Leo kept staring at the empty glass Infront of him.
He was thinking of addressing the main issue directly but Miss. Ivana jumped the gun on him.
' I don't want her here,' she said sipping her Rakija .
Leo looked back at her fiercely and the very moment his expression turned jelly like seeing her start to drink again. Seriously how much can the woman drink and not get drunk.
' What you want is not relevant as we all have things to finish here,' he said.
' I say so because it's the best for everyone,' came her prompt yet serious reply.
'You have been keeping an eye out.'
'There are some answers which were delayed on your behalf, if only you hadn't kept your visit in secret.'
'I saw you on that night at the opening, you were there, ' he said calmly looking directly at her.
'I am not the only one with secrets,' she replied checking her long nails.
'If bringing everyone together once again helps me find who is behind it.'
'By my word I will do what I please. I own this shit anyways and I know you know that,' he stated gravely.
'My my, that's the longest monologue I have heard you speak,' she said laughingly.
' You think too highly of me Mr Colton,' came her friendly reply as she leaned over the table looking at him.
' And to address your former appeal, Yes! I was there as a service to a friend who always worries for her child. '
' But isn't it a big coincidence that you were there when shit went down. Like you knew it was going to happen.'
'Like this time also you knew we would end up here,' he said again with distrust in his eyes.
'That is a huge assumption Mr. Colton, considering you are the one who has brought Mr. Dais here; but me.'
'So how can you say it has something to do with me or I have something to do with it,' she said as a matter of fact.
'So you do know who Mr. Kanji Dias is,' Leo interjected with a hint of sarcasm.
'Off Course I do, he is to be my very important client for the next few months. Whom I am to keep happy so the exhibit is a sucess ,' came her smart reply.
'It' s great how you put B after A Miss Ivana,' and that got him a favourable response.
' I am just watching out for everyone.'
'Also, are my nephews aware of your intentions and i wonder what Selena has to say in the matter,' and that perked of Leo's frustration and he tightened his fists.
' I will make sure not a single straw is out of order,' she said in all seriousness which sounded more like a threat.
Leo realized that she hadn't gotten where she was with her wit. There was a dangerous woman lurking behind those always friendly and inviting eyes.Only one dangerous person can recognize another and he was right about her. She was the person who has been working from the sidelines and should be rattled carefully. And that is what he was doing, testing how he can approach her in the future and whether she is someone he should trust or distrust.
But one thing he became sure of now, he was absolutely right about thinking who she really was. He had a hunch before but now he was certain. She was as involved as any of them. Too many secrets, too many lies which led to where they are; Zagreb.
No matter where they went the knot of secrets was becoming tighter and tighter to a point that it would become very difficult to open it. Once he opened one knot another smaller embedded inside it became visible.
It seemed to Leo that their conversation was over, so he picked up his phone made a call while walking out of the door. He didn't feel like being so formal with her anymore, it seemed like they had formed some level of understanding regarding how they shall be approaching each other in the future.
' I need to see you.'
'Where are you?'
'Okay, send me your location,' he spoke into his phone with clear authority.
And then he remembered he was supposed to meet Zara. But he did not have time.
He just sent her a text and called himself a cab.
As he was crossing the lobby, he saw Zara was standing at the vestibule of the building looking outside as if waiting and then she took out her phone from the pocket. She appeared to be texting someone.
At the very moment his phone buzzed from her text message and a small smile appeared on his face.
He walked and stood near her, showing her her message.
'Oh Leo,' she said surprisingly. They way she called out his name stirred something dark inside him, just a little.
"I am going with you. I need to see Ash and Mr.Dias, I mean Aaji."
Was the message she had sent him. Hearing her refer to Kanji so informally irked him a little.
'Are you ordering me now?' he questioned a little amused as his eyebrow shot up, indicating he didn't like being ordered. But since she doesn't know him that well yet, he shall give her a chance.
And it was time to bully her a bit more, her reaction were always interesting. Her body used to react every time he surprised her or said something uncanny.
'Um... no i am not. I just received your message and simultaneously Ash messaged me and asked me to hitch a ride with you since you were going to her,' she explained.
'Sounds like you both can coordinate well,' he replied.
'Why do you need to see her?'
' Ivana does not need you anymore?'
'Skipping work already huh?' he kept bombarding her with patronising questions.
It seemed his egging worked as her eyes shot up in annoyance at him.
' None of your business,' she replied acidly and was about to get in the cab which had just arrived infront of them the very moment. He pulled her back instantly and semi-whispered in her ear 'Whatever you do is now my business.'
Her hair smelled of shampoo and he lightly brushed his finger along the smooth ends of her hair.
'Get used to it Zaa...ra,' he called out her name very smoothly and let her go; making a faint blush mixed with irritability appear.
'Huh... why?' she asked a little taken back by his sudden closeness.
'Since we are working together,' he replied like thats what he meant in the first place.
'After you,' he said as he opened the car door for her and got inside the car from the other side with immense satisfaction.