In the entire eting, Lucius kept staring at Layla, who was engrossed in checking the proposal, listening to the presentation, talking with the clients. ’Doesn’t she look so beautiful while working too? The subtle expression on her face, which would turn serious sotis, make my heart flutter,’ he thought, bringing his hand to chest while smiling slowly.
As this last eting concluded, Layla shook hands with the client while Aiden led their way to see them off to the car.
The other assistant gathered the files from the table and walked away while Layla looked at the watch on her hand. "Now, we can go," she said, shifting his gaze to Lucius, who was smiling on his own while his hand placent was still on his chest.
"Lucius, what are you thinking?" Layla asked him, curious to know. But he didn’t respond to her.
"Lucius!" Layla slamd her hand on the table, jolting him out of his thoughts.
"Huh?" Lucius shifted his gaze to her, finally coming out of his thoughts. "The eting is over?" he mumbled.
"Yes. Where are you lost? I can’t believe you are the director in the company. I’ve noticed now you stay lost sotis during the work," Layla stated like a stern boss.
"I was lost in your thoughts," Lucius replied and pulled her chair close to him. Her face inched close to his and she looked toward the door.
"Anyone can co inside," she whispered.
"And they will return seeing us like this?" Lucius said. His hand moved to the back of her nape and he crashed his lips above hers.
Layla pressed her hands on his chest but not to push him away but to heard the gentle, rapid beats of his heart. She kissed him back with equal fervor before they finally pulled away.
"Shall we go?" Layla asked.
"Yes, Boss," Lucius replied with a smirk. As they both stood up, Layla told him she would bring her handbag from the office.
"Sure," Layla stated.
"Hmm." He watched her leave and took out the phone from his pocket. He called his father and waited for him to answer the call.
Alekis finally answered the call. "Lucius, why are you calling ? Is everything alright?"
"Yes, Dad. I was thinking if you would like to join and Layla for dinner. Roderick and Fiona aren’t at ho either. You are all alone. So, let’s spend the ti together," Lucius stated.
"Of course, I would love to join you both," Alekis answered.
"Then, Layla and I will pick you up shortly," Lucius said.
"I’ll wait for you." Alekis hung up the call. "My son is changing finally," he said as a small smile played on his lips.
~~~~~
Sylvia dashed out of her apartnt and saw Roger heading to the elevator. "Why don’t you stay with for so ti?" she asked. Her voice echoed in corridor, reaching Roger’s ears too. But he didn’t stop. He didn’t wish to be involved with her. Earlier, he helped her out of humanity.
"Roger, please," Sylvia requested as she walked toward him, not realizing she was bare feet.
Roger quickly pressed the elevator’s button and stepped in. As he turned around to press on the panel, he saw Sylvia approaching him with bare feet and clenched his fists. He pressed the button on the panel, waiting for the doors to close. However, his inner voice asked him to stop and help Sylvia.
As the doors were about to close, he placed his hand between them, thus letting the elevator open again. He stepped out and saw Sylvia finally stopped. Tears were flowing down her eyes and it bothered him.
"Why are you doing this?" Roger asked, walking to her. He then carried her up in his arms and took her toward the apartnt. "Insert the password," he said, not looking at her face.
Sylvia quickly did that before wrapping her arms around him. He walked inside, letting the door close on its own.
Setting her on the couch, he stood on his knees before her. "The Sylvia I know never cries," he said, eting her teary eyes. "And stop bothering . We have ended the ties and I don’t have any intention to entertain you."
"I am sorry," Sylvia apologized to him. "I-I wasn’t in my right mind. I shouldn’t have–" Before she could finish off her words, Roger interrupted her.
"It doesn’t matter anymore," he said. "I tried to kill you and I accepted that. Did Josh do anything with you which you didn’t like?" Roger asked.
"Except for forcing the kiss, he did nothing," Sylvia answered, swallowing the lump ford in her throat. "I will tell Lucius and Layla that I did not tell them the whole truth," she asserted.
"I told you there was no need for that. I don’t want it to happen," Roger said sternly. "You say one thing one mont, do other thing the next mont. I’m here because I am still a human. I couldn’t ignore what Josh was doing. There are no feelings attached. You know well that they ended a very long ti ago."
Sylvia wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks from the back of her palms. "I feel lonely. I want attention. Is it wrong to do that? And I feel worried. I’m the only Mancini alive. What if soday I die like my brother did, my parents did. No one will protect . Lucius got married. He found a beautiful woman who loves him, understands him. I am left all alone." She blabbered whatever ca in her mind.
Roger rubbed the temple of his forehead before lowering his hand to his knee. "No one is going to kill you. You were living well all these years. Didn’t you leave Italy because this place always haunted you? Shouldn’t you do the sa? Just leave this country," he suggested.
Sylvia shook her head. "I don’t want to," she murmured as tears again trickled down her cheeks. "I couldn’t live well in the States either."
"That’s sad. I wish I could help you, but I’m not in a position to do anything. I am re a servant or a dog in your eyes," Roger said bitterly. "Take so sleep and don’t wander around, especially with the n whose intentions you don’t know," he asserted.
"Are you leaving already?" Sylvia asked.
"Yes. I got a day off and I wanted to enjoy it in peace," he replied.
"Then, you should go. And please try to forgive ," she whispered.
Roger stood up and put his hands inside his pockets. "I don’t want to forgive you this ti. I have made a mistake in the past. I don’t want to repeat it now. I have seen you for a long ti. You change colors like a chaleon," he comnted, not caring what she would feel after hearing that. "Now, stop crying and go to your bedroom. Take so rest."
"I need to freshen up first," Sylvia said. "I won’t bother you anymore. You can go," again wiping the tears from her cheeks.
Roger didn’t say anything after that and silently left. Returning to his car, he settled in the driver’s seat. "Why did she break down so suddenly? Those were the tears that always affected even if I didn’t want to admit it. When she cries, she looks more open, and innocent. Her tears made realize that I had developed feelings for her in the past," he murmured to himself. "But I won’t make a fool of myself anymore."
Turning on the car’s engine, he drove to ho.
~~~~~
Alekis dabbed the napkin across his mouth after finishing the food on his plate. "Dad, don’t you want to eat more?" Lucius asked, filling the glass of water.
"I’m full already," Alekis replied. "You chose a nice restaurant to dine," he added.
"Layla chose it," Lucius replied, glancing at his wife.
"I once ca here with my family a long ti ago. I felt Father would like the vibes here and he did." Layla smiled and held the base of the wine glass. She took a slow sip of the wine before gently placing the glass on the table.
Lucius excused himself for a mont, leaving Layla and Alekis on the table.
"You two are married for more than four months now. I asked Lucius about it earlier, but he wants his wife to take the decision on it. What do you think about having kids? I think you two are ready to embrace the parenthood, Layla," Alekis said, giving her a small smile.
"Yes, Father. We are looking forward to it too. Maybe we will soon share the good news with you. And the decision is mutual, Father. Lucius doesn’t want to take a burden of anything, but I also feel we should grow as a family," Layla shared openly with Alekis.
"That’s good to hear," Alekis said. "I’m turning old day by day. I just want to see my grandchild soon," he asserted.
Layla felt strange to hear her father-in-law’s words. But she chose to ignore them.
~~~~
Three more characters images are uploaded!
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