Chapter 33 Memories?
CHAPTER 33
Memories?
Leo stepped out of the interrogation room with a controlled calm state, though tension still rested heavily on his shoulders. The air inside the police headquarters felt thick, charged with unfinished decisions and consequences waiting to unfold. Behind him, the corrupt officers who had betrayed their badges sat in custody, their arrogance finally replaced with fear.
Standing across from him was the Head of Police, Commissioner Rodrick, a man known for discipline and uncompromising justice. His sharp eyes studied Leo carefully.
“So,” the commissioner said, folding his arms, “what exactly do you suggest we do with them?”
Leo exhaled slowly before responding. “They abused authority, endangered civilians, and collaborated with criminals for personal gain. Suspension isn’t enough.
The commissioner nodded slightly. “Go on.”
“They should be dismissed immediately,” Leo continued firmly. “Stripped of rank, prosecuted under the full extent of the law, and investigated financially. Men like these don’t act alone. If we let this slide, it sends the wrong message to every honest officer still wearing that uniform.”
Silence followed his words.
Leo wasn’t speaking not just out of anger, he was speaking from experience. Trust, once broken within law enforcement, destroyed everything in public, internal loyalty, and justice itself.
Commissioner Rodrick walked toward the glass window overlooking the compound below where officers moved about unaware of the storm that had just passed through their ranks.
“You realize,” he said quietly, “this decision will shake the department.”
“It needs shaking,” Leo replied without hesitation. “Cleaning rot hurts, but leaving it spreads diseases.”
The commissioner turned back, studying him again before giving a decisive nod.
“Very well. Immediate dismissal and prosecution. I’ll authorize internal affairs to begin proceedings today.”
Leo inclined his head respectfully. “Thank you.” As the meeting ended, he wasn't relieved, instead exhaustion settled in.
The past few days had been relentless, danger, betrayal, and constant responsibility pressing against him from every direction. Without wasting another moment, Leo left the headquarters and headed straight for his company down the town. Work was the only thing keeping his mind steady lately.
The elevator ride to the top floor felt unusually long. He adjusted his suit jacket, mentally preparing for reports, meetings, and contracts waiting on his desk.
But the moment the elevator doors opened, chaos greeted him, he wondered what was going on.
His secretary, Amanda, stood behind her desk looking visibly distressed while a familiar woman argued loudly in front of her.
“I told you he knows me!” the woman snapped. “You don’t get to stop me from seeing him!”
Leo froze for half a second.
Clara.
He was far from shocked. He didn't expect she would have the nerves to be in his company. Her perfume reached him before her voice fully registered….. it was sweet, expensive, unmistakably hers.
Amanda noticed Leo first. “Sir—”
But Leo didn’t stop.
He walked past Clara as though she didn’t exist.
Clara’s words died instantly as she watched him walk straight into his office and shut the door behind him. She least expected that not even from Leo himself, he had the guts to embarrass her in front of everyone , he just made her feel useless, unseen, and that she won't accept.
Amanda released a breath of relief. Two minutes later, the office door burst open without permission. Clara stepped inside.
Leo didn’t look up from the documents he was reviewing.
“You’re just going to ignore me?” she demanded, standing close to his office table.
Leo stayed still, still focused on his papers. He signed a file calmly before placing it aside. Only then did he raise his eyes toward her, his expression unreadable.
“What do you want, Clara?”
The detached tone hit harder than shouting ever could. Her anger flared instantly. “That’s it? After everything we had?”
Leo leaned back slightly in his chair. “You walked away. Remember?” he gave her a questioning look.
Her jaw tightened, as memories flickered between them…..love that once burned intensely, promises broken by ambition, misunderstandings, and choices neither could undo.
“I made mistakes,” Clara said, she sat down on the chair in front of her, as her voice broke into pieces. “But you didn’t even try to stop me.”
Leo’s gaze hardened. “I don’t beg people to stay.” The words landed on her heavily.
Clara crossed her arms in frustration, She had expected resistance, maybe even hidden longing but not indifference.
“You’ve changed,” she muttered.
“No,” Leo replied calmly. “I grew up.”
That hurt her more than anything.
She studied him—the composed billionaire CEO, emotionally guarded, completely different from the man who once looked at her like she was his entire world.
“You replaced me already, didn’t you?” she asked sharply.
Leo's face changed immediately with mixed emotions; he didn't answer her. And that silence confirmed everything.
Anger flashed across her face, mixed painfully with regret.
“I lost you once,” Clara said, her voice trembling despite her pride. “But I’m not giving up on you forever, Leo. You and I aren’t finished.”
Leo’s expression remained unmoved. “We are.”
But Clara only smiled faintly, stubborn determination shining in her eyes.
“We’ll see.”
She turned and walked out, heels clicking confidently against the marble floor, though inside she felt the crushing realization that the man she once controlled no longer belonged to her.
The door closed behind her.
Leo remained still for a moment. Then he rubbed his temples slowly. Seeing Clara again stirred memories he had buried deeply…..but none of them compared to the quiet concern currently occupying his thoughts.
Without hesitation, he picked up his phone. His fingers moved instinctively across the screen. He began to type, How are you doing?......I hope you’re safe…..
He stared at the message briefly before pressing send.
A strange warmth settled in his chest afterward. Ruby’s presence in his life had come unexpectedly, gentle where chaos surrounded him, sincere where deception once ruled. Thinking about her safety mattered more than he cared to admit.
Outside his office window, the city moved endlessly, cars rushing, people chasing ambitions, lives intersecting in unpredictable ways.
Leo leaned back in his chair, eyes drifting toward the skyline.
The corrupt officers were being dealt with. His past had just walked back into his life. And yet, the only person on his mind was the woman he had just texted.
For the first time that day, his expression softened slightly.
Whatever storms were coming next, one thing was certain— He wasn’t going to lose Ruby.