When we have to escape something, need a change or find a new opportunity. We say the world is big and when we see something fimilar or someone we know we say such a small world. The thing is we always make up things or ideas that suit us as to what we feel.
That's what Leo thought and yet here he was in Zagreb, in her city when some time back he had seen her in his. When he saw her for the first time she wore a beautiful sundress and was crossing the zebra while he had nearly ran over and breaked the last moment. Suddenly it had gotten windy and her hair flew and so did her dress as she tried to gather it while looking fearfully at his car as she crossed him and went into the gallery. Leo felt a knot as he saw her fearful face, he had seen it on someone he loved and he knew he would never want to be the cause of it.
He parked quickly and ran to see her and that was their first meeting.
Leo only cared about himself, his work and a very few people. His emotions never flared for anyone to a point he could feel almost numb. But that day when he saw her, he felt something change inside him minutely. He couldn't describe it, but felt an extension of himself drawing towards her.
He saw her standing with Adam and his brother. So introductions were in order and calmly walked to their way, "Hey Bro, Congratulations," said Adam while he had his arms around Ash.
'Thanks.'
'Hey Aly, long time. Thanks for your visit.'
'How you holding up Ash,' said Leo
'The response is good, enjoy your day and leave the rest to me,' said Ash.
'And you are?' said Leo extending his hand towards her.
'I am Zara, its nice to meet you,' she said as she shook hands with him looking a little flushed.
'Zara is in her first year of master at our school and Aly's friend,' said Adam.
'Oh , great. I am your senior. We should definitely catch up Zara. '
'I am Ash by the way.'
While all were talking, they both looked at each other with smile on their faces, they did not let go of each other's hand quickly. She was lovely and yet he was seeing someone else. But little did they know how their life would change after the incident.
After that he kept his distance form her, she used to visit the gallery to look at the paintings and pictures they used to showcase. She floated like a ghost of herself, who was lost but found comfort in expression. She never spoke but just stood their and that's when he just saw her standing with her back. It made him more excited to have a world which they shared momentarily, to heal her, but then one day she didn't show and that's when he knew she had gone.
He did not mind and he went back to his own world tangled within himself where he didn't see her and neither did he expect he would. He knew that was all he could have done for her. Maybe because deep inside he thought she was too fragile , she would break in his grasp. But the truth was that if he went any more closer, he would lose his gravity.
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Leo had his morning coffee with Ash as it was their ritual to make a to do list. Sometimes he felt that Ash was as robotic as him and their's was match made in heaven in the work department. And then he had to get back to Ms. Sudar and had to visit the museum.
After long working hours when he was finally free and had reached at the hotel after his meetings and Ash and Martin came to see him. He heard Martin ranting about Zara how he had found her on ringer how she was totally into him . He got more pissed and then decided to call her when he realised what would he say to her and then found himself calling Aly who was at a club. Aly asked him to join and he wanted to see her and so they went to Opera where Aly had already booked a table.
As Leo headed he called Aly, 'Hey, we have reached.'
'We are heading towards the bar.'
'I will be there in a bit, i am just looking for Zara.'
'I shall see you once i find her,' said Aly.
'Sure thing, I shall you see you soon,' said Leo.
They headed to the bar and ordered some drinks and Leo looked around to see if he could find her. He felt a little worried and thought he she might have gone to the washroom. He excused himself from Ash and Martin and headed to the washroom.
He finally found her leaning towards the wall as she waited in the que. She seemed a little withdrawn and sleepy or maybe she had too much to drink. She dind't seem much aware of her surrounding and asked the person standing behind her about what time it was. He felt irritable as one guy from the group of people standing behind her seemed interested in speaking with her. The guy called out to her but she did not respond, and Leo clenched his fist ready to intervene thinking he has the right to interfere as she seemed drunk and someone might take advantage of her. Then he murmured to himself 'Leave her alone, she is mine.'
Before the guy could call out at her again she went inside the washroom and Leo smirked. He decide he would wait for her outside and called Aly, 'Hey, I found her. She is in the washroom. '
'Oh, thanks man,' replied Aly.
'I shall head to the bar,' and he disconnected as she opened the door and got pushed by someone. He saw she was about to fall and rushed over to her direction pushing aside the guy who had been standing behind her.
He timely caught her and she felt like as a feather, a bit too light. She did not look up at him and just said thank you and headed back. He followed her till she climbed back up towards the table.
He headed back towards the bar where Aly and everyone were having shots.
'Hey man,'said Aly.
'Have some Rakija, its really good.'
Leo had two shots with everyone and it was too strong and he felt he won't be able to go back to hotel on two legs if he had more. So he switched to whiskey and as he drank he looked over across the bar in her direction midst the smoke which had started to accumulate. He saw her standing near the balcony near the table as she looked at his direction.
He heard Ally speak to her and tell her about him meeting her and wanted to know what she must have felt. They bought another round of drinks and some water and they started heading back towards their table. As he navigated his way thought the crowd on the dance floor he looked up towards her and found that she was looking at him.
As they finally reached upstairs, Leo wanted to murder Martin who was already drunk and lifted her. She ignored him and came towards them and he noticed her staring at the water bottle which he handed over to her.
She looked tipsy and flustered. Her cheeks were red and he could see she was checking him as her eyes were lingering on his arms. A kind of satisfaction went over him as he felt her stares on him and he did not hold back his gaze. Martin tried to hug her again and this time before he could wring his neck, Aly saved him and told her she was dancing with him.
He felt territorial and wanted to say she is mine. But then everyone decide to go to the dance floor as the music was pumping and everyone could feel beats. She rejected Martin and he thought Atta girl. As they all headed, he looked at her and her eyes were glazed with want, he knew what it was. It was desire and he wanted her as well.
He sipped his drink without breaking the eye contact and she was finally about to say something to him when they were interrupted my some girl called Maria who was clinging to him, he let her play with him as she put his hand on his chest. He wanted to see her reaction, if she would get jealous and when Maria pulled him towards her, she turned away and that was when he called her.
She turned back and said, "Yes, Leo".
He liked hearing her call him and she looked at him directly , he saw her face and then her lips which he found inviting and suddenly he had the urge to kiss her and she then licked them . Damm! He wanted to touch them, he wanted to know how it felt like to kiss her and then he asked her if he could kiss her and she said he can.
That was all he needed to hear, he leaned at her and kissed her. She felt good, she tasted good, her scent was maddening and she smelled of roses and paint.
He squeezed her closer to him, feeling her heart beat and heard her pull her mouth back to breathe and at the very moment he ceased the opportunity to sink his tongue in her mouth to explore her. She started kissing him back as their tongue collided. Leo felt so real, he felt that he was kissing for the first time. Not that he hadn't felt a woman's body or mouth before. But he had never kissed someone so deeply. It felt different, it felt special.
His hand went at the small of her back as he pulled on her lower lip, he couldn't stop himself. She tasted like a fine wine and he intended to keep drinking . And then he felt a moan leave her and his heart skiped beat. He finally looked at her face as he backed to breathe and could see the seduction in her eyes, he never knew she could give such an arousing look. He knew this wasn't the right place to further continue but he couldn't stop. He took her towards the corner keeping an eye out and kept kissing her, but got immersed in their little adventure and they finally stopped when they felt some ice and cold water splashed on their heads.
And when he looked back, he found that girl Maria who had flirted with him earlier, holding ice bucket in her hand which she had just emptied.
'This should teach you some lesson,' she said as she walked away taking the bucket with her.
Leo was mad and huffed as he bent his head and was about to leave Zara's side to catch hold of that girl when he heard a chuckle vibrate inside from her. He looked up and saw her smiling as she said,'I think she got jealous and threw ice on us,' and then a small chuckle escaped his mouth as watching her laugh like that brought a sense of ease in him.
She looked incandescent.