"Leo,"

Gideon kept his hand on his shoulder and looked at him amusedly when he saw him staring at Anna. Then he turned towards the girls and smiled, "This is the first time that my best friend has laid eyes on a woman." His words caught Leo's attention and he quickly looked away and Anna did the same too.

"Really!" Maria exclaimed giving Anna a sly grin.

"Leo, this is my best friend, Anastasia." She said excitedly looking at him.

"I see you didn't bring your son along," Leo asked as he stared into her eyes.

"I left him with his father," Anna said expressionlessly making Leo flush with anger but he didn't show it.

"Wait! Do you know each other?—"

"Maria, I'll be going ahead to my room. I'll see you later." Anna interrupted quietly and without wasting a second, she walked away from them.

"Okay!" she said confusedly at her back. Then she turned towards Leo and narrowed her eyes at him. "How do you know Anna?" she asked.

"Why don't you ask your BFF? I bet she'll explain to you very well." Leo said with a tad of irritation and walked away immediately.

"Where are you going?" Gideon asked.

"In my room." He answered over his shoulder and continued walking away. As he made his way to the elevator, he saw Anna getting in and quickly ran towards it. Anna looked at him shocked as he entered inside and closed it. Both of them were alone inside the elevator. They were standing like two worlds apart. Leo pressed the stop button in the middle of the ride and move closer to her. Anna glared at him and reached for the button but she was quickly pulled back and pinned against the metal.

"Stay away from me," Anna scowled and pushed him hard but Leo didn't bulge a little.

"Look at me," Leo said, his voice longing. Anna didn't look and simply ignored him. Leo took her chin between his fingers and tilted up to face him. "Are you really married?" he asked as he gulped harder and looked into her eyes.

"You know the answer. I have a son." Anna snapped glaring at him. Leo sighed in exasperation before hanging his hand to his side. He slowly pulled away from her and pressed the button before standing a good distance away from her.

Both of them looked like they wanted to be anywhere but not here. Leo cursed himself for letting his guard off and followed her in, expecting things could change. Then he decided to stay as a stranger forever inside his head. He impatiently tabbed his feet on the ground as it was taking forever to reach floor no. 11. Once the elevator door opened to the eleventh floor, Anna quickly strolled out from the box and scurried. Leo creased his brows staring at her back and walked out of the elevator.

Anna made a quick turned and glared at him. "Why are you following me?" She demanded.

"Excuse me, I'm heading to my room." He deadpanned and walked pass her. Anna walked behind him and search for her room no. She sighed in relieved when she finally found her room no.

But before entering her room, she turned to her right, opposite to her room and saw Leo standing by the door, looking at her in baffled expression.

"What!" Anna scowled at him.

"Ah! This is going to be hard!" Leo scowled angrily and got inside his room, banging his door loudly behind. Anna jerked at the loud sound of his door being banged and quickly got inside her room.

***

It took an hour for Anna to unpack her things and organized her room. After all her works, she grabbed her towel and went inside the bathroom for a shower. After the warm shower, she plonked on her bed and sighed heavily and closed her eyes.

A soft knock from her door woke up Anna from her sweet nap. She rubbed her eyes gently and curled off from her bed. She went and received the door only to see her best friend grinning widely at her.

"Did you rest well?" She asked and Anna hummed in reply. "Good, get ready now and let's join the party."

"I don't want to attend." Anna rejected politely and shook her head.

"Duh! You're on vacation now, bestie. Just relax and enjoy the party. You're making me feel guilty for letting you come here forcefully." She started with her emotional blackmailing.

"FYI, I came here because I wanted to be with you." Anna rolled her eyes over and gestured her to come in.

"Really, that's good then. Come and be with me at the party." She pleaded and strolled inside.

"Can we not go and just stay in my room, only both of us." Anna gave her a puppy look.

"Only if you tell me something!"

"What?"

"What happened between you and Leo?" Maria asked, making Anna snap at her. "Earlier, I asked him about you knowing each other and he was like, ask your BFF, she'll explain it better." She said making Anna to rolled her and scowled at him inside her head.

"He is a mafia-like me and we share a blood feud," Anna said shortly.

"Blood feud! Are you in danger? Is he going to kill you?" Maria exclaimed in alarm.

"We are on a truce, BFF," Anna uttered.

"What if he changes his mind and tries to kill you? I have to talk to Gideon about him." Maria said and fetch for her phone in her pocket.

"Silly," Anna chuckled at her. "And yeah, don't talk about it to anyone."

"Oh yes, omertà," She said as she gestured to zipped her mouth. "But Anna, I feel like there's so much between you two than just a blood feud." She said as she narrowed her eyes in thought. Anna remained silent and stared blankly at space but soon she was woken up from her reverie by the sound of a phone ringing. Maria received her call and cut the call after listening over it. Then she looked at Anna as she gave her an expected smiled.

"Gideon's calling for the party," she said, making Anna roll her eyes over.

"Are you sure I'm at the Spinsters' vacation?" Anna narrowed her eyes.

"C'mon, Anna. Let's go get some fresh air." Maria whined and shook her arm.

"Okay fine, let's go." Anna finally agreed and sighed at her BFF being so dramatic.

***

Leo was busy glancing and observing people while Kazimir was busy drooling over staring at the girls in bikinis. Gideon came and joined them with drinks.

"Thank you, Gideon," Kazimir said grabbing a drink from the table and went back to whatever he was doing.

"Ah! Kazi—this guy will never change." Gideon sighed and shook his head. "And what about you? When are you gonna change as well?" He said looking at Leo. "You and Kazi are whole opposite to each other." he shook his head looking at his friends. "By the way," He leaned forward and looked at Leo, "—I'm still curious to know about you and Anna. How do you know her?"

"Long story," Leo said lazily.

"I'm all ears," Gideon grinned widely and waited expectantly.

"Maybe next time," Leo said, making Gideon make a face at him, crushing all his excitement.

"But I have to admit, she's a real beauty," Gideon said with a smiled to which Leo narrowed his eyes at him. "I see you're jealous." He teased looking at Leo and leaned against his chair. "I guess you both have a love history."

Kazimir who was busy drooling over the ladies around, suddenly caught sight of Anna, making him spill and choked on his drink. He saw Anna and Maria walking in their direction.

"What is she doing here?" Kazimir exclaimed and asked as he pointed towards the front.

"She's my fiancé's best friend," Gideon said. "Do you know her?"

Kazimir turned his gaze towards Leo and leaned closer to him, "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I don't know," Leo answered, his eyes fixed at Anna. They watched Anna and Maria talking with their girlfriends, a few steps away from their spot.

"She's a real beauty," Kazimir said as he admiringly stared at Anna. "She treated me some days ago."

"What!" Gideon exclaimed. "What happened to Dr Monroe?"

"He was out of the station," Kazimir answered. "Gideon," he cooed softly yet alarming, "Those guys over there are planning to make a move towards your fiancée, I can see the lust in their eyes." He said glaring at three men who were now making their way towards Anna and Maria.

Leo stood up from his place at once and strolled towards them. Kazimir and Gideon creased their eyebrows in confusion.

"You're coming with me," Leo took Anna by her hand and dragged her along with him. Maria creased her eyebrows and followed them. The three men retrieved back to their position after seeing them.

Leo placed her on the couch and he sat beside her and Maria came behind and joined them and sat next to her fiancée.

"What's your problem?" Anna scowled and crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

"You!" he deadpanned and looked into her eyes. Anna scoffed in disbelief and rolled her eyes over. "You shouldn't have come here in the first place."

"I would've never come here if I had known that I'd meet you here." She scowled and they both looked away from each other.

"Hello, Dr Anastasia, we meet again," Kazimir said catching her attention.

"You're here too," Anna gave a lazy glanced at him.

"I see you're under tight securities," He smirked glancing around.

"I have enemies who are after my life and one is right beside me," Anna scowled, side glancing towards Leo.

"Alright! I don't know what's going on, but we are all here to have a good time, so please forget everything and enjoy life, please, for Maria and my sake," Gideon stood in between and requested them. Leo and Anna sighed in unison and nodded at him.

After chit-chatting for some minutes, Maria and Gideon joined the dance floor doing the tango dance. Anna and Kazimir watched them amusedly while Leo's eyes were fixed at Anna the whole time.

"You look like you want to make love with your enemy." Kazimir leaned closer and whispered at him with a teasing smile.

"Fuck off, Kazi," Leo scoffed.

"What's the history between you two other than the families' blood feud?" Kazimir asked looking concerned.

"Our history has been ended before it even started." Leo deadpanned.

"Hey, handsomes, enjoying alone," Two ladies in bikinis approached them. Anna drifted her attention towards them and glared at the ladies. Jealousy was clearly written on her face and Kazimir noticed it.

"Whatever they do, don't act," Kazimir whispered and said to Leo. Leo creased his eyebrows and look at him.

"Jennifer, Bianca," Kazimir smiled at the two ladies, "Meet my friend, Leo."

"You're so hot," Bianca said as she slid down her fingers through Leo's chest. Leo was about to go but Kazimir gave him a pointed look and stooped him.

Anna scoffed rolling her eyes and glared at Bianca's back. And when she saw Bianca sitting on Leo's lap, she stood up angrily from her place and left at once. On her way out from the party, she grabbed a bottle of wine and dash away from the party spot.

"Kazi, tell your girl to get off from me before I kill her." Leo gritted and whispered at Kazimir.

"Ladies, why don't you go and join the dance floor, I'll join in a minute." Kazimir gave them a cool smiled and sugar said.

"Alright!" Jennifer said and left with Bianca to join the dance floor.

"Fuck you, Kazi." He cursed at him and turned his gazed forward only to see Anna missing from her place. He immediately stood up from his place and looked around for her. "Where did she go?" he glanced at Kazimir and asked.

"She left angrily," he answered and Leo snapped at him. "Jealousy was clearly written on her face," he said sipping his drink. "Both of you shared a love history, am I right?"

"I'm going after her," Leo ignored his words and left the place at once. He decided to go look for her in her room but luckily on his way towards it, he caught sight of Anna from a distance. She was sitting by the beach, her back facing him. He sighed a relieved breath and strolled towards her. And when he was some steps away from her, he heard her sniffling under sobbing. He narrowed his eyes and saw a wine bottle on her hand which was uncapped and assumed that she was drunk.

"I hate you, Leonardo De Luca." She cried out and cursed at the ocean waves. "But I hate myself more—I hate that I love you—I still love you—I love you so much—but I want to hate you," she sobbed.

Leo silently stood in his position and listened. Anna became very sad and cried silently. She folded her small and ducked her head under her hands and knees and cried silently. "I want to run to you—I want to hug you—I want to kiss you—" she sobbed silently, "—but I can't. Why did you let this war happen between our families?" She snapped her head up and shouted at the night sky. "And why did you let us fall in love?" she sniffles and said quietly.

Then suddenly Anna phone rang up. She fetched her phone from her pocket and stared at her screen. She quickly wiped her tears away and cleared her throat before picking up the call.

"Jo!"

"Tessa, how are you?"

"I'm fine!"

"Are you drunk, Tessa?"

"I'm sorry, Jo. I drank some but I'm not drunk." Anna said and hiccupped.

"Where are you now?"

"In my room," she lied.

"Tessa, please take care okay. Don't go out now. I'm worried about you."

"Don't worry, Jo. I'm totally sober. Is Val asleep already?"

"Yes, he's is already asleep."

"I miss you all so much," she couldn't help and cry silently.

"We miss you too, Tessa. Promise me you'll be okay, I can't stop getting worried about you."

"I'm totally fine, Jo. I'm in my room and I'll go to sleep in a while." She tried her best to sound sober.

"Please do that. Goodnight, Tessa, I love you." Joshua said softly and she hummed in reply.

"Goodnight, Jo. I love you too."

Anna pulled away from the phone and cut the call and stared at it. She fetched for the wine bottle beside her and stared at it.

"I'm sorry, Jo. But I'm very sad right now."

And as she was about to drink the wine, Leo came and pulled the wine bottle away from her. Anna stood up from her positing and glared at him.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped and asked.

"I can be anywhere I want." Leo deadpanned.

"Give me back the bottle." Anna snapped and reached for the wine bottle but Leo quickly held it up upon her reach.

"Enough! You are already drunk." Leo said in a chided tone.

"I'm not drunk." She hiccupped. "Give me the bottle," Anna started to hit him on his chest. He pulled back and neared the water and threw the bottle in the ocean then returned back to her.

"I don't have it." he shrugged off but Anna simply glared at him and sits back on the sand. Leo curved down and sat next to her. She pouted at him and looked away.

"What are you doing here? Go and have fun with those ladies." She said in a bad temper but in a drunkard condition.

"You were jealous," Leo said feeling amused.

"Yes, I was and I still am." Anna blurted out making Leo look at her.

"You are very drunk," Leo said amusedly.

"I'm not," she looked at him. Then she turned her body towards him and her hands reached for his cheeks. "I missed you so much, Leo." She said, tears forming in her eyes. "I tried to forget you and move on but I couldn't." she let her tears fell down. "And seeing you after five years, I couldn't content anymore. It hurts me so much. I want to run to you, I want to hold you, I want to kiss you," she shut her eyes, held her head down and cried, "But I can't."

Leo turned his body towards her and pulled her closer to him; he took her by her chin and tilted her head to look at him. "You don't love your husband!"

"I don't have a husband. I'm not married." She sniffled and told the truth. Leo knows that people often spill out the truth when they're drunk so he took advantage of knowing the truth. He was happy to hear the truth but he didn't let it show.

"Valentino, is he really your son?"

"No, he is Joshua's son. My brother did a mistake sleeping with a whore and she got pregnant with his baby." Anna was spilling the beans, "That whore left the newborn baby on our doorsteps five years ago and left. Joshua didn't accept Val at first and was about to leave him in an orphanage but I insisted to raise him as my own son." She continued and started to hiccup continuously.

"Does your brother still hate the child?"

"No," She shook her head which was more like lolling being in a drunkard state. "He loves him dearly but we didn't tell Val the truth. He is officially my son now." She grinned widely and looked up at him. "I love him more than anything."

"I don't know whether you'll remember any of it or not," Leo leaned closer to her, "But if you do, come to me, I'll forgive you and take you away from here, away from everyone where nobody will find us," he whispered softly and kissed her passionately. They sat by the beach and soon Anna fell asleep on his shoulder.

His phone started vibrating from his pocket and he fetched it out.

"Yes, Gideon!"

"Leo, where are you? Anna's missing; Maria is getting worried sick with every minute passing."

"Tell her that Anna's with me."

"What! What are you two doing?"

"Goodnight, Gideon!" he ignored his question and cut the call.

"Wish you and I were born in different families, then this day wouldn't have come." He whispered softly, staring down at her. He slowly shifted her on his arms and stood up from their position. Anna shuffled and made soft sniffles before putting her arms over his neck and clung onto him tightly under her sleep. Leo glance down at her and a small smile form in his lips.

Maria and Gideon came running towards Leo when he entered the hotel. "What happened to her?" She asked worriedly.

"She's just sleeping. I'm taking her to her room." He said and walked away from them before they start asking any questions.

As he entered inside her room, he gently placed her on her bed and removed her sandals. He pulled up the blanket and covered her. He leaned closer to place a kiss on her forehead but reluctantly pulled away and left the room at once. And as he entered inside his room, he caught Kazimir fucking with a woman.

"Kazi!"

"Hey, Leo!" He sheepishly grinned at him. Leo rolled his eyes over and left the room at once.

"He's must have fucked a virgin and spoilt his bed already." Leo angrily muttered under his gritted teeth and walked out of the hotel.

Always Smile,

Happy Virus,