Panic and embarrassment washed over me as I remembered the kiss,
the warmth of his body,
and the way he had held me.
Had I really let myself get carried away like that?
My heart raced again, this time from a mix of anxiety and excitement.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed,
taking a moment to steady myself before standing up.
As I glanced around the room, I noticed a glass of water on the nightstand,
likely left for me by Leo.
My cheeks flushed at the thought of him caring enough to
look after me after everything that had happened.
I took a sip of water, still grappling with the remnants of last night.
"Okay, Melody, get it together,"
I whispered to myself, shaking my head.
I needed to figure out what to do next,
especially if I ever wanted to face Leo again after this chaotic night.
As soon as I stepped out of the room,
I was greeted by the sight of Leo in the kitchen,
expertly cooking breakfast.
His broad shoulders and well-defined physique were enough
to make my heart flutter, instantly brightening my morning.
I snapped out of my daydream just in time to catch him glancing over his shoulder.
"You're awake!" he said, a hint of amusement dancing in his voice.
"Take a seat."
I tried to compose myself as I took a seat at the table,
but the question bubbled up before I could stop it.
"So, um, did anything happen between us last night?"
Leo turned toward me, a playful smirk on his lips.
"You're such a bad kitten, Melody," he teased, his eyes glinting with mischief.
My cheeks flushed crimson as I instinctively touched my body,
a wave of embarrassment washing over me.
"Wait, what do you mean by that?" I stammered, flustered.
Leo burst into laughter at my reaction, and it only made me blush harder.
"Relax! We didn't do anything in bed," he corrected,
his laughter subsiding into a warm chuckle.
"I didn't want to push you like that, especially with how drunk you were."
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment.
"Okay, thank goodness for that! But why did my clothes change?"
His laughter returned, a low, melodic sound that made my stomach flutter.
"Well, let's just say you had a little incident.
My maid helped you change because you... um, you know, puked."
My face turned beet red at the thought.
"Oh my gosh, that's so embarrassing!" I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
Leo stepped closer, leaning against the counter with a playful grin.
"Hey, it happens to the best of us.
Besides, it just means I get to see you in something new,"
he said, his tone teasing yet warm.
I peeked out from between my fingers,
shooting him a glare that held no real heat.
"So this is how you're going to tease me forever now, huh?"
"Absolutely," he replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"It's my new favorite pastime."
Despite the awkwardness of the morning,
laughter bubbled up between us, making the moment feel lighter.
Leo turned back to the stove, and I couldn't help but admire him as he cooked,
the scent of breakfast filling the air.
"You know," I said, trying to regain my composure,
"for a lion, you're not so scary after all."
Leo shot me a sideways glance, his lips curving into a smirk.
"Just wait until I unleash my roar."
"Oh, I now feel scared ," I shot back, rolling my eyes playfully.
I hesitated for a moment before asking,
"So, um, why am I at your place?"
Leo turned to face me, a hint of amusement still lingering in his eyes.
"Well, I tried to wake you up to get you back to your apartment,
but you didn't respond at all. You were completely knock out,
so I didn't have much of a choice—I had to bring you here."
My eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, I didn't say anything?"
He shook his head, a teasing smile creeping onto his face.
"Nope, not a word. You just have a peaceful sleep.
It was actually kind of impressive how you managed to stay asleep
of multiple wake up I did to you."
I buried my face in my hands again, horrified.
"Oh no, I can't believe I was that out of it!"
Leo chuckled, leaning against the counter.
"Hey, don't be too hard on yourself.
You had a fun night, and it's not every day I get to play the hero."
I looked up, a teasing smile spreading across my face.
"So you're saying you saved me from myself?"
"Exactly," he said, crossing his arms in mock seriousness.
"You could've gotten lost in the wild city streets without me.
I should get a medal for my bravery."
I laughed, the lightness of the moment washing over me.
"Alright, you've earned a medal,
but just for today. Next time, you might not be so lucky!"
"Next time?" Leo echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"So you're saying you'd want to hang out again?"
I hesitated, a playful smirk tugging at my lips.
"Only if you promise to keep me out of trouble.
I can't have you carrying me home every time I have a drink."
"Deal," he said, the warmth in his gaze deepening.
"But just so you know, I wouldn't mind carrying you home any day."
My heart raced at his words, and the playful tease turned into something sweeter,
something more meaningful.
"Well, in that case, I'll make sure to keep you on speed dial."
He grinned, the atmosphere between us shifting in that moment.
As we settled into the casual comfort of the morning,
I couldn't help but feel grateful for his presence,
even in the most unexpected circumstances.
As we settled into the comfortable rhythm of breakfast,
I felt a familiar flutter in my stomach, but I couldn't shake the weight of our earlier conversation.
The playful banter felt fragile, as if it could shatter with just one wrong word.
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
Leo said, his tone shifting to something more serious.
I looked up, my heart racing at the sudden change in his demeanor.
"Sure, what's up?" I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"What exactly are we?
I mean, after everything that happened last night, where do we stand?"
His gaze was intense, searching mine for an answer.
The question hung in the air, and I felt my heart sink.
"Leo, I… I think we should forget about last night. It was a mistake,"
I said, forcing the words out despite how they stung.
"I'm your secretary, and I don't want to tarnish your name because of me."
His expression hardened at my response,
and I felt the warmth between us evaporate.
"So, that's it? You want to pretend like it didn't happen?"
he asked, his tone colder now.
"Yes," I affirmed, my heart aching at the distance growing between us.
"It's for the best. We can't let this affect our work or your reputation."
Leo leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms tightly across his chest.
"Okay," he said flatly, his eyes no longer holding that familiar warmth.
"If that's how you feel, then I'll respect your wishes."
The finality in his voice sent a chill through me,
and I could see the playful spark extinguished,
replaced by a serious tension. I wanted to reach out,
to reassure him, but the weight of my decision loomed heavy.
We sat in silence, the cheerful sounds of the morning fading into an awkward stillness.
I could feel the distance between us growing, and it hurt more than I expected.
"Leo, I didn't mean to—" I started, but he held up a hand, cutting me off.
"It's fine, Melody. I understand. Let's just… move on."
His words felt distant, like he was putting up a wall I couldn't breach.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat,
unsure of what to say next. As we finished our breakfast in silence,
I couldn't shake the feeling that I had lost something precious between us,
something I couldn't quite articulate.
The silence lingered between us, heavy with unspoken words.
Finally, Leo pushed his chair back and stood up,
breaking the tension that had settled around us.
He walked over to the counter, gathering the breakfast dishes with practiced ease,
though I could sense the shift in his demeanor.
"I need to get ready for work,"
he said, his voice steady but devoid of its usual warmth.
"You have to hurry; I'll give you 15 minutes,
and then we'll go together. I can drop you off near the company."
I nodded, absorbing his words and the urgency behind them.
"Okay, I'll be quick," I replied, trying to keep my tone light despite the heaviness in the air.
He turned to me, and though his eyes held a coolness,
there was still a flicker of concern.
"Here, take this." He handed me a towel.
"And my housekeeper bought some clothes a while ago that should fit you.
They're in the guest room."
I accepted the towel,
our fingers brushing for just a moment.
A spark of warmth traveled through me, reminding me
of the intimacy we had shared not long ago.
"Thanks, Sir," I said, attempting to sound grateful.
Once I finished getting ready,
I was pleasantly surprised at how well the dress fit.
Stepping out of the guest room, I found Leo waiting for me.
As soon as he saw me in the dress he had chosen,
his gaze lingered for a second, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks.
Without a word, he quickly exited the house, and I followed him to the garage.
We drove in silence until we reached a spot near the company.
Leo pulled over, and I turned to thank him,
but his expression was distant, focused on the road.
"Thanks for the ride," I said softly as I opened the door.
"Just… be careful," he replied, his voice flat, not meeting my eyes.
I stepped out and closed the door behind me,
watching as he drove away.
As I entered the office, I noticed my colleagues immediately eyeing my new outfit.
"Wow, Melody! You look stunning!"
Bryle exclaimed, stepping forward with an appreciative grin.
"That dress is beautiful on you!"
I smiled, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks at the compliment.
"Thanks, Bryle! I appreciate it."
"Seriously, you look like you just stepped out of a fashion magazine,"
he continued, his enthusiasm infectious. "What's the occasion?"
"Oh, you know, just wanted to switch things up a bit,"
I replied, trying to brush it off, but inside,
I felt a mix of pride and anxiety, thinking of Leo's reaction.
As the day unfolded,
I couldn't shake off the lingering thoughts of this morning—of the kiss, the tension,
and the strange way Leo had looked at me.
But for now, I tried to focus on work,
hoping to make sense of everything that had happened.
A few hours passed,
and the hum of the office was punctuated by the soft
clacking of keyboards and hushed conversations.
Just as I was settling into my work, the atmosphere shifted.
The chairman, Leo's father, returned to the office,
his presence commanding immediate attention.
I could feel the energy in the room change, a palpable tension settling
in as employees exchanged worried glances.
"Leo," the chairman called, his voice authoritative as he strode toward his son's desk.
I paused, my heart racing slightly at the sight.
There was an air of seriousness surrounding the moment,
and I couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was about to unfold.
Leo looked up from his computer, his expression unreadable.
He stood up slowly, smoothing down his shirt as he prepared to confront his father.
"Dad, is everything okay?"
The chairman's gaze was steady,
but there was an intensity in his eyes that made me uneasy.
"We need to talk. Now."
I watched as Leo nodded,
a flicker of concern crossing his face.
He glanced over at me, and for a brief moment,
our eyes locked. I could see a mix of emotions swirling in his gaze—defiance,
apprehension, and maybe even a hint of regret.
"Of course," Leo replied, trying to keep his tone neutral,
though I could sense the weight behind his words.
He led the way to a nearby conference room,
and I could see the door close behind them, effectively cutting off the view.
I watched as Leo nodded, concern flickering across his face.
He glanced over at me, and for a brief moment, our eyes locked.
I could see a swirl of emotions in his gaze—defiance, apprehension,
and perhaps even a hint of regret.
"Of course,"
Leo replied, striving to maintain a neutral tone,
though I could feel the weight behind his words.
He led the way to a nearby conference room,
and I watched as the door closed behind them, effectively cutting off my view.
Inside, the conversation escalated.
"I expect you to meet the daughter of my friend. Why haven't you made time to date her?"
his father began.
"I already told you, Dad, I'm not interested,"
Leo replied firmly.
"Then how about marrying your secretary?" his father proposed, shocking Leo.