As if seeing her expression and knowing exactly who she was thinking about, Arvan asked. "So how is Gabriel doing?"

"He's... He's good. "Leonica was quick to answer, only to sigh a second later.

"But?" Arvan pressed on, encouraging her to let out her frustrations, only to feel disappointed when she shook her head, clearly Insisting on keeping whatever struggle she was facing to herself.

"If you say so," He muttered, voice just low enough to hide the disappointment that had temporarily washed over him.

"She looks tired.' He thought as he watched her respond to the message which h silently groaned and rolled her eyes.

he was sure had come from her assistant, seeing as she

She loved work, but hated it, along with fish, deep water and reading for long periods of time.

At least that's what she had told him throughout their discussions in the past and that was what he committed into his memory.

Why did he commit all that into his memory? Like the answer wasn't already clear.

He was attracted towards her, not because she was a fellow single parent or because she was the type of woman a man wanted or because of the uncanny resemblance she had to Irene, but because she was Leonica.

The woman who loves beaches, but feared deep waters. Hated reading for long periods of time but craved to have a book written by her and have fan signs. Hated work but wanted to make sure her father's company, the company which had now been passed into her, excelled more than anything.

She is the type of woman who had the most beautiful smile and the most mesmerizing voice, along with the most beautiful personality. That was who she was and that was why he felt that undeniable attraction towards her.

And although, she had made it clear, gesture and situation wise, that she wasn't interested in being in a relationship and neither was she interested in starting a new relationship, he didn't care.

He'd wait, as long as she needed, as long as she'd have him waiting, and then, he'd properly court her.

But for now, he was more than content to be a friend.

"Well," She spoke, pulling him out of his reverie. "I should get going The company is waiting and my assistant has sent m thousand messages, asking me to return. I have to interview a new employee today." She added, me like a

"Tough" He said and received a look from her that said it all

"Tough, compared to your work it's nothing. Were the words clearly written on her face.

"Anyway," He said, deciding to end the conversation right then and there, before it even started. "I hope to hear from you again soon, maybe when we're all free, we could have dinner or something "He offered, pushing his luck more than knew he should tronica blinked a couple of times, trying to comprehend his words and when it was clear that she had, a small tired smile graced her features, and she nodded. "That sounds nice,"

+

"See ya, Leonica." He waved her goodbye, and turned around, walking back to his car and watching as the door was pulled open by his

driver.

He paused to wave at her one last time before entering. The driver, after closing the door, bowed at her before settling into the driver's seat and driving away.

And once the black Chevrolet disappeared, Leonica sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose and making her way back into her car.

She was exhausted.

Her emotions were a mess, her thoughts were all over the place and her heart felt heavy.

Part of it had to do with Gabriel, he was always a menace in her life that it no longer surprised her at this point. The other half of it had to do with the fact that for some reason, she left like she was leading Arvan on, She wasn't blind. His attraction towards her was clear.

He was a wonderful man, handsome and all, but Leonica just wasn't ready for romance.

Not now at least. But what was it that Anastasia had told her a few days ago in her office after seeing the gifts Arvan had sent?

Something about it never hurting to keep her options open?

once again

Leonica arrived at her company immediately after she had left Ashley's school. As usual, Kennedy was waiting in front of the lift for her.

'Such a diligent assistant. She thought as she walked towards him and he towards her.

you were meant to interview have arrived." Kennedy informed as they walked into

out her phone, going through the list of candidates and

finished the list, the lift had arrived at the interview floor and shortly after, was

cup of coffee." Kennedy offered, gesturing at the table

some water." She politely declined and watched him

line of sight.

had returned with a cup of cold

briefly meeting Leonica's as he introduced the candidate. "Leonica Romero, CEO

Leonica gave a subtle nod in

was tall and had chestnut brown hair greeted with a vague but somewhat unsettling smile on his lips. "Please

sat behind her desk, reading

having this awful off putting vibe around him. But even after yet another background check, license plate scans and criminal background check

of how the name of the mentioned company had caught Leonica's attention C&D industry? She asked, raising her gaze from the file for the first time. Her question earned a nod from the assistant, which later left her to think back to where she had heard the

than a minute later, it clicked into place. Owen, he had mentioned that very same company during one of their discussion when they uncovered Angelina's ploy and the

looked down at the picture on Stuart Reeds resume. Her gut was telling her sothething was wrong here and as if on Cue, Angelina's words replayed in her mind. "Kennedy, run a background check on Stuart Campbell." Leonica ordered, keeping

course, give me a few minutes." He said and rushed

the silence

text message.

see it was a message from Doctor Bailey, Surprising,

I'll leave this brief message. Mr. Bryce asked that I contact you in his stead

Leonica's inside suddenly felt sore at the thought. Even after she had told him they were divorced, he still wanted to meet

No, she shook her head at the thought, shaking away the weird feeling that she couldn't describe, that had come over her. It Gabriel had regained his memory he would either have called

now.

say he hasn't regained his memory, which really

Kennedy announced as he pulled the printing paper out from the printing machine and brought it to Leonica. "Here you go boss." He handed it

whether she was relieved or confused, to see that the man

picture had dark shaggy hair and a pair of soulless looking eyes. The average

businessmen.

the Stuart Reeds she had interviewed had chestnut brown hair and eyes of the same color. And unlike Campbell, he wore medicated

have that same gut feeling she had towards

Campbell's company

reasonable explanation if

Kennedy printed another paper out from his laptop and attached it

almost spinning, until it stopped, recognition kicking in Termination documents! As in the once she had requested two months ago when she wanted and still wants to, terminate

near the coffee

down at the transparent Glass

some time and look over it." Leonica said as she places it in the drawer of her table and reaches for

In all honesty, she really didn't want to see Gabriel. Seeing him brought back the worse of memories that made her seem like

new side of

she thought as her gaze settled on the key chain Ashley had given her to deliver to Gabriel. For a moment, she felt bad for her sen, knowing that he

something to heave

coffee every now and then, she asked. "Kennedy, what's my schedule like

was doing and pulled up his boss's schedule on his laptop. "You're free until six o'clock if

her brows creasing "What do I

informing "You have a schedule dinner meeting with the brand ambassador

as she clearly recalled setting something of sort a few weeks

that, then it's seems I'll have to step out for

reached for her phone, fingers gliding

some time out today and visit the hospital.

Leonica replied.

one of the chairs, staring intensely

said photo in particular has been discovered in his wallet earlier today when he had requested for his belongings from the nurses. They brought

fleeting as the very next second, he had

His wallet,

brown leather keeper held a few things. ID card. Driver's license and a golden wedding band that had fit perfectly around his wedding

conclusion and had been about to slip it off when the

of him and a child who looked to be somewhere around

memory wasn't doing anything to help. But that wasn't

hand was that the said boy in

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