Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Diane shook her head and clarified, "They're not planning a wedding. It's going to be something simple due to time restraints. Leo... Are you really okay?"

Leonard forced a smile. "What could possibly be wrong? You're worrying too much."

Daniel and Diane exchanged a look but didn't press the issue any further.

After dinner, Leonard drove away from Sawyer Manor, his mind replaying the conversation from the table. Lia was getting married to his cousin, no less, yet he only found out through the grapevine. Lia hadn't even mentioned it to him directly. He had assumed that they were at least friends, but now it seemed they weren't even that. He felt restless and unsettled, unable to calm his mind.

Before he knew it, his car pulled into Lia's neighborhood. The unpleasant way they had parted last time had killed any courage he might have had to approach her.

Suddenly, Dominic's car stopped right before him. Leonard instinctively honked to say hello, and Dominic got out and waved. "Come up for a bit. I need to talk to you about something."

Leonard got out and followed him. "Are we going to Bella's place? Won't we be disturbing her?"

Dominic pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and handed one to Leonard. "Nah, we won't. I already pissed her off this morning. If you show up, she won't have the nerve to argue with me. I'm too lazy to fight with her. Let's finish our smokes first."

Leonard couldn't help but laugh. "You're too lazy to argue with her? It's more like you're scared. You used to think you had her wrapped around your finger, but now it's the opposite."

Dominic exhaled a puff of smoke, looking toward Bella's floor. "You shouldn't talk, considering how much of a mess you made of things. If you'd been through a few more relationships, you wouldn't have flunked out before you even started. You ended it before it even got started-how embarrassing for you."

Leonard couldn't help but retort in irritation, "You haven't had many relationships yourself, have you? I shouldn't have run into you here. This is just bad luck."

After the verbal sparring, they

finished their cigarettes and entered the elevator. Dominic didn't ask why Leonard was there. He knew better than to ask something that would only make things worse.

Dominic took out his keys when they reached the door to Bella's apartment. Just then, Leonard heard Lia's voice from inside. Before he could react, the door swung open.

Lia was sitting on the couch with Bella, chatting and laughing. When she saw Leonard, her smile faltered for a moment.

Dominic placed the new phone he had bought for Bella on the coffee table. "Cara, make us some tea."

Leonard spoke up, trying to keep things from feeling awkward. "Lia, I heard that you're getting married. Congratulations." Lia's face paled slightly. "Thank you..."

The atmosphere grew tense. Bella, looking for a way to change the subject, unboxed the phone Dominic had bought for her. It was the fatest pink model. "I thought you'd get me the black one," she said.

Dominic answered coolly, "Black doesn't suit you."

Leonard felt like he was sitting on needles. He hadn't expected Lia to be here. "Dominic, what do you need? Let's get it over with. I have somewhere else I need to be."

Dominic seemed to remember something, pulling out his phone and sending Leonard a document "It's about the contract from last time. There's just a small detail that needs fixing. Have someone make the changes."

Leonard didn't even bother opening the file. "Got it. I'll head out now. You guys take your time."