Cold

"Come over at the Calvorite Hall by 1 pm. I needed to announce something." Jeremy's muffled voice lingered on his ear. It was just 8 in the morning, and he's bombarding Leo with a job once again. The burn in his shoulder was still aching.

Jeremy doesn't have any mercy at all.

Leo turned to the phone as the head sector hung up the call. He's still alone in the bed, and he's longing for Zella's presence. Leo turned to the vacant pillows, and observed the sun rays flooding in to the floor. Zella wouldn't back down from her conditions at all, and it's giving him a hard time.

Leo remembered the kiss last night. The way she straddled him comfortably.

Leo should shake it off before it gets big. He shook his head, slapping the side of his head, and sighed. He mumbled, "Forget it. Forget it. Forget it."

That was him on an alternate self. Leo couldn't help but to admire her every time she leaned in close. Her face was the resemblance of the beauty type he's intrigued. Leo wouldn't be this crazy if Zella isn't…

Leo whispered, "Stop, Leo, before it gets too late."

He sighed, swung his legs at the side of the bed, and approached the curtains. Leo opened it up, letting the blazing sunrise come inside the room.

…

Zella rubbed her eyes, and yawned. She held the doorknob, and leaned by the door. Zella kept on twisting and turning in her bed last night, thinking about the kiss. It'd topple her over, wondering why he had done that, and pulled out when she's too immersed with the scene.

"He's crazy to do that," Zella angrily whispered.

Leo might not be her first kiss, but every time he met her lips, it rumbled the butterflies in her stomach.

Zella turned to the wooden door, mumbling, "Let's act like nothing happened. That way, I wouldn't be ashamed."

Zella breathed a hefty amount of air. She opened the door, went outside, and stretched her shoulders up. Zella turned to the staircase, and there was no Leo. She furrowed her eyebrows, muttering, "That damn freak. He didn't even check his wife."

Zella crossed her arms over her chest and went to the closet.

…

It was already 10 am when Zella decided to join the boys at the dining table. She showed up in a simple shirt and shorts, cascading her newly-dried hair behind her shoulders, and sat down on the other end of the table.

It felt so wrong to join them after a month. Leo isn't saying something about them, probably not to bombard her with information she doesn't need for her short-term memory.

The maids prepared her food while the four of them dined in. Leo is the only one not eating. He kept on looking at her, and one time, she caught it.

Leo widened his eyes, and turned back to his soup again.

Zella munched in her bottom lip, picked up the utensil, and scoop up the noodles.

She was silent all throughout the meal. No one even said anything.

Although Randall kept on stealing glances at her and Leo, they never said a word. It must be their brother's code to stay silent while eating.

As they gobbled down everything, Leo was the first one to finish. He wiped the corners of his mouth, and cleared his throat. Zella finished off her last chew, swallowing, and turning to her husband.

He met her eyes. Zella put down all her utensils and look at him again.

The four men on the side sensed they needed a conversation.

"We'll be at the car, Leo. Just make sure you arrive 5 minutes before 12:50," Randall announced. Vincent, Etienne and Jon Cho all emptied out their seats and motioned for the maids to clean up their plates.

The four of them left the dining area.

This isn't what she wanted at all. To have a private moment with Leo as if what happened last night shouldn't occur, even though they're a married couple. Zella didn't stare at him, picked up the plate by herself, and fixed the utensils at the side of the tray.

Leo didn't say anything. He just observed her.

The maids all piled up inside the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone.

Zella picked up the tray, walked past ahead of him, but Leo halted her.

He held her completely by her waist. His touch sent electricity down her spine. Zella staggered back, holding the tray carefully, and didn't meet his eyes. Leo touched one side of her waist as he stood up, and Zella bit her bottom lip.

A simple contact of his hand to her body made her excited. This isn't good.

Leo retracted his hand, picked up the tray from her hands, and Zella parted her lips slightly. What is he doing?

Leo turned to her again, saying, "You are not a maid to do that. You shouldn't clean up."

Zella furrowed her eyebrows. "I wanted to clean my plate, so let me. You have people for that, yes, but it's your people, not mine."

Zella insisted, turning to the tray once again, but Leo reached out to her wrists, holding it. She tried to wriggle out of his touch, but Leo grasped it firmly. Zella glared at him, hissing, "What are you doing?"

Leo clenched his jaw. "Don't avoid me, Laina. Let's talk."

Zella brushed off his hands away from her wrists. Leo didn't touch her again after that.

"Talk? Am I the one who should discuss things to you? You are the one who should do that, Leo, not me. Why are you avoiding every chance to clear up yourself to me?" Zella has a lot of questions to ask, but seeing Leo hesitating to answer all of it, she never inquired about it.

It must be wrong to act as a nosy wife.

Leo knew he had to step up the game. In order to catch her feelings, and take on the promise he had with Jeremy, he had to make Zella comfortable around him. If she kept on growing the distance between them, it won't do any good.

Leo might fear to make a move just to kill her.

"I'll say everything to you later at dinner."

At every ounce of trust Zella would have given Leo, now is not the right time. Zella would only believe things when he was the one who said it.

Zella perked up, asking, "Every question I had?"

Leo nodded. "I'll answer them."

Zella found a flicker of hope. She sighed, holding up a pinky.

"Promise me," Zella said. Leo raised his eyebrows, turning to her finger. He never did a pinky promise, just today, when Zella offered it.

If it will make him closer to Zella, he'd do it. He reached out, wrapping his pinky to her, and reassured, "I promise."