Chapter 4: Mysterious Man

Diane’s P.O.V.

I shook my head out of frustration. “It’s not that easy, Leandro… and I especially do not have to depend on anyone for me to put food on the table. I don’t need someone who will pay for my family’s needs because it was indeed my responsibility. So please, just let me go.” I tried to be at ease as much as possible.

Trying to pull my arm away from him, he did not even want to loosen his clutch on it. My legs were wobbly with fear about what he was doing to me, but I couldn’t show him my fragility.

So, I used that as an opportunity to continue what I wanted to tell him even though it might break him in the end. “What you are doing to me right now makes me want to hate you, Leandro. For the umpteenth time, I’ll tell you this—I only liked you as a friend.”

“And just like what you have said, you’re right! Many girls outside this club are way much prettier, sexier, more educated, and some were even rich like you. So why me, Leandro? Why bother to waste your time with a dancer like me when you can have a lawyer girlfriend in just a snap of your fingers? You can even choose between an actress and an elite businesswoman—the kind of girlfriend that you can be proud of in front of everyone! So please, let me go… you’re hurting me,” I said the last three words meekly.

As I begged for him, he finally let go of my arm. I worriedly looked at it because I was sure that it became reddish, even though I could not see it clearly due to the darkness lurking around this place.

Leandro fixed his necktie first, then looked at me straight in the eyes. “I will try to kill my feelings for you, Claire… but I can’t promise not to follow you ever again. I have eyes and ears everywhere. That way, I’m going to protect you whether you like it or not!” Those were his last words before he turned around and finally left.

What is he talking about? So, he follows me wherever I go?

Dread crept me up as my heart hammered inside my chest. I could not help but become nervous about the last words he declared. Leandro had been my friend for two years that I had been working here at Lucy’s Club, and I didn’t want that friendship to go to waste just because of his one-sided feelings.

Treating him as a friend, I let him see my face underneath the mask and also shared with him some personal matter about me. It includes how I was working damn real hard in order to provide for my family’s needs. He was nice and understanding at first, but he was a lot different now. I couldn’t imagine how his selfish love, or should I say, his obsession made him such a monster. He had his own definition of love and affection, which was far from the true meaning of those words.

Ever since he realized that he doesn’t only think of me as a friend, the realization also hit me that I was no longer comfortable every time I was with him. It would sometimes make me think about what he was capable of doing, especially when we were just the two of us together.

Well, I quite didn’t know the meaning of his last words, and I didn’t want to give a big deal out of his actions, but his words just gave me the creeps. I just closed my eyes trying to dismiss everything that he confessed to me.

Not in the mood to take away the mask on my face, I still removed it. I was on my way to the corridor where the dressing room could be found when suddenly, my attention was caught by the mysterious shadow of a man who seemed to be looking in my direction.

I narrowed my eyes trying to figure out who that man was.

“Leandro?”