Chapter 222 - Eleanor Catharina

Devin's head throbbed in pain the more he thought of the piece of memory that freed from his brain and it tortured without letting him sleep until he took a pill.

The next morning, Devin dropped Leena at the office. It has become a part of his routine to drop her at the office unless he has an urgent meeting.

As Carrot is back, she resumed going to the office. Devin was still scared of her but not to the point of the nervousness he had yesterday.

It was in the afternoon, Leena finished recording a film for her channel. Exhausted with the heavy workout, she freshed herself, and not before she closed her eyes shut for a minute, Reese strolled into the office with the news. "Your step-mom is here to visit you."

"Do you know the meaning of step-mom?" With still closed eyes, Leena asked in a lazy tone.

"The one who marries their father after the death or divorce of their mother."

"Wrong answer." Leena opened her eyes to enlighten her friend. "Step-mom is women that continues to love children while stabbing behind their back." Leena has experienced once with her father's second wife when she was young. "I never considered him as my father and I don't have a step-mom. So the conclusion from this story is_"

"Better serpent than a step-mother." Reese completed for Leena.

"Good analysis. Your IQ is exceptionally improved compared to our university days."

"It's because I am working with a phenomenally intelligent girl who knows 'how many beans make five'," was the sarcastic reply from Reese.

"My intelligence is out of this world, Miss Allen." Proudly Leena said. "Coming to the point, why is Rosalie here?"

"I don't know. " Reese shrugged.

"Bring her in. Let's find out." Leena was curious about Rosalie's unexpected visit.

"Okay."

Reese quickly escorted Rosalie into Leena's office and left them alone to have a private talk.

"How are you, Leena?" Rosalie smiled up at her sweetly.

"I am good, Mrs. Hayes." With a half-smile, Leena asked. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I will come straight to the point. Our company's share prices are dropping, Investors are withdrawing and it happened all of a sudden. By now you know the reason." Rosalie's face turned rigid when she recalled her stupid husband's mistake. "The company is my sweat and blood."

"What does it has to do with me?" Leena calmly asked.

"There are only a few people in this city who can change the fates of the business with a flick of a finger. Unfortunately, your father has offended two of those big shots. Fortunately, Francis has no hand in it and there is only one person whom I could think of it."

Leena's face morphed into a smile but she quickly concealed it. On the day she watched the news, Leena had a hunch that it was Devin and now it is confirmed.

"I am not going to sit and watch my company going to ashes," Rosalie declared.

"You are barking up the wrong tree, Mrs. Hayes." Leena understood her hidden meaning. Rosalie wants her to talk with Devin and stop this play. But talking with Devin is like herding cats. Francis would agree to her wishes if she throws a single tantrum but it's not the case with Devin. He spoils her to the core but she has no control over him when it comes to Leena's matters and Max Hayes has hit his bottom line trying to slap her.

"Please, Leena." Rosalie pleaded when the threat did not work. "We may go bankrupt at this rate."

"You don't need to worry about going bankrupt. Although he has an ulterior purpose, he will not keep the employee's jobs at stake. He would retreat it soon." Leena calmly replied.

"What are you trying to imply_"

"Again I am telling, I will not be a help in this matter." Leena politely declined. "You can straight away talk with Mr. Wang. I don't think it's hard to find his office address. After all, he is a very well-known businessman. If you may leave, I have work to attend."

Rosalie's face grew hot and pinched with resentment but she curbed and left the place in anger.

The moment Rosalie left, Reese arrived back in her office. "What does she want now. I don't like her,"

"Were you eavesdropping?'

"Yes." She shamelessly revealed. "Her behavior is unusual. Don't you think so?"

"She is a businesswoman, Reese, and such people are meant business. " Leena sighed and went back to her work. Leena could read the minds of people at a first glance but not Rosalie.

...

Days passed and the day of grandpa Arthur's birthday arrived. He asked for a crazy gift and Leena also prepared gifts that would blow his mind away. She dolled up herself because she is going to meet Devin's family after a long time.

"This dress is so beautiful_"

Her words curtailed and her footsteps stooped in the midway when she caught a glimpse of Devin sitting on the chair like a king, talking over the phone. From the depth of his eyes to his gentleness, his hotness etched into her bones. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and pants but the suave, brushed up the hair on fleek in messy fashion like a quiff was tantalizing her.

When her lavender scent wafted into his nose, he quickly cut the call and gazed at her, his lips parted, awestruck by her beauty again. It's not the first time he was acting like a lovesick fool around Leena. With a gentle smile, he covered the distance and pulled her into his arms. "Can we skip going to the party? I don't want anyone to see you."

"Can I wax your eyebrows? You are garnering too much attention." She whispered, entranced by his eyes, shining as bright as stars when they were lit with a smile.

"You can even shave my head, sweetheart. I am all yours." Devin pushed upwards to lift her but Leena instantly ceased his hands.

"I like the dress I am wearing. Once we start, it's never-ending." Even she was craving for his kisses, but they are already late for the party and once it starts, she knew both will end up in bed.

"Tonight." She whispered into his ears and dragged him out of the room. A smile crept over his face watching her flushed face.

...

When Leena stepped down from the car, Devin offered her a hand, with a gentle smile, she tugged her hand into his and walked along with him. Eyes drilled into the power couple and they garnered attention from everywhere.

They were escorted inside the hallway and for a second, Leena's mouth parted in awe watching the crowd. "Grandpa Arthur sure loves showing around."

"Aren't you?" Devin leaned down his head and whispered into her ear which did not go unnoticed by the crowd. Women envied Leena snatching away the nation's throb.

Resisting to scold him, Leena strolled towards the man, the show stopper of the day. "Happy birthday to the old man who is still not showing his age." Leena flashed a smile that reached her eyes.

"Hmph!" Grandpa Arthur scoffed. "I am not talking with you. You were supposed to visit me last week but you betrayed me."

"I am sorry, Grandpa." Leena pouted. "I was busy with shopping. How about we go on a picnic next weekend? You, me, and Meemaw?"

"Are you leaving me alone?" Devin's voice raised hysterically.

"No, babylicious." Leena coaxed him wrapping her arms around his waist. "Half of my heart is with you. There is no way, I am leaving without you."

"You are getting expert in flirting." He whispered.

"I am learning from the best." She winked.

"Hey! I am the show stopper for today's event" Arthur shouted as she watched the crowd looking at the coupe intensely instead of him."Get out of my sight if you don't want me to whip your backs"

"Gladly." Devin dragged Leena from grandpa's sight and just when he thought he got a little free time with Leena, he heard someone's outcry.

"Leena!"

'Another villain in my story apart from that Reese.'

"Harley." Leena waved her hand and dashed towards the girl leaving Devin alone.

"Long time, right?" Harley hugged her. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. By the way, you look beautiful today."

"Thank you." Replied Harley tugging a strand of hair shyly.

"Do you want my help in searching for a boyfriend?" Leena winked and all of a sudden, a person appeared in her mind but she brushed the thought aside. He is also in a peculiar relationship.

"I am fine being single," Leena didn't miss the broken expression on Harley's eyes. Something is fishy. Does she like someone? I should find out soon.

"I had the same thought until your brother appeared into my life," Leena said.

"Is it_"

Harley stopped her thoughts when whispers floated in the air all of a sudden. She looked around in confusion until her eyes landed on the elder woman accompanied by a young woman holding her hand for support. Goosebumps formed on her arms as the elder woman threw a disgusting look at the Harley when she passed by.

"Did I imagine or she threw a murderous look at you?" Leena asked in a whisper.

"You are not wrong. She doesn't like me," Harley muttered. The woman's presence terrified her and she held Leena's hand in fear.

"Who is she?" Leena patted Harley's arm to ease her anxiety and gazed at the elder woman strolling towards grandpa Arthur.

"She is Grandpa Arthur's wife. Queen Eleanor Catharina. The royal family."