∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

LEONARDO

A huge exhalation of annoyance came from me as I ran my hand through my hair, feeling incredibly exhausted and frustrated at how the evening before had went, leaning back in my chair.

That fucking pig.

I hadn't slept at all that evening, instead my mind had kept me awake all night thinking about the hospital visit. Something about that man didn't sit well with me, even Francis hadn't rubbed me off in such a bad way like Giovanni did.

What made it worse was the fact that Maria was defending him. The naivety of her pissed me off. She was a strong woman, loyal to the people she loved but that meant that she wouldn't view the people closest to her as suspects. My experiences in life had forced me to come to a realisation that the people closest to you aren't always the most trustworthy. I didn't want her to learn that the hard way.

It was another lonely evening that night. As soon as we had gotten home, I isolated myself into the office and dealt with work as a way of avoiding her. The next day, I was in my main office at the company, typing away on the computer. I preferred working at home but I couldn't escape any more important meetings. I hadn't seen Maria since and felt the urge to check on her. She was fine, I knew that, I kept reassuring myself that I hadn't done anything wrong.

But something about that look of disbelief in her eyes was telling me that I had wronged her. Unusually, I felt bad. Her previous words rang through my mind, 'you hurt my feelings the other day'. Once again, I must have done the same mistake again.

Marco came into the office and I was automatically drawn out of my compelling thoughts. "Don," he greeted, placing the files on my desk. I nodded back at him, rubbing my chin as my mind lingered on the thought of her.

"I took care of that waiter, his name was Tomas apparently," Marco shrugged carelessly, before clearing his throat. "He won't be able to comment on anything again," he confirmed, purposely making his tongue slide over his lips.

I nodded once more, feeling satisfied that at least someone was punished. That bastard. I could still remember the shocked look on Maria's face when he had dared to open his mouth.

Her fingers had curled up into the small balls she usually made whenever she was anxious, her nails digging deep into her palm without her even realising. She had bit her bottom lip and lost focus to her surroundings. I knew his words had set her off into a trance full of contradicting thoughts that messed with her self esteem.

It wouldn't be the first time that had happened.

        "What the hell happened?"

             My eyes widened in astonishment as they ran across her apple red face, slightly bruised and puffy. Her eyes were swollen; it was clear she had been crying.

She let her hair hide the true nature of her face and sat beside me on the hard ground, focused on the waterfall before us. The vibrant, blue waterfall plunged down the mountain, gushed over the rocks and continued to fill the grand lake below.

Maria sniffed sadly, wiping her teary eyes with the back of her small hand.

Concerned, I faced her, gently brushing the stray strands of hair away from her face. She flinched slightly, startling me as she turned her face away, her shoulders hung low. Recognising her wish for space, I moved my hands back to my lap, waiting for her to speak. I was the worst person to comfort people, I found everything awkward and struggled to find the right words to help. I knew instantly how melancholy she was feeling; she was usually a cheerful girl, something had clearly happened.

". .we were weighed today. ."

My heart sunk immediately, already sensing how the audition went.

". .I didn't make it because I'm too fat."

My eyebrows furrowed, a sense of anger beginning to build within me. If anything, she was the complete opposite. My eyes glanced down at her; she had changed from earlier from her grand ballet outfit, wearing the new tutu her mother had brought her from abroad to some regular, long pants and a dark oversized jumper. She was hiding her thin body. Back then, she was quite bony after losing so much weight because of her mother's strict regime.

The show she was auditioning for to be a part of their new season, was one she had dreamed of working in. I knew how hard she had worked, all the hours and nights of practicing with no sleep or food. The amount she had to sacrifice to meet the requirements they unrealistically desired and yet she was not chosen. In a way, I was glad she wasn't accepted in such a toxic environment, but her goal of succeeding in the audition was one to please her mother. It damaged her.

"My mom was really furious. . .she slapped me."

The tears began to roll down her cheeks again as she covered her face with her hands, shakily breathing. She choked on a sob, trying to hold back from crying. I found it hard not to place my hand on her shoulder for comfort.

". .they-they said my cheeks are too big," Ria managed to say, her voice filled with despair as she failed to keep in her tears. She wiped her eyes, but continued to sob, her entire adorable face crumbling as she released all the tears that had been building in her heart. I couldn't hold back at that point and pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her small frame tightly as she wailed on my shoulder.

"I worked so hard!" She cried, burying her face in my hoodie. I squeezed my eyes closed, my hand slowly rubbing her back up and down. "I didn't eat anything at the Christmas party - I swear!"

"I know but it's not your fault, Ria. You-" she stopped me from advising her. "All the other girls were so pretty. I'm ugly - I'm so, so ugly, Leo, why did you lie to me? They all had pretty eyes a-and fucking nice smiles, their faces had no fat unlike mine - no wonder they were chosen! Their bodies were perfect!" Her cries grew louder as she clutched onto my clothes, her whole body shaking with sadness. "My thighs are too big, they rub when I walk - they had the gaps, Leo! The ones Mama wanted me to slim down for. No matter how little I eat, my thighs still touch!"

"Why - just why?" She loudly cried, her tears soaking my hoodie as her voice cracked in anguish. "Why can't I be like them?"

"You can't be like them," I firmly said, feeling the fury flow through my veins. My hand went to her head, softly rubbing it. "You're better than them, Ria, don't compare yourself-"

She scoffed, burying her face deeper in my hoodie. "How can I not?" Her muffled voice said as the tears began to decrease. "They are who my mother wants me to be. They got the role - I didn't. I was the only one who was rejected." There was definitely more to to that than a mere rejection because of her physique. I made a mental note to have a look into those girls' backgrounds and their connections to the company.

I moved her face and held it into both of my hands, staring intensely into her teary, grey eyes. "You are not them. Be your own role model. Your life is for you - not them, not your mother, not me, for you." A few tears rolled down her cheeks, dropping onto my hands as she sniffled, softly crying. My thumbs gently wiped her cheeks and her head slightly leaned against my hand as she closed her eyes tightly, trying not to cry.

"Open your eyes, bellissima {beautiful}," I gently told her. She blinked as she opened them. Her eyes were wide and heavenly, gazing into mine, her long, wet eyelashes batting as she tried to stop the tears. Lightly, I caressed her cheek, emotionally feeling the pain she was enduring. She must have been so tired.

"You are beautiful, Ria. You are enough. Don't let these idiots define you - you don't exist to be a work in progress. Don't let your mind mess with you." She exhaled, looking exhausted as she blinked. "No, it's true, Leo, I am nothing."

"No," I firmly refuted, her sorrowful eyes snapping upwards to mine again. "Stop telling yourself you're 'nothing' because you're fucking everything to me and yourself. You are better than them. One day, they will realise what they missed out on."

"If only you could see," I whispered, studying her divine, flawless face. "That you're so much more than just a digit on a scale." I placed a lingering kiss on her forehead and she leaned inwards, her face gently slamming against my chest as she shut her eyes and snuggled against me, breathing out in fatigue.

It took her a while to gain self confidence in herself in terms of body positivity. I could remember the struggle for her to feel comfortable in her own skin, how hard it was for her to even look in the mirror peacefully, to eat without being worried about the amount of calories in her food.

It was so difficult for her.

"What do you actually intend to do with Dream? The team is debating on reforming it into a a charity to fund for other dance schools. I'm not sure how she'll feel about that. . ."

Marco's words made me raise my eyebrow in confusion. "A charity?" I almost rolled my eyes at how greedy the idea sounded. "No. Leave it under her uncle for a while. ." That childish smirk was on Marco's face once again.

"You know, Leonardo, you actually have no particular reason to actually acquire this place. . .unless. . ."

I cleared my throat, my eyes focusing back onto the computer screen as he chortled. No matter what he said, I would never admit it. The opportunity was there back then, the chance was something I had to take for her. But there was something, something that I had to unleash.

Marco smiled blissfully, like a hopeless romantic. He made me sick with his fantasies.

"You must have missed her a lot."

"Marco, shut your fucking mouth before I sew it up for you."

I worked throughout the day without a break as I would do usually. But that evening, Francis had arranged for us to meet to discuss future plans in the cat and mouth race set up for Javier.

It was embarrassing meeting up with Francis.

The man had an obsession with grand entrances and women. His location to meet was one I never expected to enter; a bar. To be specific, a bar with practically naked women sauntering around which I completely blocked out. As soon as he had walked into the bar, they fled over to him, pulling off his jacket, encouraging drinks, teasing and flirting.

I rolled my eyes in irritation, sipping some more of the alcohol to hopefully get me through the meeting.

When he finally made his way over, another dark haired women with her breasts pushed up and on display, sat beside him, her arms all over him's expensive suit.

"Have you not learned with Camille?" I practically chided, looking at him disdainfully. Francis brightly laughed, putting his hands up in surrender. "You are not wrong, my friend." I almost cringed at the word 'friend'. He leaned in and chuckled a little as he raised an eyebrow, "but she does not have to know now, does she?"

Men like him disgusted me.

I couldn't comprehend how Ria was friends with him.

Nonetheless, Francis shooed off his admirer, leaving the two of us alone in the booth. He sighed dramatically, drinking some beer. The place was uncomfortable warm with some upbeat music playing and people dancing around with drinks in their hands and women by their hip. I would never allow myself to meet with someone in a place like that again.

"It is difficult to be committed with such gorgeous women around, don't you think?"

Or simply just hard for him to keep his dick in his pants and value his wife. Shameless cheat.

I drank some more, the urge to vacate myself from the area increasing the more he spoke.

"How is your divine woman? I miss her extremely."

I almost snapped at the mention of her. I had had enough of people commenting. I questioned what the hell was his deal with Maria, he seemed to constantly think of her.

The intense glare on my face must made him laugh, he raised his hands upwards again in defence, "I'm messing with you, don." His eyes were filled with playfulness, a wide grin spread across his face. He irked me.

"I remember telling you to keep her out of this and out your fucking mouth, Francis," I seethed in a hostile tone, my eyebrows knotted together as my mind gave me options of how to end his life right then and there.

Once again, he laughed about something to do with how hard it was to make me relax, and I forced myself to move on and focus on more serious matters. "I need explanations as to how things are going with Javier."

"Well," Francis gleefully replied, his unserious grin slowly replacing into a dark, sadistic smile. "If he thinks things can't go anymore worse than this, then he has no idea as to what's coming for him."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

~ Author's Note ~

Leonardo's POV again! He has really seen the struggles Maria has been through so maybe his frustration last chapter was somewhat understandable?

There will be another bonus chapter this week so keep checking!

Thoughts on this chapter?

Please vote, comment, share and follow.

Please tag users you think will be interested in NEPENTHE!

Votes and comments really help me know how the story is being received and helps boost my confidence for more updates :)

Thanks for reading!

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘