Chapter8: New Beginnings
Leo threw the last of his things into a suitcase with a sigh. His packing style was more organized chaos than anything else, but he didn't care. He was too busy thinking about the journey ahead. A fresh start in a new city, college life, and the business he, Ethan, and Emma were about to embark on—it was exciting.
Across the hall, Emma stood in her modest room, carefully folding her clothes. She paused to look out the window, her eyes misting over as she thought about leaving her father behind. She was finally breaking free. No more borrowing, no more starvation, no more panic attacks. She touched the edge of the sleek laptop Leo had given her and smiled.
As Leo loaded their luggage into the trunk of the taxi, he noticed Emma wiping her eyes.
"Hey, you alright?" he asked gently.
She nodded, forcing a smile. "Just… overwhelmed, I guess. This is the first time I've felt like my life is really mine."
Leo gave her a reassuring smile. "You've earned it, Emma. No looking back now. We've got big plans, remember? College, our business, everything—it's all waiting for us."
Her smile grew a little steadier, and she got into the car.
Leo pulled up their tickets on his phone, frowning as he double-checked.
"Uh, Emma?"
"Yeah?"
"I might've made a tiny mistake."
She gave him a suspicious look. "What kind of mistake?"
"I, uh, accidentally booked us first-class tickets."
Emma's jaw dropped. "Leo! First class? Are you serious?"
"Hey, in my defense, the app was confusing! And I didn't even realize until I saw the price—"
"The price? How much did it cost?"
"Don't worry about it," Leo said quickly, waving her concern away. "Let's just enjoy the experience, alright? Besides, it's a new chapter for us—might as well start it in style!"
Emma sighed but couldn't hide the tiny smile tugging at her lips.
As they settled into their luxurious seats, Emma couldn't help but fidget. The seats were ridiculously spacious, and the service was impeccable, but the closeness of their seating arrangement made her a little self-conscious.
Leo noticed her unease. "You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just… I've never flown first class before. This feels surreal."
Leo grinned. "Well, get used to it. With our business taking off, this could be our life someday. Private jets, Emma. Private jets."
She rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "You're impossible."
As the flight progressed, they talked about the city, their plans for college, and the business. Emma grew more animated as she described her vision for their logistics company, and Leo found himself admiring her passion.
The moment they stepped off the plane and into the bustling city airport, Leo's eyes lit up. He turned to Emma with a grin.
"Alright. First order of business—let's buy a car."
Emma blinked. "Already? Shouldn't we find a place to settle in first?"
"Emma, priorities. We need wheels. Plus, I've been itching to splurge ever since we got here."
She sighed but followed him out of the terminal, wondering what kind of car Leo would end up buying this time.
Leo pulled up to the dealership lot, his eyes scanning the line of sleek cars like a kid in a candy store. He'd always dreamed of owning a sports car, and now, with his newfound wealth, that dream was a reality.
Emma, standing beside him, looked a little apprehensive.
"So, which one are you thinking?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"That one," Leo said without hesitation, pointing to a shiny, low-slung beast of a car.
Emma sighed. "Leo, it's only got two seats. What happens when we need to drive other people around?"
Leo hesitated. "I mean… we could always take turns?"
"Absolutely not. You're getting a five-seater."
"But Emma, it's a sports car!"
"And they make five-seater sports cars, genius."
A couple of hours later, Leo was behind the wheel of a sleek five-seater sports car, grumbling under his breath.
"I still think the two-seater would've been cooler," he muttered.
Emma smirked, leaning back in her seat. "You're welcome, by the way. At least now you won't have to leave half your friends behind when we go somewhere."
"Fine, fine," Leo conceded, shifting gears. "Speaking of friends, you know Ethan's fiancée is going to the same college as us?"
Emma's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, Ethan has a fiancée?"
"Yeah. Loyal guy, that one. He told me all about her."
Emma leaned forward, intrigued. "What's she like?"
Flashback: Ethan's Story
Leo's mind wandered back to his conversation with Ethan a few days earlier.
"She's the granddaughter of a war hero," Ethan had said with a proud grin. "Her family's got so much military influence that even the police hesitate to mess with them."
Leo had raised an eyebrow. "That sounds… intimidating."
"You don't even know the half of it," Ethan continued, chuckling nervously. "She's a trained fighter. One time, she got mad at my little group of friends, and, uh, let's just say she broke a bone or two."
Leo had winced. "She what?"
"Don't worry; she's a good person at heart. She's just got a bit of a temper."
"A bit?" Leo asked skeptically.
Ethan had waved him off. "Trust me, you'll see. She's actually pretty kind once you get to know her. Besides, she's helping us find a place to live in the city. If anything, we should be grateful."
Leo had nodded, though he couldn't shake the image of Ethan's fiancée snapping bones like twigs. "Let's just hope she doesn't decide to test her strength on me."
"Sounds like she's quite the character," Emma said, bringing Leo back to the present.
"That's one way to put it," Leo replied. "I'm just hoping she doesn't decide to make me her next sparring partner."
Emma chuckled. "Relax. If Ethan trusts her, she can't be all bad."
"We'll see," Leo said, pulling into the parking lot of a cozy café. "This is where we're meeting them."
Inside the café, Ethan was already waiting at a table, waving enthusiastically as they entered. Sitting beside him was a striking woman with sharp eyes and an air of confidence.
"Leo, Emma, meet Rebecca," Ethan said, beaming. "My fiancée."
Rebecca stood and extended a hand. Her grip was firm, her posture commanding, but there was a warmth in her smile.
"It's nice to meet you both," she said. "Ethan's told me a lot about you."
"Likewise," Leo replied, shaking her hand cautiously, half-expecting her to test his strength.
As they sat down and ordered drinks, the conversation flowed easily. Rebecca had a sharp wit and a knack for keeping people on their toes.
"So, Ethan mentioned you're looking for a place to stay," she said.
"Yeah, somewhere close to campus," Leo replied.
"I've got a few leads," Rebecca said, pulling out her phone. "We can go check them out after this."
"That'd be great," Emma said, smiling. "Thank you."
Rebecca waved her off. "Don't mention it. Ethan's always talking about how much he owes you, Leo. Consider this my way of paying it back."
Leo chuckled. "Well, let's hope I live up to the hype."
Rebecca smirked. "You'd better. I don't waste my time on slackers."
Emma shot Leo a look, clearly enjoying his slight discomfort, while Ethan stifled a laugh.