CHAPTER 3
1100 Words
"That girl is crazy,” Logan Duvernoy muttered with irritation, his voice tinged with resentment. It was the third time he’d said those words since the incident on the sidewalk, and his tone carried the same sharp edge. They were driving home in Jared's SUV, the events of the night replaying in their minds.
They had been returning from a movie when they encountered the girl on the sidewalk.
“Conan was right. I'm not even sure she knew us,” Jared said as he navigated through traffic effortlessly.
Logan turned to glare at him, the statement striking a nerve. It was the one thing he didn’t want to believe.
“How's that even possible? In the USA? A whole me? Logan Duvernoy? And some b***h doesn’t know me?” he demanded, the thought bruising his ego deeply.
“Who’re you? Perhaps you can give me a good reason while I should feel sorry for not knowing a crap about you,” Conan said, perfectly mimicking the girl’s tone and defiance.
Conor, Conan's twin, burst into laughter, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement, while Jared chuckled, running a hand over his buzz-cut hair.
Logan swiveled in his seat to glare at Conan, his annoyance growing.
“Were you actually laughing because you found it funny, or just trying to get on her good side?” Logan demanded, pulling a disgusted face.
“Both, obviously. She’s hot,” Conan replied, still laughing.
Logan shook his head and faced forward again. Conan had a soft spot for any beautiful girl who crossed his path, and he usually got what he wanted. Logan couldn’t recall a single time a girl had rejected Conan.
He grudgingly admitted to himself that the stubborn girl was undeniably gorgeous—long black hair, deep brown eyes, and a flawless face with pouty lips that had almost made him forget the whole encounter and kiss her right there.
“You better leave her alone until I’m done teaching her a lesson,” Logan said, earning a chuckle from Conan.
“No biggie. I’ve got other girls on my ‘to-do’ list anyway,” Conan said, his casual tone and lopsided smile infuriating Logan further.
Jared glanced at Logan, his grey eyes darkening with his hands still steady on the wheel. “What lesson are you planning to teach her?”
Logan shrugged, his lips curling into a smirk. “She claims not to know who I am. I’ll make sure she does.”
“Are you planning on running into her again or something?” Conor asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Who knows? It’s a small world,” Logan replied casually.
“You’ve gotta let it go, man. I bet her reaction will be different if you meet again,” Jared said, shaking his head.
“Because she’ll have looked me up on her Google search after you told her my name?” Logan scoffed. “She should’ve known me right off the bat. I’m Logan Duvernoy.”
Jared sighed and remained quiet. Conan chuckled, his laughter light but knowing.
“You’re not gonna give up, are you?” Conan asked.
Logan smirked. “You know me.”
---
Dinner that evening was unusually lively. Logan ate quietly, listening as his older sister Dianne talked about her notable experiences in college. She had just returned home for a short holiday, and her arrival always warranted a celebratory dinner.
As Logan studied her, he noticed how much she had changed. Her dark brown hair was longer and glossier, and her brown eyes—an inheritance from their father—sparkled with a quiet confidence.
Midway through dinner, their mother’s personal assistant hurried into the dining room, holding a ringing phone. She apologized softly before addressing Lena Duvernoy.
“It’s an unknown number, ma’am. Should I answer it?” the assistant asked.
Lena smiled warmly.
“No need, dear. Hand it over.”
The assistant handed over the phone and stepped aside. Lena answered it with her usual grace.
“Yes, this is Lena Duvernoy,” she said, her tone measured. The family paused, curious to know who could be calling.
Logan watched his mother’s expression transform. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and a wide grin spread across her face.
“Oh my goodness, really?!” Lena squealed, her voice uncharacteristically high-pitched. The rest of the family exchanged puzzled glances. Sensing their curiosity, Lena switched the phone to speaker mode while they all leaned closer to listen.
A feminine voice came through, and Logan recognized it instantly. It was her—the girl from the sidewalk. Without her earlier sarcasm, her voice sounded melodic.
Why is she calling my mother?
Logan wondered, his curiosity piqued.
When he saw a grin on everyone's face, he decided to make out the words, but it was too late as his mother was now talking.
“Thank you so much, dear! What’s your name?” Lena asked, her voice overflowing with gratitude.
“Nia Danvers, ma’am,” the girl replied.
Nia.
Logan sipped his wine as he registered her name on his mind.
“Well, Nia, I’d love to meet you tomorrow. I’ll call you when I'm ready, all right?” Lena said.
“At Duvernoy Avenue, right?” Nia confirmed.
“Yes, dear,” Lena replied, her smile audible in her voice.
“I’ll bring it over tomorrow. I promise,” Nia said earnestly.
Lena beamed.
“Thank you so much, darling. You’re a gem.”
“It’s nothing, ma’am,” Nia said and ended the call.
Lena let out a satisfied sigh, her grin unwavering. “Finally.”
“What’s she returning?” Logan asked, breaking the silence. Everyone turned to him in surprise.
“You didn’t hear any of that?” Dianne asked incredulously.
Logan shrugged.
“I wasn’t paying attention.”
"The caller, Nia or something, had found your mom's handbag, the one I had the company specially make for her last birthday,” David Duvernoy, Logan's father replied with a pleased smile.
Logan frowned, shocked.
“And she’s returning it? Seriously?”
“Surprisingly, yes,” Lena said with a smile. “She must be a sweetheart.”
No, she’s not.
Logan thought darkly.
“I didn’t think people like her existed in Starbury City,” Dianne said in awe.
You mean someone who doesn’t know me? Me neither.
Logan thought, his annoyance flaring again.
“So, she’s coming here tomorrow?” He asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Yes, if she keeps her word,” Lena said.
Logan’s mind raced. He couldn’t wait to see her again.
- Writer
