The day dragged on without a word from Leo,
and the weight of silence hung heavily over me.
What had I done to provoke him and got mad at me?
I tried to immerse myself in the reports,
but my thoughts kept drifting back to him, to the anger and confusion swirling in my mind.
As night fell,
I finally stepped outside the office,
feeling a mix of relief and frustration.
That's when I met Zahara at a cozy restaurant,
a welcome distraction from the chaos I had dealt the whole day.
"Hey, Mel! What's with that long face?"
Zahara asked, her eyes sparkling with concern as she slid into the seat across from me.
I sighed, my thoughts immediately drifting back to Leo.
"It's about my boss. We had a... disagreement this morning,
and now he's acting like I'm invisible."
Zahara's expression instantly turned fierce.
"What did that jerk do? I swear, if he's being a lion in the office, I'll—"
"No, Zahara, it's not like that.
He just... yelled at me for no reason,"
I said, trying to explain but getting caught up in the emotions again.
"Yelled at you? What is wrong with him?
You don't deserve that! I mean, come on, who does he think he is?
The King of the Jungle?" Zahara exclaimed, her voice rising dramatically.
I couldn't help but laugh at her over-the-top imitation of a lion,
complete with paw gestures.
"Exactly! He needs to remember that I'm not just some prey he can pounce on."
"Right? If I see him, I'll give him a piece of my mind.
Maybe even a slap," Zahara said, shaking her fist playfully.
"Zahara, please don't. I don't want to lose my job over a silly argument,"
I replied, trying to keep a straight face but feeling the edges of my smile.
"Okay, okay, I won't get all Hulk on him. But seriously, he needs to get his act together.
Just look at you! You're amazing, and he's lucky to have you working for him,"
she said, her eyes sparkling with support.
"Thanks, but it's hard to feel amazing when he's ignoring me,"
I admitted, my voice softening as a pang of sadness washed over me.
"Ugh, guys can be so dense sometimes. You deserve an apology, Mel, not this silent treatment.
Let me take a picture of your sad face so we can remind him later!"
Zahara grinned mischievously, pulling out her phone.
I laughed, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous, but I appreciate it.
Just promise me you won't go too far if you see him."
"Promise! But I can't guarantee I won't give him a good talking-to if he doesn't shape up,"
she said with a wink.
As we shared a laugh over our drinks, I felt a little lighter.
Despite the tension with Leo, having Zahara by my side made
everything seem more manageable.
As the night wore on,
Zahara and I indulged a bit too much,
our laughter echoing around the restaurant.
In a moment of tipsy spontaneity, I grabbed my phone and
dialed Leo's number, swaying slightly in my seat.
"Hello? Miss Violet?" Leo's voice came through, clear and somewhat bewildered.
"Oooh, hi! Mr. Cyprus! Did you know that—ugh—ahhhh, wait, Zahara, don't take my phone!"
I giggled, fumbling the device.
"Who is that, MEL? You called that Lion?" Zahara exclaimed,
trying to wrestle the phone from my grip.
"Hello? Melody?" Leo's voice cut through the chaos.
I could hear the confusion in his tone, and I stifled a laugh,
but it quickly turned into a hiccup.
"Yeah, it's me! I just wanted to tell you that you're a big, grumpy Lion!"
I slurred, leaning back in my chair.
"And you better apologize to me because I was hurt! You—"
"Miss Violet, are you drunk?"
Leo asked, concern lacing his voice.
"Yes, I'm drunk! And you're a jerk!" I shot back,
feeling the tears welling up in my eyes.
"Oh, poor Mel, don't cry!" Zahara chimed in, leaning in close to me,
her own laughter mingling with the atmosphere.
But the moment Zahara said that,
the floodgates opened.
"I just wanted to do my job, and you went all Lion King on me!"
I wailed, tears streaming down my cheeks.
Leo must have heard the commotion because he asked,
"Where are you? I'll come over."
But just as I tried to reply,
the phone slipped from my grasp and clattered to the ground,
cutting off our conversation.
After what felt like an eternity of slurred jokes and hiccups,
Leo burst through the door of the restaurant,
looking a mix of annoyed and worried.
I could see him scanning the room until his eyes landed on us.
"Melody!" he called out, rushing toward me as Zahara grinned like a Cheshire cat,
clearly enjoying the drama.
"Look who's here! how did, howww did you know I... (Burrrp) ooops Ahahaha"
I said back, giggling uncontrollably, and Leo's expression shifted to one of disbelief.
"Oh boy, what have you two gotten into?" he sighed,
half-amused and half-concerned as he approached to us,
ready to tackle the situation head-on.
Leo helped Zahara into a cab, ensuring she was settled. S
he popped her head out of the window,
a playful grin on her face.
"Baby, bye!" I called out, my words slurring together in my drunken haze.
"Take care, Mel! Hey YOU ! DON'T HURT MY MELODY. Youuuu YOUUUUUU!. ugghhh Mel
shuuupsss" Zahara shot back, blowing me a dramatic flying kiss as the cab pulled away,
leaving me giggling and swaying slightly on my feet.
Leo turned to me, an irritated yet affectionate look on his face.
"Alright, let's get you home," he said, gently guiding me toward his car.
As I stumbled forward,
I misjudged my step and ended up leaning against him,
my feet slipping and sending me tumbling right into his chest.
"Whoa!" Leo exclaimed, catching me effortlessly.
The warmth of his body enveloped me,
and for a brief moment, the world spun around us, everything else fading away.
"Sorry!" I mumbled, looking up at him, my heart racing.
"Careful there, Melody," he said, his voice low and teasing.
"I can't have you knocking yourself out on my watch."
I laughed, a light and airy sound, feeling giddy from the closeness.
"I guess you're my knight in shining armor, then,"
I said with a playful wink, my cheeks flushed.
For a moment, the world outside the car faded away.
The soft hum of the engine and the gentle glow of the streetlights
illuminated Leo's features, highlighting the intensity in his gaze.
He looked at me,
his eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge the depth of this moment.
There was a flicker of something unspoken between us,
a magnetic pull that seemed to draw us closer together.
His hand moved slowly,
almost hesitantly, to brush a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine,
igniting a flurry of butterflies.
I held my breath,
my heart racing,
as he leaned in closer.
The air around us thickened with anticipation,
the moment stretching out as if time itself had slowed down.
"Melody," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper,
filled with an emotion I couldn't quite name.
Before I could respond,
he closed the distance between us,
his lips brushing softly against mine.
It was tentative at first, a gentle exploration, as if he was savoring every second,
trying to capture the essence of this unexpected connection.
I felt my pulse quicken,
my heart pounding against my ribcage as I leaned into the kiss,
instinctively responding to his warmth.
The kiss deepened,
igniting a spark that spread through my entire being.
His lips were warm and firm, yet soft,
wrapping around mine with a tenderness that made my head spin.
I could feel the world around us vanish completely;
all that mattered was the sensation of him—his taste,
his smell, the way he made me feel alive.
I reached up, my fingers trembling as I touched his face,
wanting to pull him closer.
It was as if the universe had aligned for this perfect moment,
and I never wanted it to end.
My heart raced as I melted into him, completely lost in the magic of it all.
But then, just as quickly as the moment began,
a wave of dizziness washed over me.
The alcohol mixed with the rush of emotions overwhelmed my senses,
and I felt my eyelids grow heavy.
In an instant, I was out cold, collapsing against him.
When I finally stirred awake the next morning,
sunlight streamed through the window,
illuminating the unfamiliar room.
I blinked against the brightness,
my mind foggy and my body feeling like lead.
The events of the previous night came flooding back in disjointed fragments.
I tried to piece together why I was in this unfamiliar space.
As I sat up, a dull ache throbbed at my head,
and I rubbed my forehead, willing the confusion to clear.
"What just had happened?"
I murmured to myself, scanning the room for clues.
A faint scent of cologne lingered in the air,
and the sheets felt warm and soft against my skin.
That's when I caught sight of my clothes,
neatly folded on a chair by the door,
and the realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.
I had kissed Leo! And then… I knocked out!
"Did I really just—?" I groaned, burying my face in my hands.