Chapter 26:
The next day, Troy was on a mission to close a deal when he noticed a familiar duo ducking into SunRise Bank on Peace Avenue. His driver barely had time to react before Troy barked, “Stop the car!” and jumped out of it, making his way toward the entrance.
Inside the bank, Troy’s sharp eyes quickly located their target—a corner where Lenore was deep in conversation with the CEO of SunRise Bank. Beside her stood a woman in light attire, appearing to be listening attentively.
Troy strode over confidently, his voice cutting through the quiet hum of the bank, “Lenore, what are you doing here?”
Bonnie, the woman in light clothing, nearly jumped at the sound of his voice. When she spotted Troy, her face registered surprise, and she instinctively grabbed Lenore’s arm.
Lenore remained unfazed, her composure unshaken as she gently patted Bonnie’s hand to reassure her. She met Troy’s gaze with a tilt of her head, her eyes glimmering with both defiance and amusement. “What else do you do at a bank?”
Troy’s expression soured, and his voice took on a serious tone. “Where did the money come from?” He was puzzled, especially when he saw the bank manager himself here, personally overseeing everything.
Lenore raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. “You worried I’m going to run off with the family silver when I hit the big one-eight?” she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Troy paused for a moment, his mind flashing to the previous night. He suppressed the anger that was bubbling inside him, his face hardening into something colder and more serious. “You’re my child, Lenore. Act like it. If you tarnish the Smedley name or involve your sister, don’t expect mercy,” he warned, his voice tight with control.
Lenore’s response was a cold, dry chuckle. “Do you need a bullhorn or something? To make sure everyone hears you loud and clear?” Her tone was laced with scorn as she made no attempt to hide her amusement at his outburst.
Troy glanced around, noticing a few curious onlookers who’d paused their transactions to watch the exchange. His face reddened with irritation, but he quickly reined it in. Clamping down on his anger, he growled, “Keep your nose clean, young lady!” He shot Bonnie, standing by Lenore’s side, a disdainful look before sweeping out of the bank with a flourish of his coat.
The bank manager, breaking the tense silence, addressed Lenore with a hint of reverence as he handed her a black card. “Ms. Smedley, you have four months and eight days remaining on your safe deposit box number 03 lease.”
Lenore mused aloud, “Four months and eight days? That’s quite a stretch!” She clicked her tongue with amusement before casually tucking the black card into her pocket.
After leaving the bank, Lenore and Bonnie headed to the mall. Lenore’s playful grin returned as she pinched Bonnie’s cheek, teasing, “Pick out whatever you want. Don’t hold back.”
Bonnie, usually more reserved, felt her cheeks flush at the teasing. She touched her ear nervously and whispered, “Can you stop teasing me? We’re in public, and it’s kind of embarrassing.”
Once inside the mall, they quickly became the center of attention. Lenore’s striking beauty and cool demeanor kept most people at bay, though a few lingering eyes couldn’t help but follow her every move. Had she allowed it, she would have been swarmed with people asking for her number, but she preferred to keep a low profile, even in such an obvious spotlight.
Bonnie, grateful for the break in the teasing, followed Lenore into a high-end store. It was then that someone called out from across the store, “Hey, Esther, is that Bonnie? And is she with Lenore?”
Another voice, filled with confusion, replied, “What’s going on with Bonnie and Lenore hanging out together?”
A group of girls passing by the store stopped in their tracks, their expressions filled with surprise and curiosity.
Esther, noticing the two girls inside, squinted her eyes in disbelief. “Bonnie and Lenore? What’s going on here?” She couldn’t believe her eyes. Bonnie, a prominent student at Greenvine High School, was now hanging out with Lenore, a newcomer who had only been around for two days and was in the lowest class. How had they become such close friends in such a short time?
Helen, one of the onlookers, narrowed her eyes with jealousy as she took in Lenore’s striking appearance. “Lenore’s from some small town, and her clothes look cheap. What’s she doing shopping in a fancy store? I seriously doubt she can afford it,” she muttered, clearly skeptical.
Nearby, a little girl giggled and remarked, “Just looking doesn’t cost anything. She’s probably just pretending.”
Janet Duncan, who didn’t know the girls inside but had overheard the conversation, frowned. “Do you have an issue with them?” she asked, her voice intrigued by the gossip.
Janet, the beloved granddaughter of the Duncan family head, didn’t attend Greenvine High School but took dance classes with Esther, and the two had become good friends. After class today, they had all decided to hang out together. Janet was quick to notice that everyone seemed keen to connect with the Duncan family, and the Smedleys were no exception.
