Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Then why follow me without saying anything?”
Leila crossed her arms, trying to regain her composure.
“You looked like you were in a hurry. I figured I’d wait until you were done with whatever it is you’re rushing to. It’s not exactly urgent.” She figured the matter of Lacey’s mentor clearly wasn’t pressing-at least, not yet.
A subtle flicker of unease crossed Landon’s features. He had done it on purpose. From the moment he sensed Leila trailing him, he had deliberately picked up his pace to force her to speak. What he hadn’t expected was her stubbornness. Instead of giving up, she’d followed him all the way, silently enduring the awkwardness.
Landon would never voice such thoughts. He quickly came up with an excuse.
“I was lost in thought and didn’t notice you.”
“It’s alright,” Leila replied with a smile.
“If you’re busy, I’ll wait until you’re done.”
“Okay, follow me and wait for me at my place,” Landon responded quickly, surprising Leila. She had only said that to be polite, but now she felt obligated to follow.
“Fine,” she agreed. After all, she did have something to discuss with him.
Leila followed Landon to his workspace.
Landon usually worked in a separate villa, not in his study at home. An entire floor was dedicated to his work, featuring both outdoor and indoor spaces. The d?cor was simple but stylish, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
When they reached his office, Landon pointed to a beige leather sofa.
“Please, sit down,” he said. Leila obediently sat.
As Landon turned on his computer, he added, “It might be a while. If you get tired, there’s a lounge where you can rest. And if you get bored, there’s a pool table and a gym.”
Leila nodded, though secretly, she wished she could just leave. For some reason, being alone in a quiet room with Landon felt awkward.
However, after a while, the awkwardness started to fade. Landon was a workaholic. Once he started working, he became completely focused.
Leila read a book for a while. The day was beautiful, with the sun shining brightly but not too intensely. The sunlight streamed through the window, warming Leila and making her feel sleepy.
She decided to use her book as a pillow. Glancing at Landon, she saw he was busy typing away on his computer. He looked serious and focused, his brow furrowed in concentration. His beautiful eyes were fixed on the screen, his lips slightly pursed. It added an intensity to his usually aloof and noble demeanor.
Landon had taken off his suit jacket because of the warmth, revealing a black, high-collared shirt underneath. He looked effortlessly elegant. His long fingers flew across the keyboard.
Leila had never found watching someone work so captivating. A smile touched her lips without her even realizing it.
Leila found herself mesmerized by Landon’s hands. In the sunlight, they appeared slender, with prominent veins. She suddenly remembered the time at the hot spring when those same hands had pulled her closer and deepened their kiss, sending her heart racing.
Lost in thought, Leila didn’t realize how long she had been staring at him.
As if sensing her prolonged gaze, Landon looked up, their eyes locking. His expression was typically stoic, his eyes holding a hint of coolness.
The intensity of his gaze snapped Leila out of her reverie, like a splash of cold water to the face. She sat up a little straighter, flustered and unsure of what to say. How could she possibly admit that she had been completely captivated by the sight of his hands moving across the keyboard? It seemed like such a silly thing to say.
A blush crept up her cheeks, and she cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.
“Oh, uh, just thinking about some things,” she stammered.
“What’s up?”
Landon didn’t answer, his gaze lingering on her.
The blush deepened, and she touched her cheek.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked, her voice a little shaky.
“Is there something on my face?”
Landon finally averted his gaze.
“Just curious about what goes through someone’s mind when they’re staring at someone else.”
Leila felt a wave of embarrassment mixed with a touch of annoyance. She moved to a different sofa, away from the warm sunlight streaming through the window, hoping to stay awake. More importantly, from this new spot, the computer screen partially obscured Landon’s face, giving her a chance to hide her flushed cheeks.
Unbeknownst to her, Landon’s lips curled into a faint smile. Despite her best efforts, Leila’s eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.
Leo knocked softly and entered the room, about to speak, but Landon silenced him with a sharp look.
Confused, Leo turned to see Leila sleeping peacefully on the sofa and instantly understood the situation. He nodded knowingly and approached Landon quietly.
“Mr. Kensington, you asked for me?”
Usually, Landon would call Leo directly if he needed something urgently.
It was unusual for Landon to send Leo a series of urgent messages like he had.
“Need you.” “Come up.” “It’s urgent.” Leo had rushed over, expecting some kind of crisis, only to find Landon gesturing toward Leila on the sofa.
“Get her a blanket,” Landon instructed, his voice low.
“Wouldn’t want her to catch a cold.”
Leo was taken aback. Was this really the urgent matter Landon had summoned him for?
Sensing Leo’s surprise, Landon added, “I thought it would be, uh, more appropriate if someone else did it.”
Leo thought to himself that it wasn’t really appropriate for him either. It was clear to Leo that Landon was simply feeling awkward. Leo had once believed there was no way Landon and Leila would ever get back together, especially after Landon had made it clear he was done with their relationship. But now, he wasn’t so certain. Maybe they actually had a chance.
Leo realized that Leila really did mean something to Landon. This was Landon’s private space, after all. Not even the household staff could come in whenever Landon was around. Landon usually only called people when he needed something. But Leila had spent the whole morning here with Landon, even falling asleep, and Landon didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he had even asked for a blanket for her. He wasn’t exactly being lovey-dovey, but it was clear he cared.
Leo kept his thoughts to himself. He knew better than to say anything about Landon and Leila’s relationship. He could lose his job if he stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.
Leo’s mind was racing, but he kept a straight face and nodded.
“Understood, Mr. Kensington,” he said.
Leo got a blanket and was about to put it on Leila when he felt Landon’s eyes on him.
Leo froze. He knew what Landon was thinking. He carefully draped the blanket over Leila without actually touching her.
Leila stirred a little but was too sleepy to wake up. She mumbled something and then fell back asleep.
Seeing that Leo had understood, Landon relaxed a little.
“You can take the afternoon off,” he said, waving his hand dismissively.
“I don’t need anything else.”
Leo maintained a serious demeanor, though inwardly he was thrilled.
Landon was pleased with the way Leo had handled the situation. With Landon’s satisfaction, Leo understood how he should handle things involving Leila from that moment forward.
With this in mind, Leo left with a smile.
When the door closed behind Leo, the room fell into silence. Landon’s gaze drifted toward Leila a few times, but each time, he quickly looked away.
Minutes ticked by. Leila began to fidget in her sleep, her movements restless. Her face contorted as though she were trapped in some unsettling dream.
At first, Landon ignored it, focusing on the papers in his hands. But as her tossing grew more agitated, he couldn’t help but notice her pale complexion and the sheen of sweat forming on her forehead. Concern tightened his brow, and with a reluctant sigh, he set his papers aside and approached her.