Young Millionaire Needed a Plus-One for a Charity Gala and Never Thought He’d End Up Falling For Her
Cracks in the Facade
Natalie hadn’t expected to enjoy herself, but she couldn’t deny the way Logan made everything effortless. He moved through the room with a confidence that was impossible to ignore.
But what surprised her was how he ensured she never felt out of place. Whenever someone spoke to her, he made sure she was part of the conversation. He never let her feel like an outsider in his world.
She found herself laughing at a remark he made about one of the attendees, her guard slipping more than she intended. But just as she was starting to let herself relax, a woman approached, her smile laced with something sharp.
“Logan,” the woman purred, placing a hand on his arm. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show.”
Natalie instinctively took a small step back, suddenly aware of the way people were watching. Logan’s expression didn’t change, but there was a tension in his posture that hadn’t been there before.
“Vanessa,” he greeted, his tone polite but distant.
Vanessa’s gaze flickered to Natalie, assessing. “And this must be your date?”
Natalie lifted her chin. “Natalie Monroe.”
The woman’s lips curved just slightly. “It’s always interesting to see who Logan brings to these things.” There was an implication in her tone that made Natalie’s stomach tighten.
But before she could react, Logan smoothly redirected the conversation. “Excuse us, Vanessa. We were just heading to get a drink.”
Without waiting for a response, he placed a hand at the small of Natalie’s back and guided her away. Once they were clear of prying ears, Natalie glanced at him. “Friend of yours?”
Logan exhaled through his nose. “Something like that.”
She arched a brow. “I take it she’s not thrilled about your choice of date.”
His lips twitched. “Vanessa enjoys making people feel like they don’t belong. I don’t particularly care what she thinks.”
Natalie searched his face, trying to decipher whether he was being honest. She had no doubt that women like Vanessa were more his usual type—polished, elegant, belonging to this world in a way that Natalie never could.
Still, there was something in the way Logan looked at her. It was something that made her wonder if he saw her differently than the rest. “Let’s get some air,” he suggested, reading something in her expression.
She nodded, allowing him to lead her onto the balcony. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside. The city stretched out before them, lights flickering like stars against the dark.
“Regretting saying yes?” Logan leaned against the railing, watching her.
Natalie considered the question. “It’s not what I expected.”
He smirked. “And what did you expect?”
She turned to face him fully. “A night of forced small talk and pretending to be someone I’m not.”
His gaze flickered with something unreadable. “And is that what this feels like?”
She hesitated. “No.”
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The sounds of the city buzzed below, but up here, it felt like they were in their own world.
Logan studied her, his usual air of ease replaced by something more serious. “You don’t belong to this world, but you don’t try to change yourself to fit into it either.”
Natalie tilted her head. “Is that a bad thing?”
His expression softened. “Not at all.”
Something shifted in the air between them, something neither of them acknowledged but both felt. Before Natalie could dwell on it, Logan straightened. “Stay here,” he said suddenly.
She frowned. “Why?”
His smirk returned, but there was a spark of mischief in his eyes. “Just trust me.”
With that, he disappeared back inside. Natalie leaned against the railing, exhaling. She wasn’t sure what to make of Logan Carter. He was charming, yes, but there was more to him—something genuine beneath the polished exterior.
A few minutes later, he returned holding something behind his back. Curious, she narrowed her eyes. “What are you hiding?”
Without a word, he revealed two small plates, each holding a slice of cake. Her brows lifted. “You smuggled dessert out of your own gala?”
He grinned. “Saw it on the menu and figured you’d appreciate it.”
She stared at him, something warm settling in her chest. “You don’t even know what kind of cake I like.”
“Lucky guess.”
Shaking her head, she took a bite, savoring the sweetness. “You surprise me, Logan.”
He watched her, his expression unreadable. “Good.”
The night stretched on, and for the first time, Natalie forgot about the expectations and the differences between their worlds. For the first time, it felt like they were just two people sharing something neither had anticipated.
The gala had come to an end, and yet neither Logan nor Natalie seemed eager to part ways. The sleek black car pulled up in front of her apartment, the city humming quietly around them.
The warmth of the evening still lingered in the air, but it was nothing compared to the charged silence between them. Logan leaned slightly against the back seat, watching her. “You don’t have to rush inside,” he said, voice low and unreadable.
Natalie hesitated, fingers grazing the edge of her gown. “And what exactly do you propose, Logan?”
His lips curved at her use of his name, as if he liked the way it sounded coming from her. “A walk? Unless you’re too tired.”
She wasn’t. In fact, she felt more awake than she had in years. “Fine,” she said.
They stepped out of the car, moving through the quiet street. The heels she wore should have been unbearable by now, but she barely noticed them. Logan walked beside her, his hands in his pockets.
The expensive material of his tux caught the glow of the streetlights. “I meant what I said earlier,” he finally said.
She glanced at him. “You say a lot of things.”
A soft chuckle escaped him. “I meant that you don’t change yourself to fit in.”
She thought about that. “And what about you? You seem to fit in anywhere.”
He exhaled, his gaze fixed ahead. “That’s the trick, isn’t it? Making people think you belong everywhere, even when you don’t.”
She studied him, sensing something unspoken beneath his words. “You don’t seem like someone who doubts where he belongs.”
He stopped walking, turning to her. “You’d be surprised.”
The weight of his gaze sent something sharp and unexpected through her. She had come into this night thinking she would leave untouched and unaffected.
But Logan Carter had a way of making things feel different, like she was seeing past the man everyone else saw. And that was dangerous. She looked away, exhaling. “I should go inside.”
Logan didn’t argue. But when she turned toward her apartment door, his fingers brushed against her wrist, stopping her. It was the lightest touch, but it sent her pulse racing.
“Would it be a terrible idea if I saw you again?” he asked.
She swallowed, heart pounding. “Probably.”
He smirked, but there was something softer in his expression. “I think I like terrible ideas.”
Her lips parted, but before she could respond, he released her wrist and stepped back. “Good night, Natalie.”
His voice was smoother than silk, but there was something deliberate in the way he left her standing there, as if he wanted to give her a choice.
She watched as he walked back to the car, the door closing behind him. She should have felt relieved that the night was over. But as she let herself into her apartment, all she could feel was the absence of his presence.
