Chapter 25
CRYSTAL
I yawned lazily, pinching my eyes shut and flying it back open once I had been aroused from my deep slumber.
My eyes peaked at the open windows that had curtains swaying over them in the rhythm of the cool early morning wind.
I stood on my wobbly feet and took tottering steps to one of the windows. The cold wind was ever so soothing on my skin, tenderly caressing it.
I strained my neck and noticed the pond some metres away.
Wow I never did know I could see the pond from my windows.
The sun and the moon were clearly visible in the early morning sky.
I watched the palm trees sway to the gentle breeze of the warm sun.
The entire landscape was basking in the warm glow of the sun.
I exhaled slowly and my minds brought back flashes of I and Leonardo’s walk in the beach.
Strangely, it was nice. It was not how I had totally thought it would turn out. Leonardo’s attitude was evolving these days.
He was more calm and less angrier.
He never snapped back at me. He always looked after my needs and made me feel–well anything close to being cared for.
Whenever I had tried to understand why he was being so nice to me, it left me more puzzled.
Was it because I was Ill?
Well the doctor said I was recovering now so I was expecting him to go back to his normal overbearing, selfish attitude anytime soon.
After all good things hardly stayed in my life. I truly won’t be surprised if he began acting up towards me again.
I can not trust him fully. Hell not even partially!
He hasn’t earned my trust yet and I don’t want to buy his show of kindness.
Life had taught me on countless occasions not to expect too much from other people to avoid disappointments and pain and Leonardo was not an exception to that.
He had caused me so much pain and it will take time to actually overlook that.
I inhaled once more and shuffled my feets to the shower to freshen up.
My shower was hot as expected–doctor’s advice. It really did justice in warming my skin and distracting my never ending thoughts from Leonardo.
I could only focus on the thin droplets of water hitting my bare skin.
I stepped out from the bathroom with just a towel wrapping around my petite body. I took my hair dryer to dry off the water in my wet hair before combing it downwards.
I wanted to pack it to a pony tail but something clicked in my mind.
Leonardo didn’t like my hair packed. I noticed that. He liked running his hands down my hair during the few days I was caged up in this room.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
I decided to leave my hair cascading over my shoulders. Not like I cared about his preferences but I truly didn’t want to incure his wrath.
My stomach grumbled snapping me out of the gloomy past and into the present.
I was hungry.
I had already laid down clothes on the bed. I slipped on my panties and applied a lotion to my body.
It was part of those expensives body gifts Leonardo had gotten for me from one of his trips to Australia.
Come to think of it, I never actually saw Leonardo leave for work anymore ever since I fell ill.
Could it be that he put his job aside to cater for me?
What the fuck. I bit my bottom lip. I felt guilty and same time confused.
Guilty because I know for one he was a busy man and him keeping his work aside for my sake would only compile more work duties on him.
I felt confused because what the hell is Leonardo doing? Why is he sacrificing for me?
I shook my head and continued dressing up, my grumbling stomach raging within me.
I put on a spaghetti hand floral gown accompanied by some palm slippers. I needed to feel light and airily. I smeared some lip gloss on my lips and squirted myself a perfume.
I twisted the door knob, opening the door and stepping outside.
My heart suddenly began palpitating as I wandered through the hallways.
Ever since Leonardo told me yesterday that I would accept to become his, I had been having mixed feelings. What did he mean by that?
Would he point a gun at my head and force me to wed him?
Well it wasn’t something he couldn’t do. Leonardo was fully capable of that.
God. What is Leonardo doing to my thoughts.
I approached the stair case and walked downstairs. My palm shoes clicked against the tiled floor causing me to scrunch my face.
I didn’t like the sound.
My eyes scrutinised the imperial living room and it whipped to the dinning room once I had gotten downstairs.
Where the hell was Leonardo?
Had he gone to work? Wow. Here I was thinking he sacrificed work for me and he must have probably gone back to work.
I saw Maya approaching from the kitchen and gave her a smile “Maya good morning”I greeted
She returned back my smile with a smile of her own.
“Goodmorning dear how was your night?”
“Fine Maya how are you doing?”I asked feeling a little elated suddenly.
She gave me a nod. “I am fine Crystal. How is your body? I hope you are recovering just fine? Leonardo really made sure to provide expert doctors under the best conditions and I truly hope all that is paying off”
I laughed mildly. “Of course it is Maya. I am recovering just fine”
It was nice knowing she cared for me this much even after what transpired between I, chase and Leonardo.
My eyes strained about, searching for that one man, that one individual that was giving me puzzled thoughts.
“Oh are you looking for Leonardo?”Maya asked with a brow raised at me making me snap my eyes to face hers.
I felt slightly embarrassed noticing she was able to read my thoughts.
I nodded shyly.
“He is in the kitchen dear”she pointed her index finger at the direction of the kitchen.
I mouthed her a “thank you” and watched her go away.
Such a lovely woman. She truly reminded me of my mother.
I quickly cleaned the few tiny tear drops that slipped past my eyelids and made my way to the kitchen.
I entered the broad kitchen and spotted Leonardo whisking some eggs in a bowl. His back was faced at me.
About five chefs were littered all around the kitchen, each busy with breakfast preparation and only giving me a slight nod of their head to acknowledge my presence.
As if sensing my arrival in the kitchen, Leonardo turned his face to meet mine. His hair was kind off messy, covering some parts of his face.
With sharp jawline, high cheek bones, bright blue eyes not cold like before, perfect amount of brows and having a shade of peach lips; Leonardo really looked handsome.
I cringed knowing I was observing his facial features.
“Crystal how are you and how was your night?”He asked rather too friendly.
“I am fine and my night was ok. What about yours? Leonardo are you making breakfast?”I asked trying to decipher what he was doing.
He nodded and snatched the bowl of whisked eggs from the kitchen counter in a fluid motion before showing it to me.
“I’m preparing frittata. It’s an Italian dish similar to omelette” Leonardo replied bringing the bowl in full view to my curious eyes.
“Why are you preparing breakfast?”I asked once more.
He gave a shrug of his shoulders. “In as much as I don’t like it, I don’t want you to fall sick because you hate me. So I want to make you feel as comfortable as ever”
I felt speechless at his utterance.
I had always told him I hated him but him saying it made me feel–i don’t know… probably weird.
He laughed it off and his eyes scanned me from up to down.
“You look beautiful as usual. Your outfit is perfect for where I’m taking you to”
I gave him curious brows. “Where is that?”
I rubbed my elbow with my right hand as I suddenly felt self conscious under his gaze, my eyes darting to the ground.
“You shall see”Leonardo replied evasively, turning his eyes back to the counter.
“Go wait for breakfast gattina” he instructed.
I felt overwhelmed by curiosity to know where he was taking me too.
Well he said I’ll see.
I retreated out of the kitchen and towards the dining room.
Minutes later, breakfast was served with Leonardo joining me. He fed me as usual even though I protested otherwise and we engaged in our random têtê-à-têtê.
Once done, I waited for Leonardo to freshen up giving me time to also get ready for wherever he was taking me too. He led me out of the mansion and towards his waiting limousine.
Inquisitiveness had become the best of me. I shot him questions incessantly on where we were going but he kept on replying evasively.
I finally gave up and decided to close my eyes , getting some shut eye and wanting to be awaken when we arrived at our destination.
“Crystal wake up we are here”Leonardo’s voice rang in my ear, arousing me up from my light sleep.
My jaws dropped and I had goo goo eyes on seeing where we were.
“No fucking way” I gasped.