Chapter 4 : The De Leon

• Brielle
• A few minutes later, After dinner, Hera dozed off like a child who just sucked from her mommy's breast, leaving me with the trauma of my Fantasyland. I was restless, tossing and turning, Dreaming of smoky Alexander's eyes, long legs, long fingers, and dark unexplored places, his smile, and good manly scent.
• I woke twice in the night, my heart pounding. I scold myself. I punch my pillow and try to settle.
• "Am I falling for a stranger?" I asked myself, knowing too well that he's rich and popularly intelligent, why did he buys the building of the small coffee shop.
• _
• After the meeting between Mrs. Sicilio and Mr. Enrique De Leon, which she agrees with due to the conversation she had with Javier, he summoned me to come and see him in the De Leon company residence, so I went with Javier and Hera, but I still wonder why he called for me.
• The De Leon company is located in the downtown heart of Palermo, Sicily.
• An hour later
• Hera explains to the receptionist that we're here to see Mr. Enrique De Leon, we were told he's not around but was promptly shown to a brown door privy to the left. nevertheless, Mr. Enrique is already occupying the largest offices in the building.
• They told us that Enrique traveled to Japan and that he has not been around for weeks now, I was shocked. 
• Then who is the one that summoned me here? who was the one that meant up with Mrs. Sicilio in the morning? what's happening?
• An over-keen marketing executive shows us up to the second reception hall, he's handsomely young and very nervous for some reason. I suspect it's Hera's beauty and commanding manner that disarms him because he's putty in her hands. 
• The rooms are elegant, understated, and opulently furnished, the company is bigger than my final examination grades. these people are really rich
• "Follow me," the man commanded us, so we followed him.
• "You can step aside now," Someone said from behind the man with him backing the three of us.
• The individual was wearing a white shirt open at the collar and blue flannel pants that hang from his hips. His unruly hair is still damp from sweat or gel, whatsoever it was but his hair is dark black, wait a minute, Enrique's hair is dark brown. My mouth goes dry looking at him, he's so freaking hot from the back. He turned around to our widest surprise it was no other person than the man himself. Jace De Leon!
• Jace is followed by a man in his mid-forties, all buzz-cut and stubble in a sharp dark suit and tie who stands silently in the corner, his grey eyes watch us impassively.
• oh my God, what can be more appetizing than this? nothing.
• "Ms. Damara, after all these years, we meet again." he extends his hand and I shake it, blinking rapidly.
• As I touch his hand, I'm aware of that delicious current running right through me, lighting me up, making me blush and I'm sure my erratic breathing must be audible.
• "We meet again after all these years? " my ears didn't get that right, have we meant before? I know we've meant before. I remembered those Neon eyes and those girly lashes, those thick dark eyebrows that girls could kill for, but still can't be recalled where or when.
• "Mr. Jace De Leon, this is Hera Crimson," I mutter, waving a hand toward Hera who steps forward looking at him squarely in the eye.
• " I knew it was not Enrique that answered you when you called it was Jace," Hera whispered.
• "The persistent Miss Hera. How do you do?" He gives her a wide grin, looking genuinely amused. 
• "I'm fine, thank you, Mr. Jace ." She shakes his hand firmly without batting an eyelid.
• "It's a pleasure," he answers, turning his neon gaze on me and I flush again. Damn it.
• "But Mr. De Leon will do or SIR, not Jace okay?"
• Immediately hate crawls in pretty fast. Hera nods like a dog pursuing his master request with a doggy smile. I can't believe this is the ratchet Hera.
• "This is Javier Coral," I said, grinning at Javier who smiles with affection back at me. His eyes are cold when he looks from me to Mr. De Leon. 
• "Mr. De Leon!" he nods.
• "Javier Coral," Jace's expression changes too as he appraises Javier then back to me.
• "Will you walk with me, Ms. Damara?" he asks.
• "Well, I don't-"
• "She will be honored to take a walk with you!" Hera beamed at Jace then she furrows her eyes as if to kill. 
• I look shocked at her. "Sure," I responded, completely thrown. I glance anxiously at Hera who shrugs at me. I notice Javier scowling behind her.
• "Good day to you all. Enjoy yourself and also you can entertain yourself at the lounge." Says Jace De Leon,  as he opens the door, standing aside to allow me out first.
• What is this about? What does he want? I pause in the office corridor, fidgeting nervously as Jace, oh I mean Mr. De Leon emerges from the office followed by Mr. Buzz-Cut in his sharp suit.
• "I'll call you, Hector," he murmurs to Buzz-Cut. Hector wanders back down the corridor and Jace turns his burning neon gaze to me. 
• Crap... have I done something wrong?
• "I wondered if you would join me for tea." My heart slams into my mouth. Jace De Leon. Maybe he thinks you haven't woken up yet, my subconscious whines at me in a sneering mood again I clear my throat trying to control my nerves.
• "I have to drive everyone home," I murmur apologetically, twisting my hands and fingers in front of me.
• "Hector," he calls, making me jump. Hector who had been retreating down the corridor, turns and heads back toward us.
• "Are they based at the school hostel or Palermo resident?" he asks, his voice Cold and inquiring. 
• I nod, too stunned to speak. " he can take them to the airport. He's my pilot and also my driver."
• "Mr. De Leon?" I called. "It's, not Milan, Italy, it's Palermo, Sicily and it's both insides of Italy!" I illustrated. 
• He nods. "Please, can you drive Ms. Crimson and Mr. Coral back home?"
• "Certainly, sir, by car?" Hector asks.
• "Drive them to the airport and use the plane, it will be faster," he commanded.
• "Sir?" I slowly called. He turns to look at the face that distracted his conversation. "Sir, it's a Car thing, not a plane journey!" 
• "There. Now can you join me for tea?" Jace's eyes were cold without a smile line on his face. I frown at him still trying to accept his richness and diversity.
• What does he want from me? I know only communicate only with Enrique not this cold, controlling plus a bossy elder brother, how did he know me? I felt something strange as he looked at me, his eyes say something that I can't picture.
• His voice...his voice, he was the one who answered the phone when I called. I snapped at the thought of it. 
• "Erm, Mr. De Leon,  Hector doesn't have to fly them home by plane." I flash a brief look at Hector who remains stoically impassive.
• "Please give me a moment." Jace smirk a dazzling unguarded natural all-teeth-showing glorious smile. "Get up, and follow me!" he demands. 
• Immediately the door opens,  he opens the door of the Dinny room so I can re-enter. I scoot around him to enter the room finding Hera in deep discussion with Javier.
• "Brielle!" she rushed to me with an amused plus pressing the face. " I think he knows you," she added with no preamble whatsoever. 
• "What is going on?" She polled, Javier, glares at me with disapproval.
• "But the statement he made, after all these years. ," she adds. I raise my hand in the hope that she'll stop talking by some miracle, she does.
• "Hera, will you agree to fly home by plane?"
• "Why?" she frowns curiously. 
• "Jace De Leon has asked me to go for tea with him." Her mouth pops open, Speechless Hera! savoring the moment. She grabs me by my arm and drags me into an empty conference room that's off the living area of the waiting hall.
• "Hera, there's something about him." Her tone is full of warning. "He's gorgeous I agree but I think he's dangerous. Especially to someone like you and most of all he's my full-time crush I must presume that you know right, but I thought we were called by Enrique?" she voiced out in a signal whisper.
• "What do you mean, someone like me?" I demand, affronted.
• "An innocent like you, Elle. You know what I mean," she says a little irritated. I flush.
• "Hera, it's just tea and we are starting our exams this week and we need to study so I don't belong." She purses her lips as if considering my request. Finally, she rolls her eyes.
• "I'll see you later. Don't stay long or I'll send out search and rescue." He beams.
• "Thanks." I hug her and walk past her to where Javier was standing. 
• "Thank you very much, Javier, I'll call you when I get home okay?"
• he smiled. ''Are you sure that you'll be fine with him?" Javier whispers with protection lewd on his face.
• "I'll be okay," I smile at him. "I'll call you soon as I arrive home!" I added.
• This is the time to know where I knew him but why did he summoned me and ask Hector to drive them home without me?
• _
• Don't forget to vote and share