Zella's words replayed inside his mind. It was too close to make his heart skip a beat. Although Leo resorted to not let himself fall for her, the opposite side of it was what he faced on today.
As he waited for the Cassanos to finish their chit-chat about the football game, Leo knew it wouldn't happen sooner. He drained the last drops of water on a pitcher down a slim glass, and slammed it to the counter.
All of them got startled by the foyer's couch.
Vincent rummaged for the remote control by the coffee table while Leo watched him stumble along. Jon Cho hissed, rubbing his hands to his lap, knowing he's the one who started the game of bets. Etienne and Randall were all silent, probably because they're the highest bidders for the football season.
Leo put down the glass loudly.
Vincent even switched off the power cord to be certain they're safe. Leo leaned by the counter, observing the Cassanos standing up straight while Vincent couldn't shake off the panic in his eyes.
"Mr. Vincent Bass, can you please tone down your panic whenever we're on the meeting table with the head sector?" Leo walked in the foyer, leaving the glass on the counter, and crossed his arms over his chest.
Vincent approached the couch, and sighed, worry taking over his enthralled face earlier.
"Jeremy is close to firing you. We still have a lot of missions to accomplish, and we needed you, Vincent. Now, for your assignment, hold the gun steadily, can you?" Vincent Bass might be an expert in creating weapons, but not in handling them. The first time he drafted his team members, he picked Vincent as the last member of Cassanos.
Vincent didn't know if he can do that.
"I know you can do it, overcome the trauma you had. Vincent, you're the only one who can help yourself." Leo nodded a little to him. Vincent's hair might be of the color of a lion, a mighty and dauntless animal in their kingdom, but he's like a pet cat huddling in the corner when the fight begins.
"I'll do that," Vincent said.
Leo turned to Jon Cho and Etienne. They kept their mouths shut as if something wasn't worth their concern. Leo turned to the two of them, inquiring, "Are the two of you wouldn't speak up about our missions? I do get Jon Cho knew how to pull off the escape and Etienne knew how to locate the runaway we're going to kill, but words should flow out of your mouths starting tomorrow."
Jon Cho's deep voice spoke up, "What would we do? If you're discussing, that's what we wanted to say, too."
Leo squint his eyes. Randall nudged Jon Cho on his side.
"Randall and Vincent aren't the two of you at most. You two like to be quiet, yes, but would it do any good if you won't speak up when you're against the idea?"
Leo turned to Etienne, scolding, "Etienne Jules. I know you know something about the Tempus Moneda of the Telamur citizens, that's why you're assigned to the technology. Please, do report to me if Zella Albert's time chip is active again."
Etienne looked up at him skeptically. "I don't have any updates for that, Leo. Zella deactivated it so well the Telamur must have gone crazy finding a way to open the line again. Same goes to the other ones who ran away and erased their identity to the system."
Leo sighed. Communication is the only thing that can solve the misunderstanding.
"How about you, Jon Cho Kingsley? Have you found the way to corner our second runaway?" Leo called out. Jon Cho clasped his hands together, nodding.
"I have secured it. We can go by Wednesday."
Jon Cho's tongue was itching to ask about the inspection team. He pulled up short, intimidated by Leo's presence, but he badly want to ask it.
He added, "I have a question regarding the inspection team, Leo. Will they need the plan I plotted out for the second runaway?"
Leo turned to Randall, and their eyes defined its telepathy. The answer showed up right on their pupils. Leo shifted back to Jon Cho, answering, "Finalize everything and show it to me tomorrow. We have to do the assigned task by tomorrow. Every one of you, I'll be keeping an eye."
Leo checked his watch, and it's already 7pm.
"I need to have dinner with my wife. Stay put," Leo ordered. The Cassanos bowed down their head as he walked out of the foyer while everyone planted him a look.
"Did he just call Zella his wife?" Vincent blurted out. The three of them turned to him.
…
Glowing lights, soft-meat dinner, and his husband on his jet black hoodie sitting across from her relaxed her too much and Zella doesn't have a reason to be uncomfortable.
Last time she remembered, she's longing for his kiss. Now, the distance must have close once again and start afresh.
The maids put down the main courses for today's dinner. They're out on the left wing, by the cottages that has wooden tables, and they're alone. The rest of the people inside the mansion were either sleeping or watching some Netflix show.
Leo smiled at her. Zella felt uneasy of ruining the mood with a simple question. They have agreed to know each other again, although she knew the memories were just behind her mind, and wakening it up will do.
As the maids left the scene, Zella turned to Leo. He picked up the chopsticks on the side of her plate, and separated it into two. Zella received it. Observing him picking up the rolled sushi and blowing off the steam, Zella did the same thing.
The two of them sat and eat in silence for a while.
Zella chewed in the meat before asking, "Can we start now?"
Leo slowed down, picked up one of the California Maki rolls, and nodded. "Hm."
Zella put down his chopsticks, suggesting, "Let's come up with rules."
Leo stopped from chewing, turning to her. He smirked, and it's another time to pretend.
"You're doing it again, those rules," Leo revealed. Zella raised her eyebrows.
"Did I?" She got appalled. Leo nodded. Zella's cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Still, I'd listen to it. I wouldn't leave my wife being clueless of what she's doing." Leo shrugged, as if it's a normal thing to do. He turned to the alcohol, opened one of the bottles, and prepped up two shot glasses.
Zella felt the sincerity in his words.
"First: Say everything and separate the truth from the lie."
Leo propped up his elbow on the table, sighing, and motioned for her to go on.
"Second: In the separation, say the truth and say the lie."
Leo kept on dreading the rules she made. Something in it wasn't real.
"Third: Prove to me it's the truth, and it's the lie."
Leo pursed his lips. Zella held out three fingers, but his face was now uneasy. This time, he's not as calm as he could. Zella paused for a little, but Leo patted his sweat by the back of his hand.
"Continue, I'm listening to it."
Zella held out the fourth finger.
"Fourth: If you lie, I'd give you three chances to show me the truth."
Leo turned to her. The silence stretched on. He blinked, inhaling a large amount of air.
"Is that the last one?" His voice isn't that shaky. Leo isn't nervous.
"Fifth: If I prove that it's a lie, I'd leave the mansion."
Leo sighed. There's still a right time to pretend, and he's glad the odds were doing well.
"Okay, I'll agree with your conditions. Should we start today? Saying the truth?"
Leo poured down the alcohol in their glasses. Zella blinked.
"If you can say everything to me right now, that would be good."