6 Chapter six.
Alison had Leonardo tailing her as she surveyed the area. Her notepad settling on her arm she walked around the whole land area, her legs ached endlessly.
"The land measurements?" Stopping in her steps, Leonardo almost bumped into her.
"Two acres" he replied casually.
"No wonder my legs ache so much." She forcefully jerked her legs to and fro to get back the feeling.
"You have been here before, so why are you complaining?" He said walking to her side, he stood beside her awaiting her response.
She turned slowly towards him, "I've been here before doesn't mean I necessarily walked around and surveyed the land." He sensed a bit of assertiveness in her voice.
Turning her attention to her notepad, she jotted down eagerly taking a glance again at the surroundings, and jotted more.
He felt utterly useless at that moment.
So much for having a private time with her, he stood in place as she walked forward taking in more notes.
She went towards the Riverside and observed, her gears turning in her head.
Steering her head in his direction, he could not help but be awed as a breeze blew towards her in opposite direction making her hair stay momentarily in the air.
Her mouth was quickly turned down in annoyance her hair probably looked a lot messy.
She managed to bring down her feisty hair, which seemed to be enjoying its stay in the air.
Digging her boot in the wet sand to gain a grip on her walk, she moved back to Leonardo who stood still by her guess he looked buried in his thoughts.
She wondered what got him brooding.
Noticing her presence a few feet away from him, he came forward to save her the stress of coming further.
"Have you made all your estimates?" she asked brushing the hair strands that flew into her face, a tiny strip of hair lay across her face, coming in contact with her eyes and the bridge of her nose.
The wind in her hair agitated her a bit, had it be known it would be this windy today, she would have gladly tied her hair in a tight bun.
Leonardo could not still comprehend the push that nudged him to gently peel off the hair smeared on her face.
It felt so natural to have physical contact with her, his blood boiled to the highest degree possible with just a touch of her.
Her smooth caramelized skin felt so right in his hands, his gaze on her became intent as he slowly removed her hair from her eyes.
Alison stood her ground well too strong if you ask her, she had to if not she would buckle quickly on her legs who were on the verge of giving up on standing.
Her eyes remained locked in his, the attraction was fatal.
Her thoughts were at sea as he came closer to her, for some unknown reason she felt herself drawing to his touch
Peeling off her hair from her face to reveal her green eyes, flushed skin, and parted pink lips that could not help but part open in surprise at his action.
His thought loitered on the fact of how beautiful and utterly feminine she is under his feel.
Still not able to get over the feeling of her looking this spotless without makeup. He wondered if looking this beautiful naturally wasn't a crime. She resembled a goddess or an ethereal princess.
He had no other deserving adjectives to qualify her with.
Their intent staring continued intensely, with her hair finally tucked behind her ears he had the primal urge to caress her cheeks.
But there was bound to be some interruption as the construction manager humming a whistle was heard on time.
Alison was the first to react, she flinched out of his touch so fast she almost stumbled, looking worried she collected herself within moments fewer than a second.
She forgot her question she asked earlier and walked towards the construction manager who was oblivious of the tension that loitered in the air.
She had resolved to stay as far as possible from Leonardo. He is bad news and utterly distracting, she had many other things to worry about.
He wasn't too shy about making physical advances on a lady. He had experience with this kind of thing. She was being sure he acts this charming to every lady he meets, charming them enough to get on his bed.
He was despicable.
What would the construction manager say if she was caught in such a compromising position with him?
A lady without a character, some would even suggest, she landed the contract because she also landed on his bed to get the bidding right.
It disgusted her to the core, she hated to mix business with pleasure.
And with Leonardo, she wasn't sure of her fate when with him because she can't help but be angered by his behavior but equally drawn to it as well.
As the moth to the flame or metals to the magnet.
She was sure the moment he finds out that she was a single mom he would drop her like a discarded wrapper into the trash can.
Not that she would let things escalate to that moment. She wasn't sure of her stand with him.
Friends or formal clients.
She would never be anyone's plaything again, her ex-husband helped her in making such a decision.
Her first and last priority was Samantha and she had no intention of letting any other person into her priority list.
"Good day," She greeted shaking hands with the construction manager. He gifted her a toothed smile.
"Good day to you too." his rasp voice matched with his physical physique. He was a man that stood a little above her 5 ft 7 frame. He had this hairy skin and a barreled liked chest.
He looked very sturdy and muscular. On his body were normal jeans and a T-shirt with a construction vest on him.
He continued smiling at her and noticed a frowning Leonardo to who he yelled his greetings and then turned his attention back to Alison.
Walking around the environs, he talked freely with her with his hand gesturing or aiding the discussion.
He introduced himself as Johnson Woodman, he was a top construction manager of the construction company Fort and Arch allied with, though it was her first time meeting him.
His outgoing personality was comforting, he explained everything to her.
It was all up to her to start creating the restaurant building plan so construction can start immediately.
"Over here," she gestured to the space around her.
"We should utilize this area" he suggested, she nodded in agreement.
"Oh yes, I already have an idea on how to do so. I also plan on creating a floating restaurant just for a more exquisite effect. It will bring the customers pouring in due to the romantic design"
"Great idea, but it would need a bit of sand filling in this area. The land here is quite damp." he knelt clutching on the sand he gave some to Alison.
She nodded in agreement, they continued their work.
Leonardo stood in silence watching idly, his phone in his hands as he scrolled through his emails, but his mind wasn't there one bit.
His mind rolled in jealousy waves as she talked to the construction manager so freely but would not even spare him a glance.
He read another important email reminding him of another one of his important duties just to get distracted by his thoughts of her.
He was still hurt at the way she flinched away from him like he was some plague. He could bet hundred dollar bill he saw fear in her eyes.
He could never hurt her, he wished he told her that.
His hand dug into his pocket and he placed his phone in his pockets.
He followed their voices and was engrossed at the fact that Alison knows her job so well.
She discussed knowledgeably the construction manager.
A part of him held her in pure admiration, he walked closer to them they were oblivious of his presence behind them since he was at a distance.
He listened to their talk and watched as she jotted down eagerly. She tucked her hair occasionally, the wind has not ceased a bit.
She walked further down the river and squatted gesturing to John the area where the floating restaurant would occupy.
He listened to her eager explanation of the pictures her mind created, the description was so vivid it took shape in his mind.
"So have you made your estimates?" she asked
"Yes, the cost estimates are quite high but we would make a few adjustments after you hand over the building plan. Following our discussion, it is going to cost a lot more. Why not settle for something lesser and more feasible?"
"Money is not the problem, Mr. Johnson. Make your estimate and I would give you the amount you need. The plan is very much feasible if you ask me." Alison and John steered their head in Leonardo's direction.
The latter was shaken by Leonardo overhearing their discussion.
Alison's face was washed in surprise as she stared at the duo in shock.
Leonardo walked to Mr. Johnson and faced him squarely.
Was he there all along? She wondered.
"It... was just a suggestion. I never meant...it just that I ...thought the cost would be too much for you to handle." John stumbled on his words, Alison frowned at his direction, she expected more from John.
He stood there shaking like a leaf-like he has committed a crime. He made a harmless suggestion, What's the crime in that?
He was a man too so why cower in front of Leonardo. He had more muscle mass and looked very sturdy compared to Leonardo.
But, he doesn't look hard at heart like Leonardo whose gaze bore into him like a power driller.
"I never complained, that statement made me look so incapable. Make no such statement again in the future."
"Yes sir," John said dropping his head a little before leaving.
Leonardo came forward to Alison who stayed rooted on her spot, she kept on brushing her hair down as the wind grew stronger.
Noticing his proximity to her again, she hurriedly tied her hair into a bun.
It wasn't the neatest but it would do, no more excuses for unnecessary physicals.
Noticing her action a big grin grew on his face, he stood right in front of her, "Tying your hair into a bun won't stop me." he said matter-of-factly.
"Yes I agree but I can. Stop teasing me Mr. Adriano, I have no time for such silly games, I kept myself reserved earlier because Mr. Johnson appeared. I would have given you an earful," She retorted crossing her elbow.
He loved how fiery she can be.
"What if he caught us if such comprising position? What would people say? And given that you are famous or popular. So I have heard, to what degree I am not aware of. I would not want to be entangled in your complicated life with my name tainted with tabloids gossips" Her voice came out very worried.
She had all to lose but he had nothing.
He came closer despite all her ranting, "Don't worry about proximity Alison. I won't cross my boundary until I make you mine completely." he thought staring at her in an indecipherable way.
She moved her body backward until it was at the end of the bank close to water, Mr. Johnson stood from afar making a phone call, What is he doing? She thought
He would complicate their work relationship.
Her shoes were sinking into the damp sand, one more move from him and she is going into the water.
He came closer and smirked at the way she moved away from him.
Her green eyes glaring in annoyance and her cheeks a bit rosy.
She warned him with her eyes looking over to where Mr. Johnson, worried he might get a sniff of his actions.
She worries too much, his mind concluded.
Forgetting she is millimeters away from the way she felt her legs going in but in one swift movement she landed hard in his chest.
Breathing hard, he made her feel things she doesn't want to feel.
Her heart was racing a hundred miles per hour.
One thing was sure, Leonardo confused her in every way.
A part of her told her to relish this moment, it wasn't every day you lay on a very famous man's chest while standing.
Her head was laid on his chest and she clutched hard to his shirt to avoid falling into the water.
He wasn't holding her, so she had to do all the work by herself.
One slip from her hold on his shirt and she lands in the water all mudded up and drenched.
He smirked at her and whispered, "As much as I enjoy this compulsory touch from you. We need to go now it is getting late." with that note he drew her like she weighed nothing into drier land.
"You disgust me." She muttered.
"I'd love to hear that a few moments ago" he laughed mildly.
Picking up her notepad and jotter from the log, she made her way to Mr.Johnson who finished from his important call.
He smiled briefly at her presence but suddenly changed his demeanor following his gaze, she found who was responsible.
Leonardo stood behind her like some bodyguard.
"John we would be heading out now it is getting late and I have a ride to catch."
"Oh... See you tomorrow then"
"No, that would be see you next week. I have to go back home. Next week I would be coming back here to provide the plan and start work immediately."
He nodded, shaking hands with her.
She followed Leonardo to his car and heard the loud rumble of her stomach and turned red.
"Someone is hungry" Leonardo whispered, she could not retort because he was right and she was tired.
She remembered she did not have lunch and her stomach felt empty.
Wrapping the seat belt around her waist she laid back into her plush leather seat as he ignited the car and zoomed off.
*
He stopped at a restaurant parking space alerted Alison glanced around nervously.
"Why are we here?" she asked cautiously scanning the restaurant.
"To eat" Well he was considerate, she planned in eating when back at her hotel.
She removed her seatbelt and stepped out of the car welcoming the cool evening breeze.
The surroundings looked lively and vibrant enough to chase out hunger from her system.
Different colored light blinked the restaurant's name, it was an average dinner place with open space and a double door.
The windows were also huge, she felt something warm and large slide into her palm and stared down to see Leonardo's hand intertwined with hers.
Struggling to remove her hands from his despite the needy look she gave him pleading to let her go, he held on tight and walked into the restaurant.
With the door opening heads turned eagerly.
All eyes on them she gulped nervously.
