Emma paced back and forth in front of the fancy restaurant, her heels clicking nervously against the pavement. She kept glancing at the glowing sign for Avante Bella, a place so posh it practically screamed, "You don't belong here." She sighed, clutching her phone as if it held all the answers.
The streets around her were alive with New Year's Eve energy, filled with laughter, chatter, and the hum of excitement. Emma, on the other hand, was anything but festive. She glanced nervously at the glowing restaurant sign, then back at the crowd. Maybe she could slip away, vanish into the sea of strangers, and no one would notice.
"Nope," she muttered, shaking her head. "The investment…" she whispered to herself.
For the umpteenth time, she peered inside through the tall glass wall of the restaurant, her face nearly pressed against it. Of course, she couldn't actually see anything useful—just her distorted reflection staring back at her. "Great. Now I look like a total idiot," she grumbled, stepping back awkwardly.
Emma suddenly froze mid-peek, her face practically glued to the glass wall. Was that…? She squinted, noticing a figure in the reflection behind her. Oh no. Slowly turning, she came face-to-face with Leon, hands casually tucked into his pockets, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Enjoying the view?" he asked, his tone light and teasing.
She groaned inwardly. "Do you always have to sneak up on me?"
"I didn't sneak up on you. You practically asked for attention, standing there in the middle of the sidewalk," Leon said, raising his eyebrows. "So, how long do you plan to just stand here?"
"I guess your attitude changes now that I know your status. Do you think you have the upper hand now?" Emma narrowed her eyes, her lips puckered into a pout, deliberately showcasing her annoyance.
"Yup," Leon nodded, striding past her into the restaurant without a hint of subtlety or the slightest attempt to cover himself.
"Of course, why not just wear a neon sign that says 'CEO' while you're at it?" Emma's voice was laced with amusement despite her irritation. "Very subtle, Mr. Leon Gray. Very subtle." She rolled her eyes, her feet betraying her as they followed him into the restaurant.
Emma's gaze darted around the upscale interior as she pulled out her chair and took a seat. Honestly, even though her bank account always held five figures, she had never spent it on places like this. Her branded outfits? All gifts from her father—also known as the man everyone assumed was her sugar daddy.
As the waiter arrived and poured sky juice into her glass, Emma glanced up, only to find Leon's eyes fixed on her the entire time.
"Amused?" he asked, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "I told you, I can give you the life you wish for. A princess-like one."
"Don't tell me the prince is you," Emma replied sarcastically, lifting the glass of water and taking a sip.
"Who else? The role suits me perfectly, don't you think?" Leon replied with a smirk, leaning back in his chair as if he truly believed every word.
Emma frowned, letting out an audible scoff. "Why don't you put this kind of effort into your acting…" She paused mid-sentence as realisation hit her. "Wait—if you're this rich, I mean, a CEO… why would you bother acting? And, on top of that, being such a terrible one?"
Leon lifted his glass of water, his eyes drifting as he sipped slowly. "It was only on your TV…" he murmured so quietly that even he barely heard it.
"Excuse me?" Emma asked, her eyebrows arching as she leaned slightly closer, curiosity sparking in her voice.
Leon tilted his head slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips, as if weighing whether to share something or not. "Nothing. Just thinking how... different things must seem to you."
Emma frowned, her curiosity piqued but her scepticism growing. "Different? What's that supposed to mean? Stop being vague, Mr. CEO."
He set his glass down with deliberate slowness, his gaze locking onto hers. "Let's just say... acting isn't my first job. It's more of a hobby—one I'm really not invested in. The real work happens behind the scenes, where it matters."
Emma squinted, feeling as though his words held more weight than they seemed. "Behind the scenes? What, like a movie producer or something?"
Leon's smirk deepened, a glint of something almost mischievous in his eyes. "Something like that," he said, leaning forward. "Though my stage isn't exactly the one you'd imagine."
The furrow in between Emma's eyebrows deepened, "Ah…what a way to explain things." She rolled her eyes as she felt annoyed. "Whatever, but Mr. CEO, since I already accepted your dinner invitation, I hope you are not being petty and suddenly pulled out the investment for the company, okay?"
Leon chuckled softly, clearly amused by her directness. "Don't worry, I'm not that petty," he replied with a smirk, leaning back in his chair. "But you should know," Leon said, his voice calm but firm, "I'm not the kind of guy who pulls back just because someone's being difficult."
Emma raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Is that supposed to be reassuring?"
Leon smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Consider it a warning. I'm not going anywhere, no matter how tough you make it. I'll get what I came for."
Emma scoffed and looked up at him in disbelief. "What did you come for? I still don't get it. It's not like you asked me out and I rejected you. You just came up to me and said you could give me whatever I wished for. But what exactly am I supposed to wish for?"
Leon's smirk lingered as he leaned closer, his voice low and steady. "What did I come for?" he repeated, his gaze fixed on her. "I want to help you make your life something worth living. You've always wanted something more, something bigger than the life you're stuck in now. A life like the heroines in your books, where everything changes, where the guy sweeps the girl off her feet and makes her world better."
Emma raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "And you think I'm going to believe that? That I'm just going to fall into your little 'fairytale' because you say you can grant my wish?" She shook her head, amused but also annoyed. "You really think that's what I want? A magic wand and a perfect life?"
Leon shrugged, unbothered by her disbelief. "Maybe not magic, but a change—something real. I'm not offering fairy tales, I'm offering something real. The question is, do you want to stay stuck where you are, or do you want to take a chance and change your story?"