Chapter 28

“Leo, you can't just keep on staring at me. You have to tell me, what is going on? What are you hiding from me?” I asked him frustrated that he hasn't said anything regarding what has been going on.

Sara has left the living room, leaving Leo and me to talk. She was acting weird and that really concerned me. I was eager to know what was it that made Leo angry like this. I wanted to know what made Leo argue with his mom like this because he always listens to what she says. I knew Leo and the expression on his face told me that whatever is going on wasn't a simple disagreement.

“I don't want you to be hurt by something you think will bring joy to you, Lia. My silence is a way of protecting you, there are things in this world that we are better off not knowing and the diary is one of it,” said Leo talking in a way that told me nothing about what was going on. It just made me curious.

“Damnit, Leo! Stop being overprotective of me, alright. Nothing could ever hurt me more than my mom's death so tell me, Leo, what diary are you talking about?” I yelled unable to wait any longer.

Leo ran his hands through his black curly hair and sighed as a sign of defeat. He stood up and went to his room returning with a box the size of a shoebox. My frustration was replaced with curiosity that was eating me alive. He sat beside me on the sofa and gave me the box telling me to open it.

“Just don't say I didn't warn you,” stressed Leo as if giving me a last chance to reconsider.

But I was born stubborn and I never let the curiosity within me be unsatisfied. I opened the box finding photos of me and my mom and a black diary that was worn out. I picked up the photos going through them one by one reminiscing the old times.

“How did you get this? I heard that everything was burned out.” I asked Leo, wanting to know how he got his hands on these photos.

“After you were taken to the orphanage, we returned from England. When we came home and heard about what happened, the landlord was already throwing away your stuff. I wanted to keep some of your things so I went to your mom's room to take your teddy bear but I found something else. That black diary and the photos were under the bed, so I took them. The next day, I heard the house burned down; they said it was an accident,” Leo explained feeling rather sad.

“Thank you so much, Leo. Really. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have gotten these photos.” I said feeling grateful.

“But I wish I never took it at all, at least then you wouldn't have to suffer by knowing something that won't even benefit you,” he said his voice laced with anger.

“why would–” my speech was cut off by my ringtone.

I took it out of my bag to see who was calling. I already knew who was calling, I didn't need to guess much. It was Killian and wondering what made him call me, I answered the phone. Hearing his voice made my heart tingle and I blushed a little when I heard what he said.

“I just wanted to tell you that I missed you and you should come back right now. It is so boring without you,” said Killian.

“I-I will come back after a little while,” I said stuttering in response to his bold confession of longing.

I still haven't gotten used to him and his boldness. Everything came easy to him as he was an expert at expressing his feeling while I just stutter like a three-year-old. I quickly said goodbye as Leo was staring at me with a questioning look.

I guess I should tell him.

“Who was it, Lia? Do you have a boyfriend?” asked Leo already starting to be overprotective.

“Uhm, so, there is something I should tell you," I said and looked at Leo as he nodded his head as a sign of telling me to go on," I work at Raushan company as a secretary for Killian Grayson and I may be romantically...uh...involved with my boss and it was him who called me. He also hates you and your company a lot, but trust me, Leo, he is a good guy,” I explained fearing Leo's reaction.

“Killian? The Killian Grayson? He is a player, Lia. All he knows is how to break a heart, he doesn't know how to commit. Why would you believe anything he says?” asked Leo in disbelief at what I have gotten myself into.

“Leo, you don't get it. He is different around me, he is not playing with me. What we have is real, Leo. Every bit of it is real. I trust him.” I said expecting Leo to say Killian was a player.

“Okay, fine. But tell him that if he breaks your heart, I swear I will rip his heart out.” he threatened.

“You know I love you, right?” I said holding his hand.

“Of course, I know. How could you ever not love me? I was your first kiss after all.” he said puffing out his chest in pride.

Ugh, Leo!

“I tripped and fell on you by accident. I was just 6, Leo. That doesn't count as a first kiss or any kind of kiss.” I said trying to make my best friend understand what a kiss was.

“Yeah, I don't care. I'm still your first kiss,” he argued stubbornly.

Deciding not to argue with him, I stood up ready to leave. I had forgotten that I needed to be back in the office. Even though Leo insisted that I leave the diary, I took it anyway. I was going to go by cab when Leo told me that he would ask his driver to take me to the company.

Agreeing with Leo, I left my childhood playground, aka Leo's mansion, and went to the company. After thanking the driver, I got into the Raushan building. As I was greeting the receptionist, Nicole passed by me getting into one of the elevators. When our eyes met, she glared at me a reminder that she still hated me. I couldn't glare at her because the elevator door closed right away.

Great timing, stupid elevator!

Cutting my talk short with Jessica, I got into another elevator and got to the 40th floor. I removed the office key from my bag and unlocked the door. With quick steps I went to my desk, bringing the diary out of my bag and putting it in the drawer.

I was eager to see Killian as if I have been away from him for so long. This feeling was new to me as I've been missing him like he was a drug. I craved him and I intended on wasting no time to go see him. But something halted my steps, a handwritten note was on my desk. It was the same handwriting from years ago that ruined my birthday and told me my then best friend had betrayed me. What was written on it broke my heart and made me want to stab Nicole.