Chapter 211 Worse Off

Chapter 211 Worse Off
Bianca's POV

As I slammed the door in Leon's face, I stood right behind it, my forehead pressed against the cold panel.

I listened closely and knew that he stood there for a few minutes, no doubt trying to process why I was acting the way I just did.

Then my phone rang one last time before I could hear his footsteps on the porch outside and the. the sound of his car engine roared to life and slowly faded down the street.

The moment the noise disappeared completely, my knees gave out and I slid down the door until I was sitting flat on the floorboards, pulling my legs up to my chest.

I couldn't help the hot tears that spilled over my cheek. I put my hands over my mouth to quiet my own sobbing, but the pain in my chest was unbearable.

Everything felt like a cruel joke.

One moment I was lying in his arms at the mansion, listening to him say he loved me like his own self, and the next moment I was staring at official documents showing he had secretly funded the takeover of my father’s business.

I couldn't get the image out of my mind, the signature on those files and those glossy pictures of him in BDSM hotel rooms with other women.

Julian’s words kept ringing in my ears like a fucking nunnery bell. ‘You are just next on his list.’

I was shaky as I took myself off the floor and managed to crawl into bed, hoping I would find sleep.

But who was kidding? I didn't sleep a single wink that night.

I just lay on the new soft mattress, staring at the ceiling all night.

Eventually, I dozed off and when I eventually woke up, my eyes were swollen, my throat was dry, and my whole body felt sore.

When the sun finally came up, I forced myself to get out of bed.

I took a quick, freezing shower, put on a simple dark trousers suit, and booked a taxi straight to the office. I didn't touch the Ferrari key sitting on the counter. I didn't even look at it.

By eight in the morning, I was sitting at my desk in my office, staring at my computer screen.

My mind was completely numb but still, I worked through the morning reports like a robot, typing fast and organizing shipping manifests.

I didn't take a lunch break and I didn't get up to get water. I just wanted to clear my desk so I could leave as early as possible.

Partly because I lacked any energy to interact with other staff and also because I was avoiding Leon who was literally down the hall.

Around two in the afternoon, my office door swung open.

Leon walked in and he looked completely worn out.

Dark circles sat under his eyes, his hair was slightly messy, and he held a tablet in his hand.

"Bianca," he said softly. "The foreign board is meeting in the main room right now to review the new shipping lines. We need you in there."

I didn't even look up from my computer screen as my fingers kept tapping against the keyboard. "I won't be attending the meeting today. I’ve already sent my written notes to Simon. He can read them for the board."

Leon paused, standing near the edge of my desk. "Bianca, you are the lead partner on this project. You need to be in the room."

"My work on this project is finished for the day," I said flatly, finally stopping my typing and shutting my laptop lid. I grabbed my purse from the chair and stood up. "In fact, my entire desk is clear."

Leon frowned, looking at my bag. "Are you leaving early?"

I turned my eyes to meet him coldly. "Are you trying to tell me to stay back and work, Mr. Steele? Because I can. My desk is completely clear, and I thought I could have the rest of the day off."

Leon looked startled by my tone.

He took a small step back. "You know that is not what I mean, Bianca. Of course you can have the rest of the day off. I know you need time to settle into your new place."

"Fine," I said, stepping around my desk toward the door. "I'll see you at work tomorrow, sir."

I walked out of my office and headed straight down the hallway toward the elevators.

I pressed the down button and waited for the doors to slide open.

A second later, I heard fast footsteps behind me.

Leon stepped up right beside me at the elevator bay.

He didn't say a word as I stepped inside, and he immediately followed me, standing right next to me as the doors slid shut.

I kept my eyes fixed on the floor numbers counting down.

When we reached the main lobby, the doors opened, and I marched straight toward the glass exit doors.

Out in the driveway, Simon was waiting by the company sedan, holding the rear door open for me.

I had called him ten minutes earlier to ask for a ride home so I wouldn't have to walk to the parking garage.

Just as I reached for the door handle of the car, Leon stepped in front of me.

"Why are you letting Simon drive you home?" Leon asked, sounding slightly frustrated.

"Because I can," I replied, not backing down.

"What about the Ferrari I got you?" he asked. "Did you have trouble driving it?"

"I won't be driving that," I said flatly. "I am not interested in it."

"Why?" Leon asked, his brow furrowing in total confusion. "What is wrong with the car?"

"I don't have to answer to you, Leon," I said, turning my back on him to get into Simon's car.

Before I could take a step, Leon reached out and grabbed my arm, his fingers wrapping firmly around my sleeve.

"Listen to me, Bianca," Leon said softly as he looked into my eyes. "I know you said I shouldn't show up at your place last night, but I did anyway. That was because I wanted to be with you, and I wanted to check up on you. I know it was foolish, and I know it was clingy, and I promise you I won't do it again. But please, just tell me what is going on."

I looked down at his hand on my arm, then looked directly into his face, feeling angry and sad all at once.

"Get your hands off me, Mr. Steele," I said coldly .. "Unless you want me to sue you for sexual harassment right here in front of your staff."

Leon froze and his face went completely pale, his jaw dropping slightly as he instantly pulled his hand off my arm as if he had just touched hot iron.

"Bianca..." he whispered. "I'm sorry. Whatever I did to upset you, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to, okay? What happened? Just tell me what's going on."

"Stay away from me," I said flatly.

I turned around, stepped into the back seat of Simon's car, and pulled the door shut.

Simon quickly closed it from the outside, hopped into the driver's seat, and pulled out of the corporate loop.

Through the rear window, I saw Leon standing alone on the pavement, staring at the car as we drove away.

The ride to my new house was completely quiet.

Simon kept glancing at me awkwardly through the rearview mirror, but thankfully, he was smart enough not to ask a single question about what he had just seen.

When he pulled up to my driveway, I thanked him quietly, got out, and walked up the steps into my house.

I dropped my purse on the entryway table, kicked off my tight high heels, and collapsed flat onto the sofa.

The house felt huge and empty.

I felt completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

I didn't even have the energy to cook real food. I walked into the kitchen, poured a bowl of dry cereal, sat back down on the sofa, and began eating slowly, staring blankly at the wall.

About twenty minutes later, my phone rang on the coffee table. It was Kimberly.

"Hey, B! I'm actually right around your neighborhood dropping off some clothes at the dry cleaners," Kim said cheerfully through the speaker. "Can I swing by for ten minutes? I want to see the house in the daylight and check out the view from that back pool area."

"Sure," I said quietly, setting my bowl down. "The door is unlocked."

Fifteen minutes later, Kimberly pushed the front door open and walked into the living room, holding a small iced coffee.

"Oh, look at this place!" Kim smiled, walking toward the glass windows. "I still can't believe this is yours. Have you seen any hot neighbors around the block yet?"

"Yeah, right," I muttered, leaning my head back against the sofa cushions. "Whatever."

Kimberly stopped pacing, turned around, and looked down at me, frowning.

"Okay, what is going on with you?" Kim asked, walking over and sitting on the coffee table right in front of me. "You look sick, B. What has been happening since yesterday?"

"Nothing, really," I lied, looking away.

"Don't give me that 'nothing' nonsense!" Kim insisted, reaching out to grab my hand. "You look like you've been crying all night. Why are you sitting here eating dry cereal? Talk to me, Bianca. You can't just keep bottling everything up inside. You need to open up to someone who cares about you, even if it's Leon!"

I laughed bitterly and looked at my best friend as tears began to fall.

"That's the problem, Kim," I whispered, wiping my cheek with the back of my hand. "I can't open up to him when he is my fucking problem.”