More Than A Favor (Elaine and Logan)

Chapter 40 Olars

The moment I got off the plane, I headed straight to the amusement park, dragging my luggage behind me. There wasn't even time to stop by my apartment.

Maya was waiting for me at the entrance. The second she spotted me, she ran over and hugged me tightly. "Ms. Hart, you're finally back," she said, her voice filled with relief.

I patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Let's not waste any time. Show me the problem areas first"

I hadn't slept much the night before, tossing and turning as I tried to analyze the situation in my mind While I suspected the construction team or the lighting supplier might be at fault, the likelihood of them making a mistake this big seemed slim. This was a high-stakes project for them-any major error could cost them their reputation, or worse, their business.

After much consideration, I concluded that the issue might lie elsewhere. Still, as someone without a technical background, I couldn't pinpoint the exact problem without seeing it firsthand. So, I dove straight into the work.

I spent the entire evening inspecting the lights, turning them on and off, and comparing them to the original design renderings. I didn't stop until 2:00a.m.

"Ms. Hart, you must've been storing up energy for the past week because you're exploding with it now," Maya joked, completely exhausted as she slumped into a nearby chair.

Had I really been away that long? The thought barely crossed my mind-I was too focused on the task. at hand.

After leaving the amusement park, Maya and I went back to the office and worked through the night to compile a detailed report on the issues we'd identified. Our plan was to confront the construction team and lighting supplier the following day before presenting everything to Logan.

According to Maya, Logan was already furious about the situation. Even if we resolved the issue, we'd likely still face penalties-a fact that weighed heavily on her.

Logan wasn't known for leniency, especially when it came to professional matters. He might not care much about me personally anymore, but I knew his work ethic: fair, strict, and uncompromising. None of this surprised me.

"Even if we face penalties, we must do our best to fix it," I said firmly, I couldn't compromise on my principles, no matter the circumstances.

When we finally finished the report, it was nearly 6:00 a.m. Maya was so exhausted she fell asleep at her desk. My eyelids were heavy too, but to my surprise, I didn't feel sleepy.

I headed to the restroom to freshen up and made myself a cup of coffee. Then I sat back down and began reviewing the issues. If my judgment was correct, the problem likely stemmed from the lighting adjustments-not the construction or the manufacturing. By the time people started arriving at the office, I was still at my desk, sipping my coffee and making notes. One by one, my colleagues greeted me warmly.

"Ms. Hart, you're back?"

"You're back early, Ms. Hart!"

Their words were kind, but their gazes lingered a little too long. I could see the curiosity in their eyes,

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the whispers barely concealed behind polite smiles

Maya had told me before that everyone in the office knew about my state

theyren

I'd lived with the Mercer family for years, and even though we had yours we were sam as a married couple. Now that we were separaters, it was the top

I didn't let it bother me. People talked about others behind their backs

the

subject of gossip at some point? Their curiosity was natural, and I refused to affertnoveldrama

so

Around 10:00 am, the sleepless night finally began catching up to me. I headed to the pony me myself another cup of coffee. As I stepped out with the steaming moog in hand, I fo Logan was walking toward me

His gaze locked onto mine, intense and unreadable. Anger summered beneath th

was something else there too-resentment, frustration, and something cour

"Good morning, Mr. Mercer," I said, keeping my tone professional toed to walk past her goong my coffee tightly.

"Come to my office," he said sharply.

His tone was so stern that my hand trembled, and I nearly spilled my coffee word tags breath to steady myself. "Alright," I said quietly.