50
I returned to my room and ran a quick shower. Logan just asked me to go on a dinner with him. I didn’t know what to wear. The last time we had dinner he’d asked someone to dress me up.
It’s supposed to be something casual. The way he asked, it didn’t seem we were stepping out of the house so I decided a simple outfit would do.
I met with Logan at the sitting room area. I was surprised to be seeing him dressed up in sweatpants and hoodie. I’ve only ever seen him dressed in suits and he’d look so hot in it. Right now it felt like I didn’t have a compliment to qualify how he looked in those ashes sweatpants. His sweatpants are low enough that the brand of underwear he’s wearing is visible as he reaches his hand over to the counter next to him, looking up at me as I made it down stairs.
His hair looks finely brushed back, a few stands falling over his eyebrows. He looked beautiful and seeing him in a pair of sweats was a sight to linger on.
I’d dressed up in leggings and a long sleeved black cardigan. It was getting chilly in here.
” You look beautiful ” he said, his eyes glistening under the bright lights. I smiled genuinely, feeling my cheeks heat up. I thought I was gonna stumble over my own feet till I reached him.
” I never pictured you as a sweatpants guy ” I told him.
” You don’t like it?” He asked, taking my hand.
“No, you look great ” I managed to reply without stammering due to the effect of his hand wrapped around mine.
He smiles and started pulling me towards the elevator. I stood next to him, only stepping out when the elevator came to a stop, opening to the rooftop of his house.
The first thing I noticed was the calmness of the wind as it gently slapped my face, then the amoebic swimming pool at the center of the landing, then the basket of food situated on the center of a cream colored cloth spread across the floor. There’s dishes placed around, two pillows at each side.
I looked up at Logan who only gives me a small smile before walking me towards the spread cloth. I sat at the far end and he sat across from me.
” I asked my men to gather fine fruits for you, ” he said as he opened the basket bearing fruits ” you look malnutritioned enough, if that’s a word ”
I smiled at what I presumed was a joke before reaching for the apple closest to me. I took a solid bite and looked up at the sky. The stars were much tonight, even though their lights weren’t enough to light up the dark sky in the absence of the moon tonight.
” Dani told me about some things the other night, ” I spoke first, breaking the building silence ” he did refuse to tell me where you went that night ”
” You do not wanna know, Layla” he replied with a bit of a smirk ” although I find it satisfying that you’re concerned about my whereabouts ”
” I am ” I saw how it pleased him that I showed interest in him ” is everything alright?”
” That isn’t your concern Layla, but I would tell you one thing ” he said as he shifted towards the swimming pool, completely out of the cloth ” the other day I left the house and left you a note, I’d met with my father ”
I stopped to listen. He’d mentioned his father before and from what he’d said, they didn’t seem to have the best relationship.
I watched his expression change as he gazed into the distance. Maybe I was right, maybe something truly was bothering him behind all those smiles he gave me when he returned today.
I was tempted to shift over to him and touch him to make him feel better but I didn’t know what he was going to say, so I waited.
“I was thirteen when my father arrested me for fighting hoodlums who ganged up on my little brother. Then he threw me out. ” He said.
I gasped gently, surprised as to why a father would do that. Or maybe I pretended to care.
” My father wasn’t the Mafia if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said “My uncle, Santiago was. He took me in and made me the man that I am today. My uncle was killed over two years ago by an enemy I will put down very soon. My father never showed me any form of care but now he wants me back home. ”
Logan turns to look me in the eyes before continuing ” but I know his little games. He wants me back home so he can belittle me in front of his little family. And then ask for his share of his brother’s money ”
I tried to look away but found my eyes magnetized to his. I didn’t understand why he was telling me this. I’ve lived long enough here to understand that Logan was hardly the type of man to share his problems with someone, let alone me.
“I’m really sorry you had to go through that as a child’s, Logan….” I said soothingly. “But… Why are you telling me this when you don’t even know me?”
Logan watched me for a while before closing the distance between our faces and saying ” because I want you to know, not to pity me but to tell me what you think I should do. And I don’t need to know any more about you than I already know, Layla.”
My heart skipped a beat as my eyes moved from in between his two eyes, watching them and drowning in them.
I waited for a minute, trying to get my head around what he’d just said. After much needed contemplation, I decided to voice out my thoughts.
” Does your mom still want you back? Your brother? Is he with you?”
Logan laughed and told me about how his brother became his enemy after he got kicked out, just like his father. But his mother paid him a visit and wants him to come for this dinner.
” I don’t know how you feel towards these people, Logan but I’d tell you to go. I know it’s hard and probably sounds stupid but you never can tell what the exact reason for his calling you back will be or why it’s happening at this moment. So, I’d tell you to go. You can handle it like every other thing ”
I’d just summed up the courage to talk casually to Logan and I felt proud of myself. Maybe it was because of how impressed he looked himself.
Logan filled my plate and we spent the next hour eating in silence and gazing into the sky.NôvelDrama.Org content.
Here was the big difference. Even though Logan smiled constantly at me, even though he just seeked my advice, he still remained this stranger to me.