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.

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

her phone, going through the list of candidates

the time she has finished the list, the lift had arrived at the interview

Kennedy offered, gesturing at the table which

you. Just bring me some water." She politely declined

line of sight.

with a cup of cold water and

1109." Kennedy said, his eyes briefly meeting Leonica's as he introduced the

subtle nod

who was tall and had chestnut brown hair greeted with a vague but somewhat unsettling smile on his lips. "Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Stuart Reeds. Pleasure to

was his name." Kennedy explains, pacing the office all the while his employer sat behind her desk, reading through the employee candidate list for what seemed

fe, mumbling underneath her breath about Stuart having this awful off putting vibe around him. But even after yet another background check, license plate scans

their accounting department." He continued an, unaware 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

it clicked into place. Owen, he had mentioned that very same company during one of their discussion

Her gut was telling her sothething was wrong here and as if on Cue, Angelina's words replayed

minutes." He said and

of him typing on his keyboard overlapped the silence in her office, Leonica's phone dinged,

text message.

to see it was a message from Doctor

for not calling, my schedule wouldn't allow it, so instead, I'll leave this brief message. Mr. Bryce asked that I contact you in his stead and request that you meet him.

her? Leonica's inside suddenly felt sore at the thought. Even after she had told

that had come over her. It Gabriel had regained his memory

now.

hasn't regained his memory, which really made her

machine and brought it to Leonica. "Here you go

relieved or confused, to see that the man in the

shaggy hair and a pair of

businessmen.

had interviewed had chestnut brown hair and eyes

showed that the two were different people, Leonica couldn't help but have that same gut feeling she had towards Angelina when the

worked in Campbell's

reasonable explanation if you

from his laptop and

to him Termination? The wheels in Leonica's head was almost spinning, until it stopped,

the matter immediately once you've signed." Kennedy informed, lingering near the coffee machine to brew him and his employer yet another cup

he makes too much coffee, he had thought, glancing down at the transparent Glass that was feeling with dark brown

time and look over it." Leonica said as she places it in the drawer of her table and reaches for her phone, turning on the screen time see that she had read Doctor Bailey's message,

reply? In all honesty, she really didn't want to see Gabriel. Seeing him brought back the worse of memories

of him, certainly

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 had probably gone out of his way, broken

something to heave heavily

Kennedy, who was fast at work, sipping from his coffee every now and then, she asked. "Kennedy, what's my schedule like

stopped the work he was doing and pulled up his boss's schedule on his

her brows creasing "What do I

the schedule again before informing "You have a schedule dinner

thought, missing slowly as she clearly recalled setting something

it's seems I'll have to step

watching as his employer reached for her phone, fingers gliding across

the late reply Doctor. I'll take some time out

Leonica replied.

sat up right in one of the chairs, staring intensely at the photo

requested for his belongings from the nurses. They brought his clothes, which were all battered up with burnt edges, leaving Gabriel to wonder what sort of Accident

very next second, he had spotted the object

His wallet,

a few things. ID card. Driver's license and a golden wedding band that had

about to slip it off when the very same picture he was currently staring hard at,

a photo of him and a child who looked to be somewhere around the age of

exact location and his damn memory wasn't doing anything to help. But that wasn't even the

that the said boy in the

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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