~Felicia~

FEW HOURS EARLIER...

The lump sat deep in my throat which wouldn't go away. I put the last photo frame in the storage box and stared at the emptiness of the wall. The nails lasted longer than these photos, I thought to myself. It's okay, it's alright. I'm worth more than this humiliation. Once I get back home, I can feel loved and belong again.

My tears turned into hard crystals that rolled down my chin as I stared at the empty closet. Half of them were his gifts, top labelled fashion brands filled my walk-in closet and I had a new outfit for every day of the year.

I thought I'd make more memories here, bear his kids and watch them create havoc in this little room, this mansion. But my dreams were crushed too soon.

"Get ahold of yourself, Felicia. You're stronger than this." I spoke to myself in loneliness.

I was hallways across the country on a train when my phone buzzed with the ringtone; I sleepily clicked the green button and didn't even see the contact.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Felicia. Please think this over. You're leaving him at his worst state and walking out of his life when he did so much for you." My eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm walking out of his life, Neil? How ironic. I thought he did that before I could. So I'm going my own way too." I reasoned with assertion.

"Just because he couldn't attend the party, you're punishing him for a lifetime."

"JUST a party?" I emphasized, "Do you even realize how embarrassed I was consoling my own colleagues of HIS absence? Meanwhile, he was grooming his PA in the hospital for her fake injury." I hissed in anger.

"If you're taking his side and pushing me under the bus, forget about contacting me ever again. Goodnight." Saying, I hung up and switched my phone off. I dreamed of a perfect life with Leo Herring. I didn't even love him for his money or looks. I fell in love with his kind, generous and sweet personality.

"To hell with them!" I grunted under my breath and went back to sleep uncomfortably.

I reached back to my hometown, walking into the crappy old apartment I grew up in. My parents died seven years ago in a car crash. As I looked at the empty walls, sadness wallowed my heart and I broke down. Finally. The catharsis felt liberating and I didn't feel numbness in my heart any longer. I started unpacking after a nice shower and resolved to clean the apartment. It would be a nice distraction against thinking about Leo and our past life. Which I'm over with.

After everything was done, I was setting up my cheap ramen from a cup and cheese strings when my phone vibrated again. I anticipated Maya or Neil trying to change my mind about Leo again. I rolled my eyes and saw the name displayed, my eyes widened at the surprise.

It was Leo himself.

-I need to see you, Felicia. Baby, please don't punish me like this...-

I stared at the screen with my heart on my sleeves. Did he really think persuading me like a maniac would fix things between us?

My hands were trembling. As much as I didn't want to admit, I still cared for Leo.

-Not after you ditched me and disregarded my feelings like that. Goodbye.-

I tried to end the conversation desperately. But soon after, he was dialling me. I didn't want to pick it up, letting the rings go off about three times. I stared at the red button hard on the fourth ring and my finger betrayed me by sliding the green one.

"Felicia, hey. Where are you? Send me your location, I'm coming to get you."

"I'm far out of your reach. Now you know how it feels like to stay apart, to be ignored."

"Felicia...please. Your punishments are unreasonable. I know that I hurt you. But I assure you it's not because of Maya. I'm her boss, I ought to help her out. Just like all my employees, im responsible for her wellbeing too!"

I laughed at his explanation.

"Leo, she's always injured herself in convenient times. Like your birthday and other events that should bring us together. Don't you find it petty and planned?"

"Oh come on! You're being delusional! Accidents happen all the time, alright! You know that pretty well. I saved you countless times too." He exclaimed as I scoffed in disbelief.

"Countless times!? Stop talking to me!" I growled out.

"That's a bit childish of you. I don't expect you to understand my stance but you're taking this too far. Send me your location or I'll pull strings and get you myself." I scoffed again. This man's head was too high in the clouds!

"Did you just call me childish? I hid my disdain with your friendship with Maya and didn't utter a single word against your past with her. And now you rub it on my face that I'm childish. Well played, boss!"

"Stop it, Felicia. It's getting annoying. I'm stumped with work and consoling you should be the last thing on my list. I do care about you. There's no other reason I cried when I saw your empty room and am calling you right now." He said and I felt my lower lip wobble.

"Don't contact me ever again. We're over." I repeated the words from yesterday and did the same. Cut the call and went on about my day.

~Leo~

I smiled at the jovial and rich environment. Neil's birthday brought everyone close under one roof, and I kept thinking about Felicia. As though my wishes were answered, i caught sight of Felicia standing alone, looking all pretty in her yellow dress. Her stance was suggesting she didn't want to be there. When someone came by to talk, she answered them in small phrases or just a nod. It didnt matter and i was just glad i could see her again.

Even after she moved cities to work online, she came by to engage socially. I didn't think she'd come, but there she was, always doing the right thing and putting others' happiness before her own.

"Leo! Boss!" Maya's voice brought me back to reality. I was stuck in my trance with Felicia. Her gaze followed where I was looking then Maya looked back at me with a polite smile.

"Could you wheel me to the water section, please? I've been calling you."

"S-Sorry. I was distracted." I said and went over to help Maya. She was to be in a wheelchair for approximately a month. I briefly caught Felicia looking my way as I sipped on water. I so desperately wanted to talk to her, but Maya's needs came first. We could talk later.

"What's on your mind, boss? Where are you looking?" Maya suddenly asked. I shook my head and said, "Nowhere. Where do you wanna go next?"

Honestly, it is kinda exhausting to keep wheeling a patient around in your party. But these are part of my duties as their boss. I wanna be able to help them as they are obliged to do the same for me. It kinda sucks.

We were now at the dinner table when I pushed Maya closer to the table and sat down. I was cutting steak for her as she said she felt too weak and tired.

Suddenly, Maya leaned on my shoulder and whispered, "I don't know what I'd do without your help, boss. Thank you for being the best."

"You told me you wanted to enjoy the party. I'm just being a good person." I said and fed a bite sized piece to her. Out of nowhere, the birthday boy stood behind me and suggested,

"Why don't you feed Felicia too? She's been avoiding interaction for a long time. Give her some company, dude. She would appreciate your company." I raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, I felt indifferent and the pain from last night washed over me.

"She'll be fine over there. She was never into social interactions." I said briefly.

"Are you sure, mate? He looks so uncomfortable." Neil argued. I put the knife and fork down and stared up at him.

"If you're that concerned, why don't you go give her company? It's your party she came to. Besides, she's fine with whatever she's doing. She also knows I'm here for Maya because she's injured. It's not a big deal like she's posing it to be." I seethed and turned away.

"I sense animosity from your girlfriend. I swear I'm not trying to get between you two, Leo." Maya got the wrong idea as I was quick to defeat her worries and concerns.

"Felicia is fine. She understands that you need my help." I assured and glanced at Felicia, who now looked irritated. She quickly looked away when she realized I was staring at her.

"I can't stress enough how good of a boss you are, Leo." I pursed my lips into a thin line and pushed the plate to Maya. I shrugged the praise off, I had doubts infiltrating my mind.

The catering reeled us in to sit around the big table as I was pulled to sit beside my PA, Maya. My eyes were searching for Felicia and she was sitting in a dimly lit corner with unknown folks.

My gaze locked with Felicia and her eyes were screaming that she was uncomfortable. But when she noticed me, her look turned into one of annoyance and she huffed before looking away. That made my heart bump with a pang. Why was I feeling guilty for nothing I did?

I was quick to brush it off. It wasn't my fault anyway. But I couldn't help but think about her odd behavior. She was never this incongruous with me. So angry and so hurt, it was as if she wanted to make me feel something for her.

Suddenly, I caught her getting up and excusing herself. Where is she going?

"Maya I'll be right back." Saying, I made my escape and caught Felicia right on time.

"Where are you going? We need to talk." I held her arm and stated assertively. She shook my hand off, her eyes scaring me.

"No, we don't. I'm going back home."

"Your home is with me, Felicia. We built that together."

"That's just a house with walls now, Leo. I— what's the point in explaining?" She shook me off again and tried walking away.

"Hey guys! Is everything alright?" Neil came up behind me and assessed the tension in the air.

"Happy birthday and Goodnight, Neil." Saying, Felicia took her leave and I couldn't do anything about it. Something was holding me back.

"She doesn't look okay to me, Leo. Did you do something?"

"Except for helping my employee, I didn't do anything against her wish. She'll be fine. Let's go back." Urging us back in, I pulled my phone out and texted Felicia,

-Let's talk after. But lemme know when you reached home. I'm concerned-

When I hit the button to send, I scowled to see the single grey tick. Her profile picture wasn't visible to me either. My mood was ruined when I realized she'd blocked my number.

~Felicia~

I reached back home and went to sleep right away. I applied for leave today and hoped some rest would revive me. As soon as I woke up, I checked my formal emails and responded to one of them. Meanwhile, our Company's group chat was buzzing in the background which kinda distracted me. I decided to check it out.

Most of the pictures and texts were from Maya, of course. I rolled my eyes and tried to get to the recent messages. But her pictures got my attention because she was posing with Leo in every. single. one of them.

My heart sank to my stomach as I fell back onto the headboard. There he was, flaunting his gentleman's behavior as he held the door open for her. I recognised the porch, it was Maya's house.

-Feels so safe when Boss Leo drops me back to my house. He goes to such lengths for me~-

That wasn't even the worst part. Yet.

The grip on my phone was tightened when I read the comments that followed,

-That's such a cute photo!-

-Yes but i like the 1 where he's adjusting her hair! They look so cutesy!-

-ikr! Like a real couple! They'd make such a power couple in our company!-

My chest tightened uncomfortably and teats threatened to dampen my cheeks. It looked like Maya and Leo were the new hot couple in town. They didn't even consider my presence in the group chat. As if I was invisible!

That didn't stop there. The pictures and following comments were a mile long in the chat. All were Maya flaunting poses and scenarios with Leo and he seemed so comfortable and unbothered in every single one of them.

I toughened myself up and decided to distract myself with TV. The news channel flashed breaking news, "BEST CEO OF THE YEAR WAS SEEN ESCAPING THE CONFERENCE TODAY TO TRAVEL TO MICHIGAN OUT OF THE BLUE! WHAT IS THIS NEW IMPROMPTU BEHAVIOR FROM THE BEST CEO?"

Michigan? That's where I was! As if to knock me back into my senses, there was a knock on the door. I feared who it might be.

"Err...yeah?" I looked at the pizza delivery and he smiled brightly.

"This is a gift pizza from an ADMIRER." I tilted my head to the side. I wanted to reject it but I could skip lunch with this. I took it and closed the door. Wondering who my admirer was, I opened the pizza. On the lid was a note attached,

-My love, we need to talk. Please forgive me. I've delivered your favorites. XOXO-

When I looked down at the veggie-filled pizza, I lost my cool. I hate vegetables on my simple Margherita pizza. But guess who else loved veggies on their pizza because they're health conscious? Maya.

Almost immediately after, the furious knocks on my door made my bones jump out! I looked through the peephole, upset to find Leo standing there. He was drenched in the rain and had his top buttons undone, sleeves rolled up.

"Why? Why can't you just leave me alone?!" I yelled.

"I wasn't taught to severe bonds, Felicia. I only how to make them!" He retorted.

"That's very nice of you but you gotta leave."

"That's not happening unless you're coming with me." His eyes briefly glanced inside my house, "Look at the way you're living. Please come home, Felicia. You're making this harder for me!"

"No, Leo. You're making this harder for yourself. His shoulders relaxed as he breathed out.

"At least apologize to Neil and Maya. They were hurt because of your actions last night." I jumped my eyebrows in the air.

"Apologize?" I asked increduloudky.

"Yes. They're coming here for a dinner."

"Why...why would you always put others before me?" My lips wobbled and I saw his eyes flash with concern. Just for a jiffy. Then it was gone, wiped away.

"I- I have to get rest. I'm too tired for anything related to you. Go home, Leo."

"I can't. I already booked the private cabin at WonderLeaf. Come by at 8pm sharp. I don't want any excuses or I'll keep knocking at your door. And i won't leave Michigan back to NYC."

"Are you freaking kidding me!? You're threatening me, Leo!"

"I'm fully aware of that. Bye. See you there." Saying, he looked at my apartment with disgust once again and turned to leave.

"Whatever. FINE I'M COMING!" i yelled into the corridor...and he didn't even turn back to acknowledge me. I pretended to be strong and tough superficially but deep down I was crippling with emotional agony.