

Be honest, I scolded myself. You fell for him the moment you saw him. I knew it was true. I wasn't the type of girl who believed in love at first sight, but then, I also wasn't the type of girl who had sex in the backseat of a limo on the first date, either. We had just connected so well. I could see us actually working out.

My phone rang in the other room, but my hair was full of shampoo suds. I realized I had been standing under the water for twenty minutes without doing anything but thinking of Logan. I ducked under the water and quickly finished up my shower. I hoped the call was from Logan, even though it hadn’t been the requisite three days the movies all claimed he should wait.

With a towel wrapped around my head, I picked up my phone. I had one missed call, but it unfortunately wasn't from Logan. It was from WorldofTravelAgents.com, one of the bigger companies interested in buying my business. I hesitated for a moment before calling them back, apprehension and excitement running through me.

It wasn't official that Travel, Inc. was going to buy me out, but given what happened last night, I was pretty sure it was going to happen. One didn't sleep with the COO and not get certain perks. I was going to have to tell the other companies that Travel, Inc. was buying me out eventually. I decided to give into my excitement from last night and share the news.

“Hello, Mr. Carmichael,” I greeted the man who answered. “Just calling you back.”

“Olivia,” Mr. Carmichael said warmly. “I was just calling to see if you had given our offer some more thought.”

“Actually, I'm going to have to decline,” I said, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. “Travel, Inc. is ready to start negotiations. I should be signing paperwork this afternoon.”

“Travel, Inc.? That's fantastic!” Mr. Carmichael sounded genuinely excited for me. “From the minute I met you and saw your business plan, I knew you were destined for great things. If Travel, Inc. wants you, there's no way I can compete with what they can offer. Congratulations!”

“Thank you, Mr. Carmichael.” I was blushing and very glad he couldn't see me through the phone. “I really appreciate it. I want you to know that I was very interested in your proposal.”

“Thank you, but Travel, Inc. really will give your business the boost it deserves. I'm so very happy for you,” he congratulated me. “If I were in your shoes, I would be dancing up and down the street. Let me know if you're ever thinking of acquiring more partners. I'd love to have Travel, Inc. as a resource.”

“I will keep you in mind,” I told him. “Thank you, again.”

“My pleasure, Olivia. Good luck with Travel, Inc.,” he said and we both hung up.

I set the phone back on my nightstand and grinned. Things were definitely going my way.

I threw on some clothes and pulled out my laptop. I wanted to start implementing some of the ideas Logan had given me last night while I waited for his call. As I worked, I realized what a gift he had given me with his insights. Some of the issues he had found would have caused some serious delays. He had shortened the learning curve on several of my implementation ideas. I couldn't wait to pick his brain again and learn even more.

I opened up my internet browser to check my email while I waited for my other programs to finish loading. After a few minutes, I laughed as I realized I had opened up his website and had been staring at his company picture. Even on the computer screen, his eyes were mesmerizing and bathed me in their warmth. I hoped we could celebrate Dream Vacations joining Travel, Inc. tonight. I was even thinking of running out to my favorite lingerie shop to make sure I had something special to wear for the occasion.

“Get back to work,” I chided myself softly, closing the webpage. There was still so much for me to do. He'd call when he was ready. Until then, I could get everything set up to make the transition to Travel, Inc. as smooth as possible.

* * *

I looked up from the computer screen and blinked. The sun was already setting, and the room was getting dark. I hadn't realized how much time had passed while I worked. I had been so engrossed in my laptop and making improvements that I had completely lost track of time. I quickly checked my phone, wondering if I had somehow missed Logan's call. He should have heard something back from his father by this time of day. I had honestly thought I would be a proud employee of Travel, Inc. by now.

No calls. No texts. No emails. I frowned slightly. This wasn't exactly how I had envisioned things, but then I had never been bought by a billion-dollar company before. Maybe it took more time than I thought.

“Yeah, that's it,” I said to no one in particular. “These things just take time. No reason to be nervous.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the phone started ringing, vibrating in my hands. I grinned as I recognized the number as one of the extensions of Travel, Inc.

“Hello,” I said warmly into the phone. “This is Olivia Statler.”

“Ms. Statler,” a nasally female voice responded. “This is Mr. Logan Hayes’ secretary. I regret to inform you that Travel, Inc. is no longer interested in purchasing your company.”

My heart sank as I heard her words. “What!?” I frowned at the phone. There was no way I had heard that right.

“We thank you for your time and wish you the best in your endeavors. We at Travel, Inc. hope that you will continue to use Travel, Inc. for all your travel needs,” she informed me.

“I don't understand. May I please speak with Logan Hayes?” I was glad I was sitting because I felt a little faint. There was no way this could be happening. There had to be some sort of misunderstanding.

“I'm sorry,” the woman said. “He's unavailable at this time. Good luck, Ms. Statler.” And she terminated the call.

I stared at the phone in disbelief. This couldn't be real. This had to be some sort of strange initiation joke or something. I ran to the kitchen and searched for the note he had left with his personal number. My fingers shook as I dialed it.

It rang twice. “Mr. Logan Hayes' personal line,” a polite female responded. It was different than the one who had just called. She sounded nicer.

“May I please speak with Mr. Hayes? It's very important.” I managed to sound professional and keep the panic out of my voice.

“Who is calling?” I could hear her typing on a computer somewhere.

“Olivia Statler,” I informed her without hesitation. This had to be some sort of mistake. A funny mix-up we'd all laugh about later.

“I'm sorry, Ms. Statler,” she said slowly. The typing stopped. “I've been instructed to tell you that Mr. Hayes is no longer interested in your company. Professional or private.”

“I understand that,” I said, even though I really didn't. This didn't make any sense. Things had gone so well yesterday! “But I really need to speak with him. It's urgent.”

“I'm very sorry. That's not possible,” she said firmly.

“Not possible? You're sorry?” I was getting angry now. This wasn't funny anymore. I was supposed to be sipping champagne and celebrating with Logan, not chatting with his secretaries about this nonsense. “That's not good enough. This is his private line. I want to know why he was so excited about my company yesterday and today he won't talk to me!”

The secretary was quiet for a moment. “I'm sorry, Ms. Statler. If you would like, I can transfer you to Mr. Gerald Hayes, CEO. Perhaps he can answer that question for you.”

“Thank you. I would appreciate that.” I rolled my eyes at her through the phone. I knew it wasn't her fault, but she wasn't making me feel any better. I did not appreciate being yanked around like this.

I heard her click a button, and hold music started to play. I tried to take deep, calming breaths as I waited for Gerald Hayes to pick up the phone. I was furious, but I knew it wouldn't do any good to yell at the CEO of the company. I needed to be calm, cool, and professional.

“Hayes,” a gravelly, masculine voice answered. It was Logan's voice, but rougher, as if he had smoked several packs of cigarettes a day for most of his life.

“Mr. Hayes, this is Olivia Statler-”

“I know who you are, Ms. Statler,” he interrupted me. I wasn't phased by it.

“Well, perhaps you can explain to me why your company showed interest in acquiring my business yesterday, but today isn't even willing to let me talk to anyone?” I stood up tall in my kitchen even though I knew he couldn't see me. I felt like it would give me confidence to talk to him as an equal.

“Ms. Statler, you are confusing my son with his business. Travel, Inc. is not interested in your business nor its services. Your long-term marketing is no good, and your plan is doomed to failure. I don't invest in unsound practices, and as such, I’ve declined the offer,” he stated. I could practically see him spinning slowly in a huge, leather chair and smoking a cigar, possibly twirling his mustache. I wanted to punch him.

“But yesterday-”

“Was yesterday,” he interrupted again. “The business world moves fast, and if you aren't ready to move with it, you are going to be left behind. These are the big leagues, little girl.”

I seethed a little at the implication that I was falling behind and that he had the gall to call me a little girl.

“Now, just for the record, you gave an excellent presentation and Logan was impressed, but ultimately, he failed to impress me with what your company would do for my business. There is nothing personal here, Ms. Statler, just business,” he explained.

Just business my ass , I thought. There had to be more to it than that.

“Now, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t contact us again about this matter. If our interest changes, then we'll contact you,” he said. “I would also advise you to let my son be or we will be pursuing harassment charges.”

“But, Mr. Hayes-”

“Goodnight, Ms. Statler,” he said, then he hung up.

I stared down at the phone in disbelief yet again. I was absolutely dumbstruck. All signs had pointed to yes. What was I going to tell the other companies who’d been interested in me? I couldn't exactly call Mr. Carmichael up and say, “Hey! Just kidding about Travel, Inc.!”

I sunk to the floor as I realized it was worse than that. Word was going to spread that Travel, Inc. thought I was a bad investment, that “the long-term market was no good and your plan is doomed to failure.” If the biggest and best travel company around didn't think I was a good investment, the smaller ones would have every reason to believe them. I was going to lose all my potential buyers because of this. Because I had trusted him.

A tear ran down my cheek and dropped onto the kitchen floor. Everything was ruined. Everything I had worked so hard to achieve, my dreams of running a travel agency, of being successful, were gone. Logan had crushed them all by leading me on and making me think that he wanted me. That he had been interested not only in my business, but in me as a person.

I dialed his personal line again, but it didn't even go to the secretary. This time, I got the operator with the annoying voice telling me that the line was no longer in service.

Coward, I thought. Doesn't even have the guts to tell me himself. I could barely believe it. He had been so wonderful last night. I had started to let myself imagine a future with him. I had liked him so much, but now, I realized it had just been a front. He only wanted in my pants, and pretending to believe in my company was the easiest way to get there. I couldn't believe I had let myself be so easily duped.

I pulled my hair up and out of my face and took a deep breath. I wasn't about to let some coward and his terrible father make a fool of me. I had worked too hard for this. If the Hayes family thought this was going to slow me down, they were wrong. This was just a bump in the road. My idea was a great one and it was going to work. They were going to be sorry they messed with Olivia Statler. I’d show them. I was still crying, but I’d show them all.