Chapter seven.

Alison felt like a puppy being forced to come with him, her legs rubbed against the floor refusing to move. With Leonardo's hand intertwined with hers, she was not thinking straight now.

Reason one, it was a bit distracting, and secondly, she can't help but wonder what people's reactions might be seeing their hands intertwined. During the period she and Richard were still together she would never allow this kind of public display.

The reason being, she was too shy to do daring things such as this, especially in the public.

Leonardo was different from her, she hated the spotlight, attention, or anything that reveals herself to the public but he hugged it. He grew up in this life of fame and knows how to deal with it.

Unlike Leonardo, Richard played along with her wishes until that night he revealed how he despised her. He accused her of being the fault for their failed relationship. He found his true love and she was not the one.

"I don't need you or that child of yours, I loathe every moment I spend with you, I fake it all...I cheated on you, it felt like freedom. Freedom from you and your cursed life. Have you ever wondered why you only have one remaining relative, you cause everyone to leave you. You push everyone away, this time around it was me." Alison's tears poured willingly out of her eyes her mind was everywhere and she could not think straight with all this reveals. One thing she is sure of was how many fragments her heart was shattered into. Its fragments were grounded to dust and became one with the air.

Her heart became non-existent from that moment.

She shivered as she recalled that awful memory, she glanced down and saw her hand still intertwined with Leo's own. She tried to decipher the reason why he teased her so much by being physical.

You push everyone away...

One thing she doesn't know is why Leonardo was so eager to drag her into it.

Into his life, as his 'friend' she was not even capable of holding on to friendships nor relationships. She was always by herself, her first real friend was Paige, but something tells her Leonardo was more than a friend. Within the past couple of days, he has become more than a friend, something she wasn't sure she could accommodate.

If she told any person that she barely knows this man she was sure they wouldn't believe her.

He is making the assumption of the perfect couple in this average dinner, she wanted to scream out loud and deny the thoughts growing in their heads but she could not, the only thing she could do was to tag along with him as he passed through that door.

He noticed her reluctance in walking, "Alison," he whispered to her ear and almost laughed out loud as he noticed her face turning slowly to grimace.

"What?" Her patience was running that was the only thing her tone signified. He kept on dragging her along and continued whispering in her ears.

All she could hear was how cute they were and how beautiful they looked like a couple, it churned her stomach further.

"You know, if your legs are really tired I could carry you, bridal style let's give the public what they want," he said, that teasing grin never leaving his face. She wasn't sure the glare she gave him had any effect on him, she sighed frustrated deciding to flow with him.

She brought this upon herself she allowed her stupid stomach to announce that it was starving and being such a gentleman he brought her here.

She came here to eat she might as well do that to get out quickly of this situation, "My legs work just fine you are the problem. Quitting the cheesy hand-holding and I might walk faster."

"No way, your hands are soft by the way. Which moisturizer do you use I wish to..."

"Hey! there is a free table here," she interrupted, sighting a table in the moderate lighting though it is getting dark she needs to make it back to the hotel in time to start packing.

Leo followed her this time around as she dragged him. Smiling at how she faked her enthusiasm he has come to admit that Alison is by far the toughest woman he has pleased.

She had a way of allowing her discomfort to reveal itself through her body language and he found that cute in her. Settling in the cozy chair he drew it to be more closer to her this time around she didn't mind.

He missed something though, her soft, moist hands in his.

After they both settled in they took time to take in their surroundings. The insides were a lot larger than how they perceived it initially, with the tables scattered about in a Zigzag fashion the counter stood a little further from them.

The restaurant itself had this woodsy feel and spiciness, the lighting enhanced to the brown shade of the interior.

Alison wasn't too sure the chandelier in the middle was necessary, it ruined the rugged look of the restaurant.

Medieval paintings replica clung to the walls of the restaurant and the floor was wooden, the furniture gave it a more casual look.

They were so engrossed with the surroundings they did not notice the waiter standing at their table.

"The waiter is here," Alison called Leonardo's attention.

"What is your order ma'am?"

Alison looked at her Leonardo to give suggestions, he leaned further to show her the menu. She decided to go with a steak Burger, "That's what you are going with," Leonardo said.

"And what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, I... never mind." He gave his order to the waiter who jotted it down and left.

"I wanted to say that was a poor choice for dinner."

"It is not," Alison fired back annoyed by his statement.

"There is a lot of food on the menu. I am sure you could pick one exotic food instead of a burger," he said grasping at what he said Alison frowned further.

"Well, I don't know most of the cuisine on the menu, so I settled for what is very common and delicious."

"No way, most of the cuisine here is very common. Except..." he paused pondering.

She narrowed her eyes in slits wondering what he might tease her with again.

"Tell me, Aly, do you know how to cook?" He asked expecting her response.

"Erm...yes, of course, I know how to cook."

Why are they having this conversation?

Food was the one thing she doesn't have an intensive knowledge of. Any food quiz she is bound to fail.

Most of the food at home was prepared by Gran Karen other times, she mostly took takeouts and prepared the only thing she was good at for Sam.

Either making a salad or sandwich would do until Gran Karen brought the food she home-cooked. Samantha loved Gran Karen food and besides, she doesn't have time to cook.

The last time she stood by the stove, things got burnt and wasted.

Wait, he called her Aly, she almost missed that.

"Hmm, I don't know why I don't believe you." She raised her eyebrows at that statement and snorted. She was grateful he suspects her, that way he would drop the topic.

"Tell me, Aly, what is your favorite food?"

"I love all food... And quit calling me Aly," She sighed sipping her glass of water.

"What do you take regularly?" He furthered and she felt agitated, she wasn't here for a question and answer session.

Just answer him, a part of her told her.

"Mostly takeouts," she replied.

"So you don't cook."

"Where is this discussion heading?"

He smiled at her, "Ohhh!! Aly," he drawled.

"It is Alison." he got her angry this time. To add more he laughed mildly, well that is a beautiful laugh.

If there was something like that.

"It is not bad to admit you can't cook," he said sarcastically.

"I would cook for you if I was given a chance to," he flirted his eyes held sincerity.

"You can't cook," she scoffed ignoring his cheesy offer.

"Have you ever heard of Chef Leo," He asked?

"Wait... you are a chef?"

"Yeah, this is my fourth restaurant in the state."

"What? But you said it is your Dad's." She was confused here.

"No, he just recommended your company to me and he is one of my investors."

He is a famous restaurateur, well that is not the way she envisioned a chef.

No potbellies, or crooked mustaches, no puffy cheeks.

All she could see was a man chiseled to be an Adonis.

"My offer still stands," he pulled her from her reverie.

"Instead of cooking for me, maybe when I am less busy you could teach me."

Wait... did she just flirt back.