Chapter Eleven
LEONI
The apartment is quiet when I wake.For a minute, I don’t remember where I am. And as I inhale the smell of coffee and cedar, the soft linen sheets tangled around me, and the steady hum of the city far below, I smile. Warren.
Fuck…Warren!
I sit up fast, clutching the blanket against me like it can block the flood of memories rushing in. His touch. His voice. The feel of him holding me all night. I press a shaky hand to my mouth. I swore to myself I wouldn’t go there again, not after his rejection.
What the hell have I done?
The bedroom feels too big now, too full of him. His jacket is still draped over the chair. His watch sits on the bedside table next to the folded note he must have left. I pull it closer, the handwriting sharp and neat.
Stay here today. Rest. Don’t open the door to anyone but me.— W.
I read it twice. Maybe three times. The message is simple, but the tone… that’s not the same man who barks orders in the office. It’s protective. It’s almost gentle.
I climb out of bed, pulling his shirt tighter around me. It swamps me, and I pull the material to my nose and inhale before dropping it, mortified. I’m smelling him like some crazy stalker.
I head into the kitchen, it’s spotless, of course it is. He lives like he’s allergic to mess. But there’s a half empty mug by the sink, a sign he didn’t even finish his coffee before leaving.
I move through the rooms slowly, touching things I shouldn’t: the marble counter, the floor-to-ceiling tinted-glass window that looks out across the skyline, the black-and-white photo of a woman with soft eyes and a sad smile.
His mother, I think. There’s a resemblance in the eyes. She’s beautiful.
I feel small standing here, surrounded by everything that is him, all power and silence and control. But it won’t last. He’s going to return at some point and freak out; it’s what he does.
I go back to the bedroom and take my phone off the side. Dropping down in the comfy chair by the window, I tuck my feet under my backside and call Court. She’ll know what to do.
“I left you three messages,” she barks the second the call connects. “And then that fuck face picked up my call. Are you still with him?”
I let out a small, amused laugh. “You told my boss he was highly punchable.”
“He is.”
“And that he was a walking red flag with no emotional intelligence.”
“I also threatened to stab him in the eye, but in my defence, I was worried about you.” She takes a breath. “Lee, are you okay?”
The worry in her voice has me choking with emotion. “No––yes. I don’t even know anymore. Jordan blames me for Isaac. Mum didn’t disagree. And then I ended up calling my boss for help by mistake.”
“How?”
Another laugh escapes. “He’s saved in my phone as Cunt.”
She giggles too. “Holy shit, Lee. What a mess.” There’s some rustling her end, and then I hear traffic, like she’s stepped out. “Jordan is looking for someone to blame. He’s upset. And your mum, she’s just broken right now. But they need you, you’re holding them together.”
I stare out over the skyline. The sky is greyer than usual, matching my sombre mood.
“I should be upset; I should go round and sort it out but all I can think about is…” I trail off feeling selfish.
“Your boss?” she guesses.
I groan out loud, rubbing a hand over my tired face. “Yes!” I wail. “My brother is dead and my family hate me, and I’m thinking about him.”
“Why don’t we meet?” she suggests. I hear her whistle, and then a car door opens and closes. “Okay, I’m in a cab. Where shall we meet?”
I hesitate. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea,” I mutter, remembering Warren’s note. “He said I should stay here today. Rest.”
There’s a beat of silence before she scoffs. “Are you serious right now? You’re gonna listen to your boss?”
“He was nice enough to pick me up last night. Which reminds me, where the hell were you?”
“Meet me at Café Nine and I’ll tell you.”
I check my watch. It’s two in the afternoon. I could slip out and be back before Warren gets home. “I don’t have anything decent to wear.”
“Leave it with me, I’ll grab you an outfit that screams single.
” She emphasises the word, reminding me she’s unimpressed with me listening to Warren’s orders.
It’s not that I’m conforming because I’m worried he’ll be mad.
It’s just the words in his note sounded so personal.
Like he’s worried something bad will happen if I step out without him.
I give my head a shake, pushing to my feet. “Okay, I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Courtney is waiting for me in the reception of the bar. It’s a high-end place, but she’s been a member for years because she sometimes dances here. She thrusts a bag into my arms, looking me up and down. “Is that his shirt?”
I grin, ignoring her and heading into the bathroom.
I lock the cubicle and strip out of Warren's shirt. I’d teamed it with my skirt from yesterday, but it was giving ‘walk of shame’ vibes.
I pull out the outfit Courtney got me and gasp.
The short black dress is tight-fitting, and there’s no underwear in there.
There’s no way I can wear the boxer’s I’d taken from Warren’s drawers, the VPL will be obvious.
I kick them off and pull the dress on. There are a pair of black heels, and I slip them on, then stuff the used clothes into the bag.
When I step out, Courtney lets out a low approving whistle. “Wow.”
“There’s no underwear,” I hiss.
She grins. “It’s not the sort of dress that requires it.”
“If I bend over, someone will see my pale backside, not to mention my––”
“Tell me you’ve waxed, cos that would be shameful.”
“I’ve had other shit on my mind,” I snap.
She laughs, hooking her arm through mine and dragging me into the bar.
She orders two cocktails, and we find a table by the window. “So, tell me everything.”
I take a breath and blow it out dramatically. “Where do I start?”
“From after the first time in the office.”
“You mean the time he regretted it, and I swore to myself I’d never go there again?” I groan.
“But you did. How. Why?”
“Because I called him instead of you. It’s your fault for not answering.”
“Hey, just because he rescued you, doesn’t mean you have to repay him with sex. Did you even discuss his reaction to the first time?”
I shake my head, my expression miserable. “No. I tried and he shut me down.”
“Ummm, so he’s avoiding serious conversation.”
“This time it was different though. He held me all night and left a note this morning asking me to stick around.”
She arches her brow. “Interesting.”
“Is it? Maybe he just feels bad, yah know. The useless employee that can’t keep her life together, has lost her brother, lost her family… to kick me out of bed a second time would be really shitty.”
“Or, he realised he liked having you around,” she says, placing her hand over mine. “And you haven’t lost your family. Go home, Lee. It’ll be forgotten about.”
I shake my head. “Part of me doesn’t want to.
” I chew on my lower lip before the next words fall from my mouth.
“I’m tired of them taking and never supporting.
I know it’s shitty timing, Court, but all this just makes me see it more.
They only ever want me around when they need something.
Money. Food. A place to crash. And I was the one that found Isaac, they haven’t even asked me how I am.
I’ve looked after them, made sure Mum’s eating.
And the second they don’t like something I do; they turn on me. ”
“What did you do?”
“Spoke to Dad,” I mutter, wincing.
“He is your dad,” she says, with sympathy lacing her words.
“Exactly. I don’t condone what he did to Mum. But it was between them, and he deserves to know about his own son. Maybe he can help.”
“Help with what?”
I shrug. “Finding out who did it.”
“The police arrested someone already.”
“But Dad would know for certain if Isaac was involved with bad people.”
“Lee, how would he know? He’s been inside for years.”
“I know I sound crazy, but he hung out with shady people when we were kids. Those connections don’t just disappear.”
My mobile lights up, and a thrill shoots through me when I see Warren’s name on the screen. Courtney spots it too and grins. “Lover boy is calling,” she says. “Does he know his name is saved under Cunt?”
I laugh, picking the phone up and standing. “Brb,” I tell her, heading out into reception. “Hey,” I say, pressing it to my ear.
“Hey. How are you feeling?”
I smile, even though he can’t see it. “Better now you’re calling.”
“Oh yeah?” His throaty laugh lights something deep in my stomach. “I might be a little longer than expected. Will you be okay?”
“Yeah, take as long as you need.”
“I thought we could go for dinner later. Somewhere quiet. Just the two of us.”
“Like a date?” I tease.
His laugh fills the line again, and my heart skips a beat. “Yes, Leoni. A date. See you soon.” And he disconnects.
I can’t help the huge smile as I do a little happy dance.
When I go back inside, Courtney is chatting to a group of business type people. She’s got a natural way of attracting men from all walks of life. It’s why she makes so much as a dancer, her tips are crazy.
She glances my way, smiling as I slide into my seat. “Sorry boys, my date is back,” she says, her tongue running over her lower lip seductively. “But if you’re around later, you’ll see me up on the stage,” she adds, winking. They head off to the bar in a cloud of testosterone and jeers.
“That’s tonight tips sorted,” I tell her, staring after them.
“What did lover boy want?”
“I much preferred it when you referred to him as my boss,” I mutter. “He’s not a boy.”
She laughs hard, knocking the rest of her drink back. “What did he think to you defying him?”
I scoff, knocking my own back. “I didn’t defy him. I simply met with my friend. Which I’m allowed to do because I’m single.”
She signals to the barman. “That’s more like it.”