Eva stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her jacket, her reflection staring back at her with a mix of determination and uncertainty. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of frustration and disappointment, her attempts to reach Logan emotionally meeting a brick wall every time. He remained cold, distant, and laser-focused on his work. But she refused to let that defeat her.
She needed something of her own, something to ground her in the middle of the mess her life had become. The boutique had been her sanctuary before everything fell apart, and now, it was time to reclaim it. Rebuild it. Eva knew she had a chance to start over, and if Logan wasn't going to support her emotionally, she would take advantage of the one thing their arrangement could offer—his connections.
She slipped her phone into her bag, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the day she'd meet with one of Logan's business contacts, a high-end investor who specialized in boutique fashion brands. The old Eva—the one who'd let herself crumble under the pressure of debt and failure—was gone. Now, she had a second chance, and she wasn't about to waste it.
As she stepped into the living room, she found Logan at his usual spot by the window, looking out over the city skyline. His suit jacket was perfectly tailored, his hair styled in its typical meticulous manner. He didn't even turn to acknowledge her as she approached.
"I'm heading out," Eva said, trying to keep her tone casual, though part of her ached for some form of recognition.
Logan nodded, his gaze still fixed outside. "Good luck with your meeting."
It wasn't much, but it was something. She offered a brief smile, though he couldn't see it, and made her way to the elevator. As the doors closed behind her, Eva exhaled, her mind swirling with thoughts of the day ahead. She needed to focus on what mattered: the boutique. If Logan wasn't going to be her partner emotionally, she would at least use his connections to rebuild what she had lost.
---
The meeting went smoother than she could have hoped. Samuel Grant, the investor Logan had connected her with, had been receptive to her ideas from the moment she walked into the conference room. They discussed her vision for the boutique, the market she wanted to target, and the unique design concepts she had in mind. It felt like a lifeline—finally, someone who believed in her again.
Samuel leaned back in his chair, smiling warmly. "I think you have something special here, Eva. Your designs have a fresh perspective, and with the right marketing, you could really make a name for yourself."
Eva felt a surge of pride and excitement, her heart racing. "Thank you. I've been working on some new concepts, and I think they could bring something unique to the market."
"I agree," Samuel said, tapping his pen thoughtfully against the desk. "And with Logan's backing, there's a lot of potential here. People in our industry respect him. His name carries weight, and if he's behind you, investors will take notice."
Eva nodded, though a pang of discomfort crept in. The mention of Logan's name reminded her that she was still tethered to him, still part of this strange, cold arrangement. But she pushed the thought aside. This was her chance to rebuild, and she couldn't afford to let anything distract her from that.
"I'm ready to move forward," Eva said, her voice firm. "I want to make this work, not just for me but for the business I believe in."
Samuel smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's the spirit. I'll get in touch with a few investors, and we can start planning out a strategy. You're on the right track, Eva. I can see your passion, and that's what's going to make this successful."
As they shook hands, Eva felt a renewed sense of purpose. This was what she needed—a project to pour herself into, a way to regain control of her life. The boutique wasn't just a business; it was her dream, and now, she had the resources to bring it back to life.
---
By the time Eva returned to the penthouse, it was late, and the city's lights sparkled against the night sky. She stepped out of the elevator, her heels clicking against the marble floor, and found Logan sitting in the same place he had been when she left.
For a moment, she wondered if he ever moved, if his life was just an endless loop of work and silence. But tonight, she didn't feel the same heaviness she usually did when she walked into the cold, impersonal space they shared. Tonight, she had something to be proud of.
"I had the meeting with Samuel," Eva said, hoping to spark some semblance of a conversation.
Logan finally turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "How did it go?"
"It went really well," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "He's interested in helping me find investors. He thinks the boutique has potential."
Logan nodded, his face remaining impassive. "Good. That's what you wanted, right?"
"Yes," Eva said, feeling the familiar frustration bubble up. His tone was polite, distant, like he was discussing a business deal, not her dreams. She had hoped for some kind of emotional response—pride, encouragement, anything—but once again, there was nothing.
"Logan," she began, stepping closer to him. "I'm really trying here. I'm doing everything I can to make this work. Not just with the boutique, but with… us."
Logan's jaw tightened, his gaze flickering briefly with something she couldn't quite place—guilt, maybe, or regret. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Eva, this arrangement was never about us," he said, his voice low. "You knew that from the beginning."
"I know what the contract says," Eva shot back, her frustration spilling over. "But we're still human, Logan. We're still two people living together, trying to make this work. Doesn't that count for anything?"
For a moment, Logan didn't respond. The silence between them stretched out, thick and suffocating. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost resigned. "I'm not the man you're looking for, Eva. I can't be what you want."
Eva's heart sank, the finality of his words hitting her like a blow. She had been holding on to a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find some common ground. But Logan had just confirmed what she had feared all along—he wasn't willing to try.
"I see," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I'll just focus on the boutique then."
Logan nodded, his expression unchanged. "That's probably for the best."
Eva turned away, her chest tight with emotion. She had tried to reach out to him, tried to make something more of this hollow marriage, but it was clear now that Logan wasn't going to meet her halfway. She was on her own in this.
As she made her way to the bedroom, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped in a gilded cage, surrounded by luxury and success but utterly alone. But if Logan wasn't going to give her the emotional support she craved, she would find a way to build her own happiness—starting with the boutique.
---
The next few weeks passed in a blur of meetings, design sessions, and planning. Eva threw herself into her work with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to make the boutique a success. She spent long hours sketching new designs, meeting with investors, and securing suppliers. It was exhausting, but it was also exhilarating.
For the first time in months, Eva felt like she had control over her life again. The boutique was hers, and she was rebuilding it from the ground up. She wasn't just Logan's wife, trapped in a marriage of convenience—she was a businesswoman, an entrepreneur, a designer with a vision.
But as much as she tried to focus on her work, Logan was never far from her thoughts. Their relationship remained as cold and distant as ever, but Eva couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in him. He was still reserved, still emotionally unavailable, but there were moments when she caught him watching her with something that almost resembled curiosity.
One evening, as Eva sat at the dining table sketching out new designs, she felt Logan's gaze on her. She looked up, meeting his eyes across the room.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice softer than she intended.
Logan hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You've been working hard on the boutique."
Eva nodded, unsure of where this conversation was going. "Yes. It's important to me."
Logan's gaze lingered on her, and for the first time in weeks, Eva thought she saw a flicker of something other than indifference in his eyes. "You're good at what you do," he said quietly.
The compliment caught her off guard, and for a moment, Eva didn't know how to respond. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
They stood there in silence for a moment longer, the tension between them palpable but different this time. There was no warmth, no sudden breakthrough in their relationship, but for the first time, Logan seemed to acknowledge her efforts. It wasn't much, but it was something.
As Logan turned away and disappeared into his study, Eva couldn't help but wonder if there was still hope for them. Maybe, just maybe, they weren't as far apart as she had thought.
But she wasn't going to hold her breath.