Page 110 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

“Have a seat, Logan. And shut the door, please.”

I shut the door and take the chair across from Darwin’s desk.

“I want to remind you that I’m seriously considering you for promotion into Rick’s position as marketing manager.”

“Thank you.”

My face is a mask. My heart beats rapidly. I can’t wait to tell Olivia. She’s going to be so thrilled for me. Darwin had hinted at the possibility when I first started at Barnes. Hearing him reiterate his intentions only solidifies my certainty that the position is mine.

Darwin leans back in his chair a little. “Due to the sensitive nature of how promotions go, I want to keep this hush-hush until I make my final decision.”

“Understood.”

“Please don’t mention anything to your coworkers. I just want you to know you’re one of my top candidates. You showed strong leadership with the Untethered campaign, and your years of work at Omnipresent earned you a reputation in the industry. You’ve lived up to that reputation every day since you arrived here.”

“Thank you. I’m honored to be considered.”

“I’m sure you’ll do a great job.”

He says that as if I’m a shoo-in and the position’s already mine.

“I’ll always give my all to my job,” I assure Darwin.

“Save something for your life outside Barnes, Logan. That’s a lesson many execs learn too late in life. Work-life balance isn’t just a catch phrase. It needs to be a practice.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

“I know you and Olivia have started dating. I hope this promotion won’t cause any difficulties in the way you work together.”

“I don’t see why it should—if I am promoted, that is. Olivia and I are team players. We used to be competitive, but we’ve grown past that now.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Olivia

I just think about how many women in their workplaces

have been working to get a promotion,

and they look around, and then this guy comes.

~ Christy Clark

I’m workingon a presentation with Logan for our potential new client. Charlie approved the brand concept, so now Logan and I are collaborating on a cohesive strategy for the campaign content. We’ve sequestered ourselves in the conference room so we can focus without interruption.

Only, focusing on work when I’m alone in a room with Logan is not exactly easy.

We’ve been officially dating for a few weeks now. Everything is new, yet comfortable. We’re constantly together, and yet we miss one another when we have to be apart for even the shortest length of time. We’re like old friends, but everything about him sets my heart racing and my mind whirling. Like right now, he’s trying to focus on our project, and all I can think about is the way he made me laugh last night. I look at his mouth in an attempt to focus on what he’s saying. Instead, I remember the way his lips feel on mine.

“Considering the demographic they’re trying to reach,” Logan says, “I’m thinking Instagram is our primary platform. Maybe even some ads on LinkedIn to reach professionals looking for good lunch break alternatives.”

Logan’s all business. Serious. Focused. But occasionally flirtatious, in a very professionally appropriate way.

“Oooh. I like the LinkedIn idea,” I say. “That’s outside the box.”

Logan smiles at me. He’s wearing a blue oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The color draws out his eyes and contrasts with his brown hair perfectly.

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