As he stepped out of his car in the building's parking lot, his gaze fell on a sleek Range Rover, its presence a new addition to the familiar sights. He wondered who it belonged to.
As he walked towards the elevator, he received a text on his phone, which he quickly read and tucked away in his pocket, his expression unchanged.
With a tired expression, he entered the elevator and pressed the button for the tenth floor. The doors slid shut, and the elevator hummed to life.
As he walked into his apartment, the darkness enveloped him, and an eerie feeling settled in. The air was heavy with the scent of cooked food and grilled meat, making his stomach growl with hunger.
For a moment, he thought Mireille might be the culprit, but he recalled her text from the parking lot, mentioning a stop at the convenience store before coming over.
She had also asked him to try contacting Kalina, who seemed unreachable. The thought of Kalina sparked a flicker of curiosity, but he didn't see her Tesla in the parking lot.
A shiver ran down his spine as he sensed an intruder, but a quick scan of the room revealed no signs of forced entry.
With a mix of fear and caution, he grabbed the umbrella by the shoe rack and inched into the sitting room, fumbling for the light switch. The sudden darkness and eerie silence made him feel like he was being watched.
Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a sudden "boo" near his face made him shriek, and he swung the umbrella in wild reflex.
The umbrella hit a solid surface, and luckily, Kalina dodged it just in time. "Kalina?" Logan's voice boomed, his face palming in exasperation. "I decided to give you a little scare, and it was worth seeing your reaction!" Kalina said with a mischievous grin.
Logan sighed, rubbing his nose bridge as if tired of Kalina's antics. "How many times do I have to tell you and Mireille that this is not your place, and you can't just barge in anyhow?" he asked, his tone laced with frustration. "What if my girlfriend is around? What do you want her to think?"
Kalina shrugged, unfazed. "First of all, you're in a long-distance relationship for over two years—"
"One and a half," Logan corrected, his eyes narrowing.
Kalina waved her hand dismissively. "What's the difference? And moreover, I called you, and you didn't pick up, so I decided to make myself at home."
Logan's expression turned accusatory. "Unlike some people who don't have work, I was busy with several meetings with advertisers and potential investors. The co-CEO won't do anything, so all the workload is on me."
Kalina shrugged, unapologetic. "I figured."
Logan sighed, his hunger getting the better of him. "Did you cook? I've been smelling food aroma, and I'm starving."
Kalina nodded, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Yes, I made potato balls and decided to grill meat later since I was craving it."
Logan's stomach growled at the mention of food. He immediately headed to the kitchen, where he found two servings: a transparent cover bowl with potato balls and grilled meat wrapped in foil paper beside it.
He microwaved the food, grabbed a chilled glass of water, and then asked Kalina why her number had been unavailable, as Mireille had been trying to reach her.
Kalina settled into the sofa, explaining, "I put my phone on airplane mode while I ate and read a novel on my phone."
"Yiiyiiyiiyiii," Logan sarcastically imitated Kalina, rolling his eyes.
Kalina feigned a hurt expression. "Is that how to treat your boss, whom you haven't seen for two weeks now?"
Logan corrected her, "You're my best friend in this setting, but when we're in the office, which you rarely come to, you're my boss."
The microwave beeped, and Logan used a kitchen rag to remove his food. "How did you commute? I didn't see your Tesla in the parking lot."
Kalina followed him, explaining, "I've discarded that car and now drive a Range Rover. I was an avid Tesla fan for a year, but it's time for a change."
Logan nodded, grabbed apple juice from the fridge, and brought his food and drink to the sitting room. He placed them on a small stool beside the sofa and started eating while Kalina helped herself to his apple juice.
"You could have just said I should bring yours, madam," Logan chided, as Kalina gave him a childish grin and patted his back.
Logan looked displeased, shrugged off Kalina's hands, but Kalina continued to pat him stubbornly.
Just then, Logan's cell phone rang. He pulled it out, saw it was Mireille, and handed it over to Kalina to deal with her.
Kalina happily answered the phone and put it on speaker, as Logan stuffed his mouth full.
"Logan!!! Why didn't you acknowledge my text, you idiot?" Mireille boomed loudly on the phone, her annoyance palpable.
Logan, his mouth still full, replied innocently, "I was too tired and hungry to reply, Mirei."
Mireille's frustration grew. "So you didn't even have the strength to type 'okay'?"
Logan said yes, his mouth still full, "Yes, I feel like smacking you over the phone," Mireille said.
Kalina chimed in, "Done," and smacked Logan's head, making him look at her in disbelief. "Is that Kalina?" Mireille asked, her voice laced with amusement.
"Yes, that's me, baby," Kalina replied. "Why are you not here yet?"
Mireille instructed, "Flick Kalina's forehead for me."
Logan happily obliged, his sweet revenge for Kalina's earlier antics.
Kalina rubbed her forehead, feigning innocence. "Why am I being flicked?"
Mireille's response was laced with sarcasm. "You're asking me? You went on vacation for over two weeks, leaving the office workload for me and Logan. You lazy ass!"
Kalina defended herself, "I needed the break."
Mireille shot back, "Oh, so me and Logan don't need it, right?"
"Well, it is you guys that decided not to..." Kalina started to respond before Logan flicked her forehead again.
"Ouch!" Kalina exclaimed.
Logan chimed in, "You're welcome, Mireille," smiling mischievously.
"Good boy," Mireille said over the phone. "I just want to ask what you'd like me to get from the convenience store."
Logan looked puzzled at Kalina, as if seeking her opinion. "Kalina cooked potato balls and grilled meat, which she served us, so I don't think we need anything, Mirei."
"Well, buy some wine, baby," Kalina exclaimed. "We're partying tonight! I have some great news to share, and I'm so happy, bills on me, I'll reimburse you."
"Ahh," both Mireille and Logan said dryly. "Let me guess, your plan worked?" Mireille asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Yes, how did you know?" Kalina asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Are you dumb?" Logan teased. "We all worked on it together, and you have two geniuses with you, so why wouldn't it work?"
Logan continued, "Yenyenyen," Kalina mocking him, playfully rolling her eyes.
"Should we stay together for tonight then?" Mireille asked, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Yes," Kalina said enthusiastically, while Logan said, "No, I don't want to deal with two menaces."
"But why not, Logan?" Kalina asked, pouting. "It'll be fun, I promise!"
"No, no, no," Logan insisted. "I'm not going to enable your crazy behavior."
But he was ignored as the two girls planned their event. Logan sighed, thinking to himself, "I'm doomed tonight."
Kalina summarized the plan: "So, you'll buy alcohol, wine, meat, sausage, pork, and chicken, and we'll binge-watch movies and catch up with each other."
Mireille agreed, "Sounds like a good plan."
Logan grumbled, "No, it's not. Can't you do it somewhere else? Does it have to be my house?"
"Where else would we do it?" Kalina asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mireille's place?" Logan suggested.
"My place is a mess," Mireille replied. "Your house is bigger and more comfortable."
Logan grumbly said, "No"
Both girls chimed in unison, "Yes!"
Logan sighed, finished his food, and settled into a sleeping position on the sofa. "See you later, Kal," Mireille said before hanging up.
Kalina tossed the phone at Logan and instructed, "Stand up, let's prep the oven and cook the main dishes before she comes."
Logan refused, "No thanks, I don't want to."
Kalina pestered him, "Come on, Logan, it'll be fun! We can make it a movie night!"
Logan remained stubborn, "No, I'm not helping."