365 Days with the Celebrity

Chapter 36 - Sweet Maniac

"WHAT? You can't do that!" Angel argued.

"I'm her boss, so what I decide for her is final!" Leon snapped back.

"She's not your slave! Whom she hangs out with is none of your business! You've no right to decide for us!"

"My house, my rules!" he banged his fist on the table.

Angel shook his head at his unreasonable request. This was the second time they were having a heated argument.

"You're jealous, admit it."

"No, I'm not," Leon denied but his expression gave him away.

"Yeah, right!" Angel waved him off with a dry laugh. "You do care for her!"

Leon seethed even further at his brother's words hitting a nerve.

"I knew it!" Angel bellowed out a victory laugh and gave him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "Don't worry, bro. I see Ariel nothing more than a sister. Besides, I've already set my eyes on a Canadian beauty in my office."

The troubled expression on Leon's face was replaced with unspeakable relief, sparking a sudden glimmer of hope and curiosity. "Really? Who's she?"

"Her name's Ivy Sanders, a drop-dead gorgeous princess who works as the receptionist - silky brown curls, bright hazel eyes, a rosy pout...sigh, she's perfect! Her smile, her voice, her sweetness just make me feel like I'm in heaven," Angel described dreamily with the actions of his hands, eyes looking skywards.

Leon laughed with the back of his hand to his mouth as the tension between them diffused very quickly.

"Have you asked her out yet?" asked Leon.

"Well, I did invite her over to my place for dinner."

"And?"

"She's so in love with my cooking that she's now a regular dinner guest date. I really got to thank Ariel for that."

The mention of her name sent a sharp pang of guilt within Leon.

Knowing what his brother was feeling, Angel slung his arm over his shoulder and said, "Why don't you just tell her how you feel?"

"How many times must I tell you not to pair me and Ariel?!" Leon got irritated, rubbing his temples. "Besides, she's not right for me - too naive, not sexy enough, hideous clothes and -"

"Not shallow enough like your other girls?" Angel finished his sentence with a serious, blank face. "I wonder why then, my dear bro, did you stare in awe when she wore that bikini, plus you tried to kiss her?"

Leon pulled his lips to one side, red with embarrassment that Angel had to remind him again.

"You know what? With that sorry state of mind you have of women, you're not good enough for her. A woman is not a piece of meat, she's someone worthy of love," Angel countered Leon's demeaning remarks.

Leon squeezed his glass of whiskey tightly and snapped, "Right, preacher! So what do you suggest is a perfect woman, hmm? Fat, short, ugly? You think it'll look good on my image?"

Angel frowned as if bitten to the core, then sighed, "All I'm saying is a woman is not a trophy or a used tissue. Besides, there are many celebrities dating not-so-pretty people out there. Who cares what others think? As long as you love that person and she loves you back."

"Have you forgotten that I did love once?!" he gulped down his whiskey, hating that such conversations reminded him of the traumatic pain of losing the only girl he once loved.