“Alright,” Leilani says easily.
She looks at Leonie’s sly expressions and smiles glamorously. She’s not eager to place herself at Leonie’s mercy, but she desperately wants to know what kind of game Leonie is playing. Besides, agreeing seems the best move for the moment—she can always change her mind later.
Leonie is surprised by Leilani’s reaction; she wasn’t expecting Leilani to agree so easily. Recently, Leilani has become quite cunning and Leonie is afraid that perhaps the other woman has something up her sleeve.
“Don’t be silly,” Leonie chides herself, “That bitch doesn’t have anything planned. She’s just scared that I’ll tell Waylen. She thought she was being so sneaky, but I’ve got her now.”
Leonie smiles contentedly, “Remember, I expect absolute obedience. One little act of defiance is all it takes for me to tell Waylen.”
Leilani raises her eyebrows, “No problem.”
Leonie gestures to the table behind her, “Serve me!”
She wants to test Leilani’s obedience immediately, and she plans to play the role of queen. She’s eager to enjoy the patio while humiliating Leilani.
“What would you like to eat?” Leilani asks as she walks to the table.
“Pour me some red wine.”
Leilani nods sincerely and obediently poured red wine into the crystal glass, “Miss Summers, please enjoy yourself.”
Leonie glances at the glass, “Pass it to me.”
Leilani quickly grabs the glass and offers it to Leonie, but Leonie refuses to take it.
“Do you call this service?” Leonie asks haughtily.
“What would you prefer?” Leilani asks.
“I want you to kneel before me as you hand it to me,” Leonie says, “And I want you to toast me.”
Leilani grips the goblet tightly and tries to resist the urge to slap Leonie.
“I should have known that her request would be complicated, petty and humiliating,” Leilani thinks.
“What’s wrong?” Leonie asks, “Are you going to disobey me?”
“Of course not,” Leilani says with a smile.
Leonie smirks, ready to watch Andrea grovel before her. However, instead of kneeling, Leilani dips her fingers into the glass and flicks the wine towards Leonie.
“What the hell are you doing?” Leonie snarls.
“I’m proposing a toast to you,” Leilani says with smug confidence, “Next I’ll bring you a bouquet and maybe light a candle in your honor.”
Leilani gestures to the bouquet and unlit candles on the table. Leonie’s expression sours immediately. She knows that Leilani is referring to an old folk ritual for honoring the dead.
“Are you threatening me?” Leonie fumes.
“Not only is this bitch disobedient, she dares to threaten my death,” Leonie thinks, “How dare she!”
Leonie grabs a fork from the table and swing it wildly through the air to stab Leilani. Leilani agilely dodges the fork and darts out of Leonie’s reach.
“You told me to kneel to propose a toast,” Leilani says, “You didn’t say it had to be a toast for the living.”
“Stupid woman! Don’t you care that I’m going to tell Waylen?” Leonie screams.
“Mr. Bamford,” a waiter says from the door.
Leonie immediately drops the fork in her hand and her expression changes. A sweet smile spreads across her face, and she whispers to Leilani, “Waylen is coming. You’re dead.”
“Oh no!” Leilani says with mock fear, “I’m so scared.”
Leilani turns around and watches Waylen, approach. As he walks, he radiates power, and Leilani has to admit that his tall form looks quite handsome in the dark suit. As he walks, he stares intently at Leilani. When Leonie greets him in a light voice, he looks at her as if he’s only just realized she’s there. He frowns in displeasure and confusion.
Perceiving Waylen’s mood Leonie tries to explain her presence, “After learning about Leilani’s accident yesterday, I became worried. I wanted to visit her and make sure that she’s okay.”
Leonie is such an actor! Leilani shrugs and puts the wine glass back on the table. “I’m sorry—I didn’t realize that you two had a date,” Leilani says, “Excuse me.”
“No, Leilani. You’ve got it all wrong,” Leonie interjects, “Waylen didn’t know I would be here. But I did discover a secret that may interest him.”
Leonie glares defiantly at Leilani, daring Leilani to challenge her.
“Anyway, I should propose a toast in your honor,” Leonie continues with a sly gleam in her eyes, “I believe you have some newsworthy of a celebration.”
Leilani understands Leonie’s double meaning perfectly. She’s referring to the sale of the hotel, and also to Waylen’s reaction. When Waylen finds out what Leilani’s done, she’ll be dead.
Leonie picks up the glass of red wine and gulps it down with a flourish. The pink diamond flashes beautifully in the light. Waylen sees the ring and his eyes flash with sudden confusion. He slides one hand into the pocket and wraps his fingers tightly around the velvet box.
“What’s this secret?” Waylen asks.
As Leonie prepares to answer the question, Leilani walks toward Waylen and sweetly takes his hand in hers.
“It’s hardly a secret,” Leilani says, “I told Miss Summers that I want to sell my shares of the hotel.”
“Leilani!” Leonie hisses.
Leonie didn’t expect that Leilani would admit to selling her shares, and she’s frustrated that she’s lost the upper hand. Though she’s surprised by Leilani’s boldness, she still has a quick mind. She reminds herself that she can’t afford to lose to Leilani again, and she decides to play along until she can regain the upper hand.
“That’s right,” Leonie says, “Leilani told me that she’s been short on money, so she wants to sell her shares of the hotel.”
“You want to sell the shares I gave you?” Waylen demands.
His face has darkened and he shakes her away from him.
“How dare she try to sell the hotel right under my nose,” he thinks.
Her ingratitude and disrespect infuriate him. Suddenly, he recalls the gold and black business card holder, and he feels his anger intensify—she’s been lying to him again.
“You shouldn’t blame Leilani too much,” Leonie says, with barely suppressed glee, “She seems pretty desperate, and this was the only thing she could think of. I mean, she’s desperate if she’s willing to work with me.”
Waylen pushes an accusatory finger into Leilani’s chest, causing her to lose her balance and stumble backward. Leilani glares at Leonie.
“Are you short of money?” he demands.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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