Remembering: Small Victories

Leo knew he was done for.

In all his time since he left his home, he would never have dreamed even thought that he would ever meet his ex girlfriend or even his cousin here in this university. And of all days, it had to be today, when he thought that he would.get a reprieve by getting that job with Dylan. But now, he looked as all his newly found dreams went up in smoke.

He looked at Dylan apologetically, smiled and then turned to leave. He knew that he would get back at those two but now was not the time. He didn't have the ability or the resources to at the moment. He had to wait to get back on his feet. Soon, a time would come…

He didn't want to embarrass himself further by staying and he also wanted to leave before Emma made things more awkward than they already were and the last thing he needed was to draw attention especially of those students who frequented their cafe. He still needed the job at the cafe. He couldn't afford to lose that since he didn't get Dylan's.

As he turned to leave, Dylan held his hand by the wrist, for the second time that day, and smiled at him, "It's okay," he said reassuringly and strange enough, Leo felt peaceful. He somehow knew that Dylan would be there for him. He didn't know why but he trusted this man he had just met.

Something told him that it was all going to be okay.

"Emily, I'm here. Let's go. YOU! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!" Emma shouted drawing the attention of the people who were walking around or doing their own things when she noticed who was next to Dylan.

"Why did you follow me to the University? Haven't you learnt that you have no place in our family since your mother killed my uncle!" She walked towards Leo with a menacing look that made him flinch.

He thought he was done with all this but apparently, he wasn't. She raised her hand to slap him but even before the slap could land, she felt a tight grip on her hand.

Leo had his eyes shut waiting for the blow and when it took long to land, he opened them slowly and then widely in shock at last.

"Who gave you the permission to touch him?" Dylan asked with a voice that brooked no argument as he held her hand.

Emma felt pain in that grip. She never expected it and to say that she was embarrassed would be an understatement. She had thought that since she and Dylan walked in the same circles, he would stand by her side but if wishes were horses….

"Listen," Dylan continued, "I was taught how to respect women but they have to be respectful too, don't you think? So, next time you try this near me with him or anyone else, I will make sure you regret it. There are a lot of women around who can teach you manners and I can find one for you. Do not dare again," he finished and threw her hand away like he was holding an abomination.

Emma couldn't and didn't understand what was happening and so she asked," Dylan, I'm your girlfriend. How could you treat me like this because of trash like him?" She was in the brink of tears.

This was her ultimate card and she knew any man would fall for it. What she did not know was that she was dealing with Dylan. A man who had a plan and that plan didn't involve her in any way.

Oh, wait. It did. Just not in the way she wanted.

"My girlfriend? Oh, wait! So you are the Emma Adams my mother was talking about? Listen, tell your father it won't work. If he thought he will get into my family by pairing me with you, he's greatly mistaken. I would throw myself down a cliff before I married you," he smiled mockingly at her, held Leo's hand and continued walking towards the parking lot as if he hadn't just broken done girl's heart.

Leo chanced a look back and he saw Emma and Emily standing there like statues looking at them disbelievingly. He smiled at them subtly and then looked away. He felt victorious. It wasn't something big but it still was victory. Small victory it was but it was still that… victory.

Maybe this was a premonition of good things to come.

"Sorry to ask but you are marrying Emma?" Leo asked Dylan as they boarded his Jaguar Range Rover Sport.

"My father and her's took a government project together at the beginning of this year and they became close, business wise. Then Mr. Adams brought the idea of our families marrying so that they could continue the 'friendship'. But if you ask me, I think Mr. Adams deliberately collaborated with my father just to get me to marry his daughter. But even if I was to marry a woman, I wouldn't marry her. She is so snobbish and such a bitch. No one likes her in our class. They all tolerate her because she acts spoiled and buys things for our classmates and because of her father's status," Leo smiled again knowingly looking outside the window so that Dylan wouldn't notice but who was Dylan?

He saw that smile and smiled too. Seeing Leo happy was his life good.

He wanted to make sure that Leo was ever happy. He would help him get his revenge.

This was just a taste of how it would be.