OBSESSION

FOURTEEN.

Bethany walked into the office Monday morning, the glow of the weekend still clinging to her like a second skin. The Seattle rain couldn't dampen her mood, nor could the usual Monday morning rush as she breezed past the front desk, her smile wide enough to turn heads. She made her way to her office, coffee in hand, feeling lighter than she had in weeks.

The weekend with Logan had been everything she didn't know she needed—romantic, intimate, and filled with a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time. Now, back in the world of emails, meetings, and looming deadlines, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to him.

She settled at her desk, sipping her coffee as she opened her laptop. The early morning quiet of the office was soothing, a brief calm before the inevitable storm of the day's work. She had a meeting scheduled with Liam in less than an hour, and though she wasn't exactly thrilled about it, she was determined to approach it with the same confidence she'd displayed at the family dinner.

A knock on the door pulled her attention, and Teagan peeked her head inside, her auburn ponytail bouncing with her movements.

"Morning, sunshine!"

"Morning, Teagan," Bethany said, smiling as Teagan stepped inside, holding a cup of tea in one hand and a notebook in the other.

"You look... suspiciously cheerful for a Monday," Teagan teased, plopping into the chair opposite Bethany's desk. "Did you win the lottery or something?"

Bethany chuckled, her cheeks warming. "Not exactly. I just had a really good weekend."

Teagan raised an eyebrow, her green eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Oh? Care to share?"

Bethany hesitated for a moment, then leaned in slightly, her voice lowering. "Okay, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."

Teagan mimed zipping her lips. "Scout's honor."

Bethany grinned. "Logan and I are official now."

Teagan's eyes widened, and she practically squealed. "No way! Oh my God, Bethany! That's amazing!"

Bethany laughed, her heart warming at Teagan's excitement. "Yeah, it just... it felt right. He asked me during this amazing dinner his mom helped set up. It was perfect."

Teagan clasped her hands together dramatically. "You're living a rom-com, and I'm so here for it."

Bethany shook her head, though she couldn't stop smiling. "It's not all rainbows, though. There's something I need to tell you."

Teagan's expression sobered, and she leaned in. "What's up?"

"Sierra," Bethany said, her tone dropping. "She knows about Logan and me. She saw us together last week, and now she's using it against me."

Teagan frowned. "Using it how?"

"She basically blackmailed me into giving her the lead on Logan's account," Bethany admitted, her voice tight. "She said if I didn't, she'd go to Marcus and Ryan about us, and I can't risk losing my job over this."

Teagan's jaw dropped, her face a mixture of disbelief and anger. "Are you kidding me? That conniving little—ugh! I knew she was bad news, but this? This is a new low."

"I know," Bethany said, running a hand through her curls. "But what can I do? She has a point. If this got out, it could ruin everything."

Teagan shook her head, her eyes narrowing. "You shouldn't let her get away with this. She's just bitter and jealous because you're amazing, and she can't stand it."

Bethany smiled faintly. "Thanks, Teagan. I just... I need to figure out how to handle this without making things worse."

"You will," Teagan said firmly. "And for the record, I'm team Bethany and Logan all the way. You two deserve to be happy."