Chapter 4

Eyes on the price, Jassie.

I'm not asking for a large amount of money, all I need is to get back the shop I lost. I also don't want to be his wife, so I can't really think straight. I scratched my head and remained sitting on the bed, I hadn’t had dinner yet. I have no appetite to eat, I can no longer hear Louis' voice. Maybe he left again, I sighed and held my hand. My eyes were a little swollen from crying earlier. Jesus, I am not dramatic, am I? I shook my head. Until now, I still don't know where my phone is. I was planning to message Hayden and Suki.

I was just staring at nowhere when I heard a loud fracture of something. My chest throbbed, I could also hear someone shouting. I quickly stood up and opened the door, my eyes widening to see a woman wearing a student uniform, her hair disheveled. Turned an evil stare at Madam Sela.

"Miss Leyla, you need to calm down..."

"How can I fucking calm down?! That man, he drove my only family away! He kicked mom out!"

"Leyla, listen. Your brother did not kicked your mom out of this house, she got in jail--"

"I don't understand! I hate him! I fucking hate him, I want him to die. I don't wanna see him again."

She was not crying but I could hear the anger and sadness in her voice. It's Leyla, Louis' half-sister. She's just petite, white and reddish skin as if with just a little pinch she will turn red. Her brown hair is long and wavy, her eyelashes are also long and she has these almond brown eyes, high, pointed and proud nose. Wide red lips, she has no make up but she looks so effortless stunning. I swallowed, is she the one Madrigal was looking for earlier?

"He did it for your own sake. He cares about you, Leyla. Your brother loves you more than your mom."

I swallowed, when Louis and I were together, I still didn't know her. They say she was studying in France and last year she came home here and settled down. She loathes her half-brother. Rumors also say that Leyla is a rebel. Always leaving class, always with friends. She doesn't drink but has almost learned to smoke. You can't approach her lightly either. I closed my mouth, I saw the traces of the drawing on her left hand. Is she slashing?

"And who is she?"

I didn't realized, her glaring eyes were now looking at me. There was no reaction on her face. I can see th resemblance of Louis' face to her.

"Leyla, she's--"

"Who are you?" Her voice was authoritative, her eyes, her eyebrows, the reaction of her face. She looks like the girl version of Louis, she also looks like her dad.

"Uhm, I-i... I am--"

"She's my fiance," Louis spoke from behind.

He loosened his necktie and walked over to his half-sister. He held her arm tightly, the kid struggled.

"What?! Take off your filthy hand away from me!"

"Madrigal said you broke the side mirror of his car, and he saw you on the street with your classmates. You're not going in school, Leyla?"

"Why do you care?! Who are you to ask that? And, what do you care if I go to school or not? You are the one who made me go to school, didn't you? If you are annoyed with me, if you are furious with me, you are free not to support my studies."

"Watch your mouth, lady."

I swallowed, Leyla pushing her brother with all her might. She parted her hair, pointed at me and asked.

"And who the hell is she? Do you want me to tell this to Sandra, that you brought another woman to your house?"

I creased my forehead.

Sandra? Who the hell is she?

Louis sighed in frustration.

"She's my fiance, like what I said earlier."

"Fiance? What about Sandra?"

"I don't care about her."

Leyla's lips opened, her forehead furrowed and she looked at me. Her nose also moved, we were only a little farther away from each other. She walked quickly towards me, I was surprised when she suddenly pulled the collar of the dress I was wearing and approached me. I was surprised at what she did, I was just a little taller than her. She is more beautiful when she is close, her face is gentle but her tone of voice is different every time she speaks.

"She smells like... like a cestrum nocturnum."

Cestrum-- what? I don't understand.

I saw Louis walking towards us, he removed Leyla's hand that was holding me. He stared at her.

"Never make the mistake of treating her the way you treat me," he warned.

She raised and eyebrow, tilter her head and the side of her lips lifted.

"Why? are you afraid she will be like me? Are you afraid I will include her in my antics?" She stopped for a second and giggled. "Don't worry, I won't. She looked like a virgin, so modest. I'm sure she's boring along."

I blinked. Did she just said... I am boring?

She turned and walked until she got out of the door, Madam Sela shouted.

"Leyla! Where are you going again?"

"Madam Sela, let her go," Louis commented.

"But, sir. It's already dark outside, it's dangerous for her to walk alone at night."

He shook, he took his phone out of his pocket and talked to someone.

"Hendrix," he mentioned. "Yes, you busy? All right, watch out for Leyla, she's leaving now and I'm sure she won't come back again, we still need to wait for a few days. Yeah, yes please. I don't say thank you."

Hendrix... Hendrix Madrigal. His bestfriend is also a CEO, I see.

He put down his phone, I put my hand behind my back. I knew he was looking at me now so I didn't look back at him. I turned around, about to walk into the room when he suddenly pulled my hand until we reached the office room.

"Let's talk," I did not speak.

He made me sit on the sofa, while he took his swivel chair. To make our faces equal, he put his hand on his knees, his thighs were open in front of me. I don't know where to look. Im curious-- and confused at the same time. I just mustered up the courage to stared him in the face.

"About the deal," he focused on my face. "If you agree, I will return the shop you lost, in exchange for marrying me and being my wife."

I nibbled my lower lip.

"But you don't have to name your properties after me. All I need is my shop."

He nodded.

"Okay, fine."

"What about the clothes I lost? What about the things I lost? What am I going to do there?"

"Of course that's part of my plan, I will give you the things you lost. Just take it easy, baby."

I lowered my head.

"But Jaxon and I also lost our picture frame. Can you change that?"

I looked at him again.

I saw the mood change on his face, his jaw tightened and his hand moved. I'm telling him the truth, that's the only picture Jaxon and I have since I left home. He did not speak.

I missed him, so damn much. I haven't seen him in years-- not this man in front of me.

My Jaxon Ludwig.

He swallowed and I saw the movement of his adams apple.

"Back to the topic. Do you agree, Jassie? Once you agree, you can't back out."

I nodded softly. I agreed, he created the problem so he must also create the solution to the offense he committed. I blinked, his eyes still not leaving me. I remember what Leyla said earlier.

Sandra...

"Who is Sandra?" I whispered.

My eyes widened, I turned to him and quickly covered my mouth. Even though I speak softly, I know he heard that since he is so close to me!

"No! I mean, no! I didn't mean to ask that! Sorry, I--"

"Sandrina Sineka, she was my girlfriend when we separated."

My eyebrows raised.

Hah!

So when we separated, he replaced me right away? He is really shameless. The thickness of the face, maybe he still doesn't change. He is still a playboy to this day, and I know he still can't be contented with one woman, like this bastard did to me years ago.

I sighed.

What else can I do?

He is Louis Sullivan, after all.

Any woman is easy for him to get. But I am not, I just agreed to this agreement because I needed to get back the flower shop he burned down. If he wasn't rich, I might have imprisoned him. But if I do that now, I'm sure no one will believe me. A Louis Montreal Sullivan everyone knows, I’m sure they’ll laugh at me once they hear what I have to say. I just rolled my eyes and averted my gaze.

I changed the topic.

"Leyla, I mean. What about Leyla? Why is she like that?"

He shook.

"Her mother was imprisoned, she poisoned my dad and a lot of housemaids saw that, that was enough evidence to file a case," he sniffed. "About Leyla, she's a rebel."

So, it's true.

"A-and?"

"She demands nothing of what, or any material in her body. She is also not picky when it comes to food. The only problem with her was she was disrespectful, she didn’t know who the kid and the old people here. She always leaves class with her friends. She's not like this before. Leyla was not like this before, not until her mom got into jail."

I swallowed. I understand Leyla’s situation, she wants a mother. She loves her mother so much and that is why she behaves like this now. I'm not annoyed with her, I actually feel sorry for Leyla.

"How old is she?" I asked.

"Eighteen."

She’s still young, I’m sure she can still change. She just needs the love of a family.

"How have you been, Jessamine?"

I gulped.

He's talking about me right now. The breeze in this room unexpectedly change as he mentioned my name.

"F-fine."

"I heard you didn't continue your college."

"How did you know that?"

"I have my ways."

I did not speak. Why did the conversation suddenly came to me? To avoid it, I stood up.

"I-I'm going now."

Even before I could leave, I was surprised when he suddenly grabbed my hand to stop me. Now he is sitting while I am standing in front of him, I looked at Louis. He looked up to see me, and I can see his pointed nose.

"You haven't mentioned my name since we met again."

"What do you mean?"

"Call my name, Jassie. I badly want to hear my name from you again."

Why did he suddenly become like this? Maybe he forgot what he did to me when I was just in highschool?

To be able to leave, I did nothing but mention his name.

"Louis," I think that's enough.

I would have left again when he snaked his arms around my waist. He hugged me and buried his face in my stomach.

"God... I missed you so damn much, Jassie."