ISLA~
"Stupid" I cursed at myself as I approached my car and of course tripped over absolute nothing. I turned to my back panting and for a second I felt like a teenager who had just been noticed by her crush.
I didn't do feelings, not for clients and not for anyone. And yet one look from Elara Jones had turned my brain into complete nonsense. I didn't just want to fuck her, no.
I wanted more of whatever happened when she looked at me like that.
Then my brain replayed the exact moment my dignity died.
"You're making me uncomfortable staring like that"
"I'm really trying to look away, believe me"
"Arghhhhhh" I covered my face with my unbandaged hand. Leonard will mock me for the rest of my life when I tell him. My life was really going downhill.
I noticed then I was on the floor and got up, I could barely see a thing. I took baby steps till I reached the car where I realized again that I wasn't with my car keys.
I looked back toward the house and she was there standing by the entrance, watching me. I turned the other way awkwardly.
Whatever pride I had left disappeared instantly. The thought that she had seen me, blurred more of my vision and I wished at that very moment I would disappear.
I continued to the gate, I'd rather order a ride than go back. I opened up my phone and was about placing a ride when Leonard came to mind.
I needed to talk to him. I ordered a private ride and as I waited for it to arrive while strolling down the ghosted road I called Leonard, telling him I was on my way.
Luckily for me he was free. I needed out of this house for sometime and perhaps a new place to stay where the media wouldn't find me.
I got to his bar and stepped out of the car, he rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug then leaned back to inspect my face and hand.
"My God, you look terrible. Those vultures really are something else" his fingers hovered near the bandage on my forehead "You look like a car wreck" I sighed and walked past him toward his office, where he offered me orange juice.
"What am I? Seven?"
"I'm not giving you alcohol, not when you look like you'd pass out any moment" he sat on the edge of his desk "So talk. And do not give me the PR version, I've already read the headlines."
I sunk into the velvet sofa and heaved a sigh. "Apart from my outrageous look now... what exactly do you want to know?"
"You've done crazy things over the years, and as a damage control manager that's expected but this is the first time you go public as a clients manager and then you get attacked. Another strategy of yours or what?" he knew me too well.
I rolled my eyes. I hadn't told him it was staged, at least not yet. Not when the outcome was this.
"I'm fine aren't I?" I laid on the sofa. Maybe telling him about Elara now would be a bad idea and honestly I didn't want to talk about it.
"That reminds me, your uncle called said he's worried and hasn't been able to reach out to you. I told him you're fine anyways."
"Oh, guess I left the network jammer on the whole time I was staying there" I was dozing off. Finally, sleep. I wasn't able to get any last night. Heaven knows I couldn't wait for this case to die down.
"Network Jammer? You were at Elara's place?"
"Yeah, yeah, was afraid the press would find me again" dream land wasn't far away anymore but I was rudely drawn out of bliss. Leonard shook me till I gave up resisting.
"Do not look at me like that, spill" he was next to me now.
"Spill what?" Hadn't we ended our conversation. As I looked at him with sleepy eyes, I realized that I had just slipped out where I had been last night.
"It's like that now huh" he got up "Fine, but just so you know I don't house people who keep secrets from their best friend" he said dragging the word SECRETS. He turned to leave "You should leave before I get back"
"You know you don't have to be a drama queen all the time" he turned around dramatically with a gasp.
"You did not just say that" he sounded hurt.
"I'm sorry, I just…" I began spilling everything form the plan with Richard, the escalation that led to my injuries, the lawyers, having no choice but to stay with Elara, the bed scene and this freaking morning too.
His mouth fell agape when I told him that one hunting line *I'm really trying to look away, believe me* and down to how I got here.
He looked disappointed but pulled me closer. I laid my head on his shoulders and he began stroking my head.
"Honestly, I feel you should just talk to her about it and stop acting strong" I heaved a sigh. "You know, falling in love..." The word love made me sit up immediately. "... isn't something the heart can control so I won't blame you but…"
"I'm not in love with her" I scoffed "Can you hear yourself?" I pushed away from him.
"So what is it, attraction?" he raised a brow then rolled his eyes. "Well whatever the fuck it is, if you know you aren't serious do not even dare"
"Of course she is fragile, did you forget the part where I said, I walked out and nothing happened"
He crossed his legs "She's really good looking though, that explains the sudden personality transplant."
"Can you not seriously." he laughed. I picked up the orange juice and drank. Talking to her was my best possible option but…
What did I really want? And here I was acting like I could just forget everything and fuck with her.
"You like her." he said suddenly, I faced him.
"No."
"Isla?"
"I said no."
"You're sleeping in her house, getting injured for her, staring at her like a starved idiot and losing sleep over one sentence."
I kept shut and he repeated slowly, "You like her."
"If you say that one more time" my voice rose slightly.
"Your eyes, they're red," he cut in, leaning in and intently staring at me.
"I took off my contacts," I snapped, trying to blink away the blur.
"Can't be the reason," he mused, a mischievous glint appearing in his own eyes. "It could be a side effect of the hit... or maybe, an allergic reaction to feelings."
I grabbed a nearby decorative pillow and threw it at his face. He caught it, laughing as he retreated toward the door.
"I'm serious, Isla. You look like you're mourning a version of yourself that didn't care about anyone. It's a good look on you. Makes you look less like a robot and more like a disaster."
"Get out, Leonard."
"Make yourself at home. There's a spare room in the back," he said, his voice softening just a fraction. "But don't think for a second that hiding here fixes the mess you left in that penthouse."
He shut the door, leaving me in the silence of his office. I leaned my head back against the sofa, the cool sugar of the orange juice coating my tongue.
I wasn't just tripping. I was free-falling. And the worst part? I wasn't even sure I wanted to reach for a parachute.