Chapter 112 - [The Choice] [Unlock]

A/N

BONUS Chapter for reaching no.20 in WIN-WIN ^^

Thank you guys!

Help the story reach no.10 on Win-win by buying Privileged chapters and we'll release 2 extra chapters ^^

*No. 5 in win-win and we'll release 4 extra chapters ^^

----

[Leanna's POV]

[The Choice]

Zhander was taken aback. He didn't answer for a moment. His face contorted in confusion.

After a moment, he avoided my gaze.

I smirked and instantly knew his choice.

I leaned even closer to him.

"Well . . . ," I probed.

"Why does it have to be Estela . . . ?" he said, voice barely audible. It was like he was saying it more to himself.

Come on, Zhander. You can do it. "Why not Estela?"

Zhander flicked his attention at me.

"Leanna, Estela is like a . . . ," he paused, expression in conflict with his words. "S-sister to me. I can't choose between you and my . . . family."

Zhander lost his cool, and his voice cracked towards the end.

"Maybe so . . ." My tongue swept over my teeth. "But the thing is Zhander . . ." I looked him in the eyes. "Estela is not your sister."

. . .

. . .

Droplet of sweat coated Zhander's nose and forehead even though his face remained expressionless. He stayed still, but his eyes were shifting left and right, fingers tapping on the table.

He then looked at me after a long silence. His deep violet eyes were now steady and calm.

I knew he had gotten his feelings sorted by now.

"Why is it you that made me choose between you and Estela? Just like my previous girlfriends?" he asked more to himself.

I leaned back, feeling exhausted.

Finally!

"Don't underestimate women, Zhander. We can feel if the other person truly loves us or not, especially if we love that person. Call it . . . a woman's intuition if you will. Your ex-girlfriends must have felt that you don't truly love them, that's why they made you choose. And of course, I don't have to tell you why you've broken up because you always choose Estela in the end, right?"

Zhander sighed and held my hands.

"Leanna, I do like you––"

"Zhander. I know. I can see it in your eyes. No need to re-affirm your feelings towards me." I grinned. "What I don't understand is . . . why are you still here?"

. . .

. . .

Zhander released my hands and stood to his feet. He flashed me a warm smile and ruffled my hair.

"Thank you," he said and strode off.

I guess it'll be a one heaven night for you, Estela.

I snickered.

Now . . . One more thing to take care of.

I licked my lips, and went in the direction of a solitary table at the corner of the room where two men sat. The two gorgeous men were trying to hide their presence to no avail as men and women alike threw occasional glances at them.

The cold, indifferent man was hard to miss as intense, violent, oppressive air coated him like fog. I was so sure that any moment now, he would pull out a gun and massacre everyone on sight.

While the man with long hair in front of him could barely contain his excitement at the idea. His hand was already inside his pocket, just waiting for the cold man's words, and the deed would be done.

I shook my head in amusement.

I stood behind the cold man and embraced his back, arms resting on his shoulders. Slightly bent, I pushed my full breasts against the warmth of his solid back and blew hot air behind his ear as he trembled.

"I love you more," I whispered.

Cain's violent, oppressive intent vanished like smoke, replaced by warmth and love.

"I'm glad you know," he whispered back and tilted his head, silencing me with a passionate kiss.

----

[Unlock]

Before their date.

Trembling and nervous employees stood before the cold hard panel door. Their body covered with layers and layers of cold sweat upon hearing the angry shouts and hisses reverberating inside their boss's office.

"Y-you're his secretary. Help us sign this for him."

"D-do you want me to lose my job?! Can't you see he's in a bad mood since morning?!"

They quieted down when the solid door opened and came out a ghostly pale, lifeless man. He didn't even glance at them as he strode off, staggering, holding with both hands bundles of red mark papers while he stumbled alone in the abandoned corridor.

They gulped.

They could already see their future if they entered that gateway to hell entrance of their boss's office.

"No one enters this room until you re-draft those papers incorporating those exact numbers! I want it on my table in less than an hour, or you can kiss your job goodbye! Got me!?" Zhander's furious voice resounded before the door slammed shut.

The staffs all look at each other. Their eyes lifeless as their faces dejected as if someone had died.

Re-drafting and incorporating the exact numbers for an ongoing project and submitting it in less than an hour?!

That's impossible!

It was like he was telling them to lose their jobs altogether.

Why did our boss turn out this way?

----

Zhander sighed and leaned on his leather chair while massaging his temples.

Since the time when Estela confessed to him, he had been on edge. He was extremely happy, but that only made him even more confused.

Estela is like your sister! You can't!

It was like something was guarding and locking his feelings for her making him unable to comprehend the whole situation –– the reason why he was frustrated and angry since then.

You're confused. The one you like is Leanna.

That's right.

Leanna . . .

His mood somewhat brightened when he remembered their date later. He grabbed his phone and instructed the helicopter to leave in an hour.

He then tried to erase the lingering image of Estela continually popping from his mind as he prepared himself to go to New Haven.

----

Zhander stared at the pretty girl sitting opposite him.

Leanna was simply dressed in her short white sleeve sweater and high black waist fitted slacks. But even so, the simple dress didn't hide her alluring curves.

He could smell her scent. Lemon and honey. Soothing and relaxing.

He remembered Estela's green apple scent. Just thinking about it calms him down.

Stop it!

He redirected his focus to the pretty girl in front of him. The attraction was still there. The excitement to know more about her was still there. The urge to make her his was still firmly there.

It was just that . . .

It was his heart. Unlike the time at Estela's confession, his heart was beating ten times faster like it wanted to come out from his chest. Now, however, watching the girl he supposed to like, his heart beat . . .

Normally.

Like it was not one bit excited about meeting Leanna again.

Stop it! Get your game together!

It was a long while since the last time he saw her. He tried to message and call her to no avail.

Must be Cain's doing.

Honestly, he could teach Cain a lesson, but he's Estela's brother. Estela dearly loves Cain so much.

Stop thinking about her!

He tried to focus his attention on his and Leanna's conversation.

When she rejected him –– again, all he felt was the refusal to give up until the conversation turned into a confrontation when Leanna wanted him to choose between her and Estela.

His heart jolted awake at the mention of Estela's name.

He closed his lips tight and avoided his gaze from Leanna's teasing eyes when his heart screamed Estela's name.

He changed the subject instead. "Leanna, Estela is like a . . . s-sister to me. I can't choose between you and my . . . f-family," he said, voice cracking.

"Maybe so . . . But the thing is, Zhander . . . Estela is not your sister."

. . . Estela is not your sister.

. . . is not your sister.

. . . not your sister.

That's right.

Estela was not his sister. She was not even related to him. But why did he still chose her from the girl he was supposed to be in love with?

It was like a key had unlocked so many feelings and memories, making him realized that he was in love with Estela from day one. But since he acted like a brother to her for so long –– he thought his feelings for her were only natural!

Somewhere in him knew that most of the reason why he came to see Leanna was to re-affirm what he felt about her. He likes her. But he doesn't love her.

He had been pushing his feelings for Estela towards other girls since his mind was so convinced that what he felt for her was like that of a little sister.

He smiled bitterly at himself.

I have a lot of explaining to do.