Who’s the Dog Now? novel Chapter 2

“Hey, don’t go, the party’s just getting started!”

Someone, not quite grasping the situation, tried to stop her but trailed off as they realized what was happening.

Zebulon looked at Naomi. “I’ll have someone drive you home.”

“No need. I can manage.”

He’d never offered to have her driven home when she was trailing behind him. Now that she was leaving, she certainly didn’t need it.

Naomi turned to leave. Just as she stepped out of the suite, she bumped into someone.

“Sorry…”

“Naomi.”

A voice called her name. She looked up, her eyes meeting a tall, lean frame, and above it, a face that was flawless from every angle.

“Lennon Spencer?”

Tyra’s social circles were complex, but they could be boiled down to two main groups: the wealthy and the powerful.

The Gonzalez and Hughes families belonged to the former, while the Spencers belonged to the latter.

Rumor had it their family patriarch still lived in a guarded compound, though the younger generation had all moved out.

Families like that were often shrouded in mystery. Since the Gonzalezes had only arrived in Tyra a few years ago, they knew even less. But as luck would have it, their villa was right next to the Spencers’ property, along with the other families from the party.

Though there was a divide between the circles of new money and old power, it wasn't absolute.

Power and money have always gone hand in hand, and these families were long intertwined through marriages and business ventures.

But Lennon…

His status was a bit different. He was a Spencer, but… not from the legitimate bloodline. He was the illegitimate son of George Spencer, the third son of the family.

Zebulon was on good terms with all the heirs of their circle, especially the Spencers—except for Lennon. People from their background, born into legitimate family lines, despised the existence of illegitimate children.

To make matters worse, Lennon, the illegitimate son, was actually older than Herbert Spencer, the legitimate one.

So, from Naomi's very first day in Tyra, Zebulon had forbidden her from having any contact with him.

They rarely saw each other. The only reason she remembered his name was because of his face—it was so striking that it was impossible to forget.

And now… she’d run into him under these circumstances.

“Lennon.”

Lennon was a few years older than her and Zebulon.

“Yeah.”

The man’s low, magnetic voice seemed to reverberate in the narrow hallway, sending a strange tingle through her.

Naomi felt an odd warmth spread through her. What was that saying? Some people are born with killer looks, and when you add a voice to match, they're simply unbeatable. No one knew, but Naomi had a thing for voices.

Naomi steadied herself. “Are you here to pick up Herbert?”

Although Zebulon and Herbert were younger than Lennon and ostracized him, they didn’t hesitate to order him around, banking on their status.

Naomi had seen it happen many times when she was with Zebulon.

“Yeah.”

Lennon didn’t deny it, his deep voice betraying no emotion.

“Well… you should go on in, Lennon.”

Naomi wasn’t concerned. She wasn’t curious about other people’s business, especially not now.

Naomi froze, looking up at him, wondering how he could so casually take her hand.

Lennon said, “I’ll walk you out.”

Naomi was confused. “?”

“No, that’s really not necessary.” They barely knew each other.

“It’s raining outside. It’s not safe for a girl to be alone.”

Naomi was still hesitating when Lennon placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

His voice was gentle, not like the cold tone she’d overheard him use with Zebulon and the others—a tone that carried the weight of his age and a certain authority.

But right now, it also held a note of insistence that was hard to refuse.

Naomi couldn’t quite understand how he possessed such a commanding presence, almost sharp.

She had no choice but to follow him outside.

The moment they stepped out of the club, she saw that it was indeed raining. Against the endless night sky, raindrops streamed down, their sound soft but dense.

There was snow, too, fine flakes mixed in with the steady rain, illuminated by the dim yellow streetlights.

“This is a no-parking zone. At this time of night, in this weather, it’ll be nearly impossible to get a cab here.”

“I know.”

After four years in Tyra, she was well aware of that. She didn’t understand why he was telling her this, as if she couldn't take care of herself.

Naomi’s thoughts began to drift.

Lennon led her down the street.