Chapter 3 Unexpected Invitation

Manuela

I realized my assumption was correct when Logan started driving. He wasted no time beating around the bush and spoke directly:

"I know Adriel is hiding something from Liam and me."

His eyes reflected a determination that made me uncomfortable, but I kept my expression under control, even though I couldn't avoid a slight furrow of my brows.

"I also know you know what's going on with Adriel" he continued, his voice firm and assertive.

I tried to disguise my surprise at his direct approach, maintaining a calm tone when I replied:

"I don't know what you're talking about, Logan."

He wasn't fooled by my denial.

"There's no point in denying it, Manu. You know. And I want to know what it is."

I audibly sighed, feeling pressured by his insistence.

"I really don't know, Logan. I'm not hiding anything."

He pointed out the fact that Adriel and I had become close after the days I spent at his house, noting that there was a great affinity between us.

"That's true, Logan. We did grow closer during that time," I admitted, choosing my words carefully.

"And you two seem to have quite a bond as well," he continued, his eyes turning to me, analyzing my reaction.

"Adriel is a great friend," I replied, keeping my response simple yet genuine. "But that doesn't mean he tells me everything about himself."

Logan eventually accepted my answer, but uncertainty lingered in the air. I didn't know if he truly believed my words or if he simply gave up on pressing further. However, that didn't matter to me as much as the fact that Adriel was about to reveal the truth.

The way he desperately tried to express his feelings for Cecilia, without caring that Liam was his best friend, showed that Adriel was about to cause a big problem. He didn't seem to care that Cecilia was Liam's wife.

The rest of the journey was made in tense silence, with Logan constantly casting glances at me. I could sense that he wanted to say something, and the fear of hearing what he had to say grew with each exchanged look.

When Logan parked his car in front of the modest building where I had managed to rent an apartment, his eyes fixed on me intensely and then came the question that caught me off guard.

"Can I come up with you?"

At first, I thought I had misunderstood. Logan had given me rides home before, but he had never suggested accompanying me to my apartment. It was usually Cecilia who asked him to drop me off when we all went out together, something that happened frequently since I started working at Laser Inc.

"Come up with me?" I repeated, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, that's exactly what you heard," he replied, persistent.

I was speechless for a moment as he pressed on, insisting he wanted to talk to me.

"But we're already talking now," I pointed out the obvious.

It's not that I was afraid of Logan or anything like that, but I also wasn't exactly eager for his company in my apartment.

"I just would like to have a more comfortable conversation than inside my car, Manuela," he protested. "Or we can go out for dinner tomorrow night. What do you think?"

His proposal left me even more surprised than I already felt. I wasn't sure what to think or how to respond. Why was he so determined to talk to me? And why invite me to dinner?

After a brief reflection, driven more by curiosity than anything else, I decided to accept Logan's invitation for dinner. The idea of having any kind of conversation that night didn't seem very appealing to me, especially after the tension involving Adriel and his attempt to confess his feelings to Cecilia.

Logan agreed to pick me up at my apartment the next night, and we said goodbye after I thanked him for the ride. As I climbed the stairs to my apartment, I couldn't help but wonder about Logan's true intentions. That question echoed in my mind as I tossed and turned in bed, my mind filled with turbulent thoughts involving Adriel, Cecilia, Liam, and now, Logan. What a mess I had gotten myself into!

*****

The next day, at the agreed time, Logan showed up promptly to pick me up at my apartment, and we soon headed to the restaurant he had chosen. The place was elegant but not overly formal, with well-spaced tables that provided a sense of privacy. The intimate atmosphere of the place made me feel quite at ease, something I appreciated, as I wasn't very well-versed in etiquette norms. However, I was always trying to learn, watching tutorials on the internet, fearing making faux pas when going out with Cecilia and her circle of friends, now composed of São Paulo's elite.

The conversation flowed naturally, accompanied by delicious wine and even better food. I thanked Logan for choosing the restaurant as we enjoyed the meal.

I noticed that Logan's company was even more enjoyable than I had realized before. I had never paid much attention to Liam's other best friend. One of them already completely occupied my thoughts. But that night, sharing stories and laughter with Logan, I realized I had underestimated his company. He was kind and attentive, and his genuine smile made me forget, for a moment, the worries that had prevented me from having a satisfying night's sleep.

After dessert, as we sipped on our coffee, I noticed an unusual tension in Logan as he set his cup down on the saucer. His movements seemed stiff, and his eyes met mine with a firmness that made me hold my breath. I realized that this would be the moment when he would speak his mind.

However, before any words could leave Logan's mouth, a familiar voice interrupted our moment.

"I never imagined finding you two here."

My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the voice. I turned towards the sound, and my heart nearly stopped as I faced the newcomer. Of all the people in the world, the last person I wanted to encounter that night was precisely the one standing next to our table at that moment: Adriel. The surprise was immense, leaving me speechless in the face of the unexpected presence of the man who dominated my thoughts.