Odessa

chapter 51 - the uninvited

"I'm like acting like a little girl with her first crush, Em." I whine into the phone as I touch up my makeup, pushing my lips together to rub in the lipstick. 

Emma was the only person I could get a hold of. Everyone else was busy with their Christmas events -and I suppose I am too- but she was stuck in her room, waiting for her parents to stop arguing before she went down for dinner. She said she would appreciate the distraction. 

"So what?" Em replies, a smile on her lips as she watches me checking my hair in the phone screen, "He gave you a goddamn ring. If you are just now realising he wants you... I don't know what to tell you." 

"I just can't quite fathom it. Leon Dante, the one who's house even you're scared to go into, has a crush. On me. I don't believe it." I finish with a shrug, picking up my phone from its place next to the bathroom sink and go back into my room. 

"Ohhh you think it's a crush? Oh you are so done for." She says, laughing. I am tempted to hang up, but I death stare her through the camera instead. 

"You know what I meant." I mumble. 

"Listen, you have to go down there, and you have to do 2 things." Emma instructs, suddenly serious, and I listen diligently, resting the phone against my desk and I sit in my seat. 

"Okay. I am listening." I feel like a soldier waiting for instruction. 

"The first thing: see how often he looks at you. Watch him occasionally, and see if he noticed. If he does, and if he holds eye contact he wants you. Simple as that."

"I don't think it's simple-" 

"SECOND thing," She interrupts, "Ask him to get you something. It could be a drink, it could be a unicorn. Whatever fits the circumstance, ask for something smallish. If he does it without compliant, you are absolutely in and he wants you so so sooooo bad. Got it?" 

I'm speechless. "Got it." 

"Any questions?" Emma asks, a proud look on her face. 

"Yeah-" 

"Okay perfect! Class dismissed- enjoy your night, send me updates, I love you." And with that, she's gone. 

"Love you too," I speak to the black screen. I sigh. 

- 

I reach the bottom of the stairs just after Callum does. We both stop on the last step. 

Leon's men are all dressed in all black tuxes, their ear pieces obvious to spot if you know what to look for. There are about 20 of them, all standing in front of Leon, listening intently to every word he speaks. 

He speaks loudly and clearly, explaining the importance of security, and the consequences for those who abandon their posts without warning. He has the power, and I can't help but blush as I listen to his voice. The raw strength in it. 

Like I was in some kind of daze, Cal tugs my arm, pulling me out of it, "Staring is rude." He whispers. 

I roll my eyes, pushing a finger to his lips, shushing him. 

Leon's men disperse, finding their corner of the penthouse to guard and turn invisible in. It's quite a skill, truly. How much they can blend into their backgrounds. Sometimes I wish I could do the same. Perhaps I'll talk to Leon about it. 

And as if he can read my damn mind, his eyes meet mine, and I don't look away. And neither does he. 

He doesn't look away when he starts walking, or when he's in front of us, or when he ruffles Cal's hair.