"Rough day?" The look on my face must've been as thunderous as I felt because Leo's smirk turned into a frown as he blinked.
"What? Its a perfectly polite question, not to mention, a reasonable one," he said defensively as he lowered himself on one of the two chairs in front of my desk.
"Why are you here?" I asked, then immediately regretted how the question sounded. He was the Managing Director afterall, and I didn't get to ask him questions.
But fortunately, Leo just cocked his head to the side, and asked, "Why shouldn't I be here?"
I controlled my tone this time, as I explained, "what I meant was Tristan and Caleb are in a meeting. They have been almost since the time they got here, so it must be an important one. Why aren't you in there?"
Shrugging his huge shoulders, Leo leaned back in his chair and said, "its just an executive meeting, honey. And I don't need a meeting to establish my ownership here, unlike them."
That made sense. Ever since yesterday, I have felt them going at it, like a rope for tug of war. Was that the purpose of Caleb's run-in this morning outside the office?
The reminder fired up my anger again. It was after midday now, but my encounter with Caleb was still fresh in my mind.
How dare he accost me, and have the nerve to demand that I transfer after everything? And the worst part was, I wasn't even sure what I was most angry for.
The fact that he was the one to send me away from him and then have the audacity to say that I abandoned him, or that he apparently was away for two weeks to stay away from me. Or the fact that while I was rejoicing that he has returned, he was still trying to get rid of me.
"Earth to Ruth," Leo waved a hand in front of me, snapping me out of my thoughts, and dragging my attention back to him.
"I was asking if you've planned anything for the weekend?"
I heard his question, but my mind was whirring, unable to focus on anything but my frustration and questions.
No doubt, it showed on my face, for Leo sighed and asked, "Gonna tell me why you're going Hulk-smash today?"
"Why is he back, Leo?" The question surprised me as much as it did Leo, but I realised this was one of the most important things that has been subconsciously rattling in my mind.
"What do you mean?" Even as Leo asked this, I could see something clicking in place and making sense to him.
"That day in Boston, he sent me back here, like he absolutely didn't want me to be there. Then he disappeared for 2 weeks, just to ignore me while trying to get rid of me by sending that transfer offer. And when I refused, he is back to what, personally push me out?"
I realised my voice had escalated as I tried to get the whole thing out as fast as possible, but I couldn't help myself. I wasn't even sure why I cared enough to mull over these thoughts, but I just knew I wanted to know.
"Ruth honey, I know it's difficult to understand Caleb and his motives at times. Especially when he insists on being a dick for everything he ever does. But believe me when I say.... Wait a minute, he didn't send you away from Boston. You left on your own."
"No, I didn't. And yes, he did." I huffed before picking up the file I was currently logging and walking towards Caleb's, well, Tristan's, um, whomever's cabin.
I entered without knocking, knowing that neither one of them were inside right now. They were off to that meeting, each marking their territory there as well.
Honestly, I had no idea why I was even discussing this with Leo of all people? Ofcourse he would side with Caleb. He was family after all, while I was-
"Someone I have really grown to care about, Ruth."
I jumped at the sound of Leo's voice, and saw he had followed me into the cabin.
"Huh?"
He crossed his arms, and leaned against the arm of the couch with a smile that was both knowing and gentle.
"Caleb is family, while you are someone I have really grown to care about. I know I haven't known you all that long, but that doesn't mean I'd lie to tone down my brother's assholeness, especially since you like him despite his assholery."
I felt my cheeks burn, whether it was because of anger or something else I wasn't sure as I gritted my teeth out and replied, "I. Do. Not. Like. Him. And, I did not realise that I was talking out loud."
"Dahlin', it'd be a miracle if they didn't hear you three floors below." Now he was definitely smirking and I dropped the file on the desk, then planted my butt at the corner of it, and dropped my head in my hands with a groan.
"He is driving me insane." I muttered, then jumped a bit when I felt Leo's huge hands catching hold of my wrists slowly pulling them away. He tenderly cupped my cheek, and bent down at my face level to look deep into my eyes.
"I know, honey. He tends to have that effect on everyone. But believe me when I say that he didn't send you away. Infact, he only agreed set foot back into this place because of you. For you."
For some reason, his words made my breath hitch. Leo continued to look deep into my eyes, and said, "and for the record, he didn't send you away that day. Infact, he was pretty distraught when he found out that you have left."
His words made something squeeze in my chest. Caleb was distraught?
"But I didn't leave, Leo. Not voluntarily," I caught hold of his hand on my cheek, while trying to dispel the thought of Caleb in pain.
"But you did. Don't you remember, honey? It was you who left. You even signalled me that you were 'getting out of there' when things started getting heated, remember?"
Usually, Leo towering over me in such a close proximity would annoy me. His hand was still holding my wrist, while other held my face, his body inclined ahead as he tried to get through to me holding our eye contact, but I couldn't concentrate on that enough.
My mind was busy recalling that day at Cross mansion when things had spiralled out of control and I had felt the need to leave the room to let them work out their family matter.
And suddenly it came to me. Me, walking out the door slowly and nodding at Leo to let him know that I was out. My grip on his hand tightened, as I inched ahead with sudden realisation.
"Leo, that 'getting-out-of-there' was getting out of the room. It wasn't hopping-onto-the-first-flight-out, and getting out of a freaking state."
Leo frowned, as if there was a piece of puzzle missing from our conversation.
"If that's the case, then why did you hop onto the first flight out?"
But as I opened my mouth to reply, another furious voice hissed.
"What the fuck are you two doing in here?"