When Leo ca ho, he went straight upstairs. From his room, the faint sound of running water could be heard as he took his usual bath.
8:45 PM
When he ca down for dinner, he looked calm and collected.
Bella, however, was far from calm. The mont he sat beside her at the long dining table, her whole body went stiff. She tried to steady her hands, but her spoon rattled against the bowl. Her heart thumped wildly, and she could barely look up at him.
"Eat," Leo said simply, his tone firm yet casual, as though it was the most natural command in the world.
Bella nodded quickly, muttering a small, shy, "Thank you," before she lowered her gaze to her plate. She pushed her food around more than she ate it, every movent betraying her nerves. Leo noticed, of course, and for a second he wondered if it was simply because she wasn’t used to having him so close.
Dinner ended quietly. Clara cleared the dishes, and everyone drifted away. But Bella didn’t. Instead, she trailed after Leo as he left the dining hall. He noticed her soft footsteps behind him when he started up the stairs.
He stopped midway, glancing over his shoulder. She froze two steps down, clutching the railing tightly.
"What’s wrong?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.
Bella hesitated, her lips parting then pressing shut again. Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she fumbled with her words. "I-I want to... talk to you. Alone."
Leo’s eyes lingered on her face, watching the way her lashes trembled, the way she looked both terrified and determined at once. He gave a slight nod. "Follow ," he said.
She obeyed quietly, following him up to the third floor. Her palms were clammy, her heartbeat erratic. Every step closer to his study made her feel like she was walking into the lion’s den.
He pushed the door open and gestured her inside. The room slled faintly of leather and him, lined with shelves of books and the faint glow of the city lights filtering through the tall windows. He crossed the room with the ease of a man in his domain and sat down in his expensive leather chair.
Bella lingered a second longer before finally taking the seat opposite him. Her shoulders were tense, her hands knotted together on her lap. Leo leaned back, watching her carefully, his gray eyes sharp but unreadable.
From her body language alone, he could tell—she was nervous, unbearably so.
"Alright," he said, his voice low, calm, but carrying an edge that made her heart skip. "You’ve got here. What is it you want to say?"
"I... I..." Bella took a deep breath, her voice breaking as she struggled to gather courage. Her fingers twisted together in her lap, knuckles pale, but the words refused to co.
"Bella."
The sound of her na rolled off his tongue like a command. His voice was low, rich, and sharp enough to cut through her hesitation. He rose from his chair, the subtle scrape of leather against wood making her flinch. His tall fra closed the distance between them effortlessly, and before she could even think, he was standing right beside her.
She stared down at her knees, heart racing, unable to look up at him. That only seed to amuse him. With one hand, he gripped the back of her chair and spun it toward him. Bella’s breath caught in her throat as her wide eyes lifted to et his.
"Yes," he said slowly, his voice velvet and steel at once. "Just like that. Look at ..." His lips curled faintly at the corners, not quite a smile. He reached out and patted her head, his fingers threading briefly through her hair. "Good girl."
Her lips parted soundlessly, her cheeks burning crimson. The words, his tone, the closeness—it all sent a dizzy rush through her chest. Bella bit her lip, her gaze darting down again, too flustered to hold his eyes. How should I say it? she thought desperately, her heart threatening to leap right out of her chest.
But Leo wasn’t about to let her escape. With a single movent, his hand slid beneath her chin, tilting her face back up toward him. His touch was firm yet deliberate, leaving her with no choice but to look into the stormy gray depths of his eyes.
Her entire face flushed. Her thoughts scattered wildly. What’s he doing?
"Bella..." His voice dropped lower, almost a murmur, as if the words were ant for her alone. His gaze flicked down to her lips before locking back onto her eyes. A dangerous flicker passed across his expression, and for a fleeting second, he imagined closing the space between them—kissing her until she forgot her own na. The image struck him with such intensity that his own body tensed, his chest rising as though he were restraining sothing.
Her lashes fluttered, and in a small, trembling voice, she finally blurted out, "C-Can I... go shopping tomorrow?"
The spell shattered. Leo stilled, then drew in a sharp breath through his nose. His lips parted in the faintest sigh as he straightened, dragging a hand across his jaw.
"That’s all?" he asked, his tone carrying both relief and a faint trace of disappointnt.
Bella nodded quickly, her fingers clutching her dress. "Y-Yes..." she whispered, then lowered her voice even more. "Without... bodyguards."
"Impossible." His reply ca instantly, firm and absolute, the weight of his authority making the air in the room feel heavier. His gray eyes pinned her in place, leaving no room for argunt.
Bella’s shoulders sank. She knew he wouldn’t give in easily.
"Please... please... I want to go alone," Bella whispered, her voice fragile yet insistent, her wide eyes glimring with a pleading innocence that tugged at sothing deep inside him.
"No."
The word left Leo’s lips like a steel verdict. His jaw tightened, and his tone was final, unyielding.
Bella’s lower lip quivered as she tried again, her voice softening into a desperate lilt. "Pretty please..."
Before he could repeat his refusal, she moved.
Her small arms slipped around his waist, clutching at him with a sudden boldness that froze him in place. Leo’s eyes widened faintly, surprise flashing across his usually impassive face. Her head ca to rest against him, right against the solid plane of his abdon.
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