Chapter 9
Seraphina couldn’t help but chuckle. It had been years since she’d been turned down by a man. But, since this man was Leandro, she had seen this coming.
Leandro slowly said, “You don’t owe me anything. Now that you’re sober, Ms. Bennett, you can leave.”
His hint for her to leave was too obvious, but Seraphina didn’t feel awkward. Instead, she comfortably sat on the sofa, “I can’t find my purse, Mr. Reynolds, have you seen it?”
Leandro looked at Karan, “Karan, check the car for Ms. Bennett’s purse.”
Karan shot Seraphina a glance, then got up and walked out.
Seraphina gave Karan a smile, then glanced at Valerio, who was happily eating at the dining table, then said, “I haven’t seen you for years, Mr. Reynolds. Your son is so big now, should I congratulate you!”
Leandro finally put down what he was holding, looked up at her, his eyes deep, “Thanks.”
Seraphina looked at him, slowly wiped the smile off her face, and changed to a comfortable position on the sofa, “Never mind, I know you don’t like me, I’ll just grab my purse and go, don’t want to be a sore sight.”
Karan had already brought back Seraphina’s purse and tossed it onto the sofa where Seraphina was sitting. Seraphina sighed, picked up her purse, and took out her cell phone.
There were over a dozen missed calls on the phone, most of them from Sandra, and three from Balch. Seraphina texted Sandra first to let her know she was safe, then called Balch back on the sofa.
Leandro sat quietly, seemingly watching to see how long she could stay.
Balch’s voice came over the phone, and Seraphina quickly said with a smile, “It’s me.”
“Uh huh.” Balch’s voice sounded calm, “Are you okay?”
Seraphina countered, “Did you come last night?”
“The driver didn’t see you, and no one was picking up your phone, so I went myself and found out you got in.
Leandro’s car.”
Upon hearing this, Seraphina looked at Leandro sitting next to her and let out a long sigh, “That’s embarrassing.”
Leandro didn’t look at her at all.
Seraphina touched her ear and asked Balch on the phone, “So, would it be too much to ask you to come pick me up again?”
Balch chuckled, “My pleasure.”
Seraphina sent Balch her location, then put down her phone and looked at Leandro, “Mr. Reynolds, a friend is coming to pick me up, I’ll be gone soon.”
Leandro looked at her again. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were deep, as if trying to see through people, making them uneasy. But Seraphina wasn’t flustered at all. She smiled calmly, looking even more beautiful under his gaze.
The doorbell rang, and Karan hurriedly got up to open the door.
“Your friend is here to pick you up.” Leandro said slowly, without even looking.
Seraphina was taken aback and instinctively looked at the door. Karan opened the door, and Balch, dressed in dark blue loungewear, was standing there.
Seraphina looked at Leandro, then got up and walked up to him, her expression surprised, “How did you get here so fast?”
Balch laughed and said to her, “I forgot to tell you on the phone, I’m Mr. Reynolds’s neighbor.”
After saying that, Balch turned his head to look at Leandro in the living room and said softly, “Hello, Mr. Reynolds,”
Leandro leaned back on the sofa, just slightly nodding his head.
This coincidence was a bit hard to believe. Seraphina didn’t have time to think deeply about it, she just said with a smile, “So, I guess I was close to you last night.”
Balch laughed and nodded, then asked, “Can we go now?”
“Sure.” Seraphina answered, then turned her head to nod at Karan, then glanced at Leandro still sitting on the sofa, before leaving with Balch.
Karan watched them leave the front yard, then closed the door.
“Seraphina has really grown up after not seeing her for several years.” Karan said while walking towards the kitchen, “She’s getting more capable, with that smart mouth and beautiful face, she sure can attract a lot of men!”
After saying this, she looked at Leandro, but Leandro was still sitting on the sofa, his eyes didn’t change at all:
