"Hi, lovey, I'm back home," Thea announced, walking into the house at 2:35 am. She dropped her belongings in the living room and headed to the bedroom, expecting to find Layla waiting for her. But the bed was empty. "But she said she was home," Thea thought to herself, confusion etched on her face.
She called out, "Are you up painting?" as she made her way to the storage room. And that's where she found Layla, sitting in front of a board, completely absorbed in her art. Layla's focus was intense, her mind clearly preoccupied with her next creative move.
Thea walked closer to get a better look at Layla's artwork, her eyes widening in admiration. "Wow, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed. "Was it a photograph?" she asked, and Layla nodded, "I just added a little touch." Layla's eyes narrowed, focusing on the piece, knowing something was missing. "But I feel like I'm missing something," she said, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Thea studied the picture, taken earlier with Nathan's phone, and shook her head in disbelief. "Not at all," she said, "or maybe just a slightly brighter shade will do." Layla dropped her brush, stood up, and removed her apron, revealing a smudge of paint on her cheek. "How was your day?" she asked, as they both headed out to the living room, ready to unwind and share their experiences.
As they sat in the living room, discussing their day, Thea got up and headed to the fridge, which was nestled in one corner of the room, doubling as a makeshift kitchen. Suddenly, she burst out laughing, and Layla looked at her curiously, wondering what was so funny. "I was hoping to see if you had prepared something to eat," Thea said, chuckling, as she gestured towards Layla, teasingly adding, "but my sister here can only manage to whip up a serving of pasta!" Layla playfully rolled her eyes and laughed, "Stop teasing!".
Thea grabbed a glass and opened the fridge to get some water, but was surprised to find it fully stocked with food. "Did you go to cooking class or order takeout?" she asked, unsure which one it was, given the abundance of dishes. Layla chuckled and replied, "Mum sent all that over."
Thea suddenly stopped drinking the water after hearing Layla's response, "Your mum came and you couldn't tell me?" She returned the plastic water bottle to the fridge, looking hurt and accusingly at Layla. "I haven't seen her before, is that how you hate me?" Layla, still thinking of what to say, replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Your mum, dummy!. "
Thea slowly turned around, her expression stern, "I told you not to get anything from her." Layla, who was lounging on the couch, seemingly unbothered by Thea's attitude, replied nonchalantly, "I tried avoiding her calls, but she came to the office." Thea's eyes widened in shock, and she quickly jumped over to the couch, her voice rising, "She did what".
Layla quickly jumped out of the chair, her voice rising, "If only you had a little conscience to talk to your mum and treat her better!" But before she could finish, Thea cut her off sharply, "Last I checked, she is my mum," she emphasized, putting a strong stress on the words "my mum", "and not yours. The way I treat her is none of your business."
Thea continued, attempting to lighten the mood with a joke, "If you also treated your mum the way you treat my mum, you would have gone far in life." But Layla wasn't having it. She threw a pillow from the couch at Thea, exclaiming "Achhh!" as Thea made a mock crying noise.
Layla then pulled out a premium card from the table, waving it in the air. "She also gave me this," she said, a hint of smugness in her voice. Thea's eyes widened in surprise, her expression a mix of shock and happiness .
Thea shouted in joy, "We are rich!" but Layla quickly mocked her, "You were literally complaining just now!" Thea's expression turned sheepish, but they both burst out laughing, releasing the tension. "She still my mum," Thea said with a grin.
Thea's laughter filled the room, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Isn't it funny how we both don't talk with our moms, but we talk with each other's moms?" she said, chuckling.
Layla joined in, her giggles harmonizing with Thea's laughter. "I know, right? It's like we've swapped moms or something!"
Layla then became serious, relaying her mother's instructions. "Get a gift for Grandpa, get a nice outfit, and be available on Grandpa's birthday." She emphasized, "Those are exact orders." Thea nodded, still smiling, but also acknowledging the importance of her mother's requests.
Thea's expression turned wistful for a moment, her thoughts drifting to her father. She missed her family, but the complicated dynamics made it difficult to navigate. "I'll just have to avoid Dad," she said, trying to sound resolute.
Layla raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical. "You know that's not possible." She knew her father's temperament and how he could be quite persistent when he wanted something.
Thea sighed, knowing Layla was right. Avoiding their father would be like trying to avoid a storm. it was inevitable. She braced herself for the upcoming family gathering, wondering what her father would do once he sees her.....
The dimly lit bar was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the soft hum of music and the gentle clinking of glasses. Two men sat at the counter, their faces illuminated only by the soft glow of the bar lights. Behind them, the bartender expertly mixed a wine concoction, his movements swift and precise.
As they sipped their shots, the men engaged in a hushed conversation, their words barely audible over the music. The atmosphere was tense, yet intimate, as if they were sharing secrets only meant for each other's ears. The bartender, sensing their desire for privacy, kept a discreet distance, his eyes fixed on his work as he polished a glass with a white cloth.
Logan's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he demanded, "What's going on between you and my PA?" Nathan's smile grew wider as he lifted his glass, rotating it to examine the amber liquid within. "She has a name, you know," he said, his voice low and measured, before taking a sip of the alcohol.
The pause was deliberate, and Logan's eyes flashed with irritation. "Don't play games, Nathan. I'm asking you straight out. Why getting close with her?" Nathan's smile never wavered, but his eyes seemed to gleam with a hint of mischief as he set his glass down, his movements deliberate and calculated.
The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken challenges and power struggles. Logan's strong voice and direct question contrasted with Nathan's more relaxed and enigmatic demeanor, hinting at a complex dynamic between the two men and the mysterious Layla, whose name seemed to hold significant weight in this conversation.
Nathan's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I like her," he repeated, his voice low and sincere. Logan's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with anger and possessiveness. "She's not your class, and she's..." Logan's words trailed off, but Nathan knew exactly what he was going to say.
Logan's quick denial and defensiveness only confirmed Nathan's suspicions. He liked Layla, but was unwilling to admit it. Nathan's gaze never wavered, his eyes locked on Logan's face as he took another sip of his drink. "Trust me, I'm not playing games," he said, his voice dripping with sincerity.
Nathan's eyes locked onto Logan's, his gaze pleading. "So treat her better, just for me," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Logan's brow furrowed, his mind racing with questions. "What do you mean, Nathan? What happened?"
Nathan's thoughts flashed back to their encounter on the first day, the memory still vivid in his mind. "She almost..." he began, but his voice trailed off, his promise to Layla echoing in his mind.
. Logan's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with concern. "She wants...?" he prompted, his words hanging in the air like a question.
Nathan's expression softened, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's not strong like you, Logan. She's fragile, and she needs someone to be gentle with her. Just be nice to her, for me."
"I'm heading to Paris tomorrow," Logan said abruptly, his eyes fixed on his drink.
Nathan's face lit up with a smile. "Ah, Paris! The city of love and lights. You'll finally made your way there."
Logan's expression remained stoic, his voice low and detached. "More successful business deals await."
The conversation lagged, the silence growing thicker and more oppressive. Nathan's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the tension building again.
Logan's mind, meanwhile, was elsewhere, his thoughts consumed by Nathan's earlier warning about Layla. "I like her," he had said. Logan couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to it than just a simple caution. The more he thought about it, the more he became convinced that Nathan truly have feelings for her.
"What's going on, Logan?" Nathan asked, his voice piercing the silence. "You've been distant all evening."
Logan's gaze snapped back to Nathan, his eyes flashing with a hint of defiance. "Just thinking about the deal, that's all."
Nathan's eyes held his for a moment, then nodded. "Well, I'm sure you'll close it successfully. You always do."
The conversation trailed off, the silence between them growing heavier. Logan's thoughts continued to simmer, his mind racing with questions and suspicions. Nathan's words echoed in his mind, "She almost.. ." What did he what to say? And why did Logan get the feeling that he was missing something crucial?
"Don't go to her when I'm away," Logan warned, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at Nathan.
Nathan's smile never wavered, his expression unwavering. "I wouldn't dream of it, Logan," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
The evening slowly came crashing down, the tension between them palpable. Logan's warning hung in the air like a challenge, his eyes daring Nathan to defy him.
Nathan's smile never faltered, but his eyes flashed with a hint of amusement. He knew Logan was trying to provoke him, but he wouldn't take the bait.
The silence between them grew thicker, the air heavy with unspoken words and secrets. Logan's gaze never left Nathan's face, his eyes burning with a intensity that made Nathan's smile grow wider.
The next morning arrived quickly. Layla sat in front of the mirror, beginning her face routine. Thea asked, "Remember how you mentioned Logan was heading to Paris today?"
Layla nodded, applying moisturizer to her face. "Yes, I need to be there in case he needs anything. And after that, I'll have a whole week to myself."
"Speaking of the devil," Layla said, glancing at her phone as she received a text message from Logan. "What does he want now?"
Layla stood up, sighing slightly. "He needs me to drop off some documents at his house."
Thea, who was busy scrolling through her own phone, raised an eyebrow. "Are you his errand girl or something?"
Layla chuckled. "His assistant, to be precise." With that, she headed to the shower, leaving Thea to her thoughts.
Layla arrived at the compound once again with the help of Mr. Louis. She stopped by the office first before heading to Logan's house. When she entered, Logan was engrossed in some documents, his eyes fixed on the papers in front of him. She greeted him, her voice polite and professional. "Good morning, Sir."
Logan acknowledged her presence without looking up or making eye contact. "By what time is my flight again?"
Layla patiently waited for him to acknowledge her further, her eyes fixed on him. "It's at 1 PM, Sir, Hope everything you need is ready before you leave."
Logan checked his wristwatch. "It's almost 12 pm." He stood up, scanning the documents Layla had just given him. "Hope you didn't miss anything," he said, his tone hinting at the importance of his trip to Paris.Layla shook her head. "Not at all, sir."
Logan nodded, seemingly satisfied. He reached into his briefcase and handed it to Layla. "Let's go to the airport," he said, already walking out of the living room.
Layla followed, carrying the briefcase and documents, her pace quickening to keep up with Logan's long legs.
The drive to the airport was quiet and quick, as Mr. Louis took a road with less traffic to avoid any issues with Mr. Logan's tight schedule. Layla followed closely behind Logan, who suddenly stopped in his tracks, lost in thought. Layla quickly noticed his movement and stopped short to avoid bumping into him.
Logan looked around, his eyes scanning the area, and then noticed that Layla was only carrying his belongings, with no luggage of her own. "Where's your stuff?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"What stuff, sir?" Layla asked, unsure of what he was referring to.
"Your belongings," Logan replied, his eyes fixed on hers.Layla smiled and shook her head. "I'm not going to Paris, sir. I'm just here to see you off."
Logan's expression changed, "You're coming to Paris with me."
Without thinking, Layla's shock caused her to shout, "What?!" Her outburst drew the attention of people around them, who turned to stare. Layla's face flushed with embarrassment.
"What was he thinking?" she thought to herself, her mind racing. "Why should I go to Paris with him?" She couldn't comprehend why Logan would assume she would accompany him on his trip....