I decided to hold off on dinner for now and enjoy the snacks that Alice had brought later. Wanting to confide in someone I could trust, I decided to share what happened earlier in the day with Alice.
We sat in my room, watching documentaries on my laptop while savoring the delicious snacks. The taste was simple yet infused with a delightful hint of smokiness, sweetness, and saltiness that I absolutely loved.
"What do you have to tell me? You know I love good gossip," she said with excitement.
"Well, earlier this morning, I was at the market when I sensed someone following me. And I was right, three guys cornered me in a deserted alley. I was almost sexually assaulted," I said, lowering my voice.
Alice's eyes widened in shock. "Where are those guys now? I'll chop their heads off! Are you okay? Did something bad happen to you? We need to report this to the police! We should tell Auntie!" she panicked, her concern evident.
"Alice, please calm down. Mom shouldn't know about this; it would only cause chaos. As for those criminals, they are now behind bars. Logan arrived just in time and saved me," I assured her.
"Oh, damn! I'm so sorry I wasn't there with you. You shouldn't have had to go through that," she blamed herself.
I shook my head. "You did nothing wrong. Those perverted men are to blame. Thank goodness Logan was there, or I don't know what would have happened to me."
"Thank goodness. So, what's the plan now? Are you going back to the hacienda tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yes, did you know that Logan's twin siblings are coming? I caught a glimpse of their faces, and they're absolutely stunning! They're twins," I shared, feeling a sense of excitement.
Alice's mouth dropped open. "Oh my gosh! We can't skip work tomorrow! They might be my top choice if it's not Andrew. At least I have a backup plan!"
I laughed at her enthusiasm. "That's what I'm talking about."
"But even so, be careful next time. You should let me accompany you. Clayland may be peaceful, but there are still bad people lurking in the countryside. I hope they get struck by lightning," Alice expressed with eagerness. Where else can you find a friend like her? Or maybe I'm just used to having fake and dishonest friends.
We chatted for a while longer before bidding each other goodbye and getting ready to sleep. Alice went back home, and I prepared for another early start the following day.
The next day, Logan picked us up. Alice got into the car first while I was still inside the house, talking to my mom.
"So, we haven't talked about that guy. He seems like a fine man, don't you think?" Mom teased mischievously, causing me to mutter curses under my breath.
I mean, my initial impression of Zach might have diminished, but does that change how I see him as anything more than a friend? Not at all.
"Mom, he's my classmate's brother, and he's also my boss," I defended. "I'm running late; it's embarrassing to keep them waiting."
"Okay, but I didn't say anything to make you so defensive," she replied, making me widen my eyes in disbelief. "Mom!" Unbelievable, out of all people.
"See you later, my child. Take care of yourself," she bid me farewell.
Annoying! I made my way to the front of our house, and the car was already waiting. I don't know what's up with people today, but Alice insisted that I sit in the shotgun seat!
What's going on? Are they trying to set me up? I don't want to assume or imagine anything. Logan is just my hero, nothing more.
I reluctantly sat next to Logan, and he started driving. I was taken aback when he asked me a few unexpected questions.
"Did you sleep well? Have you had enough rest?" he inquired with his deep, resonant voice. Why did my heart skip a beat upon hearing that manly voice? And why do I feel nervous, with my face turning red?
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I slept all day and woke up at night," I stammered, wondering why I even bothered engaging in conversation.
"I see. At least you're okay," he replied calmly.
I closed my eyes and looked away, attempting to focus on the scenery outside the car, but my mind kept wandering back to Logan.
A crush? It's a ridiculous thought. I don't know what Alice has been saying, but it seems like her words from last night are becoming a reality.
Me and Logan? That's a funny joke. I shouldn't be stuttering like this or feeling my heart race so fast.
I must look like a fool right now, and I don't want to take back what I said! An arrogant Lopez and someone like Logan will never be my type.
Finally, we arrived at the hacienda. Tomorrow is Monday, so I'll have a break from school.
Just a little more endurance, and I'll survive another day of this slavery under Logan's control.
We immediately went to the living room to assist with the cleaning. I've been here for a few months now, but I still haven't seen any sign of the lady of the house. I later discovered that she's in America.
"What's the occasion for Logan's siblings' visit?" I asked Alice.
"I managed to get some info! It's Logan's twin siblings' birthday, so they're here to celebrate. Logan hasn't been back to Claybourne for a while, so they came to visit him," she shared, showcasing her talent for staying up-to-date with the latest news.
"You're really skilled at gathering information, huh?"
"It's my special talent."
After finishing our cleaning tasks, we took a break. While the live-in maids had their own quarters, we headed to the gazebo in the rose garden.
"You still owe me an explanation. What did you do in the car earlier? It seemed like a well-orchestrated plan. You took away my chance to sit next to you. Are you assuming that Logan and I are a perfect match?" Alice probed.
I stared at her, wide-eyed. "Could you please make yourself a cup of coffee and gulp it down? Maybe then you'll realize how nervous you sound!"
"Hey, I'm just being honest! You two seem destined for each other," she insisted, much to my disbelief.
"So, help me. You're jumping to all sorts of conclusions. How many times do I have to say that I will never dream of having any connection with any Lopez?" I swore.
"It's hard to speak in absolutes!" she retorted, frustrating me to the core.
We suddenly learned that the Lopez twins had arrived at the mansion. Alice was so excited that she practically dragged me along to catch a glimpse of them.
And I promise you, I almost drooled when I laid eyes on these two handsome young men, dressed impeccably and exuding an air of dominance. They were incredibly good-looking! How could they be so perfect?
It was obvious they were twins, but one had white hair, making it easy to distinguish between them.
"Oh my gosh! I need someone to hold me! I can't handle it, girl! They're so handsome!" Alice exclaimed, completely smitten. It seemed like the entire household staff had their eyes fixated on these two men.
Sure, they might be slightly overhyped, but they undeniably deserved praise for their striking looks and expensive aura. They appeared to be around our age, so there was no significant age gap.
That's why I'm not attracted to Logan, right? Because I don't like someone who is younger or older than me.
But I brushed those thoughts aside and left Alice, who was still captivated by the seemingly celebrity-like arrivals.
Eda handed me a tray and instructed me to take snacks to the Lopez siblings.
I hesitated, wanting to decline, but the dark-haired twin insisted, making it hard for me to refuse.
"Allow me to assist you, Miss," he offered. I wanted to stop him, but he persisted, so I reluctantly acquiesced.
"Thank you..." I managed to say.
Mr. Black Hair glanced at Logan and commented, "Bro, you didn't tell me there was a beautiful lady in this place. I might just spend my entire summer here." I was taken aback, as he seemed strangely familiar.
Then it hit me—the face of a guy from my favorite brand of shirts! A renowned actor and model. I never knew he had a twin brother.
So he really is Logan's brother? Truly?
"Jude, quit flirting. You're only here for three days," Logan interjected with an authoritative tone, his expression ready to tear someone's throat out.
"Haha, relax, bro. I'm just appreciating the beautiful view here. My week won't be boring, that's for sure," Jude replied, making me cringe. He was even more self-centered than his brother. Does arrogance run in their blood?
I excused myself from their presence and left the room. I couldn't handle the growing tension. I hadn't done anything to them. Give me a break.