Chapter Eleven

ERWIN

"Let's play again!" James exclaims, desperation evident in his eyes, facial expression and the tremor of his hands.

"It's our third round already and you lost every round." "very miserably" I don't say out loud the last few word because everyone is watching us with their eyes bulged out as if they are watching the best show ever in their life. And I don't take pleasure to entertain them 'cause I am not a fucking entertainer. Other than that I am so fucking done with all this child play going on here.

Does he even know how to play poker?

"B-But…" James gaze swipes over Leo pleadingly, who is standing beside me, as if he will pull him out of this situation, making me want to crush his head even more.

Leo was at first watching our game very intently but he soon lost interest when he saw that James can't make even one efficient over me.

He is a fucking looser. What makes him think that he is better than me?

"Mr. James I believe that there is no point playing a lost game." I say dismissively.

You are not worthwhile.

"But we can_" James retorts but his father suddenly pops up out of the watching crowd and put s hand over his son's shoulder, 'causing him to stop in the middle of his statement.

"I understand, Erwin." He smiles, "Please continue to enjoy the party. My son will not bother you anymore. And I greatly apologize for my son's insolate behavior."

What a creep.

"I am glad that you at least understand even if your son doesn't." I remark smilingly as I can feel my cheek aching from all the smiling.

I shoot a gaze to the crowd. Subtitle: The show is over. 

The crowd understands the meaning behind my look and scatters quickly. I turn to my husband with a victorious grin spreading over my face.

"I won." I tell him.

"You won." He repeats after me as he directly looks me in the eyes, string a urge inside my chest to grab his otherworldly face and kiss the fuck out of him here and now.

"Where is my reward?" I ask him in the same manner as he bores a hole into my face with his burning gaze.

"I told Kevin to prepare it." He looks away.

I win.

Erwin: One

Leo: Zero

"Oh by the way, where's the do-, I mean assistant of yours?" I ask.

Well I am genuinely curious about that fucker, you see. I have a feeling that he is up to something and that something is not healthy for any of us. 

"There was a few paper works left at the company, so I am making him do them." He replies, "And other than that…"

"Other than that?" I press.

"You two seem to be so fond of each other." He finishes.

There is a tingling sensation at the pit of my stomach, making it hard to breath or speak. I open and close my mouth a few times but nothing comes out.

Oh Leo what are you doing to me?

Then there is a sound of someone clearing their throat, 'Am I interrupting something?" Jules asks, trying to suppress his laughter.

"Oh no, no you are not interrupting anything." I lie.

Yes you are interrupting us, you asshole!

"Oh, you did well, Erwin." John pops out from nowhere as he adds, "In the poker."

"You know I am good at it." I say, proud of myself.

"You are." Jules and John admit at the same time.

Just then slow music starts to play in the background, indicating that it is time for everyone to get on the dance floor.

I glance over to Leo beside me, about to ask him for a dance when suddenly a blondie in a vibrant green suit enters in the picture.

"Hey John, would you mind if I take your dance?" He asks with a smile but something about the smile doesn't feel good so I immediately pipe in between them.

"Sorry, but he's gonna dance with me." I take John's hand forcefully.

"And you are gonna dance with me." Leo does the same with Ruth, "Is this alright?" This question is directed to me.

"Of course, go ahead!" I exclaim as I am already pulling John by his collar to the dance floor, struggling against my grip relentlessly.

"May I know why the fuck I am dancing with you?!" He demands distastefully, a deep scowl appearing on his face. 

"Shut up and dance with me until you want to dance for your entire life!" I hiss at him.

"Huh?" He tilts his head in confusion, not finding any heads or tails behind my statement.

***

At last the fucked up party ends without any further drama and I am so fucking thankful for that. But there is a thing that is still tormenting me and that is Leo's family.

I have seen people who have lost their sanity, in fact I am one of those people and I don't need anyone to tell me that. I am insane but I have never met people who are beyond fucked up. And Leo's family is beyond fucked up. Especially that uncle of his. I can feel it coming from him. He is beyond insane and I can guarantee that. The way he looks at Leo is very unlike a sane person.

In any case, I don't want to do anything with him. But there my guts go telling me to do something that will be unable to bear the sight of me and avoid me as much as possible, if he is in his right mind. Or will make him very desperate to get me out of the picture to sculpt his dear nephew in his own way. And to see the outcome of my work, the first thing I need to do is set up the props. Well, thanks to James I didn't have to throw shits to set them up.

Well of course, I am talking about staying at the hotel. Honestly speaking I would really prefer Leo's bedroom, which has his smell all over the place but there is something I want my in-laws to see, no, hear. So, I whined about liking the hotel and made Leo make a reservation. And of course I was loud. And thankfully that made all of his family stay behind except that Leon guy. I can't figure out his deal.

I figured that the whole family is sick through the greetings I received from them. They are looking everywhere for shits to throw at Leo's way no matter where he goes or what he does. So, it only makes sense that they search for a way to get him off guard and pull his leg to make him stumble into mud. And I am sure Leo is aware of this fact more than anyone else.

So I have plotted something that will hang them in a thin thread. And it will be so fucking amusing to see them hanging from there.

Leo leads me to the room, which he booked just a few hours ago, still unaware of the fact that some people have their dirty eyes over us. And it's better this way. And the funny fact is Ruth is staying too. I didn't see him leave through the door earlier. Hope that guy will still be on his feet after tonight. Not that I care, anyway.

"Well, the room is not too bad." I comment as I look around the spacious area around us, very neat and clean with a king size bed in the middle of the room.

Quite nice for a room that was booked at the last minute at a five-star hotel. In any case, I have no need for the luxury of the room right now. All I need is the bed or maybe I don't need it too.

"My bedroom is way better." He attempts to take off his jacket, "Dunno why you insisted on staying here."

"Leo, don't take that off." I order.

"Huh, why?" He halts in his way to take the jacket off.

I offer a hand to him while tucking the other behind my back and bowing a little to be at his level of sight. "Let me take your dance, little kitten." I say softly with a mild smile on my face.

Leo is appearing to be caught off guard. He is looking up and down between my offered hand and my face. I wait for him to take my hand patiently. "What about the music?" He asks, there is something in his voice that is telling me that he is happy though actually is not showing it.

I pull out my phone and play suitable romantic music for the moment, "Why are you always thinking about such a trivial matter?" I throw my phone over my bed, still waiting for him to take my hand.

"Then if you please." He at last takes my hand, his eyes glittering with amusement.

I tug him closer to him. I wrap a hand around his tiny waist that fits in my arms just perfectly as he comes crashing at my chest, losing his footings. I thread our fingers. I leave no gaps between us as the sensation of his warm breathing , his pheromone and his touch makes my mind think of anything this worldly.

 He peers up to me as I peer down to him. Eyes locked as a wave of electricity thickens the air between us.

He is so fucking beautiful that it is almost breathtaking.

"What's up with you tonight?" Leo rasps, his voice just barely above a whisper.

"Dunno, just wanna dance with you." I reply in the same manner.

And this is the one of the few truths I have said in this entire evening and in my entire life.

The air between us thickens in every passing seconds as neither of us move from our position for a long time, just staring at each other like it is our last time. Taking in each other as if the other one is a dream. A very beautiful one. And it will go away if either of us looks away.

After it seems like forever, I start to move slowly, motioning our bodies in slow dancing.

"You are very beautiful." I whisper.

Another most valued truth in my entire life.