not happening...

24

He feels the warmth of her skin and holds her hand a little longer, even though he senses that she wants to pull her hand away. What an i***t he was. He sees her frown and then nod, “Okay, if they come too.” He still smiles at her and nods, “Thank you very much. Is there anything you particularly like to eat?” Leila: “Oh, don't worry, I eat almost anything.” Nicholas shakes his head, “It's no trouble, and I want you to feel comfortable.” Leila whispers, “I like Chinese food.” He nods, “Then I'll reserve a table.” Inside, he thinks he'd buy or reserve the damn restaurant. He nods again and returns to his seat. He stops in front of Cole and Konrad Grand and asks, "Leila has agreed to accept my invitation to dinner. Would you please come with us? I realize how safe she feels in your company.“ Konrad looks at him, then at Cole, who nods, so, ”Yes, sure. We'll come too. Thanks for the invitation.“ Nicholas smiles, ”No, thank you." He sits down, takes out his cell phone, and types a message to Peter

Nicholas: Reserve a table at the best Chinese restaurant in town

Peter: How many?

Nicholas: Mr. Grand, Mr. Grand, Leila, and me. My grandfather probably wants to come too.

Peter: I saw the livestream... OMG

Nicholas: Do you want to come? But only if you're damn polite.

Peter: That polite? I'll apologize in person. How did we not know she was a genius?

Nicholas: Because I didn't bother.

Peter: Do you think she'll forgive us?

Nicholas: Would you?

Peter: Get the best table in a private room so we can talk without being disturbed.

Nicholas: Flowers, I want flowers and a water fountain... she likes the sound of splashing water and the smell of flowers.

Peter: Consider it done.

Nicholas looks up again and Robert is back on stage. Leila and Robert thank everyone for coming and then they all say goodbye. Thunderous applause can be heard and Leila smiles. Robert bows and the curtain closes. Nicholas gets up, turns to his grandfather, and says, “I just want to make sure she finds us.” Shawn nods and gets into a conversation with Konrad. Nicholas makes his way backstage and sees Leila saying goodbye to the group of security guards, Robert the AI, and Stan. She asks Stan to let her know when Robert and he have arrived safely. Stan nods.

Leila

Stan says, “I'll get Robert to the company safely and activate our security again, just as you want.” Leila nods, “Thank you, Stan.” She watches the group leave, then turns around and notices Nicholas standing not far from her. Did he think she was going to run away? She had absolutely no desire to eat with him, but what the heck. It was just dinner, and her brother would be there. He walks over to her and asks, “Are you ready, or is there anything else to do?” Leila shakes her head, “Ready.” Nicholas puts his hand on her back to guide her toward the others, but she pulls away from him, "Mr. Anderson, there's no need to be so attentive, and you may not believe it, but I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own. We're not close, so please refrain from holding my hand like on stage or something.“ Leila's cheeks turn red, ”See, it wasn't a good idea to agree. I'm not in the mood right now...“ Nicholas steps back and interrupts her, ”It's just dinner. Please don't cancel. Yes, I know you don't feel comfortable around me, but I'll do everything I can to make you forget that. Look, I've been looking for you all year and I'm really, really sorry, but I want to get to know you better. Please, ever since then, it's been like a heavy stone on my heart and I can't breathe properly. But when you're with me, I feel better.“ Leila, ”What? Mr. Anderson, I'm not medicine, and I'd prefer not to have to see your family again. Except maybe your grandfather. You," she points her finger at him, “Your behavior towards me is what gave the others the opportunity in the first place. If you hadn't thrown me to them like meat...” Leila falls silent, the images of everything she has experienced during that time swirling around in her mind, “I'm sorry, but I need a moment.” With that, she spins around and runs out the back door. She can't breathe and gasps for air, her ears ringing. Her chest feels as if metal rings are wrapped around it, and she tries to breathe, to push the panic away. Tears stream from her eyes when she suddenly feels two arms pull her against a strong chest. She hears a voice: “Shhh, it's okay.” She doesn't want this, she doesn't want him to hold her, to see her having a panic attack. She gasps for air—black spots appear before her eyes, and then nothing.When she comes to, she is in the hospital, and Cole and her father are there. Tears stream down her face. “I'm not weak. Dad, I'm sorry.” Konrad takes her in his arms and holds her tight. “Princess, everything's okay.” Cole asks, “Why the panic attack? You haven't had one in six months.” Leila explains what happened and then asks, "Dad, I don't want to see him again. I can't. Why can't he leave me alone?“ Cole: ”Princess, I think he's fallen in love with you, and I've been investigating. As soon as he found out what happened to you, he left the estate. He's been trying to find you.“ Leila: ”I don't care. I just want him to leave me alone." Konrad interjects: “He's outside and wants to apologize.” Leila smiles bitterly and then asks in a very calm voice, "Oh, and this apology will make my scars disappear? Did this man ever ask me what I want? Did he let me explain that I was drugged? Did he say, ‘Well, if you don't want to marry me and accidentally get pregnant, please let me know’?