Leo (Members From Money Season 2 #144)

Chapter 13

He was gone the next morning. The scent of coffee had her stomach churning. Moving lethargically through the kitchen, she made tea. The housekeeper would not be here for the next two hours, and she wanted to leave before the woman arrived.

Sitting at the malachite counter, she took a look around the immaculate kitchen that was the housekeeper’s domain. She had invaded it quite a few times after hours, after the housekeeper left to try out some of the recipes she had picked up when they traveled to Europe. Thoughts of the trip sent memories flooding through her mind.

He had made it memorable for her. Going out of his way to put things in place. He had not realized of course that Paris had been the destination for her and Greg. Their honeymoon destination. Unlike that bastard who had broken her heart, Leo had bent over backwards to make her happy.

Her eyes widened at that. Yes, that was his main goal. He had gone to considerable expense, taken time out of his very busy schedule to make certain she accomplished something while on the trip. He had called it a working trip and in part, it had been exactly that.

She had accompanied him a lot. She had used some of the recipes she had gathered, and it had been a success. Paris was also the place where he had taught her the art of making love.

Not just having sex. He had taught her to be bold and that her body was a work of art. He had introduced her to so many things. She had shaken off her initial shyness, the awkwardness that always been there, brought about by her two previous relationships.

He had introduced a passion so intense, she had felt as if she was burning from the inside out. His magnificent body with its sinewy muscles had become a map for her to explore, something she had never done before.

Her body felt feverishly hot as her mind wandered over the night when she had fallen ill, and he brought her soup and tea. The lovemaking had gone on for almost the entire night. He had explored her body and left her weak and shaking with yearning.

Realizing that the tea had gotten cold, and time was passing, she rose and went to get ready to leave. She was going to have to find a way to fix things between them.

*****

She looked up suddenly from the dough she was kneading to make her oatmeal and banana bread to see him walking towards her.

“They said I should come straight here.”

He looked so breathtaking handsome that she had to swallow the lump that had settled in her throat. His suit was a dark charcoal color, the inside shirt, of the palest pink. His overcoat was a darker shade of gray, the cashmere discreetly expensive.

His brown hair caught the overhead light and picked out strands of gold. He looked rich, powerful, and successful, except for the strained look on his face, indicating he had not slept last night as well.

“Hi.’ His smile was wobbly and uncertain. She had spent the morning trying to come up with the words to say to him. “I was going to call…”

“I am leaving.”

“What?” Moving away from the counter, she wiped her hands in her apron and came towards him. “Where are you going?”

“Something came up. I am going to Europe.” He glanced at his expensive Romano’s original watch briefly. “I am on my way to the airfield now. I just thought I would swing by and let you know.” He glanced around. “This place is coming along.”

“Yes.” She absently lifted a hand to brush back tendrils of hairs that had escaped the net she had on and left a trail of flower on her cheek. The fact that made him want to wipe her cheek clean and kiss her senseless, sent a wave of nostalgic despair coursing through his body.

He had not slept last night and had given into the longing to take a look at her. He had entered the bedroom quietly and stood there staring at her sleeping form huddled beneath the cover.

The yearning to slide in next to her had been so acute, it had left him shaking.

“This is sudden, This trip.”

“It is, yes.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“A few days, maybe a week. I would like you to give me your word that you will not do anything hasty.”

“What do you mean? Oh!” She placed a hand automatically on her stomach.

“I want your word, Sherrian.” His voice had become like a flint, his expression formidable. “I do not want to get my lawyers involved, but dammit I will. Wait until I get back so we can discuss the options. Agreed?”

She bristled at his tone and the words. “You think I would try and get rid of…?”

“I don’t know.” It appears I really do not know you after all. I have to go.” He turned and walked away and then stopping just inside the doorway, he turned to look at her, eyes roving over her face as if memorizing her features.

For a brief second, so brief, she thought she had imagined it, the harshness was stripped away to reveal the naked pain and despair. But it was gone so quickly and so was he.

She stood there staring at the empty doorway and felt the finality of his words hammering at her. She had never seen that side of him before.

*****

Michael handed her the box of tissues and sat across from her. The shop was empty of both customers and employees. She had survived the day, barely after he left and gone about her day baking and attending to her various duties. Then she had locked her office door and stretched out on her small sofa and cried until she fell asleep.

Now she was crying again.

“Hormones!” She sniffed. She had called Michael and asked him to come over.

“I know you are miserable right now and I hate to add to it…”

“Go right ahead.” She waved a sodden tissue at him.

“What possessed you to say those things to him?”

She looked down at her hands, the tissue crumpled and damp in her grip. "I didn't mean to. It just came out. I was scared, and I just... lashed out."

Michael sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "You know he didn't deserve that, right? You just dumped the news on him and did not give him time to process. And right on the tail of it, you made him know in no uncertain terms that the pregnancy was inconvenient."

"I know," she whispered, fresh tears pooling in her eyes. "I know I messed up. But what do I do now? How do I fix this?"

Michael leaned forward, his expression softening. "You talk to him. You tell him how you feel, and you apologize. It is not going to be easy, but it is the only way."

She nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "You're right. I need to make this right. He said he will not be back for a week. You should have seen the look on his face. Michael, it felt as if he was saying goodbye.”

Michael frowned, contemplating her words. "Maybe he needs time to cool off, to come to terms with everything. But you cannot wait forever.

As soon as he gets back, you need to have that conversation. Be honest with him about your fears and your regrets. Show him that you are committed to working through this together. How do you feel about him?”

It was her time to frown. “It’s complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it, darling. The man clearly has feelings for you, and I saw it that day of the ceremony. Besides which, he would never have agreed to go such lengths for you if that were not the case.”

He swept a hand around the widened space that was beginning to take shape. “He made it possible for you to get this, to realize your dream.” He turned to look at her. “It seems to me that he has been the one giving and you were the one taking.

You told me that the bastard who brought you so low had nothing to do with the way you are acting, but I disagree. You are still allowing him to color your life. And what is worse, you are taking it out on a good man. One who cares about you. If you are not careful, that good man is going to leave without a backward look.”

Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, the tears she had thought over and done with, leaking through the closed lids. “It might be too late, and I suppose you’re right.” Opening her eyes, she stared at a point over his left shoulder.

“I went through a period of guilt after the anger and pain of his betrayal. I was always working, was obsessed to prove to Ingrid that I deserved to be a partner and not just an employee. I would research recipes, stay back after everyone had left to experiment and would forget the time or the fact that we had a date.

I resented the time spent away from my baking and it showed. He would teasingly say to me that he was going to have to become an ingredient for me to actually see him. He would be so nice about it, so patient and forgiving, that I took it for granted. Took him for granted.”

Michael waved a dismissive and impatient hand. “Greg was a tool. I don’t care if you spent forever in the kitchen without coming out to take a breath, what he did and with your best friend at that was despicable and showed he had no spine and little class.

Now you are with a man who is the complete opposite and you would do well to remember that.”

“I pushed him away because I was afraid of what loving someone again might mean. I was afraid of losing myself in a relationship like I had before. But now, I see how wrong I was. He deserves better than that. He deserves better than me."

Michael shook his head. "He deserves the truth. He deserves to know that you are scared and that you are willing to work on it. He deserves a chance to decide for himself what he wants. Do not take that choice away from him."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You're right. I need to be brave, not just for him, but for myself too. I cannot let my past dictate my future."

"Exactly," Michael agreed. "It's time to move forward, to let go of the past and embrace the possibilities of the future. You owe it to yourself to be happy."

She gave a small, determined nod. "I'll do it. I will talk to him as soon as he gets back."

Michael smiled, a reassuring warmth in his eyes. "That's the spirit. Just remember, no relationship is without its challenges. It is how you handle them that defines the strength of your bond."

She managed a weak smile in return. "Thank you, Michael. I do not know what I'd do without you."

"You would figure it out," he said with a wink. "You're stronger than you think, and you deserve every bit of happiness coming your way."

*****

Leo had not lied when he told her he had to leave because of an emergency. He had lied when he said he had to be the one to deal with it. He could have sent any number of his acquisition team. It was not something detrimental.

Just a few hiccups with the finalizing of the contract and the start date on the renovation. He could have handled it from home, but he wanted to get away. Had to. Staying near her was driving him insane. He had been tempted to beg and that would have been a damn mistake.

Leo had always prided himself on his composure, his ability to maintain control in every situation. But with her, that control seemed to slip through his fingers like sand. Her presence was intoxicating, and the walls he had built around his heart crumbled whenever she was near.

As he sat in the sterile hotel room, staring at the untouched papers spread across the desk, he could not help but replay their last conversation in his mind.

The way her eyes had shimmered with unshed tears, the way her voice had trembled with a mix of fear and determination. She was bravely confronting her demons, and it only made him want her more.

He knew he had to return, to face her and the feelings he had been running from. But the thought of confronting his own vulnerabilities terrified him. What if opening up meant exposing his deepest insecurities? What if she saw the parts of him that he had always kept hidden?

But then he thought of her, standing up to her fears, ready to embrace the future despite the shadows of her past. A past shrouded in betrayal. Was she still in love with that bastard? Even the idea of it pained his heart.

But the fear of losing her forever was even greater. He could handle any business crisis with ease, but the thought of losing her, of never seeing her smile or hearing her laugh again, was unbearable.

Pushing to his feet, he wandered over to the window to look out. He had chosen to stay at a hotel instead of the flat where they had stayed on their ‘honeymoon’. Was it only a few weeks ago?

He wondered bleakly. It felt like months, even years. So much had happened since then. He had allowed himself to hope that she was coming around to his way of thinking.

Had secretly hoped that their terrific union would produce a child which would force her to marry him for real. But he had miscalculated the depth of her ambitions. Could he fault her for wanting to be the best? He shook his head even as the thought emerged.

He should be lauding her. She saw something she wanted and fought for it. She had not forced him into the decision, he had gone ahead with his eyes wide open and if he was being honest, he had had his reasons as well.

He had taken a gamble, and it had not paid off. His heart was shattered. His mind in a turmoil. So, she did not want children with him, did not want to marry him. It hurt like the living hell, but he was going to have to live with it.

He had told her he would get his lawyers involved and he meant every word. If it comes to that, he would take legal actions. She was damn well not getting rid of his baby.

*****

The townhouse felt empty, like an elegant shell that echoed with loneliness and neglect. The place was spotless as usual, the kitchen pristine. He had not called, and she was sure he had landed by now. Was he back inside the flat where they had stayed before? She knew it was owned by his company.

Or was he at some French bitch’s home? Wrapped in her arms. The thought of that sent rage and jealousy swamping her. After what they had shared in his bed, the idea of him doing that to anyone else….

“I would kill him and her.” She swore as she went about slamming down pots and pans with the intention of making some pastries. Something creative and complicated that would require her complete concentration. Digging inside the huge pantry, she gathered her ingredients to add to what she had picked up at the market.

Baking had been her anathema in the past, somewhere she had escaped to when her parents had died, and she felt as if she was going mad. She had baked, been swallowed up inside the intricacies and the art.

When Greg had destroyed her confidence in herself, she had buried herself in baking. Ingrid had allowed her to bake to her heart’s content.

And during that time, she had come up with something stunning, things that had been a hit with the customers. Now she was facing multiple challenges, ones that she had no idea what to do. Michael had asked her if she had feelings for Leo and she could have told him a resounding yes.

But she was afraid to voice them. She had loved Greg, or thought she had. Wasn’t she ready to have a life with him? Planning a wedding while trying to handle the shop? And she had been dead wrong.

While she had been going on about her business, planning a life, he had been sneaking around with her best friend. Someone she had been friends with since high school. She had never seen the signs.

When Serena had talked about Greg, telling her she deserved better and urging her to think about a lasting commitment, she had thought the girl was being supportive and having her back. Never dreaming that she had been marking her own territory and homing in on her fiancé.

She slapped flour inside the bowl and added creamy milk. She was making a celebratory cake with rich mango, cherries, and bananas. She had come up with the idea while watching a show based in the Caribbean.

It was complicated enough and even though her taste was more than a bit off, she was going to go on and follow her instinct. She had been baking most of her life and knew what to put where.

Afterwards, she was going to make vanilla/coconut/raspberry cream sponge and if time allows and she was not fainting on her feet, she would make a lychee and raspberry mousse. She was not looking forward to going upstairs to that impossibly big bedroom all by herself.

She should have stayed at her place, but it was too late for that now.

She poured the mixture into the cake tin, her mind a mix of emotions, thoughts clashing like the ingredients she so vigorously combined. Memories of Greg's betrayal mixed with the uncertainty of her feelings for Leo created a storm within her that she could hardly contain.

But as her hands worked the dough, the chaos in her mind slowly became manageable.

The aroma of the baking cake began to fill the kitchen, a warm, comforting scent that seemed to wrap around her like a blanket. She felt a sense of accomplishment, a fleeting moment of peace amid the turmoil. She wiped her hands on her apron and glanced at the clock. Time seemed to stand still in the quiet house.

As the cake baked, she cleaned up the kitchen, her movements methodical and deliberate. With each wiped counter and washed dish, she felt a little more in control, a little more ready to face the challenges ahead.

The timer rang, and she took the cake out of the oven, the golden-brown crust a perfect testament to her skill. She set it on the counter to cool, a small smile playing on her lips. She had done it. She had created something beautiful amidst the chaos.

By this time, her stomach was heaving, and she was sweating. Sitting on the stool, she pressed her hand to her chest and took several deep breaths.

She had not allowed herself to think of the life growing inside her and because she had not done that, then she hadn’t made an appointment to confirm her pregnancy. But she knew, without a doubt, she knew she was pregnant. The symptoms were all there. She had never missed a period – ever.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. She had to be strong. She had to face this, just like she had faced everything else. There was a life inside her now, a precious life that depended on her. She could not afford to crumble.

She stood up, determined to keep going. She had decisions to make, preparations to consider. The uncertainty with Leo, the betrayal by Greg, all seemed so trivial in comparison. A new focus took root in her heart, one that eclipsed all her previous worries.

She went back to the counter, slicing a piece of the cooled cake and taking a bite. The flavors burst in her mouth, a symphony of sweet and tangy notes. She smiled, a genuine smile, and felt a glimmer of hope. She could do this. She would do this. For herself, for the baby.

The kitchen, once a place of escape, now seemed to hum with new purpose. She cleaned up the rest of the mess, her movements lighter, her heart a bit steadier. Tomorrow, she would call and make an appointment and go on from there.