"Aren't you afraid this will become an issue for you later?" She asked, breaking the silence in the car while keeping her eyes on the view outside the window and with her arms crossed on her chest.
"What do you mean?" She could feel Xavier's eyes on her, she turned her head to him and casually glanced at the driver and Sam who were seated in front.
"This is gonna messed up your 'private' life." she shortly explained with the hidden message. What she really wanted to ask is, how can he let his private life get mixed up with a high profile mission like this? isn't he afraid this is gonna affect his self-established empire? She doesn't think that he's just a busybody that can't keep away from other's business. Leona has been bugged by this question from the start, what's in it for him?
To her annoyance, he just shrugged and get back on checking emails on his phone with a nonchalant look.
'What was that suppose to mean?'
She let out a loud sigh in frustration.
Sam who heard the whole conversation, can't help but want to help his romantically challenged boss looking at how annoyed Arya is with his response.
"Aherm, Ms. Lin. Our employees are bound to a contract in which it was stated that they have to 'help' keep our CEO's privacy and identity confidential at all times. Only few outsiders who the company collaborates with had seen CEO King in person so if you feel uncomfortable with the limelight I can assure you there would be none. Whatever you see online about him are the only information he allowed to be known." He proudly stated like a father selling his own son to his prospect date.
'Wow, just like some museum of antiques that doesn't allow you to bring camera with you.' hence you can only admire the displays but can't take photo to share with other people and it's gonna remain a mystery to those who has no access to it. Realizing something, Leona gave the guy beside him an incredulous look.
'Wait a second!' Keeping in mind that there were third parties inside the car, she held back herself from exploding out of anger due to this shameless dude next to her. She took a deep breath and decided to change her tactic.
Leona softened her expression as she leaned on Xavier's shoulder which got the latter taken aback by the affection she's suddenly showering him, somehow for some reason his mind is giving him a danger warning. She held his hand that was holding the phone to get his full attention and when she felt the driver and Sam shy away and looked elsewhere, she leaned near his ear and gritted her teeth as she whispered. "Tell me, what was the point of the public display of affection earlier. When you know full well that they're not gonna talk about it because of your company policy?"
'Busted' Xavier said to himself, he was already thinking of the punishment he'll give to Sam when he heard him yapping on his defense and letting out such uncalled explanation but now, since it was also the reason that led this fiesty Lioness in his arm, he would let his secretary's blunder slide this time.
Despite the Threat from Leona's angry expression, Xavier is happy. After all, who is he? He is the formidable Xavier Wang, a capitalist. He finds opportunity even in the direst situation like this so grasping the chance, he encircled his arms around her tiny waist and pulled her down to his body and she ended up half straddling on his lap.
When he can feel her protesting through her body language, he looked straight to her eyes and quickly darted a look at his driver and assistant. Giving out a signal that they're not alone which had Leona frozen in place knowing that she can't act up at the moment, he chuckled and gave her a loud peck on her cheek.
"Be good, My eyes are tired." He said as if there was no storm brewing around the two of them and casually leaned his cheek on the crown of her head and closed his eyes to rest.
Leona who is screaming internally in her head is at lost of words. 'Did this pervert just tricked me again?????????' she was about to punch the side of his torso when she heard his breathing even out, it seems like he had already fallen asleep -comfortably at that. While she is being treated as a pillow that she can hardly breath with how tight his hug is.
She raised her fist again to stealthily hit him just to pause halfway again when she felt his face sliding down from the top of her head and involuntarily froze in place as to not wake him up.
'Wait a minute, why do I even care?' She wanted to give this guy a piece of her mind right now however, remembering how full packed his schedule was since 6 am today, she somehow did not have the heart to disturb him. 'This is charity Leona, some villains need compassion too.' After thinking back and forth as to whether he will wake him up or not, she lost her momentum. So she seethe in silence as she recapped how he had tricked her into showing PDA to his busy employees in the office earlier today, this guy is so shameless that he won't waste any chance to pull her leg any opportunity he gets. He must really be holding grudges regarding the incident in Diamond Hotel, Leona bit her lip unconsciously. Remembering what transpired that day dampened her mood, she just wanted to be done with this assignment so she could get out of this complicated mess. The last thing she wanted is be involved with some stranger. She's bad news who can barely save herself from her own misery, it would be safer if she focuses on her goal, keep her love ones safe and not drag other people into her chaos. Adding additional characters in her life was proven futile, she's speaking from experience after all.
With that thought, a quick flash of a familiar face cross her mind.
'damn it!'