77. I'll Be There With You

**Serene**

When Leonard said he would be there, he meant it.

It was almost eight o'clock when he arrived, and when he did, he headed straight to the servants' quarters, not stopping to talk to anyone that came across his path.

Not even Tara.

When she saw him heading down the hall way in her direction Tara was stoked. It had been so long since she'd last seen him, and they didn't talk as much as she would like.

Now finally, he was within her reach. Her heart filled with bliss and happiness.

"Hi! Why are you back so soo-"

But contrary to what she hoped for Leonard marched right pass her and didn't even bother to shoot her a glance. Her eyes helplessly followed his back before he disappeared behind a corner. Suddenly, the excitement building in her heart dissolved into despair.

At first she couldn't understand. Why? They were much closer before, so wasn't it as good as it used to be? He used to let her stay in his room and sleep beside her. They embraced each other in the midday. He gave her money on days when she didn't have enough on her. Now it was as he inadvertently pushed her out of his bubble. She thought after getting rid of Caramel that Leonard would end up realizing his feelings for her.

Tara froze, horror spread across her features. That's it. It couldn't be. He found a lover. And now she was going to separate them, just like his relationship with Caramel did.

No.

She can't let that happen.

Serene opened her bedroom door after a knock woke her up. On the other side stood Leo with his arms against the doorframe. As soon as he saw her he begun to take in her appearance. Her black robe shielded her body from nakedness as if she just came out of the shower. Her puffy red eyes and untamed hair said otherwise.

"Hey," his voice was shaky and hesitant. Now that he was here he wasn't sure what his next step would be. Serene stepped to the side and allowed him entrance into her room. He entered and locked the door behind him, following her until he witnessed her onto her bed. From the way her bedsheets were kept in place then she didn't fall asleep underneath them. A lamp on her bedside table illuminated the room with it's pale yellow glow. Some items like lipsticks as well as her phones were scattered all over the edge of the bed while an empty shopping bag and purse sat on the floor.

He didn't say anything, but he did pick up the objects off the bed and stuffed them into the shopping bag. When he was done, Leo chose to set it aside on her dresser. Then he went to the bed. Upon hearing the noise his shoes made she turned around to face him. She felt the bed shift as he laid down beside her. They stared into each other's eyes for a minute, his ocean blue ones reflecting her dark brown irises. Until suddenly, he took her arms and hugged her.

She didn't know what it was for but she hugged him back, head rested between his shoulder blade and his neck. She took in his scent as he rubbed her back and closed her eyes. It reminded her of her youth when she held her teddy bear and how much comfort it gave her when her father perished and she had no one else in the world.

Now Leonard was here, holding her. How long had it been since she had last sought comfort in someone else other than her best friend and herself? It felt strangely present.

Leonard ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her scalp and calming her. In that moment, there was nothing more he wanted than to kiss her head and tell her that whatever Jenifer said, there was nothing she could do to her with him by her side. He wanted to take her ache away, put it inside a furnace and watch it burn.

Serene started rubbing her face against his jaw, this sent several sensations throughout his body. Gently, he let her go, but allowed her head to rest on his arm.

Her soft breathing hit his face, yet he didn't mind it. Just knowing she seemed okay was enough for him. Well, for now. He was still pissed.

"What did she say?" His voice came out stronger than he intended to, so he softened his tone before he talked again. "But only if you want to tell me."

Serene's gaze shifted from his face to his free hand. She enclasped his hand in hers.

"She threatened to tell your parents about me being here," she stated. Leonard quietly listened. "But she wouldn't if I went along with her messed up plan."

"Plan? What was it about?" Leo asked.

Serene cleared her throat before continuing. "I don't remember what she said word for word. She wanted me to spy on your parents and give her details about her activities. I don't know what kind of details, though. I told her off and hung up the phone."

Leonard grit his teeth. Just because his mother and father tolerated her, she had the audacity to try and pull one over them by recruiting the help of the girl under her care. Jenifer should count her lucky stars while she still could before he did something she would never see coming.

It was enough for her to talk behind his back then push her daughters on him when she sees him. It was another thing to come after one of the few people he cared about.

Serene's touch brought him out of his mind as he felt her warm hand on his cheek. "Sorry, I know that wasn't much help. Should I have stayed with her and found out what exactly her plan was?"

Leonard smiled gently and rested his hand over hers. "It's okay. And there's nothing to be sorry for. I came here for you, not for Jenifer."

She kissed him.