EPISODE 4
1320 Words
A GHOST WITH NO PAST
Leo’s Hunt For Answers
Leo Astor never wasted time on meaningless pursuits. But Julian West wasn’t meaningless.
That night at the gala had stirred something in Leo—not curiosity, not concern. Irritation.
Julian didn’t belong in his world. And yet, there he was—unbothered, unshaken, and far too confident for someone who should have been insignificant.
So Leo did what he did best.
He investigated.
From his office in Astor Conglomerate headquarters, Leo leaned back in his chair, reviewing the reports laid out before him.
Julian West.
No criminal record. No business under his name. No known assets. No paper trail.
A ghost.
His sources—some of the best in the industry—had turned up nothing.
Not just little information. Nothing.
Leo’s expression remained cold, but his fingers drummed once against the desk.
Julian was hiding something. And he was damn good at it.
A knock at the door.
Nolan Whitmore, his right-hand man and head of security, entered, placing a folder down. “Everything we could find on Julian West.”
Leo flipped it open.
It was empty.
Nolan cleared his throat. “We dug into his background. School records, past jobs, financial history—it’s all vague. The deeper we looked, the more dead ends we hit.”
Leo remained silent.
“No digital footprint, either,” Nolan continued. “It’s like he doesn’t exist outside of what little he allows people to see.”
That alone told Leo exactly what he needed to know.
Julian West was more powerful than anyone realized.
Because only someone truly untouchable could erase himself so cleanly from the world.
Leo closed the folder and set it aside.
“Forget it.”
Nolan blinked. “Sir?”
“If there’s nothing to find, I’m not wasting my time on a ghost.”
Nolan hesitated. “You don’t think it’s suspicious?”
Leo glanced at him. “I don’t care what Julian West is hiding.”
And that was the end of the conversation.
Julian’s Push – And Leo’s Indifference
Julian knew Leo was investigating him.
He also knew Leo found nothing.
It amused him.
But what annoyed him? Leo’s indifference.
Most people, after realizing they had no power over Julian, would either fear him or try harder. Leo did neither.
He simply… dismissed him.
And Julian didn’t like that.
Which was why he made it his personal mission to poke at Leo’s carefully controlled composure.
---
At a high-end restaurant, Leo sat across from an important business partner, discussing expansion strategies.
Then, Julian walked in.
Leo barely acknowledged him.
Julian, dressed in a tailored navy suit, smirked as he stopped by Leo’s table. “Small world.”
Leo sipped his wine. “No, just a small city.”
Julian chuckled. “Didn’t take you for the type to investigate people, Leo. I’m flattered.”
Leo met his gaze, cold and unreadable. “I had a few minutes to spare.”
Julian leaned down slightly, voice low and teasing. “And? Did you like what you found?”
Leo set his glass down. “I found nothing. Because you are nothing.”
Silence.
Most men would have been insulted.
Julian? He grinned.
He straightened, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Well, aren’t you interesting.”
Leo turned back to his business partner, completely dismissing Julian’s presence.
And for the first time…
Julian was the one left standing there, unheard.
BENEATH THE MASK
Julian’s Hidden Hurt
Julian West never allowed anyone to see past his facade. Not even Leo.
But in the quiet solitude of his private office, after the confrontation at the restaurant, Julian found himself… shaken.
He leaned against the cold glass of his office window, staring at the city below, though his mind wasn’t on the view.
For a moment, the mask slipped.
Leo’s complete dismissal had stung. The kind of sting that didn’t go away with time, the kind that made Julian feel small—insignificant.
It wasn’t like he had never been ignored before, or that he hadn’t been at the receiving end of coldness. But this felt different.
The way Leo had dismissed him, without a second thought, without a flicker of emotion—it ate at him.
Why did it matter so much?
Julian was used to having power, control. And Leo? Leo was supposed to be just another man. Not someone who could leave him feeling this way.
He exhaled sharply, regaining his composure. The confident, untouchable Julian was back. But for the first time in a long time, it felt like a lie.
---
The Unexpected Encounter – A Personal Moment
The next day, fate intervened.
Julian wasn’t looking for Leo. In fact, he had decided to distance himself for a while—to give himself time to recalibrate.
But life had a way of throwing obstacles in the path of the best-laid plans.
At a charity gala hosted by one of Leo’s family members, Julian found himself in an unavoidable situation. Leo was there.
Julian had made it his mission to not care about the man who had so easily brushed him off. But when their eyes met across the room, something inside Julian shifted. The air thickened.
It wasn’t the same as before. There was something more… raw about it. And it unnerved him.
Julian approached the bar, pouring himself a drink, hoping to make it through the evening without running into Leo again. But just as he turned around, he found himself face-to-face with him.
Leo, as cold as ever, studied him with a hint of surprise.
“West.” Leo’s voice was as disinterested as it always was. “What brings you here?”
Julian, masking his emotions with a smile, shrugged. “Same thing that brings you. Charity, right?”
Leo didn’t reply immediately, his gaze lingering on Julian a little longer than usual. But then, just as quickly, he turned away, his attention shifting to another guest.
The ice was palpable, but Julian didn’t let it show. He stayed where he was, taking a slow sip from his glass.
---
The First Real Exchange
Julian wasn’t one to chase after attention. He had always let others come to him, whether it was for business or personal matters.
But tonight? Something was different.
Julian finally stepped forward, crossing the room until he stood right beside Leo again.
“I think you’re avoiding me.”
Leo didn’t even look at him. “You’re imagining things.”
“I don’t think so.” Julian’s voice was low, though tinged with something Leo couldn’t quite place. “You seem uncomfortable. What, do I make you nervous now?”
Leo’s eyes flicked to him, narrowing slightly. “You’re delusional.”
“Am I?” Julian took a step closer, his tone now quieter, yet sharper. “You know, I’m not some random person you can just brush aside. I know the games you play, Leo. But ignoring me? That’s not one of them.”
Leo tensed. This wasn’t like Julian.
Julian’s smile was brief, but it was there. “I’ve never been the type to be ignored, Leo. And now? You’re making it personal.”
Leo's jaw clenched, but before he could respond, a hand was placed on his shoulder, dragging his attention away.
“Leo, darling, you’ve barely said hello.”
It was Mira, one of Leo’s old acquaintances. She flashed Julian a smile, though the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You’re looking dashing as usual, Julian.”
Julian, seeing his moment slip away, gave her a polite nod. “Thank you, Mira. I’ll let you and Leo catch up.”
Leo’s expression hardened, and for the first time in a while, his indifference faltered.
As Julian walked away, the words he had spoken lingered in the air. Something was shifting in Leo, though he couldn't admit it—not yet.
- Writer
