Chapter 13
The villa was quiet—so quiet it felt like no one was home at all.
Eleanor had spent the whole ride mentally preparing herself to meet Leon’s grandmother, Gracie Turner. Yet, to her surprise, the villa was completely empty.
“Where’s Mrs. Whitman Senior?” she asked, a little confused.
Leon pulled her over to the couch, gave her a playful wink, and responded with a light tone. She went to pick up a few very important guests. She’ll be back soon.”
Eleanor was puzzled. She wondered who the guests were. After all, Gracie was supposed to be in poor health. What was she doing going out to meet people?
Eleanor had so many questions, but it didn’t feel right to push. Meanwhile, Leon disappeared into the kitchen for a bit. When he returned, he led her over to the dining table.
Eleanor’s mouth watered instantly when she saw the table full of pastries and cakes. However, with her upcoming ballet production, she had to stay disciplined about her weight, so she could only sit there and swallow her cravings.
Noticing she hadn’t touched anything, Leon gently placed a slice of cake in front of her.
He coaxed her in a soft voice. “I had all of this made by a professional nutritionist. The calories are low, and the sweetness is balanced–you’ve had a long day, so you should at least have a bite. And if you really gain a little weight, I’ll diet with you, okay?
That gentle persuasion worked like a charm on a very hungry Eleanor. After hesitating for a moment, she gave in to her instincts, scooped up a small bite, and tried it–it really did taste amazing.
Seeing her smile again finally eased the tension in Leon’s chest. He added a few more treats to her plate and patiently described each ingredient so she could feel safe indulging a little.
Before she realized it, she had eaten nearly everything on her plate. She had a few sips of fruit juice, then stood up abruptly and announced she needed to work out.
Leon could only laugh, both impressed and exasperated by her discipline, and he accompanied her for a walk in the garden.
They strolled slowly through the yard. As the sunset turned the sky a soft golden orange, Eleanor suddenly asked, “Did you know about Aaron and Alina?”
Leon raised an eyebrow, his tone slipping back into that familiar, cocky drawl. “Aaron and I
are sworn enemies. You think I wouldn’t know about a scandal like that?”
Thinking about how the two of them threw shade at each other every time they met, Eleanor found it easy to believe. She asked, “So when did you find out?”
Chopdale La
“The night it happened,” Leon said with a shrug “They were staying at a hotel my friend owns. I heard about it that same night. I had someone keep an
e on Alina, and when she bought a pregnancy test, I figured it out right away.”
Eleanor was shocked at how early on Leon had known about the matter.
Leon caught the surprised look on her face and pursed his lips slightly, his voice a little more strained. “What are you thinking? That I was holding out on you and should’ve told you sooner?”
Eleanor shook her head and calmly replied, “We barely knew each other back then. It would’ve been weird if you’d told me. I was just wondering what kind of person Alina is really in all of
this,”
Her curiosity rubbed Leon the wrong way, and his mood soured instantly. His voice lost its patience as he answered, “She has some sense of morality… but not much. Yeah, Aaron was the one who messed up that night, but she’s a grown woman.
“She didn’t take any precautions and then acted shocked when she ended up pregnant. And she still went to that company health screening, knowing it could expose everything. Doesn’t sound like someone innocent to me.
“The Fords offered her money in exchange for the baby, and she agreed. I mean, it’s her own kid. That tells you what kind of person she is.
“And don’t even get me started on how she knew about you, yet still tangled herself up with Aaron. If you ask me, she’s either stupid or just plain rotten.”
C
