29. Hiding Something

When I wake up the next morning, I'm alone.

A wave of something overcomes me. Whether it's sadness, loneliness, or anger, I don't really care. I didn't expect Leon to suddenly be head over heels for me, he's taken what he wants from me, and now maybe I'll be a little more free to go back and live life as normal as possible. Even with the threat of my past knocking at the door. I'll need to start looking for a place out of state. I'll have to leave university and Rory behind.

I groan, rubbing my face. I need to see that Rory's alright. And then I commence plan: escape. Slipping from the amazingly comfortable bed, I look around the room hoping that Leon left my clothes somewhere, but frown when I don't see anything. Grabbing the sheet from the bed, I wrap it around my body and move towards the door and out the hall, praying I'll be able to find my things so I can leave back to my apartment and get my life sorted.

My thoughts momentarily flicker back to my conversation with Leon last night. He mentioned moving in with him, which is still absolutely not going to happen, and I don't even know what to think of the whole situation regarding me now being his fiance. Obviously that's not going to happen either considering I'll have to leave the state as soon as I can, but it's going to be harder to escape that one when the media catches wind of our engagement.

Tiptoeing down the hall, I hear the distant sound of someone cooking in the kitchen. The familiar sizzle of eggs and bacon, the smell wafting its way into my nose and making my stomach growl with hunger. Come to think of it, I haven't eaten for a while, and I am starving. Reaching the end of the hall, I peek out to see Leon of all people, cooking. I don't know why I'm so surprised considering it's his apartment, but I would've thought he's gone to the office or something.

He looks in my direction, giving me a glance before going back to making the food. "Morning," he says.

"Where are my clothes?" I ask, raising an eyebrow in his direction.

"In the wash. I thought you'd want clean clothes after everything that happened last night." He says smoothly, not even glancing up from the food.

"I didn't realise you cared about such things." I retort.

Leon doesn't respond. Weird, I would've thought he'd say something snarky back. Perhaps he's starting to realise the mess he's gotten himself into and is preparing to tell me the news of how our engagement is over and that he never wants to see me ever again.

"Take a seat." He says as he plates up the delicious food, bringing it around to the dining table. I decide to not fight him on this, when my stomach audibly growls. Bunching up the sheet, I take a seat, waiting for him to do the same before digging in. But instead he places the plates and moves back to the kitchen island, grabbing a stack of papers I hadn't seen previously, dropping them beside my plate. "What is this?"

Leon takes a seat opposite me. "It's the contract for our engagement, outlined is the conditions and what you will be compensated with once the arrangement is concluded. I've taken the liberty of contacting your university to let them know you will be deferring and you will no longer be employed as my personal assistant within the office." He says it so casually. I don't know what to say.

"You drew this up this morning?" I laugh, even though it's hardly funny.

He doesn't reply.

"I don't know why you keep thinking I'll agree to this ludicrous idea, and I don't know what made you think you had the right to contact my university on behalf of me. I thought perhaps last night you had come to some sort of understanding of why I don't want this. But it appears that I was wrong." I take a deep breath. I can hardly be angry anymore, not when I know he's not going to change, no matter how much I try to persuade him. Perhaps it's time to stop fighting, for my sake at least.

I glance down over the first page of the contract. It outlines that it would last for three months. And within that time I would be expected to live with him and appear every bit the happy fiance. Once the contract ends I don't ever have to see him again and I will be given a severance of—holy shit. One million dollars.

With that money, I could leave and start my own life. I could finally stand on my two feet without fearing that I'll topple over and fall. One million dollars, that's more money than I'd know what to do with. I clutch at the locket around my neck before reaching for a pen on the table and signing it. I don't need to read anything else.

I look up to see Leon looking at me with a bewildered expression. I suppose he wouldn't have thought me stupid enough to sign the contract without reading it, but I guess I'm full of surprises today. The sooner these three months are over, the sooner I can get the fuck out of here. I take a bite of the hot runny egg, relishing in its taste.

"You don't have any questions? Just like that you're going to sign it? You're not going to fight me?" He questions that deep voice of his making my inside flutter, reminding me of the night we shared together.

"Do you want me to? I thought you wanted me to sign it?"

"Of course not, I just want you to know what you're getting yourself into. I don't want to trying to back out of this a month in."

"I won't."

"You're so sure?"

"Can I see Rory today?"

"Perhaps. I will have to run it by Nikolai and Alexei."

"You will have to run it by the two men who she only met a week ago? I have been her friend for years. I think I can go visit her without needing permission like a child."

"Do you not recall what happened last night? Do you not remember that you are partially to blame? They don't want you anywhere near her."

The egg sours in my mouth. I hardly need to be reminded of last night. I feel all too awful to have abandoned her like that. I know that I have made mistakes, the least I can do is be allowed to apologise for them. "Fine, ask them."

He nods his head and we both eat breakfast in silence.

"Do you know where my phone is?" I ask, once we've cleared away the dishes. "I want to at least text Rory."

Leon looks skeptical but walks over to a draw, pulling out my phone. I don't know why the fuck he was keeping it there, but I don't have the energy to fight him on it. It's powered off, so I turn it on and wait for the apple symbol to appear. Once it turn on though, I'm faced with a barrage of messages from a person I was hoping would leave me the fuck alone. Clearly after the stunt pulled with Rory was an indication that he's here to stay until he gets what he wants. Another problem that I have to deal with.

I don't know what lengths he's willing to go to to achieve his goal, but I know if he gets it, he will become much more than a problem just for me.

Unknown: Your time is ticking. You can't hide it forever.

Unknown: I'm not the only one looking for it. If you give it to me, I can ensure your safety.

Unknown: It's not wise to ignore me.

"What is it?" Leon notices my soured face.

I shrug, "Nothing."

He walks over to me, and with his frame towering over mine, I'm once again reminded of last night and a blush creeps over my face. He lifts a hand up to my face, pushing a stray curl behind my ear, then cupping my cheek. He leans into me and my body feels all kinds of things. An ache. For him. I shudder in a breath and try not to move. Try not to breathe. With his lips next to my ear, I wait for him to make his move. And he does.

"I know you're hiding something."