Chapter 40
Lenore dropped the phone, her cold gaze piercing Kyle.
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The look in her eyes made him shudder. He hugged himself, edging back as he stammered, “Aunt Lenore, did Carlos mess. with you?” He hadn’t heard the whole call, but he’d picked up on Carlos’s name.
With a sharp glance, Lenore questioned, “You’re familiar with the Duncans?”
Kyle affirmed with a nod, a hint of unease in his voice. “Yeah.”
The Duncans ruled the roost in Jinslenburg. Back in the day, Carlos was a schoolyard bully at Greenvine High School, coasting through life on his family’s reputation without any real direction. His sister Janet, however, was the epitome of sophistication and education–nothing like Carlos..
Recalling what Bonnie had mentioned about the night at Culinary Ascent, Kyle wondered if that was when the Duncans had crossed paths with Lenore.
His brow furrowed, he insisted, “Aunt Lenore, let me handle this The Duncans might be big shots in Jinslenburg, but they’re no match for the Zamoras.”
Lenore waved off the idea with a simple, “No need for that.”
As the clock struck 6 PM, a row of gleaming convertibles pulled up in front of Greenvine High School, turning heads.
A group of good–looking guys, dressed to kill and oozing swagger, stepped out. They posed with cigarettes in their mouths, like characters from a blockbuster film
Students stopped in their tracks, staring and snapping photos with their phones.
“Is that Carlos?” one student asked in a hushed voice.
“Carlos? As in the Duncan family’s eldest?” another replied, eyebrows raised.
“Who else could it be? Jinslenburg doesn’t have many Carloses, third added.
“But didn’t he graduate like forever ago? What’s he doing here?” someone else mused.
“No clue… A student shrugged.
People who knew better than to get involved with the Duncans couldn’t help but stare when they saw Carlos,
“Mr. Duncan.” Esther’s sweet voice cut through the murmurs as she emerged from the crowd, her eyes wide–with surprise and a hint of shyness. “What brings you to our school?”
Her greeting set off a fresh wave of whispers among the onlookers
“Esther? Over there!” a voice called out.
“Does she and Carlos run in the same circles?” someone else mused.
“You see the way she’s acting? Thet Carlos is here to pick her up third person guessed.
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“I’ve been hearing that Esther’s been getting pretty cozy with Janet, but I didn’t expect her to get in with the heir like that,” another added.
Leaning against the wall with a cigarette dangling from his fingers, Carlos looked every bit the confident gangland figure, a smirk playing on his lips. He peered at Esther through the smoke and casually asked, “Where’s Lenore?”
Esther’s smile flickered, her hands clenching as her eyes, hidden behind her eyelashes, flickered with a touch of resentment. She kept her voice low. “Haven’t got a clue.”
Ivan’s brow furrowed, his tone skeptical. “Isn’t Lenore your sister
Esther’s irritation was evident, her nails biting into her palm. The excitement of Carlos adding her on WhatsApp had faded quickly as he only discussed Lenore. Now, on their day out, Lenore was still his main focus.
If given a choice, she’d prefer not to have such a sister over her own life.
Esther’s teeth ground together, a moment of irritation flashing across her face before it gave way to a look of childlike innocence. In a hushed voice, she said, I’m in Class 3, and she’s in Class 24. We’re not exactly close… she doesn’t really like
me.”
Before she could finish, Ivan’s voice cut through the air, sharp and full of surprise. “Lenore!”
All heads turned toward the school gate, where a tall, stunning girl stood with an air of self–assuredness. Casually, she had one hand in her pocket, emitting a clear warning to stay back. She was the type who didn’t take kindly to being trifled with
For a beat, Ivan was taken aback by Lenore’s presence, but then he snapped back to the task at hand. He nudged Carlos, his excitement palpable as he said, “Carlos, that’s Lenore!”
Carlos, eyes narrowing against the cigarette smoke, dropped the stub and crushed it under his heel. Ignoring Esther, he strode confidently towards Lenore, his attention solely on her.
The crowd was buzzing with whispers, and speculation was in the air.
“Looks like Mr. Duncan was actually here for Lenore,” someone observed.
“Esther was all smiles when she went over, and since she seemed so close with Carlos, I thought for sure he was there to see her.” another added.
“The new school babe is making her mark. She’s only been around for a few days and already has the Duncan heir wrapped around her little finger in Jinslenburg,” a third voice joined in.