Stop

Charlotte's steps were cautious as she approached Leonid. She took a few steps closer to him until she stood behind him.

"By the way…"

Charlotte opened her lips and continued in a low voice.

"Where is Hunter?"

She asked Leonid gently while raising her hand and holding the tip of his gray jacket. In Charlotte's eyes, it was uncomfortable to keep Leonid leaning on the window frame in such a careless manner on his part. What if a simple mistake happened and that led to him falling suddenly? What would happen then other than that she would have a heart attack?.

On the other indifferent side, Leonid felt Charlotte's light grip on his jacket tightening, yet he said nothing about her, contented himself with answering her question about Hunter.

"That puppy is sleeping in my room. You can go see him if you want."

Leonid simply mentioned going to his room, without considering Charlotte's feelings for him.

"Huh?"

How could a man as wonderful in every sense of the word as Leonid give an express ticket to his bedroom to a woman like Charlotte? Is this a ticket of honour?

Charlotte closed her lips and felt the sudden high heat slowly build up on her cheeks and ears. Just thinking about the look and smell of Leonid's room made her mind wander into unnecessary thoughts. Charlotte quickly shook her head and immediately screamed.

"No! Absolutely not."

"no?"

Leonid turned his eyes to Charlotte and raised his eyebrows, Charlotte had always adored Hunter, so why wouldn't she want to go and see him now.

"I mean it's okay for me to stay here with you until Hunter wakes up."

Charlotte stopped shaking her head left and right and explained the reason for her refusal in a polite manner. She didn't know why she was making excuses for Leonid now, but she just did it.

"Let Hunter sleep, really poor puppy…he's barely getting any rest…I think."

"He's a lazy puppy through and through."

Leonid differed from Charlotte's opinion of Hunter. From his perspective, buying a puppy like Hunter was a big loss. Despite his research on the best active breeds, this Husky puppy did not behave as he was written about in articles.

"Just a waste of money."

"What did you say now?"

Charlotte tilted her head slightly toward Leonid. Moments ago, Charlotte was unable to hear Leonid muttering, as he suddenly lowered his voice unusually. Did he say something about her, so he lowered his voice.

"I didn't say anything."

"Hmm…"

Charlotte murmured under her breath and stepped back, her fist still clutching the hem of Leonid's jacket as he worked on the stuck window.

She looked at Leonid's back, then looked down and said.

"Mr. Leonid, if you wish, can I help you?"

"Help me? Me?"

The tone of Leonid's response was both surprised and sarcastic at the same time. He smiled dryly and continued.

"With all due respect, I bet you can't tell the difference between a screwdriver and the tool I'm using in my hand."

"Who told you this?!"

Leonid's hand stopped working after hearing the annoyed tone that Charlotte used, for some reason he felt that the fun would start soon.

Charlotte was definitely upset, but she did her best to keep calm.

"Believe it or not. I've always helped my father since I was a kid, and I never meant to give you this kind of help."

"for me?"

Leonid couldn't hold back the soft laugh that escaped his lips.

"Oh my God. I can tell your father is a very patient person. I wonder if he still wants to let you help him to this day."

"Why are you making fun of me and doubting my abilities now!? You know, my father always welcomes my help, so don't call him an patient person. He just trusts me."

Leonid arched an eyebrow and smiled, his icy blue eyes studying Charlotte's angry face.

He felt her strong grip pulling his jacket back, then he said in a provocative tone.

"Well, I didn't mean to make you feel inferior or ridiculous, I'm just putting you on your level."

"How can you put me on any level when you've never seen me work before? It's so unfair!"

"Injustice? That's the wrong word to describe my good intentions towards you."

"What good intentions are you talking about? You're making fun of me, aren't you!"

Inadvertently, Charlotte forcefully pulled Leonid's jacket back, causing Leonid to slide in and stand on his left foot.

After getting to his feet, Leonid raised his head and focused his eyes on Charlotte's black eyes. The distance between them was closer than Charlotte could bear.

Leonid saw his reflection in Charlotte's widening eyes, the tip of his eyebrow twitched and a beautiful smile appeared on his attractive lips.

"Well let's see. If I say 'no' will you believe me?"

"Huh?"

"Why 'huh' every time? Are you okay"

Leonid's smile turned into a sneer, and he felt the dark amusement finally wash over him.

Charlotte was still in a daze, but she managed to snap out of it after hearing Leonid's question.

"Well… "

Charlotte tried to hide the blush in her cheeks, but failed. She was blushing visibly as she avoided looking into Leonid's eyes and let go of the hem of his jacket.

"I definitely-…"

"You will definitely believe me."

"No! I was trying to say I'm definitely fine!"

She shouted at him and then pouted her plump lips. Charlotte closed her fists and turned her gaze to Leonid, no longer shy now that she felt angry.

"Even if you answer me yes or no, I will never believe you!"

Leonid's smile faded and he raised an eyebrow as he looked and listened to Charlotte's reaction. He remained quiet for a moment and then said softly.

"Oh my God, Lady Charlotte, you're really annoying."

He leaned against the window frame and went back to work. In Leonid's eyes, he would never tire of testing Charlotte's reactions and teasing her as well.

After a while, Leonid finally fixed the window and put what he had in his hand aside. Then he closed the window, went to the table and took a handkerchief to wipe his hands.

"I'm not annoying."

"Well you're not."

After hearing Leonid's response, Charlotte felt some peace of mind, just a little bit There were still some pending matters waiting to be settled step by step.

"How about you made fun of me, can you apologize"

"no."

Leonid answered coldly and didn't seem to really care about being mocked by Charlotte even though he was.

He moved and took the paper bag from the table.

Leonid emptied the contents of the paper bag, ignoring Charlotte, who was still standing by the window like a pillar.

"why not!?"

Charlotte filed a complaint after she regained consciousness.

After a few moments, Leonid motioned for her to come closer with his index finger, and she did.

Charlotte approached with quick steps and said in an offensive tone.

"Answer me!"

"I don't know."

Charlotte frowned while Leonid smiled, imitating her, saying "I don't know" at the same pace in order to provoke her, and added.

"Go to the kitchen and get me a fork."

"Fork only?"

"That will be more than enough, come on."

"Good…"

Charlotte moved and headed to the kitchen, but stopped in the middle. Wait, how could she be so obedient? Charlotte was to fight against Leonid, not to obey his orders.

Leonid took the lunch box and sat at the dining table waiting for Charlotte to arrive. He saw her stop and turn towards him, so he furrowed his eyebrows before saying.

"What's wrong with you, did you forget that I asked you to bring the fork?"

Leonid leaned on his elbow and rested his chin on his palm

"You better do something about your memory. It's getting worse every day."

"How dare you make fun of me again! Who said my memory gets worse every day!"

"Yes, yes. Just get the fork quickly and then come to the fight."

Leonid waved his free hand and turned his eyes to the lunch box.

While he waited for Charlotte, who headed angrily into the kitchen, her heels hitting the floor hard, Leonid opened the lunch box.

His nose twitched after he smelled the smell of eggs mixed with sausage. The golden rolls with slices of sausage cut into the middle looked delicious and delicious, and of course he didn't forget to look at the cut vegetables. Leonid has always been amazed by Charlotte's cooking skill?

Leonid asked in his mind as he finally took the fork handed by Charlotte into his hand.

After Leonid placed the fork in his hand, Charlotte remained standing next to Leonid, enjoying the fact that she was a little taller than him. She smiled secretly and stared at Leonid's short figure sitting in the chair.

She desperately wanted to take a picture now, so that she could remember this triumphant and special moment for the rest of her life.

Charlotte daydreamed and closed her eyes. Everything was exciting today. She had never dreamed of having moments so close to Leonid, but she got through it in a peaceful way, in addition to getting negative moments from Leonid teasing her without mercy.

Charlotte pouted her plump lips and opened her eyes. She looked at Leonid with an offensive look and watched him still eat slowly and seem to be thinking.

What was he thinking, was he thinking about what he should do to upset her more, well Charlotte didn't understand why everyone would want to bother her.

"How long are you going to keep staring at me? You're almost blowing a hole in my head."

"I would be delighted if that really happened."

Leonid laughed sarcastically after hearing Charlotte's frank answer.

"Girl, you're playing with your luck."

"I don't, I just told the truth."

"Well, I'm glad you're being frank. But I hope you're not too frank, Lady Charlotte, for I don't want to make the lady I care about cry because of me."

Stab an egg slice with a fork and eat it. Leonid was in a really good mood and wasn't serious about making Charlotte cry because of him. He just wanted to sprinkle some warning spice to see if Charlotte would back down or not.

"I will not cry, no matter what I do, I will not cry."

Charlotte muttered, clenching her fists so as not to hit Leonid's head from the side. Every time she wanted to look strong, everyone threatened to make her cry.

Just who said she cries because of them? No one would ever understand why she cried if she really cried.

"Really, how cute you are."

"I'm not nice."

Charlotte shook her head against the idea of being nice.

"Good."

After hearing Leonid's response, Charlotte backed away and headed towards the middle of the living room, staring at the chaos caused by yesterday's storm.

Charlotte had a plan to help Leonid in her head, even though he treated her badly sometimes, if he wasn't her type of man, she wouldn't have helped him.

"Anyway I want to help you."

"Well, what kind of help do you want to give me?"

"I want to… help you clean up, will you allow me?"

"This is a generous initiative of yours."

"Not generous."

Leonid ignored Charlotte's response and continued.

"Well, I'm not a man to let a sensitive lady like you clean for him."

"Are you trying to play gentleman now?"

Charlotte turned to Leonid, leaned her elbows on the dining table, and stared at him.

The distance between them was short, but Charlotte acted in an unprecedented manner, which made Leonid somewhat affected.

Leonid lowered his eyebrows, which suddenly rose, and said with a sideways smile.

"I never said I was not a gentleman."

"Come on, we both know you're far from noble. Have you forgotten how you were the worst neighbor I've ever had?"

"I didn't even know I was the worst neighbor I'd ever had."

"Mm, don't take it too seriously, you may be the worst neighbor and still are in my eyes, but somehow I prefer you, okay?"

Leonid stared coldly at Charlotte, listening with open welcoming arms. And he had no intention of stopping her after she became frank with him.

"Good. "

"Good, so let me help you."

"As you wish, then clean the living room alone."

"Alone?"

" Yes. "

Leonid put the fork aside, leaned back in the chair, and put a wry smile on his lips.

"Clean up and I'll come over right away if you have a problem, okay?"

Charlotte blinked a few times and assured herself that she had been more foolish today, very foolish.

" Good. "

"Very good, go now."

Leonid waved his hand and waited for Charlotte to move and show him her next move.

Charlotte turned and looked around, and the first thing that came to her mind was to put away the coat that Leonid had used as a floor mop.

She walked a little slowly, her sleeves rolled up to the middle of her wrists, like a serious person who is able to complete his work. Charlotte leaned over the wet coat and extended her hands, but Leonid suddenly intervened.

Leonid's arms extended from either side of Charlotte's head and he lifted his coat himself. Leonid's chest was connected to Charlotte's back, and his breath was touching her ear.

"I would feel bad if I let you carry that dirty thing, but I won't back down from making you clean the living room yourself."

Charlotte stiffened, unable to comprehend what had happened moments ago. What happened moments ago made her heart turbulent as well as her mind, which was barely working every day.

Leonid disposed of his coat in the trash, washed his hands, and headed toward Charlotte.

He stood at a safe distance from Charlotte and began to watch her.

"You will find a cleaning kit in stock."

"Good."

Charlotte quickly stood up and headed to the storeroom. She had no difficulty in doing so because Leonid's apartment was identical to hers.

As she returned to the living room after getting what she needed like a mop and floor polish. Charlotte thought if what she was doing was a good idea.

Doesn't she look like a submissive woman now trying to get closer to Leonid in any way, this was very disgraceful Charlotte cleaning up out of admiration and Leonid might misunderstand her, what kind of harsh life she is living.

Charlotte ignored those thoughts and started cleaning and mopping the floor until Leonid intervened again.

"The floor is not mopped like that."

He said and took the mop from her hands. Leonid would no longer deny that Charlotte was an innocent woman, and he felt guilty for letting her clean, but what would he do to her when she was the one who asked for his help?

Leonid mopped the floor, which was easier said than done. Charlotte saw Leonid's movements and the poor way he was wiping the water off the tiles.

"You're really bad at cleaning, at least I was better than you."

It was good to discover a weakness in Leonid, not all handsome men are able to clean up.

Charlotte joined her hands and approached Leonid, then extended her hand.

"Give me the mop, I'll clean better than you."

"no."

Leonid replied, absorbed in his role of cleaning, but he was unintentionally making the situation worse with every movement.

"Master Leonid, that's enough."

Charlotte reached out and grabbed the mop stick and stopped Leonid.

"Leave the cleaning to me. You are so bad at cleaning that I am annoyed by your poor housekeeping."

"Ill what?"

Leonid raised his eyebrows, not understanding whether this was the truth or just sarcasm.

"Okay then."

Leonid finally agrees to Charlotte's request, but in a somewhat unexpected way.

"Come here."

With a quick movement, Leonid scooped Charlotte into his arms, then took her hands and placed them on the mop stick, still holding her.

"Let's do this together, Charlotte, okay?"

"Ah, kind of…, Mr. Leonid."

Charlotte was still uncomfortable about being held in Leonid's arms, but she continued to get slapped in the heart by Leonid.

Leonid paused for a moment, not liking the way Charlotte responded to him. He bent his head next to Charlotte and whispered to her while lifting her chin with the finger of his right hand.

"Just call me Leonid, there's no need to be formal between us, Charlotte."

"Huh?"

"Not 'huh' again. I just want to hear my name."

Charlotte was as stiff as a lamppost with a red light.

Her cheeks and ears became noticeably red, and she couldn't help herself due to Leonid's hot breath mercilessly piercing her ear and his finger forcing her to raise her head towards him.

She was like a mouse in a trap.

"L-L-Leo."

Charlotte tried to do everything she could under Leonid's intense gaze.

"Leo…"

Under Charlotte's desperate attempts, Leonid stood feeling a strange sensation inside his chest for a moment.

After moments of failed attempts, Leonid said…

"Okay, Leo, that's enough for me for now. Now let's finish cleaning up Charlotte."

After Leonid had had enough, he immediately placed his right hand again on top of Charlotte's hand to hold the mop stick with her.

"Um."

Charlotte barely responded to Leonid's words before she was once again lost in her embarrassment, the feeling of his presence behind her increasing her tension and sending heat through her.

Charlotte did her best to hold herself together in front of Leonid, especially since she was trapped in his arms, unable to breathe or bend as she wanted.

Charlotte mopped the floor with Leonid. Despite the difficulties she faced, she succeeded in hiding her feelings from Leonid, who left without her realizing it and left her alone in a paragraph.

After Charlotte finished cleaning and putting everything in place, she just noticed that Leonid wasn't there.

She stood quietly until she heard Hunter's barking coming from Leonid's bedroom. Charlotte thought about going, but the mere thought of going to Leonid's room was enough to make her faint.

Charlotte turned around, then turned her head towards Leonid's room, maybe she'd better go take a look.

Nothing will go wrong if you go check on Hunter.

She moved and walked slowly, just peeking inside wouldn't happen much to Charlotte, that was what she expected, but something happened that she had never thought of, only who could have expected what would happen next.

Charlotte stopped by the door frame, her eyes roving from the clean floor in the dark room to the array of suits hanging in the also open closet.

Leonid's room was modern and simple. He didn't seem to like excessive decor, so there wasn't a lot of furniture in his bedroom.

After looking around, Charlotte didn't find Leonid inside so she moved towards the bed and carefully picked up Hunter, who was barking and jumping like an energetic puppy on the mattress.

Charlotte smiled after picking Hunter up and caressing her nose with his.

"Very cute~."

"Take him with you."

"Huh?!"

Charlotte blinked after hearing Leonid's voice coming up behind her. She quickly turned around and saw what she never expected to see, a sight that would make her life end faster.

The sculpted six pack combined with the taut waist and chest to broad shoulders caused millions of vibrations within her ribcage. Charlotte's eyes widened and narrowed at every wet spot on Leonid's white skin.

And once again she could say that her weak sight had come back strong, perfect and also exaggerated like the lens of a telescope