Chapter 20

Luna was feeling awkward throughout the night. She had to act as a host on behalf of Andrew and Nikita while waiting for them to join in the party again. She introduced him to all the guests, some of hers, Nikita and Andrew’s business partners. When she introduced his to some of her girlfriends, they looked at him in awed. She could see that they all are attracted to him. She’s not surprise because Leo definitely looked dashing just as she remembered him. His messy hair is shorter and his serious face makes him look mature while all his boyish looks had vanished. He really looks like a businessman just like his father especially when he is in those business suits right now.  She could feel a pang of jealousy when some of her friends flirt with him and glanced once a while at him when he flirts back with them

She pretended to act normal and continued introducing Leo as Andrew’s friend to the rest of the guests and offered him some drinks and foods. She just laughed at whatever the guests said when the actual fact she couldn’t understand a single word said because her mind was wondering away while her heart was beating loudly and wildly. She felt like her heart was bursting out from her chest and once a while she would touch her chest, as if to stop it from beating so loud. She couldn’t understand that even after all this years he still has some effect on her.

Leo remained quiet besides Luna smiling at every guest she introduced him to. He never expected to see her at Andrew’s place and when he laid his eyes on her, he could not take his eyes away from her. Damn this girl still have effect on him, his cursed in his head. Even when she’s just wearing a simple make-up she still looked stunning. She looks more beautiful than in that commercial. Through the simple red dress she’s wearing, he could see she’s grown up. Red, definitely her color and the dress she’s wearing really look great on her even though it doesn’t fully show every curves of her beautiful body.  He could still see that her teenage body is now replaced by a beautiful curvy woman’s body. Her hair still long but she had dyed her hair to dark blond which he think make her look mature.

He could feel her nervousness being around him. He smiled to himself remembering the same way she felt when they were first introduced by Andrew but he scowled back to himself. Well this was all pretence; pretend to act innocent when she’s actually not, especially now that she’s a famous model and he bet some of the guests in this room are one of her fans or maybe “Special Client”. He won’t be surprised even if one of them is her “Sugar Daddy”. Well most models do have one and not surprised if she have one too. How else does one could get easy money? And the way he looks at her style and living right now, somebody definitely is sponsoring her, no doubt about that.

He tried to hide his disgust when he saw the way she laughed with one of the male guest. It was obvious that guy was flirting with her and she’s flirting back with him. He prevent himself from screaming at both of them and take her away from all this and kissed her senseless. What?!! He scolded himself. Stop thinking about kissing her, she’s not worth it, his mind told him.

“So, Mr. Hendricks,” the male guest who was talking to Luna suddenly turned his attention to Leo, “Where are you from?” he asked. Leo couldn’t recall what his name was.

“I’m from Boston,” he told the guest while Luna just stand there listening to their conversation.

“What are you doing here? Business?” the guest asked again.

“Yep, I’m here for the business conference and also checking out my business over here,” he told the guest. “Are you one of Andrew’s business partners?” he asked.

“No, I’m not,” he shook his head, “I’m a friend of Luna and Nikita. We have several business dealings together.”

“Oh,” Leo just nodded his head but couldn’t help but felt jealous knowing this guy is one of Luna’s friends. From the way they act comfortable with each other, he suspected they must have had a something special.

“He’s one of our designers,” injected Nikita who finally came down with Andrew to join the party much to Luna’s relief. “Terry is one of the best designer’s in town,” she added smiling at Terry.

“Oh, don’t believe whatever Niki said, she’s just boasting about something that is not true,” blushed Terry.

“Well you really are talented and the best, Terry, don’t deny that,” chuckled Luna wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Leo smirked at their closeness. He felt like strangling that guy for being so close and friendly towards Luna but composed himself.

They all continued with their conversation but Luna has excused herself and joined the other guests instead. Leo somehow could feel that she’s actually trying to avoid being around him. All through the night, she’s avoided him by mingling around with other guests until the end of the party but Leo could never tear his eyes away from her and he felt a pang of jealousy whenever he saw her talking to any of the male guests. Damn he curse in his head. Why should he felt jealous? There’s nothing between them anymore and he suppose to hate her. She betrayed him remember? He asked himself.

It was after midnight when the party finally comes to an end and the last guests had finally bid goodbye to the host. Luna look at her watch and took her handbag went over to Nikita.

“Niki, I think I better make a move too,” informed Luna.

“Huh? You going home?” queered Nikita, “I thought you spending the night here?”

“No I can’t. I have a shoot tomorrow morning. I need to get my things from my place,” she told Nikita.

“How are you going home?” Nikita concernedly asked.

“I’ve call the cab. It will be here in 10 minutes,” she told her.

“It’s late Lu,” Andrew who was talking to Leo butt-into their conversation, “I’ll ask Mike to send you,” waking up from his place taking his phone to call his driver.

“No, Andrew, Mike is tired and anyway I’ve already call the cab and it will be here soon,” she told him again. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call you guys when I reach home,” she assured them and went over to take her coat from the closet.

“Don’t worry guys. I’ll send Luna home,” offered Leo finishing up his drinks and walked over to Luna, “I’m going back to my hotel and I guess I could drop her at her place wherever it is.”

“No you don’t have to,” rejected Luna almost immediately. No way is she going to let him send him home. Being in the same room with him at the moment had make her felt uncomfortable what more being alone with him in his car. “I’m sure my place is out of you way. I don’t want to trouble you,” she added nervously.

“There’s no trouble at all,” Leo shrugged, “I’m sure I could still find my way back to the hotel.”

“Oh Leo you such a darling,” said Nikita who went over to him and kissed him on the cheek and linked her arms around Leo. She looked at Luna who looking at her in shock for agreeing with Leo offers. “I would be less worried if you are to go back with Leo than go back alone with cab,” she explained looking at Luna with a pleading eye.

“Turn left,” Luna told Leo showing him the way to her apartment. She couldn’t believed that both Nikita and Andrew let he be alone with Leo, well alone in Leo’s car. She could feel her hands non-stop shaking since she entered his car up till now and her heart? Don’t ask because it hasn’t stopped beating wildly and loudly. She thinks Leo could hear it because he has been smirking at her whenever he turned to look at her once a while. Maybe he’s smirking at her face which must be either turned pale like a corpse because she could feel that the blood has stopped running through her veins. Thank god, Leo too chose to remain quiet throughout the journey.

She’s didn’t let out a sound until they nearly reached the road to her apartment as she need to give him the directions. She doesn’t want to get lost especially not with him.

“My apartment is at the next junction,” Luna said to him and he nodded turning his car towards the direction.

The finally arrived in front of her apartment and she’s waiting for him to unlock the car, “Thank you,” she briefly said to him. Still waiting but nothing happened. She turned and looked at him who was smiling. Gosh those smiles, those sweet beautiful smiles of his make her heart melt. God, how she missed those smile? How she always been dreaming of him with those smiles on his face.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, “Could you please unlock the car?” she said to him smiling back at him.

“Oh, sorry,” Leo said, “I thought you going to invite me in for a night cap,” he added, “Aren’t you?”

Luna gulped. Damn shit, she scolded herself. Why is she acting so nervous in front of him while he looked so calm as if he had forgotten about what happen between them? Hold yourself together girl; her mind told her, forget the past, start new and fresh.

She smiled at him, “Ops, where are my manners?” she apologized, “Would you like to come up for a coffee?” Please say no, her prayed in her mind.

“Yeah, I love to,” nodded Leo and she softly cursed in her head. She gave him a sweet smile before they both got out from the car.

“Have a seat, Leo,” she offered once there were in her apartment.

Leo expected her apartment to be a luxurious one just like Andrew’s since she one of the famous models but to his surprise her apartment was a just a medium size apartment with two bedrooms, a small kitchen and a living hall. The furniture were also simple but comfortable. One look you know that the apartment belongs to a woman.

“Your place is nice,” he praised after looking at the surrounding.

“Thanks,” she blushed, “It’s just simple and cozy,” she admitted. “What would you like?” she asked, “A coffee?”

Leo smiled and shook her head, “No, thanks. I actually have to go. It’s late and I have an early meeting tomorrow. I think you have an early shooting too,” he told her and walked out of her apartment.

“Alright,” Luna nodded following him to the door. Thank god, she said in her mind. “Thank you again for sending me home.”

“You most welcome,” he smiled and added, “I hope to see you again,” he said in a serious tone.

“Yeah, me too,” nodded Luna but her mind actually said “Hopefully not.”

He smiled as if he could hear her, “Good night,” he wished her and left.

Closing the door, Luna let out a loud relieved sigh as if she could finally able to breath. Dear god, why does he still have effect on her? Is it because she still loves him or is it because she felt guilty for hurting him?