Page 9 of Off-Limits Bad Boy Protector

"Ugh, please stop speaking to me in riddles. I'm pretty sure something important did come up. So what’s up?"

It became clear that fate had arranged my meeting with Leo. Not my innocent friend, who simply wanted the best for me.

I sighed softly. I was determined to speak plainly and directly, no matter how hard it might be. "You wouldn't believe who I met today..." I began, "Leo..." I uttered his name slowly, not pausing as I stared down at my feet.

There was another long pause. Then, Lisa exploded with a screech. It was loud enough to make me flinch. "Wait, wait, wait!! Did you just say your ex-boyfriend??? What was he doing here?? That Leo Woodrow?" My best friend bombarded me with questions as fast as the wind while pacing around.

I nodded to herself. "Yeah, Leo." I bit the inside of my cheek. The bitter taste of defeat and regret invaded my mouth. I was remembering his warm touch and soft eyes. It seemed impossible, but he somehow managed to control me within the short amount of time they met again.

"So how did this happen?" Lisa spoke after a few moments of silence. They were filled only with the sound of shuffling furniture.

"He was part of the panelist... I think he works there.” I answered quietly, trying my hardest to stay calm. I was not going to allow my sadness to make me so emotional.

“Wow...I had no idea,” Lisa said with slight admiration in my voice. “How did you two reconnect?" My best friend continued, asking curiously. “Don't tell me he asked you difficult questions on purpose.”

A quick chuckle escaped my throat at the thought, because thinking about it reminded me that I failed to accomplish the real purpose of visiting SoundEase. "He didn't get a chance," I said dejectedly. "I couldn't get myself interviewed, Lisa..." My voice broke slightly on the last words, causing a knot to form in my stomach, and I knew how pathetic I sounded.

Lisa hummed softly in reply. "Oh, Cass... are you okay, though?" The concern was evident in her voice, and it made me feel a bit better. At least I had a friend who cared about my well-being. "It seems like he's getting on your nerves again... you couldn’t imagine yourself seeing me every time, right?" I added playfully.

It always amused me how she always figured out things before even knowing all the information. “Yeah, I guess.” I smiled sadly at my phone. “It sucks that things worked out this way but...” I paused momentarily as I tried to organize my thoughts. “I think I might have to take the job.”

"Wait, you didn't even attend the job interview?" asked the other woman with a puzzled expression, finding it challenging to understand the situation. She was clearly having trouble grasping the reasoning behind your decision.

“I didn’t,” I said as I shook my head. "But I think… Leo can get me one through connections. I know it sounds pathetic, but I’m in a financial crisis right now, Lisa…"

"Hey, don’t worry about it," her tone changed into a more serious one as a thought must have crossed her mind. "No one knows Leo better than you do. He could be the person you regret meeting the most in life, but we both know you are not someone he could possibly hurt. So, grab that chance, baby, and make sure you take the damn offer."

Another smile appeared. Relief washed over me when I heard my friend's wise and positive words about the situation. “Thanks Lisa…for everything.”

After hanging up the phone, I stood by the window as I watched the dark street outside. My mind drifted back to the previous afternoon when I met Leo. My eyes got watery as memories rushed in.

I only approached you because of the bet I made with my friends. You were the stupid and gullible one to fall for me.

Those bitter and harsh words he said three years ago echoed loudly through my ears. They were replayed in my mind over and over again like a broken record.

And the worst part of it all, I was in a wretched state of needing his help even after the way he had treated me. It seemed life wouldn't stop giving examples of how I could never be as great as him.

I swallowed my pride. My fingers scrolled to the deepest part of my contacts. I hoped I hadn't deleted his number. When I found something similar to what I was looking for, a message popped up on my screen:

Congratulations, Miss. Cassie Evans! You’ve earned an employment position at SoundEase! Please leave your name, address, and phone below. We will send the forms you need to get ready for work!

That was it; the one ticket to creating more memories with Leo Woodrow. And whatever the future had in store for us, I wasn't sure I could handle being broken one more time.

Chapter 8

We walked into "The Iron Fist", our favorite hangout spot. Over time, it became the place we'd unwind. Nehemiah found it first. At first, I made fun of the silly name, but eventually, I got just as comfortable there as the others did.

The Iron Fist had a strange rustic, industrial vibe. The dim lighting made it a perfect spot for guests. It accentuated the sexual tension between them. It also affected the female servers in skimpy clothing. The brick walls added to the atmosphere. They created a lively mood filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and laughter.

I grabbed a booth at the corner of the bar and plopped down. The twins followed, taking the two stools across from me. They looked freakishly alike. We'd worked out together for years, so they were tall and ripped - just not as tall as me.

I looked around the building as Lisa walked towards us. Today she wore a satin gown that stopped mid-thigh and flashed us a smile. I nodded in response, not in the mood to entertain her usual flirting.

Lisa greeted her friends with a warm smile, happy to see the familiar trio together again. She leaned in a little, excitement evident in her voice as she asked, 'What's our plan for tonight, the usual hangout spot?'

I joked with a grin, "Hey, Lisa, could you please get us three shots of whiskey and a round of beers? We're in a hurry."

Jeremiah hollered for strong shots to get him pumped for the night. He needed that burning feeling in his gut, an energy boost to get his evening started.

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