19 Chapter 19

Meanwhile, Kiara and Matius just looked at each other after the tension started to arise.

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"Oh yeah, tomorrow is the weekend, how about the four of us go for a walk?" Matius invited.

"Sorry, Matius, I have an appointment," Calista replied.

"What about you, Leo?"

"Looks like I also have an appointment, I'll let you know later," Leo replied.

"I think they have an appointment with..." Kiara's sentence was cut off after receiving a sharp glare full of warning. She then turned to Calista.

Leonard was afraid that Calista would misunderstand.

"Hey, Leo, why are you looking at Calista like that? Don't tell me that you..."

"Shut up!"

Calista immediately said goodbye and returned to her room, not wanting to get involved in an unimportant conversation.

"Why are you in a rush? There's still 30 minutes left. Stay here for a little longer, you rarely want to relax here, right?" Kia asked.

"Sorry, Kia, I have to prepare for a meeting with the CFO division. Let's talk about it later," Calista lightly patted Kiara's shoulder.

"Oh yeah, I also have a lot of work that needs to be done soon. Then, let's go downstairs together. Let's go!" Matius added.

'Dammit, that bastard. Watch out, Matius.' Leonard growled, who had been burned with jealousy.

"Oh yes, Calis, wait!" Kiara called so that Calista turned her body again.

For the time being, Calista was standing right next to Leonard's chair.

Leonard then stretched out his fingers to hook them between Calista's, and of course, this made her gasp. Her gaze sharpened at him, but he didn't pay any heed.  

When she tried to release his grip, the grip on her fingers felt even tighter. Not wanting others to suspect them, she tried to act normally.

After talking with Kiara, Matius immediately took her downstairs. Finally, with a heavy heart, Leonard released his grip.

However, Kiara felt something fishy between them. Meanwhile, Leonard acted casually as if nothing had happened.

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Early in the morning, Leonard arrived at the office and waited in Calista's room by leaning his head on the back of the sofa. He closed his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Without realising his presence, Calista seemed to be relaxed tidying up her make-up. Indeed, that was her habit before going to work. She also didn't realise that a pair of black eyes staring at her intensely.

"Ehm, so this is your habit every morning, huh?"

Calista was startled by a familiar baritone voice that disturbed her hearing. She then gave him a sharp look.

"Leo, what are you doing in my room so early?"

"Of course I'm waiting for you."

"I'm here now. What do you wanna talk about? What's so important that you have to wait for me in my room?"

"There's nothing important I wanna talk to you about."

"What??"

"Yeah, darling, nothing. I just miss you. I couldn't sleep well last night, so I decided to come early. Unfortunately, your welcome made me a little disappointed."

"What do you want me to do? We are in the office, let's be professional. Put personal matters aside first."

"Kiss me."

"Leo!" Calista snapped.

"Come on, honey. I can't concentrate on work if I haven't gotten my share this morning," Leonard snorted as he continued to walk towards Calista's oversized desk.

He sat on the table. His fingers reached out to grab her chin. And when his gaze was fixed on her luscious lips, he couldn't help but quickly bring his lips together.

"Don't look at me like that, baby."

"Why?"

"Don't you know that your grey crystals disturb my concentration?" Said Leonard, bringing his face closer, which was immediately pushed by Calista.

"Leo, please. Be professional and go back to your room."

"But I still miss you. And one more thing, I don't like seeing you close to Matius." Said Leonard, being jealous.

"I'm free to be close to anyone. You're nobody to me. So, don't dare to control me!"

"So, you think there's no special relationship between us?"

"Isn't it?"

"So, you just forgot about our kiss that time?"

"Leo, please, that kiss didn't mean anything at all. I'm not in the mood to get into a relationship."

"For sure? But you really enjoyed our kiss that time."

"Leo, please!" Calista snapped.

'Why, Calista? I know you feel the same way, but why do you keep denying it?' Leonard thought with his eyes never leaving Calista's beautiful face.

At the other end, Calista was sad being stared at like that.

'I'm sorry Leo, I know I can't fake this feeling, but I'm not ready to start a relationship. I'm afraid of being hurt again.' Calista whispered in her heart.

"Please get out of my room, your presence here bothers me!"

"Did I bother you Calista?"

"Of course," Calista growled.

"Okay, then I'll move on to the couch and please continue your work."

"You still disturb me."

'With you in my room, it distracts me a lot, Leo.' Calista thought.

Leonard immediately walked over to Calista. His fingers reached her chin so that their gazes met.

'You can lie as much as you want, Calista, but the look in your eyes can't lie to me. I can see love in your eyes.' Leonard thought.

The warm gaze full of love from a pair of black eyes had hypnotised Calista. It made her silent when soft kisses began to drop along her forehead, eyes, nose and lips.

At first, he just wanted to tease her, but his inner desire asked for more. Both of them inevitably drown in a very intoxicating kiss.

"Are you going to keep denying that you don't have feelings for me?" Leonard asked in between kisses.

Realising what Leonard had said, Calista immediately pushed his chest out, making some distance between the two of them.

"You can deny your feelings, but look! Your body says otherwise. Your body misses my touch."

"Enough, Leo!"

"The more you deny that feeling, the clearer it will become, Calista."

Calista immediately closed her eyes for a moment, trying to suppress the anger that was churning in her soul. Anger and shame ambushed her at the same time.

"Get out of my room right now! If you don't..."

"What If not, honey?"

"Then I will forcefully expel you!"

"It's okay as long as you expel me with a kiss."

"You!" Calista was furious.

"You really enjoyed our kiss, baby," Leonard teased her with a seductive wink.

She was ashamed. Her cheeks instantly flushed. It made him more attached to her. His fingers reached out to gently caress her cheek and then kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

"Oh yeah, let's have lunch outside this afternoon and I don't want to hear you forget your promise to me this time. Remember that, honey!" Said Leonard before his muscular body disappeared behind the door.

Calista immediately put on an amused smile at his behaviour. For some reason, she could have lulled with that mannerless man. The man she hated the most, the man she desperately avoided.

Her heart warmed, but she immediately denied that feeling. Her dark past and his actions have made her afraid to turn over a new start.

However, Leonard didn't give up. The man was still trying to convince her until her strong fortress slowly began to be destroyed.

'Be careful, Calista, don't let you become the next victim.' Calista softly whispered in her heart.

She then focused her attention on work, not wanting to be constantly at war with herself, until she didn't realise the clock showed it was lunchtime.

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