I stared at him for the first three seconds, but when I saw the shock on his face, I dropped the gun and screamed, instinctively wrapping myself in the towel. Leo avoided my gaze immediately and turned his back.
"Cover yourself, Xena!" he shouted, and I yanked the blanket tighter around me. Irritated, I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him, shouting in frustration.
"Damn it, Leo! Why didn't you say something sooner?!"
The pillow hit his back, and he glanced over, a smirk forming.
"Well, why did you lock the door?!"
I threw the pillow again. "You jerk! Don't look!"
Leo chuckled, turning back to the wall. "Just get dressed already," he said, still laughing.
Annoyance surged through me, but there was nothing I could do—he had already seen everything. I almost pulled my hair out as I grabbed clothes, my eyes burning when I walked past him back into the bathroom. I saw him biting his lip to suppress laughter, and in response, I slammed the bathroom door hard.
A frustrated shriek escaped me inside the bathroom. I didn't care if Leo heard me—I was still furious that he had seen me completely exposed. It felt like a violation, even though technically, he hadn't done anything.
I stared at myself in the mirror for what felt like forever. I wanted to bury myself in the ground out of shame and irritation. I had been dressed for a while, yet I couldn't bring myself to leave. I admit, I was embarrassed—he was a man, and he had seen what I had tried so hard to hide. I had no idea how to face him without recalling the incident. Eventually, I found enough pride to step forward.
Clutching my ego like a shield, I forced my legs to move and walked toward my bed. Leo was sitting at the foot, seemingly deep in thought, interrupted by my sudden movement. He stood, as if waiting for me, but I didn't acknowledge him. I passed him, only to have him grab my arm.
"Wait," he said, turning to face me.
I faced him back—regretting it instantly. I caught him looking at my body, as if he could see through my clothes. I yanked my arm free and shoved him in the chest, scowling.
"You pervert!" I yelled, kicking him in the thigh. "Damn it! Pervert! Pest!"
Still not satisfied, I grabbed a pillow and started hitting him repeatedly. Leo staggered backward, laughing uncontrollably despite the blows. It was as if he enjoyed provoking me.
"Xena—Xena, wait! That wasn't—Xena! Hold on—"
I ignored him. Every laugh from him stoked my anger. Realizing he felt no pain from the pillow strikes, I threw it aside and grabbed his hair with both hands.
"Ow! Xena, let go!" he protested, wincing as I tugged harder.
"You're a pervert! Serves you right!" I snapped, tightening my grip.
"I didn't mean to look!"
I wasn't letting go. Leo grabbed my hands to free himself, but it only made the pain worse. He struggled, and as he stumbled on the edge of the bed, he fell. I fell with him, not realizing I had ended up straddling him, kneeling between his legs. I lifted one hand from his hair to strike him, which he blocked, laughing and shouting.
"Xena, I'm sorry! Stop! HAHAHA!"
I continued, letting my anger pour into each strike. I didn't care if he got hurt—but I should have stopped before we ended up in this position.
He caught my hand. I tried swinging the other, but he grabbed that too. Only then did I realize what I was doing. Leo was still laughing, unrelenting.
I tried to push myself off him, but he wouldn't let me, and I shot him a glare.
"Let go."
There was a threat in my voice, but Leo just smiled.
"Nope. You'll hit me again," he said, pulling me closer.
Before I knew it, I was sitting on his stomach, almost face-down on him, but I planted my knees firmly to stop myself from falling entirely. My head spun with shock, but I forced my gaze on him.
"Let go, I said—"
I didn't finish before Leo flipped us over. He rolled to the right side, pinning me beneath him, my hands trapped under his as he pressed me into the bed.
"I won't let you go until you listen to me," he said seriously, still wearing that mischievous grin.
I stayed silent. I had nothing to say and just wanted this over. But then he whispered:
"You're beautiful."
Soft, but enough to pierce through my fury. Serious eyes locked on mine. I didn't know how to react. I knew I was attractive, but I wasn't prepared for this. Especially when his gaze lingered on my neck.
"Damn it, Leo—"
I tried to get up, but he held me down, laughing softly.
"Sorry," he said, biting his lip.
I turned my face away. No… I wasn't comfortable.
"This is serious. Sorry about earlier—"
"Damn it, if that's all you're going to say, just let me go—"
He silenced me unexpectedly, pressing his lips to mine in a quick, deliberate kiss.
"You're so loud. I just wanted to tell you that even if you avoid me every day, we'll keep meeting," he murmured.
I didn't respond. My breathing was normal, but my chest felt like it was about to explode. I wanted to curse him, but no words came.
"I'm serious about you, Xena. I've just been a big idiot for not showing it sooner… I should have had you fall for me, not Ace," he admitted.
"Let go," I said coldly.
"Xena—"
I didn't let him finish. I pulled my hands free and shoved him off me.
"Next time you steal a kiss or look at my body in a disrespectful way, I'll put you in your place," I warned.
I didn't look at him again. I crawled to the edge of the bed, pulling the blanket over myself from the dresser. I turned away from him and forced my eyes closed. I could hear his heavy breathing and the creak of his bed as the lights went out.
The next day, I could no longer sit quietly waiting for an "update" from Kiel. I came up with a reckless plan.
I saw Conor again, and he hadn't stopped trailing me, despite my repeated threats to kill him. He seemed undeterred, maybe even more determined. Exhausted from all the warnings, I eventually let him follow.
"Hey! You taking long?" Conor called from the library.
I was working on an assignment. He had been staring and fiddling with his pen for an hour. I lowered my book, glaring.
"If you're bored, leave," I said, returning to my reading.
"But even if you don't study, you'd pass. Why bother?" he asked.
"It's not about grades. I'm killing time," I replied, not looking up.
"Huh?" Conor frowned. "Strict dad? Your siblings practically live for partying, especially Max."
"We're different. I don't like being around people."
"How are you supposed to have fun if you don't like people?"
"Simple. I kill people. Fun enough."
Conor sighed, then grabbed my book, folded it, and tidied my things right in front of me, making me frown.
"Stand up. It's more fun when it's loud," he said.
"You know what, Conor? I'm not interested. Fuck off, will you?" I snapped.
He didn't relent. "You have to go out, Xena. What's wrong with that? You probably drink anyway. Stop acting like Maria Clara and come with me."
I stared at him. He wasn't stopping. After a pause, I said, "Fine."
Conor froze in disbelief. I packed my things and stood. I decided I could make use of him tonight.
"Hideout?" he asked.
I nodded. "Don't make it obvious, but I know that place better than you."
I bypassed him, heading back to the dorm to change and drop my stuff in my locker. Before leaving, I glanced back. "Wait for me outside the dorm at 7."
He smiled broadly and nodded. I left immediately. I needed news about the mansion and Damian—I was going insane staring at nothing.
I left the dorm ten minutes late, and Conor was waiting outside, checking out my black ripped shorts, white crop top, and checkered blazer.
"Stop staring," I said.
"Sorry. Just suits you," he said.
I remembered Leo's perversion again. Conor walked me to a white car and opened the front seat for me. I climbed in silently. The smirk on his face remained as he got in and started driving. We didn't speak for a few minutes, which suited me.
"This is gonna be fun," Conor said as we parked, opening the door for me.
"It better be," I replied.
I saw Leo's car and a familiar van. A transaction tonight…
We entered the bar, and the first person I scanned for was Leo. Not hard to spot—he sat at the first VIP seat, facing a client I didn't recognize. They were deep in discussion, a heavy deal underway.
My eyes shifted to Leo's men. I knew them. My own former men.
I frowned. Kiel was supposed to handle my assignments—but why were Damian's men here with Leo? Shouldn't Kiel be with them?
"Dude!"
Two guys approached Conor, fist-bumping him. They glanced at me.
"You're with her, huh?" one teased.
Conor smirked. "Patience, dude." He patted the man on the chest. "By the way, Xena, these are my friends. Jolo and Kevin."
I simply nodded. I had no attention for them, watching Leo's men instead.
"We're sitting with the girls over there. Kevin and I will get drinks," Jolo said, pointing to a VIP seat.
Conor nodded at me. "Alright. Let's go, Xena."
"Wait," I stopped him as the two left. "Bathroom first."
"I'll come—"
"No need. Won't take long," I said.
Conor stared a moment before nodding. "Okay. I'll wait if you don't come back fast."
"Go ahead," I said, turning toward the hallway.
Before I fully turned, I deliberately passed by Leo's seat and tugged at one of his men. He didn't recognize me at first and reached for his gun, stopping when he saw who I was.
"Xena?"
I signaled him to shut up. It was Topher, a new recruit for Damian, barely two years in the Fontanilla operations.
"What's going on? Why's Leo with you? Isn't Kiel supposed to be—"
He frowned. "You don't know?"
Fear crept into my chest. "Know what?"
"Leo took over the plantations. He handles the transactions you used to manage."
"And Kiel?"
Two women passed, making us pause briefly. After they left, I looked at him expectantly.
"He's at the mansion, but often absent," Topher said nervously. "What happened to you? Why did you disappear?"
"Doesn't matter. What happened at the mansion after the Carlos incident?" I asked. Weeks had passed, and I had no updates.
"You really have no idea?" he asked incredulously.
I glared. "Should I?"
He sighed. "Leo strictly ordered no one to speak about it. But when Kiel returned to fetch you, the mansion went chaotic. I think Leo and Damian fought. No one knows exactly, but rumor has it you and Leo—"
"What?!" I shouted.
Topher froze, eyes on me. "I didn't believe it either, seeing you two fight. But he threatened Damian he'd burn all their properties if you got hurt again."
Leo did that?
I hadn't come to find out this—I just wanted to know how Kiel was. I stood there, stunned, unable to form another thought.
"Xena," Conor's voice snapped me out of it. Topher turned as Conor approached.
"Who's he?" Conor asked.
"Someone I know. Let's go," I said, walking away but leaving a warning: "No one can know I spoke to you."
I pulled Conor away, ignoring his questions about Topher and what I'd just learned. Echoing in my mind were Topher's words:
"…He threatened Damian he'd burn all their properties if you got hurt again."
Leo's crazy…