Chapter 36: Looming (Leo's POV)

Claire was in bed with me up in my room and we were watching TV while Flynn was in his room, volunteering to keep Ace and Max with him for the night. She laughed while watching the movie but I was zoned out and completely distracted. 

I saw them today. I acted as nothing happened but I saw them. It wasn't just at night, Theo was here, looming around my neighborhood, probably hoping to catch a glimpse of her and confirm that this is where she was. And he was alone, which confused me. 

He couldn't take her alone, he wouldn't be able to. So if that is what he was trying to do, he was only confirming whether she was here or not, and if he sees here, he'll come get her. And he won't be alone. 

"Babe," she said before tugging at my hand which was holding hers. "What is up with you? You've been zoned out this whole time. You okay?" 

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay." 

She turned the TV off and sat up, looking at me with a scrutinizing gaze. She knew when I was lying now. It wasn't that I'd developed a tell that only she knew about, it was just that I didn't like lying to her. In fact, I hated it. So much that she'd know when I was doing it because that's how half-heartedly I did it. I looked at her while she sat in front of me. 

"What's going on?" she questioned. 

I shook my head, "It's nothing." 

She clicked her tongue before straddling me. She lifted my chin and forced my eyes to meet hers before she held my face, lightly tracing my skin. "Are you lying to me, Leo?" I sighed. "You have to tell me if it's bothering you so much, babe," she explained. 

"Of course, it's bothering me," I mumbled under my breath. 

"Has it got to do with me?" she whispered, leaning in slowly. She knows what she's doing when she's doing it. I hated that she had this kind of control over me. Her lips slowly touched mine but she pulled away before I got the chance to deepen the kiss. "Tell me," she spoke, her lips brushing against mine. 

I sighed in defeat, "Theo's been looming around. I saw him when I went out," I admitted. 

"Looming around?" she questioned. 

"I think he's waiting to see if he can find you here. Claire, I'm worried," I huffed. 

"You don't have to be worried, you're here. Nothing is going to happen to me." 

"How long will I hold you here like this? You think I like you staying here in this way?" 

"In this way? With me here 24/7 and all to yourself? You don't like it?" she frowned. 

"I love it, Claire. I love having you here all the time and all to myself. What I don't like is not being able to take you out. To a nice expensive dinner or take you shopping for some dresses or taking you as my date to a fancy party that we sneak into without an invitation." She looked at me quizzically. "You did it in high school, don't play dumb." 

"You were there?" she laughed. 

"It was my party," I chuckled. 

"I ran into you, do you remember that?" 

I nodded, "I remember you staring. Like the weirdo that you were, that you are, still obsessed with me," I smirked. 

"Aesha had to come drag me away before we got kicked out, remember?" she chuckled. 

"Claire, what I'm saying is that I want to take you out. To a nice, real date. And I can't do that because of this stupid mess." 

"Which is all because of my dad," she said, rolling her eyes. 

"He had no idea what he was getting himself into." I tucked her hair behind her ear. 

"Don't defend him. He knew exactly what he was getting himself into. And me. The situation is what it is because of him." 

"But I met you because of him too, didn't I?" She looked up at me hesitantly. "Sometimes, Claire..." I sighed, pulling her closer, "I think the situation couldn't get any better. I have you, as my girlfriend." 

She smiled. 

"In my house, living with me, for as long as we want, with you here all to myself." I kissed her forehead. 

"But?" she asked. 

"But I can't do anything a perfect boyfriend could. And that's all I want to be." 

"Why?" she questioned. 

"Because I have the perfect girlfriend." She grinned, her smile lighting up the entire room. "Claire, you are everything I could ever ask for and more, hmm?" She nodded softly. "I want to be able to give you what I know I can. But because of the circumstances, I can't." 

"You can still treat me to a fancy dinner," she shrugged. I looked at her quizzically, waiting for her to elaborate. "Set up a little table, get me a pretty dress, let me buy you a pretty suit..." 

I opened my mouth to interrupt but she clamped her hand over my mouth faster than you could say 'Mississippi.' 

"I will pay for it. I like treating my boyfriend too, you know?" I pulled her hand, kissing it gently before holding it to my chest. "Get some lights going in the backyard," she whispered, "Make it look all pretty. Cook some nice dinner, learn to make something nice if you don't know," she said scoldingly, "And then stay away from me the entire day so when you see me at night you are completely wooed," she smiled. 

"I'm completely wooed when I see you wake up in the morning, I don't need a pretty dress for that," I said before kissing her. 

"It wouldn't hurt to let me see you in a suit, or even a nice shirt or something. Dress nice. We can still have that expensive dinner," she chuckled. 

"Yeah, well..." I trailed off, "I don't exactly love feeling like Mother fucking Gothel," I mumbled, rolling my eyes. 

"Who says you're Mother Gothel?" I looked at her in confusion. "You be Rapunzel," she smirked. 

"And who are you? Flynn Rider?" 

"Or I'll be Rapunzel," she shrugged, "I don't want you being Flynn Rider though." 

"Then?" 

"I want you being Eugene Fitzherbert. Capeesh?" I narrowed my eyes at her. "Rapunzel and Eugene had what she and Flynn Rider didn't. Hmm? He was the thief letting her out of her tower. Eugene was the guy she fell in love with. Isn't that how it goes?" 

"Something like that," I said absentmindedly, staring at her. 

"So, I'll be Rapunzel," she sighed, "And I'll stay locked in this tower forever if it means you'll be Eugene," she laughed. 

"God, you sound so corny," I scoffed. 

She playfully slapped my cheek, a lot gentler than earlier before leaning down and kissing me. "I love you," she whispered. 

"I love you more," I said. 

"I love you most," she quoted the movie before giggling. I'm so in love with her. It's unbelievable. 

✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. It was now noon the next day and Claire was in the backyard with the puppies while I took this time to talk to Flynn. This talk turned into a full-blown argument. 

"What do you mean I can't go see her, Leo?" he asked. 

"Flynn, just try understanding what I'm telling you. He is roaming around the neighborhood every damn day. If he sees Aesha coming here, or sends someone behind you and sees Aesha, he'll know instantly that Claire is here because if you know Aesha, you definitely know Claire. And if he gets her-" 

"How will he get her?" 

"I don't know!" I snapped, standing up and even yelling. He was fuming, so was I. 

I was trying to tell him to hold off seeing Aesha for a while until I figured out how to get rid of Theo, but he was acting like a lovesick puppy who would die without her, and at first, I was understanding, because I did understand where he came from, but he's just being inconsiderate. 

"How would you feel if someone told you that you can't see Claire?!" he yelled. 

"Claire is living in my house. I'm keeping her safe. And I love her!" 

"So do I! I love Aesha, okay?!" We both looked at the backyard entrance and saw her standing there, listening in. "I'm going to see her," he said, heading to the door. 

"No, you're not!" I blocked his way. "Claire is living in my house and so are you. Just listen to me for once, Flynn! He could hurt Aesha too!" 

"I'm not going to let him. Why would he send people for her?!" 

"He may not send people for Aesha but he could send people for Claire! I'm not fucking superman even if I act like it! I can't save her from everyone, okay?! So just don't go see her! And if you are, then don't fucking come back." 

I went upstairs and slammed the door shut. 

I think it hit me then why I was so focused on this. Because I was scared. 

Scared that I wouldn't be able to save her.   

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Chapter thirty-six

So I asked you guys if you'd be open to the boss-employee trope and most if not all of you said yes.

Ya'll were so nice, even saying you'll read anything I write...

You guys... 

<3

So, shit is about to get real, just thought I'd warn you and also let you know that this book will probably be anywhere between 40-45 chapters long, I think for the idea that I have in mind, that's long enough and will fit the story nicely

next chapter: Blackout