Chapter Eight

Amanda

My phone rings. It's Samantha. I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone so I let the phone ring. I've been trying to avoid my colleagues at the office for over a week now. Although I called in sick and told Samantha that I needed some time away from work, she hasn't stopped calling to check on me. I wonder if she knows about Leonardo and I.

Leonardo … oh Leonardo.

Tears roll down my cheeks as I think about him. Being away from him hurts so much but I can't be with him now, not after what happened with my dad. He's called almost a million times and been to my condo on several occasions, but I never answered his calls or opened the door. What would I say to him? It’s all such a mess; the way Dad looked at me and then he punched Leo … I doubt we’ll ever be able to be together again. I haven't even told Rochelle. I understand how this must seem to Dad. He'll think I'm paying him back for what happened with Rochelle. That isn't the case. But will he believe me? And what about Rochelle?

My doorbell rings. I wait for a few minutes hoping that whoever it is will get tired of waiting and leave. The doorbell rings again. I sluggishly stand up and look into my gold rimmed mirror. The person staring back at me has disheveled hair and a wet puffy face. I couldn’t care less about appearances right now as I head to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Amanda? Rochelle? It's Dad."

"Ohh," I gasp in excitement as I open the door.

"Hi honey," he says with a sad smile and I hug him tightly as I burst into tears.

"Ohh daddy... I'm sorry... I should have ..."

"No honey. I should be the one apologizing. I should have given you a chance to explain."

"I understand why you didn't," I say looking up at him. It's the same way I had reacted.

He pulls me into the living room and sets me down on the couch. He takes my hand and wipes my tears with his free hand.

"I'm sorry I haven’t been in touch. I just needed time to process things."

"I understand, Dad. I just feel so horrible."

"Please don't."

"I do, Dad. You and Leonardo have been friends for ages, but now … because of me ..."

"Leonardo and I have worked things out."

"What?" I ask, blinking as tears blur my vision.

"Yeah. We talked yesterday. Honey, I understand how you feel and if you truly love him and want to be with him, it's perfectly fine. I just want you to be happy. It will be awkward and it’ll take some getting used to, but I won't stand in the way of the two of you being together."

I stare at him in disbelief then hug him in a tight embrace, grateful that his friendship with Leonardo is no longer in jeopardy.

"Thank you, Daddy. I love you so much. I've been so scared thinking that I disappointed and hurt you."

"You could never disappoint me, honey." He takes my hands, then looks at me sternly. "Now, you have to stop avoiding Leonardo before he goes completely insane."

We laugh as all the tension and pain I have carried in my heart for days finally melts away. The only thing that remains is the pain of being apart from him for so long.

Moments after my dad leaves, I think about everything he said to me. The fact that Leonardo is willing to fight for our relationship makes me love and long for him all the more.

I take a shower and fix myself up. I get dressed, put on some make up and leave my condo. As I open the front door to the building, I’m surprised by the pouring rain and instantly regret not grabbing an umbrella. The car isn’t parked far away though. I look across the road and shriek—

"Leo?!" I squint, trying to make out if it’s really him, but there’s no denying those bright blue eyes staring back at me. There’s only one man in the world who can make my heart skip a beat the way the man looking back at me right now is doing. He’s huddled under the rain with a bouquet of white roses.

"Amanda," he says heavily, crossing the road toward me.

I pull him into the building and toward the elevator.

"What are you doing out in this weather?"

"Waiting for you. I had to see you, Amanda. Can we talk?" I nod and we step inside the elevator.

I smile and hold his hand as we stop at the eleventh floor. I lead him into my apartment.

"Nice place."

"Thanks," I say dryly as I make a hot cup of coffee. I hand him a towel.

"Here … drink this."

"Thank you."

"What kind of billionaire stands outside in the middle of a monsoon?" I ask, with my hands on my waist.

"One who's about to lose the most precious thing in his life."

His reply stops me cold. He walks toward me and puts his hands around my waist.

"I'm madly in love with you Amanda McKnight, and I'll stay outside in the rain everyday if I have to until you realize that I'm never letting you go."

"Oh Leo," I sigh as he pulls me into his strong body. "I'm sorry. I was just so scared," I say, sobbing into his wet coat.

"I know," he says and tips my chin. "Being away from you has been torture." He pulls me close and kisses me hard, melting away the tension of the past few days.

"You need a hot shower or you'll catch a cold," I whisper sweetly as he kisses my neck.

"We can do that," he grins. I can't get over how beautiful he looks when he smiles. Yes, beautiful. 'Handsome' doesn't do justice to his perfect face.

He lifts me up and carries me into the bathroom. I take off his wet clothes, then he takes off mine slowly. I watch him as he takes in all of my body. We step into the shower and he holds me close as the water runs over us. He runs his hands and mouth all over my body. I have missed the way my body comes alive at his touch. He pins me to the wall and kisses me passionately.

"I’ve missed you so much, Amanada. I’ll never let you go again.”

I turn and face the wall and push my ass towards his groin. I reach back and feel his huge penis, ready to fill me up. I can’t wait a second longer.

“I’ve missed you too, Leo.” I pant, wishing he was fucking me hard now. “Baby, I need you. Please give it to me.” I’m groaning now as I move up and down his length with my hand. Leo grabs my hips. I gasp in wild pleasure as he begins to thrust slowly into me and then harder and faster. He kneads my breasts with one hand and caresses my clitoris with the other, sending shockwaves of intense pleasure all over my body.

He goes in deeper and harder and faster, relentlessly fucking me and calling out my name. God, I’ve missed him so much. I feel my orgasm fast approaching and I scream out his name as wave after wave of pleasure pulses through me.

“Amanda! Oh fuck baby girl, you’re so tight for me!” He lets himself rip and screams out my name, the water still relentlessly beating down on us. I feel the warm liquid burst out of him and into me.

He turns me round to face him. A tear rolls down my face.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I was so scared I’d lost you,” I cry.

He lifts my face with both hands to meet his gaze. “As long as there is breath still in my body, you will never lose me. I’m going nowhere.”

***

After the shower, and spent from soul searing passion, we fall asleep in my bed. I awake to find sunlight piercing into my room, reminding me that it's morning. I open my eyes and reach for Leo only to find myself alone in the bed. I sit up and see a stunning white rose beside me. Leo steps out of the shower and smiles walking toward me.

"Good morning beautiful," he says after kissing me on the lips, gently.

"Do you have to go to work?” I playfully grumble.

"Yes I do, but I'll leave early."

I secretly enjoy watching him get dressed. He puts his shirt and pants on and takes a card out of his pocket.

"Here. I'd like you to have dinner with me tonight."

I squeal in delight as I see the name of the five star restaurant. Leo has taken me there once before.

"Meet me there at 7pm, ok?"

"Yes, boss." I grab him and wrap my arms and legs around his big frame, forcing him to fall back onto the bed with me, with him on top. I kiss him on his beautiful lips, then he works his magic down my neck, finally settling on and onto my breasts.

“Oh God! I’ve got to go! I wish I didn’t have to. God, Amanda, you’re so tempting … I love you so much, Amanda McKnight,” he says, looking deep into my eyes. There’s a comfortable silence between us as we gaze into one another’s eyes for a moment. He gives me one long, lasting kiss, then leaves for work. Damn! He always has me begging for more.

I spend most of the afternoon cooking, cleaning and organizing my apartment, trying not to touch myself after that amazing kiss this morning. I’d rather save it for tonight. Besides, I haven't done much cleaning in the past few weeks so my bedroom looks like the site of a plane crash. I had been so embarrassed about it, but Leo laughed it off.

I put the last set of dishes on the side table and look at my watch. It’s 4pm. I decide to start getting ready for my dinner with Leo. I rummage through my closet looking for the perfect outfit to wear when the doorbell rings.

"Who could that possibly be?"

I hurry to the door to find a delivery man holding a large brown box.

"Package for Miss Amanda McKnight."

"Yeah?"

"Sign here please."

The weight of the box is surprisingly low considering its size. I walk to my bedroom and open it.

I pull out a stunning blue plunging halter neck gown. The fabric is beautifully soft. There is a note in the bag that reads:

For my queen. See you at dinner.

“Oh Leo!" I do a little twirl with the gown before laying it on the bed. I dash into the bathroom to take a quick shower. Over the next two hours, I work on my hair and makeup. Then, I put on the blue dress and marvel at the way it hugs me in all the right places. I pair it with a gold clutch and a pair of gold stilettos.

There's a black limo right outside the lobby with a man waving at me.

"Good evening Miss Amanda. I've been asked to bring you to the Blue Ridge."

Can this day get any better?!

He opens the door for me and I step into the limo. I can't stop smiling as we pull up at the entrance of the 5 star restaurant. I enter the building and a valet leads me to the table where Leo is standing waiting for me in a black tux.

I don't think there's any man in the world as handsome as he is.

"You look absolutely stunning," he beams, twirling me round by my hand and taking in all of me. He kisses me softly and whispers, “I love you so much” in my ear.

"I love you too," I grin back at him. I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am right now. I look around, to take in the restaurant and notice it is unusually empty.

"I rented the entire place for tonight." He says, smiling at me.

"You did what?"

"It's a special occasion!"

"Honestly Leo, this is amazing."

We laugh and chat all evening whilst eating our amazing three course meal, specially prepared by Chef Alma, one of the world's leading sous chefs and part owner of The Blue Ridge.

The orchestra begins to play a soft romantic tune that makes me feel like ascending into the sky.

"Dance with me," Leo says, taking my hand.

How I love having his arms around me. I never want this night to end. We dance while looking into each other's eyes. Leo suddenly stops, holds my left hand and gets down on one knee. He pulls out a box from his jacket pocket.

"Leo… what are you…?" My hands shoot up to my face in response to my surprise.

"Amanda McKnight, would you do me the honor and privilege of being my wife?" He opens the box revealing a beautiful diamond ring.

This is more than I could have ever dreamed of. With tears in my eyes, I nod and he puts the ring on my finger. He then embraces me and I kiss him with all the love in my heart.