He Gave Everyone a Key but Me Chapter 04

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a sharp knock on the door.

Logan was already dressed and ready, his custom-tailored suit making him look every bit the successful businessman.

“Claire, get up and change.”

He adjusted his tie while checking his watch.

“We’ve got an important lunch meeting today. The investors specifically asked everyone to bring their partners.”

I sat up in bed and rubbed my temples.

“I’m not going.”

“No.”

The refusal came instantly.

“Lance Harrison values family-oriented people. You need to be there.”

Logan walked to the closet and pulled the door open.

Then he stopped.

“Where are your clothes?”

The closet that used to be crammed full was now half empty.

Only a few work outfits remained.

“I threw them away.”

I pushed back the blanket and got out of bed.

“They were old and worn out. I didn’t want them anymore.”

Logan turned and studied me for a moment.

“Good.”

He pulled a black credit card from his pocket and set it on the vanity.

“Go shopping this afternoon and buy yourself something new. Stop dressing so plain all the time.”

“For today, wear that black dress. Something a little more polished.”

After arranging everything for me as usual, he turned and walked out of the bedroom.

I looked at the card on the table but didn’t touch it.

The lunch was held at an upscale private restaurant downtown.

When Logan and I entered the private dining room, several people were already there.

Besides Lance and a few executives, Tinsley was there too.

She wore a wine-red slip dress with a designer-style tweed jacket draped over her shoulders, her makeup flawless.

She looked radiant.

“Mr. Mercer. Ms. Gibson.”

Tinsley stood and greeted us with a bright smile.

Logan nodded before pulling out the chair beside the head seat.

“Claire, sit here.”

I walked over and sat down.

Tinsley naturally took the seat on Logan’s other side.

“Mr. Mercer, Mr. Harrison and the others already ordered.”

She handed him the menu.

“I asked them to leave out the onions and ginger you don’t like, and I added the steamed sea bass and garlic shrimp you love.”

As she spoke, she leaned slightly toward him.

The distance between them felt a little too intimate.

Lance chuckled from across the table.

“Mr. Mercer, you hired yourself a good assistant. Very attentive.”

Logan smiled, looking quietly pleased.

“Tinsley is sharp. She’s helped me a lot.”

Then he turned toward me.

“Claire, see if there’s anything else you’d like.”

I looked down at the menu—page after page of seafood—every single thing I wasn’t supposed to eat.

I’d had surgery a few days ago and couldn’t have seafood or other inflammatory foods.

Logan didn’t know that, or maybe he had simply never cared enough to remember.

“It’s fine. This is plenty.”

I closed the menu and took a sip of juice.

The dishes arrived quickly.

Tinsley picked out the most tender piece of fish belly and placed it onto Logan’s plate.

“Mr. Mercer, try this.”

Logan naturally picked it up and ate it. He didn’t even realize how inappropriate the gesture looked.

I quietly ate the plate of vegetables in front of me. Not once did I touch the seafood.

Eventually, Logan glanced over and noticed my plate was filled with nothing but vegetables.

“Why aren’t you eating the shrimp? This place is known for fresh seafood.”

Using his own fork, he placed a peeled shrimp onto my plate.

“Thanks.”

I didn’t refuse. I simply nudged it to the side of my plate.

The entire meal passed in complete peace.

I didn’t silently stew over Tinsley’s behavior like I used to.

I didn’t feel hurt by Logan’s neglect either.

Honestly, they looked good together.

Halfway through lunch, Lance suddenly shifted the conversation toward me.

“Claire, you’ve been with Mr. Mercer for quite a few years now, haven’t you?”

“When are the two of you finally getting married?”

Every eye at the table turned toward us.

Tinsley’s hand paused in midair. She looked up, a flicker of tension hidden in her eyes.

Logan set down his utensils. He picked up a napkin and wiped the corner of his mouth.

“Mr. Harrison, don’t start pressuring us.”

He laughed lightly, expertly deflecting.

“The company’s handling several major projects right now, and I’m still spending a lot of time overseeing Tinsley’s work.”

“Planning a wedding takes too much energy.”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Those words again.

Later.

I set down my fork and pressed a napkin lightly against my lips.

Just then, my phone vibrated inside my purse.

I pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

A new message appeared.

Kevin: [The wedding dress arrived by air shipment. Want to go try it on together tomorrow afternoon?]