Maya and Rohan stood back, looking intimidated. Even the boisterous Maya had gone quiet. Leo turned his attention to the rest of the group, his charming smile returning, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Since you've all had a successful day," Leo said, clicking his car keys, "how about I drive you all to lunch? My treat. I know a place that's much better than the campus cafeteria."
Lili felt a flutter of excitement mixed with a strange sense of danger. She looked at Luca, who was already heading for the car, then back at Leo. Leo was holding the back door open for her, his eyes locked on hers, waiting for her move.
She didn't know it yet, but the simple life she had planned in the city had just become much more complicated.
The interior of Leo's car was just as intimidating as he was. It smelled of expensive leather and luxury, a stark contrast to the stuffy bus Lili had taken that morning. As the car glided smoothly through the city streets, the silence was filled by the excited chatter of Maya, Rohan, and Luca. They were busy discussing the look on the bullies' faces, laughing about how the "plan" had worked perfectly.
Lili, however, stayed quiet, leaning her head against the cool glass of the window. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Just twenty-four hours ago, she had been a lonely girl crying in a kitchen, terrified of a city that felt too big and too mean. Now, she had a best friend, two new companions, and she was sitting in a car that cost more than her entire hometown street.
Everything was changing so fast.
She stole a glance at the rearview mirror and caught Leo's eyes. He was focused on the road, his expression calm and professional. He didn't join in the loud jokes or the college gossip. To him, this was likely just a small favor for his little brother. While Lili felt a strange, magnetic pull toward him—a mixture of admiration and curiosity—Leo seemed completely detached. To a powerful CEO like him, she was just Luca's new friend.
Leo pulled up in front of a sleek, modern restaurant with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. It was the kind of place where people wore suits and spoke in hushed tones.
"Go on," Leo said, turning to look at the group. He didn't turn the engine off. "Eat whatever you like. I've already called ahead; the bill is handled."
"You're not coming in, Leo?" Luca asked, sounding a little disappointed.
Leo checked his watch, a heavy silver piece that caught the sunlight. "I have a board meeting in fifteen minutes, Luca. Business doesn't wait for lunch." He looked at Lili for a brief second, a polite but distant nod. "Enjoy your meal, Lili. Stay out of the 'Jerk Zone'."
With that, he waited for them to step out and then drove away, his car disappearing into the midday traffic.
Inside the restaurant, the four of them were seated at a prime table. Maya and Rohan were busy looking at the menu, their eyes wide at the prices they didn't have to pay.
"Your brother is a legend, Luca," Rohan said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've never eaten at a place this fancy in my life."
Lili picked up her water glass, her hand trembling slightly. Even though Leo was gone, his presence felt like it was still lingering in the air. She was happy—truly happy—to be with her friends, but she couldn't stop thinking about the man in the charcoal suit. He was kind enough to pay for their lunch, yet he was so far out of her reach.
"He's always like that," Luca explained, noticing Lili's silence. "Work comes first for Leo. He's the CEO, the brilliant one, the guy everyone depends on. But don't let the suit fool you—he sees everything."
Lili nodded, trying to focus on her friends. She told herself she should be grateful for the friendship she had found. She had survived her first day, she was safe, and she was no longer alone. But as she ate her lunch, a small part of her heart was already wondering when she would see Leo again.
After the fancy lunch, the group split up with promises to meet at the college gates the next morning. When Lili finally unlocked her apartment door, the silence didn't feel lonely anymore—it felt peaceful. She sat on her bed, looking at the city lights, and realized how much her life had shifted in just twenty-four hours.
She felt a deep sense of gratitude. Luca had saved her from a miserable first day, and Leo—even though he was distant and busy—had treated her with a kindness she hadn't expected from someone so powerful.
"I can't just let it go," she whispered to herself. "I have to do something to say thank you."
She started making a plan. For Luca, she wanted to do something personal. She remembered him mentioning how he often forgot to eat breakfast because he was always rushing to meet her. She decided she would bake her grandmother's famous lemon muffins and bring them to him at college. It was a simple, sweet gesture for the best friend who had changed everything for her.
But then there was Leo.
Lili bit her lip, thinking about the handsome CEO. She couldn't just give him muffins; he probably had a personal chef for that. He was a man who had everything, which made thanking him even harder. She thought about his cold, professional office and his busy schedule.
"Maybe a note?" she wondered. A handwritten letter felt more meaningful than a text message. She decided she would buy a very elegant, simple "Thank You" card. She wanted to tell him that his gesture made a "New Girl" feel a little less small in a big city.
As she drifted off to sleep that night, she felt a flutter in her chest. She was excited to see Luca, of course, but the thought of finding a way to get that card to Leo made her heart race. She didn't know if he would even read it, or if a busy man like him would care, but she knew she had to try.