Chapter 18 - The Shanghai Confrontation

Mia woke up the next morning with a slight headache. What a night! She had so much fun until...wait a minute. She sat up quickly on her bed and noticed she was still fully dressed in her clothes from the night before.

She turned around and saw that Victoria was already in the bathroom getting ready. The last thing she remembered was getting in a taxi with Leo. She was mad at him for punching Charles, but then what happened? Had she fallen asleep? From the looks of it, that had been the case.

Victoria came out of the bathroom at that moment.

"Vicky, what the hell happened last night?"

"I was just going to ask you the same thing. All I know is that one second we were dancing at the club having the time of our lives, and next thing I know Leo punched Charles in the face and dragged you out of the club. When I got home, you were sound asleep in your bed."

"Yeah, that's what I remember too. At least the first part. I really don't understand what his deal is. Anyway, I need to get ready. I don't have the energy to handle the extra drama." Mia sprinted to the bathroom to take a quick shower and change.

They were about to go down to breakfast when they heard a knock at the door. Mia opened it to see Leo standing outside, his hands shoved in his pockets.

"What are you doing here?" she said in mad tone.

"I told you last night. We need to talk," Leo responded.

Victoria showed up behind Mia. "I'm going to head down to breakfast. I'll see you later Mia, okay?"

Before she could protest, Victoria left and Leo walked into the room, closing the door behind him. She took a deep breath realizing they were now alone in her hotel room - just the two of them.

"Leo, I don't want to talk," Mia said bitterly. She turned around and walked back into the room, pretending to fix something from her suitcase.

"Too bad. I have something I need to say to you." Leo followed her and grabbed her hand, forcing her to face him.

His sudden closeness made her feel nervous. She dropped his hand in resignation and went to sit on her bed.

"Before you say anything, you have some explaining to do about last night. I mean what the hell were you thinking?" she hissed. Tapping into her anger was the only way she could hide her true emotions.

"Look, I just wanted to have a word with the guy and very politely explain..." Leo began.

"A word? Yeah, I'm sure that's exactly what you intended. Did you also want to offer the lad some tea and crumpets afterward and have a nice laugh?" she asked with all the sarcasm in the world.

"Mia, can you please not joke around? I'm trying to be serious here."

"Well then what is it?" The volume in her voice had risen exponentially.

"I was trying to protect you. That bastard was taking advantage of you and I wasn't just going to stand there and allow it."

"Take advantage of me? You're one to talk. You did the same exact thing, Leo. And for your information I can take care of myself," Mia huffed.

"No, it's different," Leo said calmly.

"How is it possibly any different?" Mia snapped back.

Leo hesitated to answer.

"Tell me, Leo. How is it any different for you or the next guy to approach me at a club? Because I'd really like to know."

Taking a deep breath, Leo steadied himself and sat down next to her on the bed. "Because of my...intentions. I care about you. No one will ever feel the same way for you as I do. Charles might have been wanting to get lucky, but I..." he paused for a moment to look at her and cup her face.

His expression was terrified and he paled. "I want you Mia, okay? I want everything with you. I always have," he confessed whole-heartedly. "But it's either all or nothing. I won't have you any other way. There was a time I would have taken any part of you that you were willing to give, but I can't do that anymore. It's too hard. I want all of you and it kills me that you don't feel the same way."

The words hung heavily between them. Mostly, she was in shock. He cared about her? Still wanted her? But she also felt remorse. She had led him on and she had hurt him... badly. It was painfully obvious to her now. How could she have done that to him? He had never done anything to hurt her. She felt like a horrible human being.

Before she responded, Mia lowered her voice. "Leo, I told you before, I need time. There's just a lot of things from my past that I haven't had closure with and I just can't handle a new commitment. It wouldn't be fair to you."

"Then why won't you talk to me? Tell me about it so I can understand."

Mia shook her head. "I can't Leo, I'm sorry. It's too hard," she said, borrowing his line from earlier.

"Please, Mia. Whatever it is, I don't care. I just need to understand why you won't be with me. I know you want me Mia, but you won't let yourself. Please, it's killing me," he begged.

Mia looked at his painful expression and immediately wanted to reach out to comfort him. But she knew she couldn't tell him the truth. Once he knew, he wouldn't want her anymore.

"I'm sorry I led you on, Leo. But that was months ago. I've moved on and I just don't want you anymore." She couldn't even look at him, it was such a blatant lie.

"That's complete bullshit! I know what you're trying to do and it's not gonna work, Mia. Not this time. I won't give up on you just yet."

"Leo, please just drop it. I can't do this," she pleaded.

"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want me," Leo demanded.

She hesitated.

"Look at me Mia," he said more softly.

She lifted up her head and looked at him tentatively, brown eyes meeting blue. "I don't want to talk about this right now," she insisted.

"Do you know how many times you've said that to me? When would be a good time for you, Mia? Never, right?" he said sarcastically.

"Why can't you just leave me alone? I didn't ask for any of this!" Mia yelled, starting to see red. "You're so frustrating," she added under her breath.

"I'm frustrating? You're the most exasperating, stubborn, heartbreaking, provoking little vixen I've ever met!"

"Vixen?" she gawked in disbelief. "I'm none of those things, Leo."

"Yes, you are. How can you still be so unaware of the effect you have on me?" He let out a heartfelt sigh. "Just say the words and I'll leave you alone. I won't bother you again." His words were calm, but mixed with underlying fear.

Mia opened her mouth but instantly shut it. "I...," she started, then shook her head, staring down at the mattress. How could she possibly tell him? Talking about it would force her to relive her past and she couldn't do it. It was too painful. The emotions coursing through her were too much to endure.

Leo waited patiently for her to respond, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. There was so much running through her mind, so much she wanted to tell him. But he would never understand.

Tears of frustration began pooling in her eyes, and it wasn't long before they began running down her cheeks.

"Mia...baby," Leo whispered, brushing her tears away with his thumbs. "Please don't cry, I can't bear it."

His words only made her cry harder and soon she was sobbing against him. Leo held her tightly and suddenly crushed his lips against hers, seemingly not knowing what else to do.

She didn't respond, she simply remained frozen in place. She wasn't saying yes, but she wasn't saying no either.

Leo continued kissing her. "Please, Mia. Talk to me. I know it. I know you feel it too," he whispered against her ear and began pressing kisses all over her neck.

Mia only sighed, relaxing her body against him. It ached how much she had missed his touch.

"God, it's been so long Mia," Leo said echoing her thoughts, and his kisses turned immediately urgent. "Please, say something. Anything."

He pushed her softly against the mattress. "Please, baby. I adore you. I need you. I need this," he said moving his hand slowly up her dress.

She could feel his desperation rising uncontrollably, and her silence was just adding more fuel to the fire. Still, she couldn't bring herself to speak.

"I need you so much. Tell me. Tell me you need me, too. I can feel it...I can't take it anymore."

She felt his whole body shake against her and she realized he was trying to pull back. He was so uncertain, like he didn't know what to do. It was so unlike him. His fingers had reached her hip bone, and he began to vaguely toy with the fabric of her panties.

"No, Leo."

It was barely a whisper, but he had heard it crystal clear. Sitting back on his legs, he looked at her in shock, which quickly turned into exasperation.

"Dammit, Mia! Why do you keep doing this?" he said painfully.

She flinched at first, but then stared coldly at him. "I thought you wanted it to be special," she bit back at him.

"I was trying to get you to react. You won't talk to me! You weren't saying anything! Apparently, that's what it takes though."

"So forcing me seemed like a good idea to you?" she yelled.

"No! You know I would never do that. Never." He ran his fingers roughly through his hair.

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean for that to happen. It wasn't my plan when I came to talk to you. If you haven't noticed, I'm getting desperate over here."

Mia sat up away from him and looked out towards the view of Shanghai below. It had started to rain, and the wind splashed water against the windows.

"It doesn't matter anyway. You won't want me once I tell you. I never understood why you wanted me in the first place. I'm not good enough for you," she said introspectively, looking out towards the now grey and cloudy city.

"I'll always want you, Mia. You should know that by now. What the hell do you think just happened? What happened last night? I obviously can't keep my hands off you. Don't you see what you do to me? I lose all sense of control and sanity with you," Leo said shaking his head.

"You're the one that's too good for me Mia, not the other way around. Somehow I'm stupid enough to think I deserve you. It's the only thing that keeps me going. I just want to fix this...this thing that is broken between us."

Mia turned back to look at him. A glimmer of hope passed through her mind, but was replaced just as quickly with doubt. "Maybe there's nothing left to be fixed," she said sadly, thinking more about herself than anything. She was the one that was broken, not him.

"Maybe it really isn't broken." Looking deeply into her eyes, Leo continued. "I already told you I don't care, whatever it is. I don't care about any of it. Only you."

He grabbed her face and turned her towards him. "We can be amazing together, Mia. Can't you see that?"

Leo's shoulders rose and fell. "Everybody knows about us. They know we're an item, whether we're presently together or not. Everyone can see it, I can see it, and that Charles idiot can definitely see it too. I just don't understand why you can't see it. What is it going to take for you to finally admit you want this too?"

Leo didn't wait for her to answer and walked out of the room. Mia sat there motionless, pondering that dreaded question. What was it going to take?