Leandro's smile was fresh and genuine and that made Jessica's heart warm too. She smiled back at him. They both sat there simply smiling at each other and completely forgetting about their surrounding. Leandro felt like his life was lit up brightly. He had never felt that way in his life.
Charlotte sat there awkwardly. She did not know how to react to the thing that was happening in front of her. Not like she was judging Jessica. She only wishes the best for Jessica. If that best was Leandro, then let it be.
Leandro's phone rang making them get back to their senses. He cleared his throat and said, "I will be back soon. I have a signing going on. Max 5 minutes wait for me. Then we can discuss further. Until then you can read the sample contract that my assistant will get you. Is that okay?"
"Sure, go ahead," Jessica said. Leandro immediately left his office and his assistant got the sample contract to Jessica and Charlotte. They both began to read the contract and made notes on what they wanted to include and what points they wanted to discuss more.
After closing the file, Charlotte sighed, "I cannot believe that we have scored a contract with Ricci Constructions at one go."
Jessica smiled at Charlotte, "Right. I am very happy about it. And we will have be well prepared before we start working with them. We don't want to make any mistakes."
"All thanks to you for the contract. And I am cent percent sure that we will be able to pull off the work because you are our boss."
Jessica dramatically placed her palm on her heart and said, "I am flattered."
Charlotte raised her brows and said, "By my words or Leandro?"
"What?" Jessica chose to play dumb despite knowing what Charlotte meant. She knew there might be something in Leandro's smile, but she did not know what it was. So she did not want have hopes of anything. She was not looking for pain and hurt.
"You know it very well. I mean, anyone could say that Leandro threw for you held something more than just work," Charlotte reasoned.
"Don't overthink things."
Charlotte was about to say something, Leandro came into his office and took his seat.
"I assume you have gone through the contract," he said placing his phone on the table.
"Yes. And we are pretty much ok with everything," Jessica said.
"If you want anything more, you can tell it to my assistant and I will go through it for you,"
"Sure,"
Charlotte excused herself when she felt her phone vibrate in her bag. Now that Leandro and Jessica was left alone, there was a awkward feeling for no reason.
"So, are you going to the Wilson's party today evening?" Leandro asked.
Jessica looked up at him and replied, "Yeah. I have my own connections. So yeah, I will go."
Leandro smiled at her words which reflected that she was a strong woman and was all ready to take over the business on her own.
"I hope to see you in the party,"
"It is my pleasure,"
After finalizing the contract with a few more terms, Jessica and Leandro signed it and she left his office.
They both were aware that there was something happening between them. But did not have enough guts to address it.
The evening had rolled in pretty quickly. Leandro's day went well, maybe because he was in a good mood for all the odd reasons that his staff knew nothing about. Jessica's day was out and about work and just work. She was on roll with preparing to begin the work with Ricci Constructions. Her staff were as happy as her. Because a work contract with Ricci Constructions was not something that can be neglected.
Jessica reached her home and began to get ready for the party. She had chooses to wear a blue colored floral print maxi dress and matched it with nude heels. She was applying makeup on her face when her phone rang.
She dropped the brush and picked the call without seeing the caller ID.
"Hello,"
"Hey," the deep voice made Jessica's heart skip a beat. She looked at the caller ID and confirmed her guess about the caller.
"I am listening," she played coy.
Leandro chuckled at her coyness, "I like that attitude there."
"Good to know. What's up?" she asked, blushing.
"I am about to leave for the party, but I don't have a date. So I thought I'd ask you to be mine?"
His last words made Jessica stunned. She wondered what did he mean by making her as his. Did he only mean date or anything more than that. Was he expecting something from her?
When she did not reply, Leandro knew he had to correct his words, "I meant be my date." He had no idea why those words left his mouth. He wondered was that his true feelings towards her.
Jessica sighed, "Yeah. Sure. I don't have a date either."
"Okay, then, I will be at your place in 20. Be ready."
They disconnected the phone call and Jessica got back to putting on her makeup. She did not give much thought into Leandro's words from the phone call. She knew he was gentleman so she did not want to assume that he was expecting something from her.
She was all ready by the time Leandro reached her house. Leandro knocked her door.
She opened the door and not the way she looked made Leandro weak on knees. She looked gorgeous. She is a real beauty, is what Leandro thought.
"I might have to stick by your side to protect you from all the ogling eyes at the party," he said making her blush. She had not heard anything like such sweet words for more than a decade probably. Her ex-husband was not at all a words kind of man. At least, not for her.
He chuckled and reached for her hand which she gave away easily.
"Let's go," he whispered in her ears making her go more crimson.