118

LUCAS'S MANSION

Leila woke up as the soft light of the morning came through the curtains. She stretched, still feeling the warmth of the bed around her. Lucas was still lying beside her. She smiled quietly, happy for these calm moments before the day started.

As she sat up, Lucas moved next to her, his hand brushing her arm. He mumbled something and turned over, pulling her back into his arms. Leila chuckled softly and gently pulled away from him, knowing he would sleep for a while longer. She quietly got out of bed, trying not to wake him, and went to the kitchen to start her morning.

It was Sunday, so there were no early meetings or work to worry about. Leila thought the day would be peaceful. As she made herself a cup of tea, her phone buzzed on the counter. It was a text from Hayley: "I'm on my way! Can't wait to hang out today."

Leila smiled, happy her friend was coming over. She had been looking forward to catching up for days. It had been a while since they had time to relax together without thinking about work or everything else.

She poured herself a second cup of tea and sat on the couch, looking at her phone. The house was quiet, with just the sound of birds outside. Leila felt calm, even though there was still a feeling inside her she couldn't shake. But for now, she decided to push it away and focus on the good things, like spending time with Hayley.

Soon enough, Hayley arrived, knocking softly on the door. Leila hurried to open it, greeting her with a big smile. "Hey, you!" she said, giving her friend a warm hug.

"Hi, Leila! So happy to see you," Hayley replied, hugging her back. "How's everything?"

"I'm good, just tired. But it's nice to have a quiet weekend," Leila said, stepping aside so Hayley could come in. "Want some tea?"

"Of course," Hayley said, setting her bag down and sitting on the couch. "It's been a long week."

Leila quickly made another cup of tea and joined her friend. They chatted for a while, talking about work and personal life. Leila found herself relaxing, enjoying the time together. It was nice to take a break from all the stress.

"Lucas is at work today, right?" Hayley asked, sipping her tea.

"Yeah, he's got some things to do. But he'll be home soon," Leila said, her voice soft as she thought about him. He had left earlier before Hayley arrived. She liked having time alone with him, but she also loved moments like this with her friend.

The talk shifted to other things, Hayley's recent trip, some projects the company was working on, and plans for the week ahead. They laughed at a few funny things, and for a while, Leila forgot about the uneasy feeling in her chest.

But after a while, Hayley's phone rang, breaking the conversation. Hayley checked the screen before answering.

"I'm sorry, Leila. I need to take this. Duty calls" she said, holding up the phone.

"No problem," Leila said, leaning back on the couch. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the quiet in the house.

When Hayley finished her call, she apologized again. "Sorry, I've got to go soon. I'll make it up to you next time."

Leila waved her off with a smile. "You don't need to apologize. I know you've got stuff to do."

Hayley gave her a quick hug before grabbing her things. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Yeah, take care!" Leila called as her friend left. After the door closed, Leila stood there for a moment, feeling the silence of the house. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was different. With Lucas at work and Hayley leaving, she was left alone with her thoughts again.

***

Meanwhile, Lucas had left the house not for work but because he needed to talk to Riccardo, his best friend. Lately, Lucas had been feeling uneasy about things. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, especially with Leila. The messages, the strange vibe in the house, it was all building up, and Lucas knew he needed to share his worries with Riccardo.

As Lucas arrived at Riccardo's office, he parked his car and stepped out, taking a deep breath. This wasn't a work-related visit. He wasn't here to discuss business or anything formal. He just needed to unload, talk things through with someone who understood him.

Riccardo's office was in a tall, modern building. Lucas rode the elevator to the top floor where his friend worked. When the doors opened, Lucas walked down the hallway and knocked on Riccardo's door.

"Come in," Riccardo called from inside.

Lucas opened the door and stepped in. Riccardo was sitting at his desk, surrounded by papers, but he smiled when he saw Lucas.

"Lucas! What's up, man? I didn't expect to see you today," Riccardo said, standing up to greet him.

"I needed to talk," Lucas said, his tone serious as he sat down across from Riccardo. "It's about Leila."

Riccardo raised an eyebrow, setting his pen down. "Leila? What's going on?"

Lucas ran a hand through his hair. "I've been feeling like something's wrong lately. Someone's been sending her weird messages, and I think someone's following her. I don't know who, but I'm scared for her, Riccardo. I need help figuring this out."

Riccardo's smile faded as he listened. "That's not good. Are you sure it's something serious?"

"I don't know," Lucas admitted, his voice low. "But I can't just sit back and let something happen to her. I'm already starting to feel like I'm losing control of the situation."

Riccardo leaned forward, his expression serious now. "You're right to be worried. We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this, Lucas. I'll help you however I can."

Lucas felt a weight lift off his shoulders hearing those words. It wasn't much, but knowing Riccardo had his back gave him a little peace of mind. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it."

"No problem," Riccardo said. "We'll keep an eye on things. You focus on keeping Leila safe."

As Lucas left Riccardo's office, he felt a little better. At least he wasn't handling this alone. But his worry for Leila still lingered, and he wasn't going to rest until he figured out who was behind the threats and kept her safe.