Willow
“Did you kill someone?” I ask him.
He remains quiet for a few seconds, and I wait impatiently. “No,” he finally says.
“Then it can probably get fixed.”
“ I wish...” He exhales. Then he looks at me, his face filled with sadness.
“I’m sorry for making your life a mess. I’m the one who went to the club, and I’m the one who went to the apartment when you told me to stay away.” I say to him.
“It’s not your fault, this is all me.”
The waiter comes back to take his food and drinks order, and I also order a drink.
"Don't worry, I'm going to pay for our meal," I say to her.
"No, you can order anything, you are not allowed to pay."
"How much did my friend give you?" I eye her suspiciously, worried that she might be left with little money.
She chuckles, breaking eye contact.
"Okay." I hold my hands up in defeat. "I'm sorry for being nosy."
She laughs before walking away.
"Mike," he sighs. "He gave her ten thousand dollars, we are probably going to use $1 500 because the resturant is a little expensive, but I also paid her." He says dryly.
I nod, deciding not to argue about payments. “Are you done? Is he going to leave you alone?”
“No,” he shakes his head. “It will never end.”
“Is this the reason you haven’t been coming to teach your classes?”
“Yeah,” he exhales.
“Look at you, Leo. Look at the dark circles under your eyes, and your face isn’t as bright as it usually is.”
“Thank you for pointing that out. If I may remind you, I took a few punches.” He forces a smile and my heart breaks because I notice how he is trying to be strong in front of me.
“Can’t you talk to him? He’s not all that bad.” I suggest.
“Not all that bad?” He chuckles bitterly. “Are you drinking a cocktail or a mocktail?”
I roll my eyes.
“Are you sure he didn’t drug you? How many fingers am I holding?” He shows me three fingers.
“Stop,” I chuckle.
“Or is he blackmailing you?” He eyes me suspiciously.
“No.”
“Then he probably likes you. As hard as it is to imagine him liking anyone besides himself, he might like you.”
“What do you mean besides himself? He likes his sisters.”
“He has sisters?” He raises his eyebrows.
“Yes.”
“You two seem like you had quite a chat.” He says accusingly.
“But I’m grateful to you for giving him whatever he wanted. He said he would put me on auction if you didn’t.”
“And he was probably not lying.” He titters, but his voice is still weak and tired, and his smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“What about you? Did they hurt you?” I ask again.
“No, I’m fine.” He shrugs.
“Leo. You can talk to me. You are not telling the truth...”
“It’s nothing," he snaps.
I glare at him and he shrugs apologetically. “It’s not nothing. That day when I was at your apartment, you were crying.”
He stares at his beer glass, then we eat in silence. I think about suggesting that we leave the restaurant so that he can go to his apartment to sleep, but he doesn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.
“How does Mike know about that day when you came to get me at the club? Is he an investor?”
“Willow...” Leo trails off.
“Oh, my God!” I interject. “I was absorbed in the conversation with him and planning my escape. It didn’t immediately register in my mind when he mentioned Jasmine.”
I wait for him to say something, but he doesn't look up at me.
“Leo? No!” I shake my head in disbelief. “Are you... Are you?” My voice breaks. Could they be investors at the THC club?
“Willow, I can explain.” The desperation in his voice makes my heart beat faster, as I pray that he would tell me a different reason.
His grip on the beer glass tightens, and he looks like he is on the verge of tears. I feel an urge to walk to the other side of the table to hug him, but I fight it off. I need answers.
I am about to open my mouth to ask him to please explain when I notice someone approaching our table, prompting me to groan. “What is she doing here?”
Chloe stands next to the table. "Oh! Look at your face," she bends places her hands on his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I will treat the wounds. Thank you for getting my sister back."
I groan at her fake display of affection.
“Willow, I need to talk to you.” She looks in my direction.
“I think I have just lost my appetite.” I push the plate aside, and I get up.
“Do you still hate each other?” Leo looks from me to my sister, but I notice how relieved he is to see my sister.
“No! I’m tired. I had a long day and I’m not about to witness my sister putting her hands all over you, showing off, and telling me how perfect you are.”
“Am I not perfect?” He asks playfully, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
“I don’t have time for this, Leo. I will see you on campus and we’ll keep our distance for real this time. I don't want you to go through this again, but I need answers first.”
“Willow?” Chloe places her hand on my shoulder, but I ignore her.
“My phone, please. They said that they gave it to you.” I hold out my hand and Leo places my phone in my palm.
“Have fun,” I say to both of them before walking out. I unlock it, and I find fifty missed call from Liam. I put the phone away, deciding to call him later.
I take a cab outside and head to campus. When I arrive in my room, I lock the door, and I notice that my hands have been shaking. Then, I call Professor Malino to ask about Asclepius.
“Willow, are you okay?” She breathes.
“I’m fine. Professor, may I come to visit Asclepius?”
“He is, he is still at the vet’s hospital.”
I feel my stomach stop. “Is it serious?”
“No, he will be back tomorrow. You can come to see him.”
“Thank you.”
“Leo told me about the kidnapping incident.”
“Oh! But I’m okay. They didn’t do anything to me.”
“That’s a relief, we should get them arrested.”
“No, Leo said not to.”
“Why?” She raises her voice a little.
“I don’t know, please ask him, maybe he will tell you. I’m worried about him.”
“I will ask him, I’m glad you are okay.”
“I have to go, Professor M, someone is knocking on the door.”
After hanging up, I grab a frying pan and I switch off the light before tiptoeing toward the door.
“What’s with the drama, Willow? It’s me.” The voice on the other side of the door says.
I sigh with relief before opening the door.
“What drama were you talking about?” I ask Liam.
“You switching off the light.”
“You heard that?”
“Yes,” he chuckles before his face turns serious and he gives me a bear hug. “I was so worried about you,” he whispers.
“You noticed that I was missing?” I ask sarcastically.
“Didn't you see the missed calls? You are my girlfriend. I had to be aware, ” he tilts my face up and looks into my eyes.
“I was so scared when they took me.” I finally admit.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” He holds me. “I had to threaten Leo, and tell him I would involve the police.”
“Why doesn’t he want to involve the police?” I look up at him, about to suggest that we sit down.
He breaks eye contact.
“Liam?”
“I told Leo to quit this a long time ago, but he refused, and now it has come back to haunt him.”
Do you know what’s going on?”
He nods, his face serious.
“Would you mind telling me? Maybe I can help him.”
“You can't. I don’t know how to tell you. You are going to hate me, and you are going to hate him.”
“Please, tell me.” I hold his hand.
“Willow....”
“Yes.”
“I tried to talk him out of it. You should know that this is the reason we don’t get along.”
“Liam...” I try to control the impatience in my voice.
“Fine. Leo is the creator of limbicus. Mike is the owner of THC.”
“What did you say?” I ask in a whisper.
“I’m so sorry.” He buries his face in his palms.