Her breath caught, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. There it was again, that magnetism between them—charged and unspoken, pulling them closer even when words failed. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to refocus. "Well, thank you," she said again, her voice quieter this time.
Leo's gaze softened, and he took a small step toward her, still keeping a respectful distance. "Anytime," he murmured. "But tell me—are you really leaving now? We could grab breakfast downstairs if you're not in a hurry."
Susan hesitated, caught off guard by the invitation, but she knew she needed to return home. There were errands to run, laundry to tackle, and the lingering memory of the date she'd just left behind. Besides, a quiet voice in her mind warned her against spending too much time with him, as if each second lowered her guard just a bit more.
"Thank you, but I should head home," she replied gently, offering him a small smile. "I've got a few things to take care of today."
Leo's expression remained neutral, but she thought she caught the briefest flash of disappointment before he nodded. "Alright," he said, his voice returning to its usual composed tone. "But I'll have Asher bring you the package this evening."
The sudden reminder of the "package"—the real reason they'd been in each other's orbit at all—brought a strange, sober clarity back to her. Still, she nodded, keeping her expression steady. "I'll be waiting for it," she replied, though the words felt heavier than they should.
For a moment, they simply looked at each other, caught in a shared silence that was almost comfortable, but charged all the same. There was a strange sense of unfinished business in the air, but neither of them broke the quiet. Finally, she stepped back and offered him a small, hesitant smile.
"Well, I'll see you around," she said softly, her hand brushing the doorframe.
Leo's lips curved into a smirk, but his eyes remained serious as he nodded. "See you around, Suzy."
With a last glance, she turned and walked away, her heart beating faster than she cared to admit as she made her way out of the club and into the cool morning air.
___________
It was later that evening when someone knocked at her door. When Susan opened it, Asher was standing there, with a small box in his hand.
"Boss wants you to have this," he said and thrust the box into her hands before she could say a word.
Susan just stood there and watched as he turned and headed back to his car parked not too far away. She didn't even need to open it to know what was in it.
This was her life now, and if Samuel knew about it he'd freak the hell out. Wasn't it ironic how she'd been judging him for going to Leo, and now not only was she working for him, but she'd demanded a cut and actually got it?
She felt like a hypocrite…
Urgh… It would have been a little easier too if she wasn't so attracted to Leo. Throughout the day, she'd found herself thinking about him. She liked him a little bit more now, and she didn't need anyone to tell her that she had to make sure that whatever she was feeling didn't get past this. She couldn't afford to let it for her own good.
But she could let herself dream…Couldn't she?
__________
Susan leaned back on her couch, crossing her arms as she glanced toward Caroline, who was watching her with an expectant look. The late afternoon sun filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over the room, but despite the cozy setting, Susan felt a bit of tension building in her chest. She knew what Caroline wanted to hear, and she also knew what she didn't want to admit.
"So," Caroline said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, "how's everything going with Jeremy? It's been, what—three dates now?"
"Four," Susan corrected, looking away. "But... I don't know. I think I'd rather just be friends with him."
Caroline's expression shifted to mild surprise. "Really? I thought you were finally feeling good about going out with him." She tilted her head, studying Susan's face. "What changed?"
Susan sighed, rubbing her hands together as she searched for the right words. "I like him, Caroline, really. He's sweet, and funny, and we get along. But every time I'm with him, I keep feeling... like something's missing. I just don't feel that spark, you know? And I don't want to lead him on. It wouldn't be fair."
Caroline raised her eyebrows, clearly intrigued. "Hmm. No spark, huh?" She smirked, leaning in a bit closer. "So, let me ask you this—is there someone else?"
Susan felt a jolt at the question, her stomach twisting slightly. "What? No," she said quickly, maybe a bit too quickly, and Caroline's smirk grew.
"Susan," Caroline drawled, crossing her arms with a knowing look. "You're practically blushing right now. Is there someone else on your mind? Maybe someone who explains why Jeremy isn't doing it for you?"
The question lingered in the air, and Susan could feel her face growing warmer. She bit her lip, searching for a way out of this. "It's... complicated," she said, her voice softer now, almost hesitant.
Caroline's eyes widened slightly, and she leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Oh, so there is someone! Susan, who is he?"
Susan laughed nervously, shaking her head as she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "It's not that simple, Caroline. Trust me."
"Come on!" Caroline nudged her playfully. "I've never seen you get this mysterious over a guy before. Just give me something. One little detail and I'll let you be. Is he a friend? Someone from work? Do I know him?"
Susan hesitated, feeling the weight of her secret crush on Leo. She knew she couldn't exactly say it out loud, couldn't admit to Caroline or even to herself fully that she was drawn to a man as dangerous as him. "It's just... it's really not something I want to talk about right now. Let's just say he's someone I shouldn't be interested in, and I'm not. I just need some time for this… Crush or whatever it is to pass… and it will,"
Caroline's eyes glinted with interest. "Forbidden romance? Wow, that's not like you, Susan. But I'm sorry. I know I said I would leave you alone but now you've got me curious."
Susan forced a laugh, hoping her friend wouldn't press further. "Just forget I said anything, alright? Let's talk about something else."
Caroline shook her head, chuckling as she grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it to her chest. "Fine, I'll let it slide for now. But you're going to have to tell me one day. Especially if this mystery man is the reason poor Jeremy is getting friend-zoned!"