EPISODE 22
1124 Words
A NIGHT OF RESTLESS THOUGHTS
Leo sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, fingers pressed against his temples. The events of the night before played on a relentless loop in his mind—his lips crashing against Julian West’s, the sharp sting of Julian’s fist meeting his jaw, and then… the words.
"I’ve loved you for years."
It was still surreal.
Julian West—stoic, guarded, untouchable Julian West—had harbored feelings for him all this time. And Leo…
Leo groaned, leaning back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling. He hadn't planned to kiss Julian, but when he did—it wasn’t just right. It was perfect.
But if that was true, then why did another face haunt his thoughts?
Julian D’Argento.
The enigmatic man with the mask, the cold voice, the unreadable eyes. There was a pull there—something magnetic, something darkly intoxicating. And it shouldn’t exist. Not when his heart still raced at the memory of Julian West’s lips against his own.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered.
His body remembered one thing. His heart whispered another. And his mind? It was tearing him apart.
He didn't sleep that night.
---
A Morning Of Conflicted Emotions
Dragging himself to work the next morning, Leo felt like a zombie. The lack of sleep pressed down on him, but work came first.
When he arrived at ASTOR Conglomerate, he was expecting to see him—Julian D’Argento. Instead, it was Elias Carter sitting at the head of the conference table, exuding effortless charm and control.
Leo frowned slightly but quickly masked his disappointment.
Leo: (formal, but curious) “Elias. I thought Julian D’Argento would be here today.”
Elias gave him a knowing look, one corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk.
Elias: (lightly) “Disappointed?”
Leo held his gaze, neither confirming nor denying.
Leo: (neutral tone) “Just surprised.”
Elias chuckled, tapping a pen against the table.
Elias: (mockingly sympathetic) “Our dear Julian is a busy man. You’ll have to settle for me today.”
Leo forced a smile and nodded. They went through the meeting, discussing the ongoing projects, upcoming deals, and the intricate dynamics between ASTOR Conglomerate and D’Argento Enterprises. Everything went smoothly.
But despite his exhaustion, despite his professionalism, his mind kept drifting—to a man with a mask and a man without one.
What was this hold they both had on him?
---
AN UNWANTED REALIZATION
That evening, Leo returned to the ASTOR Estate, exhausted but ready to finally get some rest. As he stepped out of his car, his sharp eyes caught the sight of a familiar sleek black vehicle pulling away from the driveway.
His heart did a strange, uneasy flip.
He waited until the car disappeared down the road before walking into the estate. The moment he stepped inside, he heard his sister’s excited voice carrying through the halls.
Elara: (gushing, animatedly) “—and then he just showed up out of nowhere! And the entire school went dead silent. You should’ve seen their faces! He didn’t even have to say anything, and everyone just knew—I was under his protection.”
Leo’s steps slowed.
He turned the corner and saw his parents listening as Elara sat cross-legged on the couch, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Elara: (dramatically, hands clasped to her chest) “I mean, how many people get to say that Julian D’Argento himself declared them under his protection?”
Leo’s fingers curled slightly.
Mother: (gently amused) “That must have been quite the moment for you.”
Elara: (grinning) “It was! And it didn’t stop there! After school, he—” (pauses for effect, eyes shining) “—he took me to his house.”
Leo stiffened.
Father: (raising a brow, mildly curious) “His house?”
Elara: (nodding excitedly) “Not just a house. His estate. And oh my God—you wouldn’t believe how beautiful it is. The design, the atmosphere—so elegant, so powerful. And his room? It felt like something straight out of a novel. I even slept on his bed!”
Leo’s jaw clenched.
Something in his chest twisted uncomfortably.
"So that’s why he wasn’t available today…" Leo thought darkly.
Julian D’Argento had sent Elias Carter in his place—not because of business, but because he had been busy taking care of Elara.
"Is that how much he values my sister?"
The thought made his stomach churn, though he couldn't quite place why.
Mother: (slightly concerned) “You slept on his bed?”
Elara: (laughing, waving it off) “It’s not like that, Mom! I was just tired, and he let me rest.” (softly) “He’s really sweet, you know? Underneath all that cold, intimidating exterior… he’s kind. Gentle, even.”
Leo’s grip on his coat tightened.
Elara: (sighing dreamily) “Whoever ends up with him is going to be the luckiest person ever.”
Leo felt something deep and ugly settle in his stomach.
He swallowed it down.
Because this was his sister.
His baby sister, who had no idea what she was saying.
His sister, who was looking at Julian D’Argento like he was a fairy tale prince—completely unaware of the way Leo had started looking at him too.
Their parents weren’t thrilled about the situation, either. He could see it in their composed but cautious expressions. They weren’t fools—Julian D’Argento wasn’t a name that could be easily ignored. And despite his status, wealth, and power, they weren’t particularly excited about their daughter growing closer to a man who remained an enigma to most of the world.
Leo forced himself to relax.
Leo: (lightly, teasing) “Sounds like you had an eventful day.”
Elara turned to him, beaming.
Elara: (excitedly) “Leo! You won’t believe how amazing he is. And the way he stood up for me? I swear, he could be—”
She stopped, frowning.
Elara: (squinting at him) “Wait a minute… why do you look grumpy?”
Leo forced a laugh, shaking his head.
Leo: (smirking) “Grumpy? I’m just exhausted from work, El.”
Elara eyed him suspiciously before shrugging and turning back to their parents.
Leo exhaled slowly.
That… was close.
But inside? He was anything but fine.
Because he wasn’t supposed to care about Julian D’Argento.
He wasn’t supposed to feel this strange, sharp pang in his chest when his sister talked about him like that.
And yet, as he sat there, listening to her excited chatter, he couldn’t shake the feeling.
It was possessive. Irrational.
But it was there.
- Writer
