Chapter 17: Chapter 17

- Well, I think you probably already know that, but… - Logan intertwined his fingers with hers, although his gaze was lost – When I was 12 years old and Diana and Devon were 08, my father had an accident at the metallurgical plant where he was working at the time. Some steel beams that were being lifted ended up falling and... They hit him. – noticing his jaw trembling slightly, Missy caressed his hand between hers, eager to offer him some comfort, and was ready to tell him that he didn't need to force himself to talk about that painful subject, when Logan suddenly continued – It was a very difficult time. The injuries he suffered to his legs and spine were too severe. He would never be capable to walk again. And then came the hospital bills. – Logan sighed – Before, we had a standard of living that wasn't very high, but my parents always worked hard so that we never lacked for anything. But, after the accident... The surgeries they performed to keep him alive, the millions of medications he needed, the physiotherapy sessions, the appointments, the wheelchair, the adaptations our house needed so he could get along. getting around... All of this cost a fortune. My mother had cut all ties with her family and my paternal grandfather... - With a heavier heart than ever, Missy saw his eyes glisten with unshed tears – He had a lot of financial problems throughout his life, so wow family no longer had any money saved, even before I was born. And, unfortunately, he had been dead for years when it all happened, otherwise I have no doubt that he would have done the impossible to help us.

- And then, suddenly, my mother was completely alone, with a paraplegic husband needing care in a hospital bed, three children to feed and falling into more and more debt every day. As if all that wasn't enough, the fucking metallurgist started refusing to provide the indemnities to which my father was fully entitled... - Logan rolled his eyes, snarling angrily - And then we need to hire a lawyer and fight a long and exhausting legal battle. In the end, the money my dad got barely lasted a whole day. He had to pay his lawyer, raise three kids, and the debts did nothing but grow.

- So I started trying to get a job. – He gave a sad smile that made Missy's heart sink – Of course, I was just a kid, so they weren't exactly jobs with good pay. Even so, from the month after my father's accident, I would leave school and go straight to a small restaurant in our old neighborhood to wash the dishes to earn a few bucks. It wasn't anything close to what we needed, of course, but I couldn't just stand by while my parents were desperate for money. – Logan raised his eyes to face her, smiling melancholy again – They were very strong. Even with all the problems, the pain my father felt at the time, the worries... They kept trying to pretend that nothing was wrong when we were around them. Our plates of food were always full on the table three times a day, although theirs were getting emptier each time. They never allowed me to miss even a single day of school so I could work more, no matter how much I insisted... But we were reaching an unsustainable point. My father still couldn't work, my mother had three very low paying jobs and I was just a kid earning a pittance... It was only a matter of time before the tenant of our apartment made good on his threat and threw us out. , after so many months of late rent. And then we wouldn't have anywhere to go but the street.

- Until, one day, I was on the subway, returning home from school, when a woman sat next to me and started talking to me. – Logan recalled, absorbed in his own memories – Her name was Wendy Omdahl. She started making a thousand compliments on my face and asked me if I had ever thought about being a model. Of course, I was just a 13-year-old who had grown up with parental warnings not to talk to strangers, so at first I didn't even pay much attention to her. Especially since Wendy has always been... Quite eccentric. – He laughed, almost awkwardly-But, as she started to be insistent and showed me more and more business cards and told me about the models she managed… I started to think that maybe it wasn't a setup. And when she told me that I could make good money depending on which brand wanted to hire me, I thought it wouldn't hurt to tell my parents about her. It could be our big chance… – he looked at her with a small smile – And it really was.

- As I said, my parents were very careful. None of us knew anything about what modeling, especially child modeling, involved, but finally, when they were satisfied that Wendy's agency was truly trustworthy and that I wasn't in any danger working with her, we finally signed a contract. And so my career began. – he shrugged – With the financial situation we were in, I convinced my parents to let me accept every little proposal I received, even though they were against it at first. They were afraid that I would work too hard and neglect my studies. – he gave an equally affectionate and emotional smile – But, in the end, as much as it was really quite tiring for such a young boy, it was the right thing to do. Gradually, the money from my job as a model started to improve our lives and I became more and more known, which, fortunately, allowed me to increase my salary and, consequently, my family's standard of living.

- When I turned 16, we no longer had any debts, my father was completely adapted to the wheelchair and I was almost finishing high school, so my parents tried to convince me to reduce the pace of work a little or simply retire, to being able to live my adolescence in the conventional way. But, I felt like it wasn't the right thing to do. – he confessed – After all, soon I would be an adult and could dedicate myself to work full time, which meant more financial stability for us. We might have been financially stable at the time, but I would always be haunted by the ghost of those lean days. I think I am a little, even today. – he gave a shy smile – But, how could I stop accumulating money for my family, when more and more opportunities were arising? What about my brothers college? What about my parents' retirement? I just couldn't live with the possibility of seeing them in need again. Especially not when I was finally able to do something relevant about it.

- So when I graduated, I started working even harder. I know that everyone thinks I'm an incurable workaholic... - he joked, with a minimal yet dazzling smile - And, being honest, I know that I really am. But as brands started offering more and more to have me be their poster boy, I realized that maybe I didn't have to depend on it forever. I had closely watched over the years the work of Wendy and other very prestigious agents. That's when the idea of opening the agency came up. I was already considered quite…famous when I was 20 years old. - he added, humbly - So I had already got a significant bank account, fortunately. As a result, I was able to cover the expenses of opening the branch without worrying about lowering my family's standard of living. I know it may sound impossible, but the amount of hours I work these days pales in comparison to the pace I worked when I was in my 20s to 26, 27 years old. He laughed again.

- I remember you. Well, I mean, I remember your face, everywhere. – Missy admitted awkwardly, easily remembering the many billboards, magazine ads, television advertisements and prestigious fashion shows that Logan had starred in in the last decade – No need to be modest. Megan already told me that you were the most famous and in-demand model in the entire world for years. You are a celebrity.

- Oh, please don't say that. – he laughed, now truly embarrassed, as a little pink appeared on his cheeks – I think I'm the only model in the world who thanks every day for this industry being so shortsighted. Fortunately, the vast majority of people no longer remember my face so accurately, now that it is no longer in evidence. – he looked around, watching the other customers completely oblivious to the two – So, even if every now and then someone attentive enough, like you, still recognizes me, I particularly like to think that I was famous. After all, that was the worst part for me. I was completely focused on the professional aspect of it, so the parties and the paparazzi did nothing but annoy me. – he grunted, bored – The awards were also terribly boring, but at least they brought some prestige to me and, consequently, also to my agency.

- That was the main reason I worked so hard at that time: the growth and prosperity of the agency depended a lot on my image and the importance my name had in the market, so I did my best to keep myself in evidence, at least until we are consolidated. When that finally happened, and the agency was not only paying for itself but also making quite a bit of profit, I finally allowed myself some rest. – he sighed – That was when I realized that I much preferred the life I led in the office than under the spotlight and decided to retire. I was 27 at the time and everyone considered me to be at the height of my career, so my decision caused a bit of an uproar. But, luckily for me, the agency was already one of the biggest in the market and I was able to complete my retirement with peace of mind. And it was the best decision I've made in years. – He gave a relieved smile – Not that I didn't feel fulfilled professionally when I was still a model, but my work as an entrepreneur and agent fits much more with my personality, no doubt.

- You talk like you don't work as much as before. – Missy laughed – We work, technically, together, have you forgotten? I know you're the first one in that building and you're often the last one out, Logan.

- Yes I know. – he ran his hands lightly through his hair, awkwardly – I think… Maybe that fear of hard days coming back… Never really left me.

- They won't come back. – she stated, trying to comfort him – You were a hero. Protected and saved your family, Logan. – she opened a huge smile, delighted and proud to reveal another absolutely admirable facet of that man – Thanks to you and your hard work, they will never have to go through anything like that again. I knew a little bit about your family history, but... Now I know you're even more admirable than I thought. She praised him, being surprised to see the blush on his face deepen.

- Thank you, Missy – he smiled back at her, a little shy – And I'm sorry for saying so much. – he went back to eating the plate of pasta still almost untouched, although he didn't make any move to move the hand that was between hers – We're here for you to have fun… I shouldn't be babbling about my life.

- No need to apologize. I enjoyed getting to know more about you. – she admitted shyly, leaving one of her hands next to his, as she went back to her own plate of food – And, if talking about these things helps you in any way, please, you can talk to me all you want. – she stated vehemently, wanting him to see the truth in her words – You're already helping me so much… I want to be able to help you too.

- I usually don't talk that much, especially not about this subject… – he reflected, before opening a smile that left her breathless – But, when I'm with you, I feel like I can talk about anything. And... - that huge and masculine hand, which involved hers almost to the point of making it disappear completely, caressed her gently - I also loved feeling that now you know me a little better. – With the other hand, he brushed a strand of hair away from her flushed face, tucking it behind her ear – Could I get to know a little more about you, too?

- There's not much to tell. – Missy shrugged, apologizing for being so boring – Probably Megan already told you all about me.

- I doubt it. I don't just want you to tell me your family stories. I want you to tell me how you felt about them, what you thought at the time. – he gently leaned towards her, bringing them closer – You're being modest this time. I know that you've been a prodigy since you were a child and that you've been more than applauded in your academic life... - Missy started to get more and more embarrassed in front of his praise, but, to her surprise, he seemed to realize quickly and changed his mind. subject, surprising her - And... I also know that you were very close to your father. Could you tell me a little bit about what he was like? – he asked respectfully, although his eyes held an expectant gleam that she didn't understand – I'd love to be the one to hear you speak, this time.

- Well... My father was a great man. – she began to speak slowly, trying to overcome her shyness. As much as she missed Jonathan still hurt a little, she loved talking about how fantastic he was, not just as a father, but mainly as a person – He was very kind and generous… And he was a very hard worker, as well as you. She smiled, feeling longing flood through her.

And before she knew it, she was talking about all the Saturday mornings in her childhood, when Jonathan made a point of getting up early to watch Disney movies with her and Megan. They laughed together when Missy remembered how she had tried to fish with him once and, seeing the fish flailing around on the hook, had cried so hard with pity for him, that her father had promised her that they would never eat fish at the parents' house again. Sutton again. Logan looked genuinely fascinated as she proudly recounted how Jonathan had built his company from the ground up and how she had inherited his passion for technology from him, as her father was always on the lookout for new innovations. She even talked about her paternal grandmother, Helen, and how she had taught her and Megan a lot about tarology on the quiet Sunday afternoons they often spent with her, before her grandmother passed away when she was six.

Finally, in the blink of an eye, between laughs and confidences, they had already finished all the main courses and ordered dessert. Logan might have been the one to claim that he didn't talk much, but he had felt comfortable enough around her to talk about her past without hesitation, but in truth, Missy thought that went a lot further to describe her that night. Those childhood memories were far from sad, yet there was such an intense nostalgia in them... So many precious memories of people she had loved more than anything and would never see again... After everything she had been through this past week, if someone asked her to count them, she would probably have imagined herself bursting into tears right at the beginning. But even though it was hard to pin down the feeling completely, there was such genuine kindness and interest in Logan's expression that she had felt not only encouraged but compelled to talk about her father and grandmother, eager for her descriptions to be shared. live up to who they really were. As if, by talking about them with all the love and longing and admiration she felt, she was introducing them to Logan almost in the flesh.

And, despite knowing that that wasn't the purpose of that night, she couldn't help but reflect on how she had never felt that way when she was with Liam. Her conversations were usually... About him. Monologues about him, actually. Now it was almost painfully obvious how he'd never been interested in her. He loved that she was an attentive listener to everything he told her, always willing to compliment him and offer him help when he needed it. But when it came to her, Liam never had the time or inclination to listen. They had never talked like that about her family before. In fact, not even about his family. Liam had perhaps never been candid about how he felt about his mother or his late father. They had never really met or connected on such a deep level.

As much as she didn't want to think about it, it was a little depressing to know that she had managed to connect more with Logan in just one night than she had with her ex-boyfriend in nine months.

Had it always been so obvious that he never really cared about her?

- That tiramisu was great. - Logan's compliment to her last mouthful of dessert, thankfully, helped her return to reality. There was no point looking for heartaches, insisting on remembering her ex-boyfriend, when she was having such an incredibly enjoyable night.

- Gwyneth cooks better. She smiled, remembering her last lunch at the Knight family home. Things used to be so incredibly different back then… Logan had sat as far away from her as the dinner table would allow, and they hadn't even exchanged any eye contact that afternoon. Now, there they were. Smiling at each other like old friends.

An old friend who, it just so happened, she was hoping to get to kiss again that night.