Chapter 6

"Your friend?" Leonardo's expression darkened. As all the captivating dreams crumbled, it undeniably ignited a sense of frustration within him. The woman who had sparked his desire that night turned out to be Layla. The very thought made him feel nauseous. His anger surged, and his gaze sharpened. "Don't bring any outsiders here. This isn't your place." His rage frightened everyone. No one understood what had caused his abrupt change in mood. Layla explained with a smile, "I'm sorry. Since you never visit, I assumed it wouldn't matter to you—" "Who do you think you are?" Samantha stood still, not daring to play with Stone. The dog nudged her repeatedly, but she didn't respond. Thus, it turned its attention to its ball instead. "I'm sorry." She was completely baffled by what she might have said or done to provoke Leonardo's sudden anger. She gazed at Layla, feeling unsure. Layla quickly suggested, "Samantha, you should head back first." "Okay." Seeing Leonardo's fury, Samantha quickly left for the gazebo to gather her belongings. Then, the butler promptly arranged a car to take her home. Samantha sat in the car and sat out the window, her thoughts drifting. The rumors about Leonardo had portrayed him as an intimidating figure, so different from the man she had met earlier. Perhaps she had been too naive. He seemed unpredictable after all. A pang of guilt washed over her. It appeared her very presence had triggered Leonardo's outburst, leaving Layla to endure his wrath. Thinking of this, she blamed herself even more. She quickly sent a message to Layla. "Sorry for the trouble, Layla." For a long time, no response came after the message was sent. … The villa, which had been lively for a while, fell silent. With all the maids gone, Leonardo's expression darkened even further. In an icy tone, he declared, "That night was just an accident. I should've compensated you. Since my grandpa sent you here, you can stay. But don't expect anything more. I'll provide for you financially, and that's it." Layla was sharp and quickly understood Leonardo's intentions. He had no romantic interest in her, but she was more than satisfied with his offer of financial support. Living in a big house and enjoying a lavish lifestyle was truly a dream come true for her. She couldn't ask for more. "Thank you, Mr. Garrett." Leonardo didn't say another word. He turned and left without hesitation. … The club had been thriving lately, keeping Samantha exceptionally busy with work. She had waited a long time for Layla's response. When it finally came, Layla reassured her that it wasn't her fault and advised her not to take it personally, which brought Samantha some relief. However, after that day, they rarely stayed in touch. "Please deliver the wine to Room One immediately." "Got it," Samantha replied, swiftly grabbing the tray to serve the wine. It was Room One again. She couldn't stop thinking about that night and Leonardo. The image of his furious expression at the villa lingered in her mind. Surely, he must despise her. Samantha approached the room just as the door opened. Two attractive women stepped out, looking visibly upset. They hesitated to speak until they had moved a bit further away. "We worked hard to get into this private room as escorts, only to be kicked out. What did we do to deserve this?" One of the women said, "That's Mr. Garrett for you. He's never been interested in women. Not surprising, really." "That's true. But since he's here, why is he still pretending?" "Shhh! Don't make crazy comments. Are you looking for trouble?" The woman also realized she had said something wrong. Hence, she quickly covered her mouth and fled the scene. Samantha was surprised that Leonardo was there as well and worried he might be displeased to see her. She reached up to touch the mask covering her face and let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the club mandated that servers wear masks, which meant Leonardo wouldn't be able to recognize her. As long as she delivered the wine and quietly slipped away, everything would be just fine. Samantha knocked on the door and said, "The drinks are here." The private room was filled with people, yet Leonardo sat apart on a couch, seemingly isolated. Unlike those around him, who were engrossed in lively conversation, he remained distant. With his legs crossed and an unreadable expression on his face, he seemed out of place even among his two friends. One of them asked, "Leonardo, you've already had sex, haven't you? So why are you still acting like a celibate? I even reserved the two most beautiful ones for you, yet you're still not interested." "Are these the people you usually hang out with?" Leonardo asked coldly. "What's wrong with that?" "Terrible taste." His friend was seething with rage. He shouted, "I brought you here to celebrate with good intentions. It's one thing to reject my kindness, but to question my taste? Isn't that a bit too much?" Leonardo glared at him. Instantly, his friend shrank back, seemingly forgetting his earlier bold remark. "Alright, fine. My taste is bad, and yours is good. Now, enlighten me. What type of woman do you prefer? I'll help you find one." Leonardo ignored his question, his gaze momentarily averted, but then something caught his attention. At that instant, Samantha was meticulously arranging bottles of wine on the bar. Her cropped top accentuated her slender waist. Her long, straight legs, visible beneath her short skirt, were undeniably alluring. Though the club was filled with stunning women, Leonardo found himself irresistibly captivated by her. Samantha completed her task and got ready to leave. Suddenly, the talkative man interjected, "Leonardo, are you interested in that woman?" Leonardo remained silent. Samantha was unclear about whom the man was referring to and just wanted to escape quickly. "Excuse me, hold on." Realizing the man was speaking to her, she stopped in her tracks. She turned back but kept her gaze lowered, avoiding eye contact. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" The soothing voice filled Leonardo with a sense of warmth and familiarity. His eyes darted back to Samantha, lingering on her. Wesley Stewart's suspicion was confirmed by those brief glances. He and Leonardo had been friends since junior high, sharing a bond that had lasted over ten years. He recognized the unmistakable signs of Leonardo's interest. Never before had he seen him look at a woman this way. It was clear that Leonardo was genuinely interested in her. "Stay and have a drink with Leonardo," Wesley instructed. "I'm sorry, but I'm only here to deliver the wine—" "Everyone is aware of Leonardo's esteemed reputation and influence," Wesley said, cutting her off. "He's chosen to enjoy your company and invited you for a drink. Are you sure you want to turn down this opportunity?"