The Ruthless CEO's Revenge Wife
Chapter 30: Together as a team

Chapter 30: Together as a team

The banter faded for a beat as they both scanned their surroundings. The fire was completely out now, and their stomachs reminded them, loudly...that survival didn’t come with breakfast.

Jean stood and brushed sand off her legs. "We need food. Something real this time. And water again."

Logan rose too, rubbing the back of his neck. "Agreed. But let’s make a rule... no more mystery berries. If it looks suspicious, we don’t touch it."

Jean raised an eyebrow. "That’s the first smart thing you’ve said since we got stranded on this island."

He mock-bowed. "I live to impress."

She snorted. "You live because I saved your reckless butt. Remember that before your ego inflates too much."

"Duly noted."

They shared a brief, silent moment of mutual acknowledgment... almost like a truce.

Then Jean turned toward the forest. "I’ll check the north side. There were some bushes near the stream that looked promising yesterday."

Logan grabbed a stick, checking its sturdiness. "I’ll go south. Maybe try my luck with coconuts."

"Try not to get killed by one."

"Only if you promise not to fall into a pit of snakes," he shot back.

She didn’t reply but her lips twitched slightly before she walked off into the trees but then she turned back. "Logan?"

Logan looked at her, "what?"

"Let’s just go together."

If Logan was happy to hear that, he didn’t show. "Well, that’s not a bad idea either."

Logan and Jean made their way into the forest, walking side by side, though the silence between them was more cooperative than tense. The morning heat filtered through the trees, golden rays dancing between thick leaves as their footsteps crunched softly against the forest floor.

"This place feels like it’s been untouched for years," Logan murmured, brushing a branch aside.

"Or it’s waiting to eat us alive," Jean replied flatly, scanning the greenery.

They walked deeper in until Logan suddenly stopped and pointed. "Hey... look at that. Bamboo trees."

Jean’s eyes lit up. "That’s actually useful."

They rushed over to the small grove. Jean crouched and inspected the fresh stalks while Logan looked around for something sharp enough to cut with.

"Bamboo can store water sometimes," she said, tapping the thicker stems. "We might be able to use the shoots for food if they’re tender enough."

"I’m good at breaking things," Logan offered, grabbing a rock.

Jean gave him a look. "Just don’t break your own hand."

He grinned and began smashing one of the stalks open with some effort. Jean wandered nearby and paused beneath a tall tree.

"Coconut," she said, pointing upward.

Logan followed her gaze. "Are you up for climbing?"

Jean scoffed. "Do I look like I’m up for climbing?"

Logan looked her up and down slowly. "I could throw you."

"Touch me and I’ll poison you myself."

"Fair," he muttered, backing off.

They both turned when Logan suddenly spotted something. "Hey, mushrooms!" He hurried toward a cluster sprouting from the base of a tree.

"Logan, wait... don’t touch it!" Jean rushed over, stopping him just in time. She crouched down, examining the mushrooms closely, round caps with a faint bluish tint and tiny speckles.

"Looks edible to me," Logan said, frowning.

Jean shook her head. "That’s what they want you to think. These aren’t lethal, but they’ll mess with your head. Hallucinations, nausea... maybe you’d start believing I’m your best friend."

He stepped back quickly. "That’s enough horror for one day."

She smirked and stood again. "Rule number two... always let the plant girl inspect first."

Logan nodded, mock seriously. "Yes, ma’am. You’re the boss of wilderness."

As they continued walking, Jean noticed Logan stealing glances at her feet.

"I’m fine, don’t stare at me too much." She said without looking at him.

"You shouldn’t be walking barefoot," he muttered. "It’s not exactly a paradise here."

Jean exhaled through her nose. "It’s either this or heels."

"Still. Next time we find bamboo, I’m making you shoes."

She glanced sideways at him. "You’re going to weave shoes for me?"

"Don’t act so surprised. I’m very resourceful."

She shook her head, unable to hide the small curve of her lips. "Just try not to poison yourself again."

After a bit more wandering, Logan paused under the shade of another tree. "Hey, I think these coconuts are lower than the last ones."

Jean looked up. "You’re right. We might actually be able to reach those."

"Step back, Adams. Let the monkey handle it."

Before she could protest, Logan grabbed onto the tree and began climbing. It wasn’t exactly graceful... more grunts than technique... but he made it up far enough to shake a few coconuts loose. They hit the ground with heavy thuds.

Jean jumped back just in time. "Warn me next time, Tarzan!"

Logan slid back down, panting. "We’ll call that teamwork."

Jean rolled her eyes but knelt down, checking the coconuts. "They’re fresh."

"I told you. Useful."

"You’re borderline tolerable when you’re not talking."

While Jean worked on cracking one open using a rock, Logan wandered to a patch of younger bamboo and broke off a tender shoot.

"Hey... this one’s soft enough to cook. Or chew raw."

Jean looked up. "You actually picked the right thing this time. I’m impressed."

He mockingly bowed. "Thank you, my queen of botany."

Together, they sat by a fallen log. Jean passed him half a coconut, and they sipped the juice straight from the shell. Logan exhaled like he was tasting heaven.

"God, that’s good."

Jean leaned back against the log, eyes closed. "I didn’t realize how thirsty I was."

Logan nudged her with his shoulder. "See? We make a decent team when you’re not threatening to kill me."

She smirked, not opening her eyes. "And when you’re not poisoning yourself."

They shared a quiet moment, sipping, chewing on the bamboo shoots, the tension between them softening... just slightly... as the forest rustled around them.

With their hunger finally appeased... at least for the moment... Logan stood, brushing off his hands. "Alright, now that we’re not dying of starvation, how about we don’t freeze to death either?"

Jean followed his gaze toward their burned-out fire pit from the night before. "We need dry wood, not just random sticks. The last ones burned too fast."

Logan nodded. "You find the dry stuff. I’ll see if I can find some rocks for a pit. Something to trap the heat."

Jean gave him a sideways glance. "Look at you, actually using your brain."

He grinned. "I do that sometimes. Only on special occasions."

They split up but stayed within calling distance. Jean found a few branches under a large tree, mostly dry and light. Logan returned with some flat rocks and larger branches that could serve as a windbreaker wall behind the fire.

Back at their makeshift camp, they began arranging everything.

"This should help keep the fire from blowing out," Jean said, adjusting the rocks in a small circle.

"And this..." Logan began stacking branches into a crude triangle, "will give us more than ten minutes of warmth."

After a few sparks from rubbing rocks... Jean had insisted on using her method over Logan’s "manly improvisation"... a flicker of flame finally caught.

"Yes!" she clapped once, pleased.

"Don’t jinx it." Logan leaned in, shielding the small flame until it grew. Within minutes, the fire danced warmly between them.

They sat back, their shoulders brushing lightly, neither pulling away.

"This is... better," Jean admitted quietly.

Logan looked over at her. "Yeah. Almost feels like we’re not stranded in the middle of nowhere."

She chuckled. "Almost."

His eyes drifted toward the shelter, a basic frame of sticks with leaves as the roof. "You think we can make that more... livable?"

Jean followed his gaze. "We’ll need more coverage. Thicker leaves. Maybe bark."

"And maybe raise it a bit so the creepy crawlies stay out," Logan added.

"Agreed," she said. "Let’s make sure we survive tonight first. Then tomorrow, we will start improving."

Logan glanced at her, something soft in his eyes. "Together?"

Jean met his gaze and gave a small nod. "Yeah... together."

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