Spoilt middle aged man

"I can't pinch myself hard no matter how hard I try," she whispered and he replied,

"Fine, I will do it for you."

"Huh?" asked Quinn seeming very confused that is until Leif pinched her hard. "Damn it… urgh you," she whispered while trying to hold it in.

She suddenly felt how Liam felt back then. Because she wasn't supposed to use her cell phone in music class or any other class for that matter, her cell phone was confiscated by the teacher.

In order to get it back and not get into trouble with her grandfather she dragged Liam into it. She told him that since he was small he should cry and distract her so she could snatch the cell phone from her side pocket.

Liam shook his head saying he couldn't cry on cue so she pinched his thigh and those tears wailed up really fast.

Now Leif had done it to her and her eyes turned moist in a heartbeat. "You… you better sleep with one eye open," she whispered with a beaming smile while the tears flowed down her face.

Leif got up his heart very happy inside. He told himself he will pay it back and he finally did and boy, how good it felt. While his heart was wallowing in his joyous revenge he was suddenly attacked.

Well, attacking wasn't exactly the right word. Quinn hugged him tightly and Leif was left at a loss. His heart went into warp speed. It was beating so fast that he could hear it in his ear.

He was about to push her away when he heard her say, "That's what couples in love do so you better reciprocate."

Leif's muscles were as stiff as a corpse and the faint floral scent and strawberries shower gel assaulted his senses. He fought off the urge to break their contact as his fingers moved to touch her back.

His movements were a little awkward through and through. When they separated, Quinn who had been holding back all this time after Leif put her in her place finally had her chance. She planted a soft kiss on Leif's cheek and said, "Babe, I can't wait to marry you."

Leif, "…"

Quinn dragged him closer to the camera and said, "One more picture for a portrait," while gently pulling at his collar and gazed at him lovingly. It could be interpreted as a loving gaze but to these two it was a gloating gaze. Leif knew her too well.

When they got back in the car Quinn was so giddy like she had freed the beast locked in for the past few days. As expected she loved messing with him for no reason.

"I like the ring a lot," she said and Leif who was checking the pictures for the engagement announcement answered perfunctorily,

"You can keep it when all this is over."

Quinn chuckled softly while saying, "Isn't it bad luck talking about the end before the beginning?

Leif didn't answer. He was typing some instructions on his cell phone but that didn't stop Quinn from talking.

"Isn't it weird that I had a bachelorette party and bought a dress before we even got engaged?" she asked while twisting the ring on her finger.

"There's nothing weird about it. We can say that I had already proposed but didn't have a ring," he said his head still lowered as he typed.

Due to the blood rush from earlier Quinn suddenly forgot their discussion about recognizing the type of relationship they had she started slipping back into old habits.

"I will tell them that you proposed after a night of passion but you didn't have a ring," she said and he glared at her coldly.

"What? I think it's a much more believable story," she said as she continued messing with her ring.

***

Across the city in a place with large mansions and high security an old woman was sitting on a chair that oddly resembled a throne. The only thing missing was a crown and with it she might actually pass as a queen.

She blew softly on the steam coming from her tea cup before taking a sip her movements elegant and graceful.

"Mother!" exclaimed a middle aged man who looked like he had kidney deficiency from having too much sex.

The old woman glared at him a glare so sharp that it split one's soul in half. The middle aged man shut his mouth. Beside him, Leif's mother smiled slightly while looking down at her beautiful nails.

The old lady took a sip before setting her cup down. She raised her bony long fingers and a man dressed like a pristine butler walked over and handed over a tablet.

She looked at the images posted by Leif online and zoomed in on the girl hugging him happily while kissing his lips. No, they didn't kiss but while there were in the car this was what Leif was communicating with the photographer.

He wanted the angles to be easily misunderstood and lead the conversation in a direction he wanted the discussion to go.

"Who is she?" she asked as though she hadn't launched an investigation on Quinn already.

"Her name is Quinn, she is the heir of the fallen ×××× family," replied Leif's mother her expression a little smug.

"But mum you know this relationship can't be genuine. That Leif kid doesn't even let anyone close to him. How can someone who has such a disease get cured overnight and marry someone? There is something shady about this," said the middle aged man who was still acting like a spoilt child despite his age.

"It has to be fake otherwise why didn't he marry Miss Bach or Miss Feral? They have a much better family background than whoever she is. She brings absolutely nothing to the table," he said letting all his grievances out. His mother had promised that the one who would take over would be his son who was already married and had two kids already.

Their father's will was written with Leif's issues in mind. Old Mr Bardin didn't like her daughter's marriage partner hence he did not like Leif either.