Bleed My Love

Chapter 20

Annabel was still surprised how her prospect of looking at life has changed, she was once a girl who stubbornly believed she could do anything nothing can stop her, then her life turned upside down due to her stepmother and her family, and now after all these events in the past four years, she has come to realize that whatever happened in her life made her realize there is more to life than just her as a priority. It was always her life, her choice, her plans, what she wants regardless of whether that thing was good or bad for her but now looking at Leo she realized, he was the right choice in her life probably the only good decision her father made for her. She still has trust issues with Leo but other than that, he was the perfect partner but then again Annabel thought don't we girls only want the loyalty of our man? that man who is going to be the husband, she thought to herself.

They were currently having dinner at a restaurant which was surrounded by a man-made lawn and a beautiful lake, swans swimming in it. Families and couples enjoying their night out. The place where they were seated had mirror pillars she saw her reflection and then Leo's. She didn't consider herself that much beautiful as to catch the eye of a man such as Leonardo; a billionaire, successful businessman, family loving, and handsome bachelor around. She saw ladies of every age even married glancing towards Leo, of course, he was used to it and she sensed he was not irritated nor encouraging those glances. The way his white shirt's sleeves were folded and that navy color custom-made pants made him look expensive. He has been with beautiful, successful female models around the world, Italians, Ukrainians, Americans, Lebanese, yet he was her fiancée and looking forward to making her his wife while she was nothing without her father's money, she only has a job which paid for her needs and a small flat which she inherited from her mother. Shouldn't she be happy to have a catch like him? she should work to have all his loyalty that is only the negative point in her sense.

"You're not enjoying the food, What are you thinking? ", he asked.

"Oh no, it's not that, chicken alfredo is my favorite", she smiled polity. She took a sip of fresh lime. " I looked around and was wondering, you have all the beautiful women around you, yet you want to marry me, at first I thought this is just a temporary decision but it has been four years and your decision remains the same", she looked at him curiously.

Leo gulped the expensive wine and smiled at her, a panty dropper smile. "Anna, your beautiful woman but also it is your nature that attracted me, man doesn't go around choosing a partner like you woman do, you choose us for love, we choose you for care, care for example I know when I will come home you will be there, I know you will be loyal to me, will never cheat or betray me, you will make my house a home and my family your family, you will consider what I care about. Those women with whom I go out with know themselves that they can't live with the same man for long, now don't get upset because you asked it, Leo joked, these women, they are also looking for temporary companionship and they are not even loyal for that short period, but a woman like you, they give us all the love, care, and loyalty they have, so my beloved, I may be a troubled boy four years ago but you can not judge my decision, I made a very wise decision and now as a man I am proud of it."He took her hand and gave a kiss to her knuckles.

"Wow, and here I thought you fell in love with me at first sight," she teased him.

"Babe, I would call it love, wasn't it love that made me hasty decision to make you mine, to commit my future with you," he asked lightly.

She laughed and asked, "But how could you know, I am loyal towards you and I will love you."

Leo took a bite of his steak and said, " woman like you don't go for casual Annabel, and that gives us a sense of security that no matter what problems we will face, you won't run but try to solve them with me." So tell me who is the other guy you gave your heart to, he asked calmly.

" what, why would you say that, "Annabel panicked.

" Relax, you asked about how I know your loyalty and love is with me so I wondered whether was a man when I was away from you or anyone before me" he laughed.

"You know how I was when I first met you, it was always about me, so how could I have looked for any other guy," She explained with a red face, there was suddenly warm weather and she needed cool air.

"Yeah I know but I was curious, Leo winked at her,"

"Shouldn't it work both ways,? I mean if you want me then why have all these women around you, that makes me insecure you know," she looked down at her Swarovski bracelet and moved it around.

"It does but I looked for physical needs in all those women and a temporary companionship because you didn't want to do anything with me, you cannot disagree with the fact that we after all are humans with needs." He asked seriously now.

"I dint look around for any man, so I expected the same from you as I was not ready, I mean what you expect from an eighteen-year-old girl who was uprooted from the people she thought she will never leave," she explained in a timid tone.

" Hmm, so it took you four years to come around and realize that the world did not revolve around you," he stated pointedly, "besides I am some years older than you so in our case you are lucky I gave you space but if you want me to be exclusive with you till we get married you know how to grab my attention," He raised an eyebrow at her.

Annabel gasped and turn down her head, "surely you can wait just a few months more until we are married," her voice sounded like it came from an empty well.

Leo smirked, he was enjoying her squirming, "surely not, I think we should move forward from here," he stated.

She gave a shy smile and turned her face towards the lake.

Leo gave the signal to the waiter for the bill.

They were walking around the lake, Leo had his hand on her small of the back, Anna didn't object. What was the point, in few months they will be married? It was better that she should be used to him invading her space. When Leo was dropping her at her place, he gave her a tender, toe-curling French kiss, Annabel was out of breath when they pulled apart to breathe.

"Would you like to come inside for juice or green tea"? she asked shyly while clutching his coat.

"I would very much like to have the tea, he said sexily"

Leo spent that night at her flat.

Dear Readers, what you think might have happened afterward, comment, please.