Chapter 3 It's so hot in the kitchen

Leonard stopped a taxi that took them to a nearby boutique. He asked Amelia to pick up some clothes she could wear in the next few days, since her bag was drenched in the rain.

"Pick whatever you will need to wear from now till your clothes are dry."

Amelia thanked him and started making her selections. While she was at it, Leonard excused himself and went outside to make a call. A sleek black Maybach had been following behind him and Amelia right from when he covered her with the umbrella on the road. It was his chauffeur loyally following him around and waiting to take him back home. Leonard called to ask the chauffeur to leave.

"I will call you when I need you," he told the man.

"But it's raining," the chauffeur protested, "you know you left your father with the promise that you will come back to him tonight. That is why he asked me to follow you."

"Well, go back and tell him that I got tangled up in business," Leonard hissed.

"Sir–" the chauffeur began to say, but Leonard cut the call and went back to meet Amelia. The chauffeur had no choice but to return back.

"You know, you can actually choose to stay in a hotel," Leonard cleared his throat. He had thought about that option after he hastily decided to help Amelia. He continued, "but you will have to get an advance from your salary to be able to pay for that. So, make your choice now."

Amelia thought of both options. Staying in a hotel would mean using her meagre salary to pay for it, but if she stayed with Leonard, she would be able to save for her own apartment.

"Can I borrow your phone?" she asked him.

"Yeah, sure." Leonard gave her the phone.

Amelia punched in some numbers and waited for the person to pick up the call. There was no answer. She called again and waited, but there was still no response. 'I guess I have to live with him,' she thought. The person she was calling was Derek, but he did not pick up.

"I will live with you," she said finally. Leonard nodded and took his phone from her. Then he ordered a taxi which took them to his house.

Leonard's house was a modest one. It was a spacious one bedroom apartment with minimalist design. It was very suitable for a man like Leonard. Just plain. They got in and Leonard showed Amelia to his room.

"You may sleep on the bed. I will sleep on the floor," he offered. Amelia tried to disagree, but she kept silent. Leonard showed her to the bathroom.

"You may have your bath now. I will leave you to it while I prepare a little dinner."

Amelia nodded as Leonard left.

In the room, Amelia broke down and cried again before she went to take her bath. She was grateful to Leonard for showing up from nowhere and taking her in.

The warm water felt good on her body. It had been a long time since Amelia had a warm bath. Her mother had disconnected the water heater in her bathroom, saying that it was a waste of power. She finished bathing and went to join Leonard in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Leonard was busy chopping some onions. He had taken off his shirt because of the heat that was coming from the food on the fire. Now, he was bare chested as he cooked.

He did not know that someone was watching him. Amelia watched as he moved swiftly when he checked the pot, and how he chopped things with care even though he was fast with it. His back was even more beautiful to look at, than his actions. He was very toned and defined. His ass... they sat under his waist like a...

"Oh, Amelia," Leonard called when he noticed her presence. Then he turned around to face her. Amelia blinked. 'What the hell? So, this man has such a well carved body?' she asked herself. Her eyes were stuck on his chiseled abs and the veins that were on his waist. The lines were leading to...

"I can call you Amelia, right?" he asked. "You can call me Leonard too. Since we will be staying with each other, there is no need for formality."

"Yes... Yes, sir," Amelia stuttered.

"What is the problem?" Leonard asked. Then he followed her eyes and saw that she was looking at his body. He chuckled. He understood that it was normal for women to be like that when they saw his body. He wanted to say something.

"The food is burning!" Amelia shouted.