Leo finds himself seated with Adam at his balcony. They both look ahead the night sky as they smoke. Leo takes one last fag and puts down his cigarette as he rubs the embers. He gives side glance to Adam waiting for him to speak. Adam who is a tall fellow, with a striking resemblance to Aly, finally speaks.
'My Aunt told me that you are interested in opening an exhibit here in Zagreb.'
'I take it you plan to either stay here or do you plan to visit from time to time?'
'I have not decided yet, i have to get back to London and discuss things with the board,'replied Leo.
'I am sure that is just a formality in your case, since your decision is all that matter.'
'How long are you going to keep running the company from the background,' said Adam.
'Who said i am running it from the background,' replied Leo a little curtly.
Adam knew him too well, he knew how his friend had started his company and how he envisioned to run it. Leo would rather work in the centre than just remain at the top. He wanted both the position as then he could always get a better idea of the situations they were facing. There was a reason he always overworked but it did make him reliable.
'Ash, Is she with you?' asked Adam finally.
'Piss off,' was all Leo said as he took his jacket and went inside going toward the guest room to catch one last glimpse of Zara who had fallen sleep in the car. A lot had happen in the night, some good stuff, well really great stuff and then he had to handle all the drunk people around him including Zara. But then he could never find her irritating.
He stood beside her and bent as he kissed her on the forehead and then saw Aly passed out beside her on the floor. He felt a little irritated, but he knew he had to keep his cool when it came to their friendship.
He knew she wasn't answerable to him and nor did he have the right to question her. He knew his boundaries well, maybe he had too many boundaries and that's what stopped him earlier. But a person cannot change overnight, can he? Could he change for her? Thought Leo as he left Adam's house.
Leo woke up with a lot of knocks on his door and he did not need to guess who it was, as in matter of few seconds till he reached the door he heard Ash call his name.
"LEO, PLEASE, WAKE UP!"
Leo realised that he was in his underwear again, he rushed back to his bed and found his shots and shirt. He finally opened the door to Ash who quickly entered his room.
'Sorry, i tried to call you. But I couldn't wait. '
'I have been calling you! And so has your dad.'
'We have a situation and we need to head back to London as soon as possible,' said Ash as she checked her phone.
'What happened,'asked Leo as he picked up his phone to find it dead.
'Fuck, I forgot to charge.'
'Give me a minute, i need to get ready,' said Leo
and that 's when Ash shouted at him.
'We do not have a minute Leo, '
'Mr. Otori, told your father that there is going to be an emergency board meeting,'
'Do you gather? None of us received an update regarding this.'
'And things do not look good to me,' he could feel the panic in her voice.
'What if its an attempt to take us out,' yelled Ash as she went to his cupboard and started putting, more like throwing clothes in his bag.
Leo ran to her direction and grabbed her by her arms and made her sit on the chair said, ' Ash, calm down.'
'It will be okay, we will be in London soon.'
' I assure you we will handle the situation,'
'How did they find out about you? Only few people know on the board.' said Ash holding her head.
'We need to contain the situation, Leo.'
'And we shall,' he said with of hint of anger in his voice.
'Have you booked the flights?'
'We can make it , if we reach the airport on time,'
'Or shall we call Adam to lend us his plane.' said Ash a little uncomfortable with the idea.
'Its okay, i will call him if we need to,' he replied calmly.
'Meet me downstairs in ten and ask Martin that he is to remain here and i hope till we are gone, he doesn't get into mischief or cause us any losses.'
'Else it will be the end of him,' he stated sternly.
Leo's morning was hectic, they met at the lobby and did not even have time to eat breakfast . He quickly left for the airport and as they checked in he saw Adam waiting for him over coffee counter with two cups of coffee which reminded Leo of his early days when he and Adam were in college.
'You joining us?' asked Leo as he walked up to him taking the coffee he offered.
'Your dad called me,'
'I figured its time for me to step up a little, I mean, i know am part of the board even if a sleeping member,' said Adam looking ahead at the waiting area where he saw Ash seated who had not yet noticed him.
'And it's been weighing on me.'
'I need to apologise properly,' said Adam sipping his coffee.
'Does Selena know?' asked Leo.
'She knows what you know,' replied Adam.
Leo said nothing and just looked over to him, thinking what must Selena feel about this. He knew how Ash felt and would not forgive him easily. And that it hit him, ZARA. Oh for fucks sake! Zara! He is leaving Zagreb for a while without saying anything to her and especially after last night, the kiss. They shared such a lovely moment and he was leaving right away. But then it was only 8am in the morning and she might be sleeping. He did not want to disturb!
Leo felt uncomfortable, he was in an unknown territory and didn't know what to do. That's when Adam noticed him and smirked while he said,' Girl trouble,'
'Need some help?'
'You are the last person I shall ask ,' said Leo as he headed to a corner taking out his phone and quickly typed ,'You awake?' and then waited for a few seconds, staring hard at the phone screen.
And then again texted,
'This is Leo.'
That was all he messaged, he wanted to let her know he liked kissing her and that he wanted to see her today and even would like to kiss her some more. But then he though he might look very desperate and should say these things face to face.
That's what a gentleman should do, but then he did want to tell her that he had to leave at a short notice. And he wanted to see her and talk to her. He felt a bundle of emotions and then there was work pressure which was building up on him.
He needed to find out who called an emergency board meeting while kept him in the dark. Leo was as calm as water but once disturbed he could be a tsunami. He felt rattled and now he will leave no stone unturned in finding his new enemy.