Chapter 73

LEANDRO’S PLAN

Diane’s P.O.V.

Then, Leandro scoffed. “You two were impossible! See the effect of answering him in just two days? You don’t even know him. And you’re going steady with how many months for now? Seven months? You’re kidding me!” He was clearly insulting me, and that made me want to be swallowed by the ground.

Why am I being stupid in front of Leandro? Damn him!

Now I realized that I didn’t even know Liam’s exact office because I was seriously working here. Liam and I rarely saw each other here in EGC. We used to chat, but because of my request of keeping our relationship here a secret, we never shared our lunch.

Liam would just ask someone to deliver me something in the office, may it be flowers, chocolates, or food, under his codename, Mr. Handsome. Then, my workmates would just scream on top of their lungs while teasing me who Mr. Handsome was.

But why did Liam’s secretary usher me here, saying that this was Liam’s office?

Ah, right! The way Trixie looked at me with guilt earlier, Leandro had probably just scared her too. This man was really outrageous.

“Stop looking for him, Diane. You see, I came back! I’m here for you again. We haven’t seen each other for so long, and hell damn it, because I miss you so much!” Then, he licked his lips.

“How about you? Haven’t you missed me? Won’t you even hug me for a moment? Aren’t you going to tell me something during the seven months we’ve never been together?” Leandro was sarcastic while throwing me a series of questions.

“I have nothing to tell you and to answer your questions—I’ve never missed you, and I would never hug you even for a second. There was no reason to miss you, and it would be much better if you didn’t come back! Of all people, you better know that.” I raised an eyebrow and answered him frankly. I didn’t care anymore if he was also the son of the original owners of this company.

“Ouch, it hurts! As usual, you’re always hurting my feelings, Diane,” he mockingly remarked. He even placed his right hand on his chest and acted so hurt from what I told him.

“But after seven months, it was glad to know that you’re still the same Diane I’ve met… peevish, strong-willed, and exquisite. Not to mention that you’re still sexy! There wasn’t even a single time that I forgot about you when I’m in the States. You know what? It was so nice to be madly in love with you. I can even raise hell here.” Leandro grinned foolishly.

Before I noticed it, Leandro was successful in getting closer towards my body, having the opportunity to run his right fingers across my left cheek. At least, I was able to shove his hand away because I no longer had a space to step backwards. I was trapped.

The lower part of my body was already leaning on his table and I was barely able to stand up straight. He locked me up as he placed both of his hands on the edge of his desk.

“Well, if you have nothing to tell me… then, I think I have something for you. And I bet that you will be very curious about the secret that I will tell you,” Leandro seriously said, now caressing my hair. He even touched some of my hair strands that cover my face, but I shoved his hand again before he could even tuck the strands behind my ears.

After that, I did not say a word and just averted my eyes away from him. He brought his face closer to my left ear, stroked my hair again for a moment, and whispered something to me…

“Do you remember what happened to you almost four years ago, Diane? One night way back May 2005?” Even though I wasn’t looking at him, I knew for sure that he was disdainfully amused at me.

I frowned. I didn’t want to pay any attention to what Leandro said, but I didn’t know why my chest suddenly throbbed out of nervousness. Dread gnawed at my spines, eventually stinging my veins. I must admit that Leandro got my attention, so I slowly looked at him. May was my birthday month, and 2005 was my debut year, but I couldn’t remember anything.

“W-What do you mean? What are you talking about?” I asked out of bewilderment as I was stabbing him with furious and deadly glares.

“Oh well, I really loved the way you stared at me like that, Diane… and that made me even want to kiss you,” Leandro huskily commented while leaning closer. Because of that, I turned my face again in the other direction.

“So… you really don’t remember anything, huh? Kind of exciting, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure that you will remember everything, in bits and pieces. All you have to do is trust me—” I could see from my peripheral vision that he was about to seize my shoulders when the wooden office door suddenly opened, and the rest of what he was about to tell me was completely cut off.

“What is going on here?” A worried yet mad voice suddenly intervened, making me look at him.

Thank God, it’s Liam!

Finally seeing my knight in shining armor here, all the fear and nervousness that just ruled my whole body had disappeared like bubbles in the air. I used the opportunity to push Leandro and quickly get out of his trap, then dashed towards Liam.

With my boyfriend, I’m totally safe!

“Hey, beloved brother! Long time, no see… aren’t you happy to see me?” Leandro was contemptuously smiling when he greeted his older brother.

“So, you really managed to get Diane out of the club, huh? I’m impressed, but why? Are you ashamed of her previous work—twirling herself over the pole in front of customers? But whatever your reason was, I would still like to congratulate you!” Leandro’s voice was certainly enveloped with sarcasm. What he said made my cheeks flushed. He was ruining me using my past.

Then, Liam turned to me with his expressive eyes. “Are you alright? Did he do something bad to you?”

“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine…” I replied.

He cupped my face before he lovingly kissed me on my forehead. “Kindly go back to your office now, Diane. I’ll come to you afterwards. We will talk later, okay?”

I nodded at him like a submissive girlfriend, at the same time, an obedient employee. “Hmm, okay. But how about these reports that you asked from me?” I asked him. It was as if I was melting again with how deep he stared at me.

“This is not my office, and I didn’t ask for anything, Diane. If I have something to ask, then you don’t have to waste your time by coming here because I will be the one to approach you, okay? You can now leave us, and I will deal with my beloved brother here.” I could feel the annoyance in Liam’s voice because of Leandro’s sudden presence. He was controlling his anger, but his veins were throbbing on his neck.

Liam was gravely staring at Leandro as he said those words. From there, I knew that it was all Leandro’s plan to send me here on the twenty-second floor. I already thought about it earlier, because Liam should have chatted or e-mailed me to ask for these reports, but I wasn’t able to turn on my computer. I was already in the corporate world, and my naivety would do me no good.

It looked like the two of them would fight again, and it was all because of me. I just heaved a deep sigh out of hopelessness. The cycle would just continue, and their fights would never end.

With down shoulders, I was able to get out of Leandro’s office. But I wasn’t yet able to fully close the door when I heard how he barked again.

“So… you don’t really want Diane to hear what I am going to say, huh?” Leandro sounded too sardonic.

Wait, what was it all about and why? What does Leandro really want from me? What about the secret that I should hear from him?