Chapter 27: Leonard and Emily I
Thinking of everything was just giving Geoffrey a headache. In any case, he already knew that even if he had ten mouths, he still would not be able to defend himself for no words could soothe Serena given the reality of their situation. Though he wanted her to believe him, he knew that it would take his whole life to prove his sincerity. In truth, it was challenging at times. However, it was never too difficult for him because he was more than willing.
Seeing the orange hue of the skies through their sheer curtains, Geoffrey surmised that it was time for dinner and Leonard should be home. Thus, he began detangling himself from Serena to stand up from the bed.
"Hmm??? Where are you going?" Serena asked.
"I was thinking of informing the staff that we'll be having dinner here in the room."
"That can wait… I'm not hungry yet… Come back to bed, I want to cuddle more." Serena protested.
Geoffrey smiled before giving her an exaggerated sigh. "What to do? I also have to give Leonard a call."
"What for?"
Geoffrey just gave her that look which says, 'you're not really asking me that question, are you?'
Serena, catching on, grinned. Well, she was not exactly happy with the thought of being the one breaking it to Leonard. Good thing, Geoffrey volunteered even without her asking.
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"You know, despite how absurd this might sound, I wouldn't mind giving us another go." Emily Evans, one of the most desired and popular female singers of her age, granted the title baroness on her own right, and the original female lead of the novel 'a Cinderella story in Victorian fantasy era', said as she took a whiff from her cigarette.
Leonard Maxwell, a marquis, heir to the dukedom, vice minister of finance, and brother-in-law of the crown prince, crunched his nose finding the smell of cigarette unpleasant. Anyhow, digesting Emily's words reminded him of last Season when he thought that she was the one and almost proposed. Thankfully, before doing so, he was able to sound her out or he would have become the butt of all jokes. In private, he asked what she thought of marriage and Emily cited that her career was on its peak and that she worked so hard just to get to where she was to turn away from it. In other words, she was not ready and even without asking, she already rejected him.
Everything would have been alright since he understood, and he would have waited for her till she was ready. That was until he saw her flirting with Marquis Christopher Cross not even a week later.
She told him that she was not ready then suddenly she went out with Christopher Cross. So, what did she want him to think? He suspected that the reason she was not ready for him was because she was still waiting for a larger fish to take the bait. Christopher was a real blue-blooded heir of a Ducal house, so to him, it felt like, she suddenly dropped him like a hot potato when Christopher came along.
Just thinking about it, gods, that was pathetic. He must admit though, she played him well and his consolation was that they never went public and yes, the sex. At the very least, he did deflower her, or so she claimed.
Well, that was last year. Now, is a different story. He was not really a bitter man who holds on to grudges and at least it did save him from what could have come after. So, when Emily came knocking on his door (not literally) and served herself on a silver platter last month, who was he to refuse? He always did enjoy sex with her. Of course, he told her that it should never happen again the day after, but she told him that she's also just in it for the sex and they should do it again. So, as a normal man being asked by an attractive woman, he agreed.
However, that decision was proving to become a mistake. He liked the sex still, but just not what comes after. Perhaps he should have just let the past stay in the past. Maybe then he could have saved a kinder picture of Emily. For right now, he found that she already changed, or maybe he just didn't know her as well as he thought he did. In any case, he found her current attitude and habits not to his liking.
He has been wanting them to stop for a while now, but he just hasn't got the chance due to what's been going on this week.
Today would have been a good time to do so but it has been a stressful week and he just needed some form of release. He was already regretting it though. He should have asked her to leave and leave the keys along the way when he found her inside his private apartment earlier. Would it be alright to break it to her now?
Becoming irritated with the smell of smoke but not wanting to address her words, he rose from the bed, pulled the cigarette from her hand and pressed it on the ashtray by the nightstand. By the way the only reason that said ashtray existed was because Emily brought it in.
"I don't know when you developed this distasteful habit of yours, but you should quit it. Aren't you afraid that the media would catch sight of it and damage your reputation?" The words 'since i believe that's all you've ever cared about.' At the tip of his tongue.
Emily smirked before pushing him back on the bed. "Should I take that as you, still worrying about me?" she teased. Then she leaned forward to kiss his lips.
Leonard turned his face away so Emily's kiss can only land on his cheek. Not only because he didn't agree with her words, but he doesn't want to engage on a kiss when she just smoked. He never did fancy the taste of nicotine.
Emily kept her composure despite the pain. Even without words, she knew what Leonard meant by turning away. She understood that though they were in this kind of relationship, or non-relationship, whatever one may call it now, the only reason Leonard agreed was that because she forced herself on him that night, and when he said that it was a one-time mistake that should not happen again the next day, she enticed him by saying that he doesn't have to worry because she's just in it for the sex too.
Of course, her words were lies. She had other plans, but she didn't want to lower herself and beg him. Sorry, she still has some pride. Not that she has any delusions that he would have agreed if she did that either.
However, though that may be the case, it didn't mean that it doesn't hurt whenever Leonard makes her feel that sex was all there was to them now. She's just a human being too.
To be fair though, she knew she wronged Leonard, but she did not exactly know that everything would turn out the way they did.
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TBC