Chapter 8: Chapter 8
"You must think I'm a fool!!"
Leah surprised herself with the raw pain and anguish she could hear in her screaming voice.
"Leah," Tim made frantic motions with his hands, the most emotion she'd ever seen from him in the two years they'd dated, "Not so loud… people will hear and come see what all the fuss is about."
Leah was trembling and felt like her entire body was on fire.
The two stood in front of the grand doors of the restaurant, outside. The guards had left somewhere near by when they'd been able to make out enough from the argument and her cousins sat in Rayne's car parked several feet away, ready to leave with Leah at her notice.
"Fuss?" Leah's voice cracked, "Tim, that lady is your ex. That's what you said! You told me today on our date that you had to go away for the weekend for a business trip."
Tim hesitated, not used at all to the anger in Leah's voice, "I- It got delayed. The trip. This is a business dinner though and-"
"And you brought her?"
"Leah, I'm not supposed to tell you much about the company and she's actually a co-worker and-"
"You told me she was your childhood friend!" Leah's voice was raising again, hysteria beginning to peek in, "And that you hadn't seen her in years!"
"Leah, please," Tim's voice was creasing with worry, "Don't get so worked up. I'll explain. There's nothing between her and me and-"
He hesitated and Leah trembled.
She was still so furious and afraid and realized why.
There was a gaping pain in her heart. The pain was pulsing with every minute.
The more she argued, the more the pain pulsed. And the more the tears, the more the pain quieted.
But with every thought of her mind on what decision she would take, the pain morphed into an anxiety that was tearing her apart.
"Leah, I- I will explain everything," Tim begged, a sweat starting to work its way down his face, "Tomorrow. I just- I don't know how to tell you this but- I have to go."
Leah's eyes widened as her body stilled.
She was quiet for a heavy silence before her words came out as a whisper, "What?"
Tim swallowed, hesitating, "I- This dinner is very important to me, and I have to go."
Leah stared at him and wondered why she didn't say yes to him like she always did. She didn't mask her doubts and nod, and she wondered why that was. He was clearly waiting on her word, and she was taking a long time. She wondered why.
Had Tim ever had to wait for her response before? Was there ever a time when she had let him worry for longer than two seconds? Why was it that this was the first time in two years she'd ever seen him wait for her.
"No."
Tim looked agitated, "What?"
Leah straightened, "No. You are not going in there until you explain yourself."
Tears slowly streamed down her emotionless face with her chest becoming heavier with every word, "Explain to me why you were taking your ex up those stairs after you told me you haven't seen her for years. Explain to me why- why you look at her that way when- Explain why you never call me first or make plans to see me… Explain to me why you want me to accept you and stay as your girlfriend."
There was a long silence between them.
Tim and Leah stared at each other as a breeze shook the curtain and foliage around them. The night air was cool and pleasant on their hot skin.
Leah's eyes had begun to burn when Tim finally spoke up.
He sighed first and looked at her, his face blank and emotionless, delivering the words like he was reading them out from a paper "You're too clingy, Leah. Maybe it is for the best if we break up."
--
"They were quick, sir."
Bruce nodded.
"The Mr. Rayne did not allow any fuss. He guided his cousin out almost immediately and they were out the door before any shouting began," said the waiter from that evening who had waited on the cousins' table.
"I see."
Bruce's face was lit up only by the yellow light from his desk-lamp.
The two men stood in his large study, situated all the way up in one of the top floors of the hotel.
This was a study in a suite of rooms Bruce held specifically when he came around this part to ensure the hotel was in full working order.
The Kanes held several profitable businesses and one of them was their luxury hotel and dining experience chain.
The Kane siblings were two and their father expected both of them to be involved in one business or the other.
Bruce was almost their half-brother with how he threw himself into the work, making sure the siblings stayed on top of their game, everywhere they went.
The door to the study opened and in stepped a large, muscular man wearing an obnoxiously expensive suit. He had a small sliver of diamonds hang down one of his ears and his frame entered the room quickly. He had a magnetic aura about him. Something about the way he moved could cause one to shiver and step back. His silky dark hair was slicked back and his sharp eyes roamed the room quickly before landing on Bruce's face.
His voice was a deep tone, "What's going on?"
Bruce stood up straight even as the waiter cowered back and nodded to the man who had entered.
"Nothing worth too much of your time, Master Kane." Bruce said quickly. "Please take a seat."
--
The car ride home was silent.
Leah sat at the back, head bent, eyes closed, face no longer smiling.
Rayne drove them slowly home, his face serious. Sasha sat beside him, her expression one of distress.
She looked back to see Leah's slumped pose and her heart pulled.
Nothing.
No tears, no wailing, no words.
Leah sat there, truly heartbroken and defeated with nothing to say.
Sasha opened her mouth to say something, her eyes pricking up with tears when Rayne tapped on her shoulder.
She looked over at her cousin who shook his head, eyes till on the road ahead.
Sasha leaned back into her seat, head reeling.
She was so tired and agitated. She didn't want to know what storm was tearing Leah's heart to bits inside.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone