Chapter 5 DRIPPING HOT

ERIC:

The confidence I saw in Erica vanished the moment she announced Leonard's arrival. It wasn't fear, exactly-I couldn't tell what it was-but she was instantly on her feet, legs jittering beneath her.

"How did he find me?" she asked, pacing frantically across the living room.

"Are we in trouble?" I asked. I had no clue why she was trembling like that.

Sure, she had told us stories about Leonard; how proud, cold, and emotionally scarce he was. Nothing new. The entire country knew Leonard Hays was made of ice and ego. Pride was practically tattooed on his forehead.

But nothing she had said ever suggested he was dangerous. Overbearing, yes. Unlovable, maybe. But scary enough to turn Erica into a frightened chicken? That didn't add up.

"He's not supposed to be here," she muttered, almost to herself.

Then, suddenly, she glanced at her phone, and whatever she saw sent her spiralling deeper into panic.

"Sh*t...sh*t...sh*t!" she repeated, spinning circles in the living room while I stood there turning with her, dizzy from her meltdown.

"How did I forget that?!" she roared.

"Erica," Lucas cut in, firm and calm. "Leonard's already here. We should be figuring out what to do before he knocks on my door."

As if summoned by fate, a knock came, hard, steady, impatient. I immediately ducked behind Lucas.

Truth, I wasn't scared at first. But somehow, Erica's fear crept under my skin and infected me until I could feel every nerve of it.

And just like that... Erica, the same person who passed her fear onto me, became completely fearless.

"Eric," she said, stepping closer, "this is it. This is where the plan begins."

"What plan?"

"Come on, Eric," Lucas said, stepping aside and exposing me. "Time for the big transformation."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"No rehearsal?"

Another knock landed, this time louder and more aggressive, and I gasped. This one didn't come from Erica's fear in me; it was mine. I stood frozen, paralysed.

Erica grabbed my hand and pulled me along. "Stall him," she ordered Lucas. "Make up something. Just keep him talking."

Inside my temporary room, Erica tore through the wardrobe and shoved a dress into my arms. A wig. Smart makeover. Within seconds, she transformed me into my female counterpart. Honestly, I didn't need her help to look prettier than her, but hey...she was the director of the circus.

She did a final rundown of everything I needed to remember about Leonard. Names, history, emotional triggers. Then she gave me a light push, and out I went... straight into the fire.

Leonard was already seated on the couch, legs crossed, arms spread along the backrest like he owned the world. Luca stood nearby, stiff, like a man being interrogated.

The moment Leonard saw me, he tilted his head slowly. Our eyes met, and in one swift move, he rose and marched toward me in all his glory. Hands in pockets.

Leonard Hays. A walking definition of "don't believe what you see online." Because why would all those broke paparazzi take such lazy photos of him? And the cheap bloggers describe him so lamely.

Leonard wasn't just handsome. He was dripping hot.

And how come no one ever mentioned the way he walked... like a king, like thunder wrapped in silk. No camera ever caught those deep, obsidian eyes that looked like they could burn you alive in bed.

And he's not 6'1". He is a fuvking 6'4". My dream height. Everyone's ideal partner height.

"Is this you running away from me," he said, voice like velvet over steel, "or running to your spare boyfriend?"

Jesus. Why didn't Erica say his voice sounds like John Hurt dipped in whiskey?

"I don't have a boyfriend," I said, voice squeaky, barely a whisper.

"Erica?!" Lucas barked...

Sh*t! I broke character. 'I don't have a boyfriend?' Brilliant, Eric. Perfect idiot!

"Thanks to you, Nathan is now a memory," I said quickly, hoping to cover the slip.

Erica had said Leonard knew about Nathan. In fact, he gloats to see him keeping his distance from her. He enjoyed watching Nathan suffer from the sidelines while she pushed for their relationship.

Don't be surprised now, Nathan and Erica work for Leonard.

Quick backstory: Nathan's father used to work for Mr. Philip Hays as a chauffeur. Even after Mr. Philip passed, the family stayed in the Hays mansion. Nathan now works for Leonard as a technical consultant.

Erica could've chosen any other job. She could've worked for her father, started a business. But she chose the Hays just to be close to Nathan.

Her worst decision. Her greatest regret.

If she hadn't followed Nathan there, Juana wouldn't have noticed Leonard. She'd still be trying to marry Erica off, but probably not to a man Nathan was too afraid to challenge, or run away with her from.

"Then what are you doing in Panila, in another loser's house?" Leonard asked, staring me down.

"Loser?" I echoed, heat flaring through me. Character, forgotten.

Screw the plan. Screw how gorgeous he was.

"How dare you call my best friend a loser?" I snapped. "Who's the loser-Lucas, who welcomed a woman in distress, or the fool who put her in distress? Losers move a wedding date like it's their civic right. Only a loser would track a woman's phone, stalking her into a hole like some creep!"

I saw Lucas bury his face behind Leonard, and I didn't need to enter the room to know Erica was now having a panic attack.

I'd blown it. The act. The mission. Everything.

Leonard didn't say a word. Just stared, eyebrows raised, eyes unreadable.

Then, calmly, he asked, "Were you that disappointed I couldn't make it to our wedding?"

Lucas's hands slowly lowered from his face.

"When did your feelings change?" Leonard added.

"What?"

"No? I guess not," he said, slipping his hands from his pockets.

Before I could think, he gripped my wrist and tugged me toward the door.

"What are you doing? Where are you taking me?"

"Home, Erica. And don't test my patience any further."

Home? Now?

Erica didn't include that in the play. She didn't fvcking say I'd be leaving with Leonard Hays right away!