The air in the grand hallway felt heavy, thick with a tension that Elsa could not escape. She stood alone—or as alone as a soul could be—trembling with a fear that seemed to vibrate through her very essence. Panic, sharp and cold, clawed at her mind.
"Oh God," she whispered, her voice a fragile thread in the silence of the vast mansion. "How should I escape from this trouble?"
She paced the length of the corridor, her form shimmering slightly, a ghost in a world of solid stone and unforgiving secrets. This man, Leo, had thrust her into a labyrinth with no clear exit. She felt utterly helpless. How could she possibly fulfill his demands? She possessed no physical body to hold a camera, no fingers to press the buttons of a phone she didn't even own. She was merely a soul endowed with supernatural gifts that felt more like a curse than a blessing. She couldn't shoot a weapon; she couldn't record a conversation. Above all, she had no experience in the dark arts of investigation or the cold calculations required to gather evidence against someone like Lucy.
The image of Lucy flashed in her mind—a girl who seemed genuinely kind, a girl whose father, Thomas, bore the easy smile of a decent man.
"Why is Leo suspecting them?" she wondered aloud, her brow furrowing.
The name felt bitter on her tongue. To her, he wasn't just Leonard; he was the embodiment of every frustration she currently endured.
"Mr. Arrogant," she muttered, the nickname a small rebellion against her plight. "I will not do this. I will not follow through with this stupid mission. It will only lead to my ruin."
She tried to bolster her courage, drawing herself up to her full, ethereal height. She told herself she was no longer afraid of him. What did it matter if he discovered her reality? What did it matter if he realized she had been lying to him from the very start? The weight of the deception was becoming more burdensome than the task itself.
"I will tell him straight," she practiced, her eyes hardening with a simulated resolve. "I will look him right in the eyes and I will say: Mr. Leo, I will not do this stupid investigation on anyone. Especially not on Lucy and her father."
Elsa took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady the frantic rhythm of her spirit.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a sound that made her blood run cold—a sharp, naughty whistle, casual and dangerously close.
Terror seized her. She felt the unmistakable presence of a man standing directly behind her, his shadow stretching long across the floorboards. Her heart hammered against a chest that wasn't truly there. She looked up at the glittering crystals of the chandelier above, her eyes wide and pleading as she offered a desperate prayer to the heavens.
"Please God... please let Leo not be behind me. PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!"
With a final, jagged breath, Elsa turned. She kept her eyes squeezed shut, her hands folded tightly in front of her chest as if in prayer. When she finally dared to peek, the sight that met her was not what she had braced for.
Leo was there, but he looked infuriatingly unbothered. He was leaning back, casually chewing a piece of bubble gum, his eyes hidden behind a pair of cool, black aviator glasses. He wore a black leather jacket that hugged his broad shoulders and dark jeans, looking every bit the man who owned the world and everyone in it.
"No!" Elsa shouted, the word exploding from her lungs. "L-E-O-N-A-R-D-O! LEO!"
The shock was so great that her fear momentarily manifested as a frantic, childish smile. She was losing her mind.
"Leo sir!" she stammered, her voice high and breathless. "What... what are you doing here?"
Leo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he began to clap—slow, rhythmic thuds that echoed off the walls. He started walking toward her, his hands tucked nonchalantly into his pockets, his gaze fixed on her through those impenetrable lenses.
Elsa scrambled backward, her heels clicking rapidly on the floor as she tried to maintain the distance between them. But for every step she took back, he took one forward, relentless and predatory. Finally, the cold, hard surface of the wall pressed against her spine. She was trapped.
She folded her hands again, closing her eyes tight, her lips moving in a frantic murmur.
"Please save me... please save me..."
A low, dark chuckle vibrated in the air. Leo was smiling, clearly amused by the sheer terror he was inspiring.
When Elsa finally opened her eyes, she found him standing a mere inch away. The scent of his expensive perfume washed over her—a sophisticated, intoxicating aroma that made her senses reel. He was still wearing those black glasses, making it impossible to read the intent behind his eyes, but a small, mocking smirk played on his lips.
She tried to sidestep him, to slip away, but Leo was faster. He slammed his hands against the wall on either side of her head, caging her in. Elsa was pinned between the cold stone and the heat of his presence.
In the suffocating proximity, she heard it again—the frantic drumming of a heart.
Lub-dub. Lub-dub.
It was loud, echoing in her ears, and to her horror, she felt as though her very pulse was chanting his name. Leo. Leo. Leo.
Overwhelmed and unable to meet his gaze, Elsa dropped her stare, focusing instead on his feet. Even his shoes looked expensive—polished, perfect, and imposing.
"Did you like my shoes, Miss Crazy Girl?" Leo's voice was a smooth, dangerous drawl.
"What?" Elsa blinked, her mind scrambling. "Yes... I mean, yes."
"Then it is 'Yes,'" he repeated, his tone mocking.
"No!" she corrected herself quickly, her face flushing.
Leo leaned in closer, his voice a whisper. "Oh, no?"
She could feel his breath against her skin now. The combination of his nearness and that scent was making her heart race even faster, her mind blurring into a haze of confusion and involuntary attraction. Leo watched her, his eyes tracking the way her eyebrows knit together in tension.
Elsa shut her eyes again, retreating back into her internal sanctuary.
"God, please save me from this Leo," she whispered. "Save me from Mr. Arrogant."
She opened her eyes to find him still there, a wall of muscle and leather, not touching her but dominating every inch of her personal space.
"You have to pray to me, Miss Elsa," Leo said, his voice dropping an octave. "Not to God."
"What?" she gasped.
Leo sighed, a sound of feigned exhaustion. "Patience," he muttered to himself. Then, louder: "Okay, Miss Crazy Girl. You can pray to God, but after that, you have to pray to me."
"Why?"
"Because," Leo said, his eyes narrowing, "you are scolding me in my own house. Right outside my own room, no less. What will you do if anyone listens to that?"
He leaned in further, his presence suddenly looming larger.
"By the way... HOW DARE YOU, MISS CRAZY GIRL? HOW DARE YOU, MISS ELSA?"
His voice wasn't a shout, but it held a terrifying edge.
"To scold me... to call me 'Arrogant.' Oh, I'm sorry. 'Mr. Arrogant.'"
He let out a short, dry laugh.
"If you had met me before—if you knew completely who I am—you would never dare to insult me. Everyone is always scared of me. Why are you openly calling me names? Are you my girlfriend? Are you my wife?"
He paused, his face inches from hers.
"I've listened to everything you said."
As his words sank in, Elsa's heart didn't just race; it ached. The confrontation triggered a flood of memories she hadn't expected to resurface—memories of the first time they had truly met, of a different life, and of a day drenched in rain.
In her mind, Elsa was no longer in the hallway. She was Leah again.
It was a bright morning in her small flat. Leah woke up with a rare sense of excitement. It was a college holiday, a day for herself.
"Today I have to do more shopping," she told her reflection. "I need to buy new things."
Later that afternoon, while browsing the aisles of a local mart, she found herself standing near a sweet little girl, perhaps five years old, who was waiting with her mother at the checkout. The mother was distracted, busy paying for a pile of groceries.
Leah watched as the little girl's eyes landed on a beautiful box of chocolates near the counter. With a determined look, the child picked it up and placed it before the cashier.
"I want a chocolate for my mom's birthday," the girl said firmly.
The cashier, a tired-looking man, looked at the box and then at the girl. A group of primary school students entered the mart behind them, their eyes widening as they watched the scene. The cashier remained silent; the chocolate was expensive, and he knew his manager would have his head if he gave it away for free.
"Money...?" the cashier asked gently.
The little girl didn't lose her smile. Instead, she reached into her small bag and began pulling out her treasures: a small plastic horse, a colorful hair clip, a single piece of hard candy, and her favorite hairband.
Leah felt a lump in her throat. It was the most precious currency in the world. She tried to catch the cashier's eye, making a subtle gesture that she would pay for the chocolates.
But the cashier was looking past her. Following his gaze, Leah saw a man standing near the entrance. It was Leo. He held up his phone, a message displayed on the screen: I WILL PAY FOR IT. GIVE LOTS OF SMILES AND HAPPINESS.
The cashier nodded, a small smile breaking through his weary expression. He reached out and took only the small plastic horse.
"Dear, take your change," the cashier said. He handed back the hairband, the clip, and the candy, then pushed the expensive chocolate box toward the girl.
The girl's face lit up like the sun. "Thank you, Uncle!"
She ran to her mother, tugging on her leg. When her mother turned, the girl held up the gift. "I LOVE YOU, MOM! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!"
The mother's eyes filled with tears as she scooped her daughter into a hug. The other children in the mart, swept up in the magic of the moment, began taking chocolates from the shelves, offering up their own treasures—paper helicopters, boats, and small candies.
Leah turned back to Leo. He was signaling the cashier again. GIVE IT.
Leo stepped forward, a bright, genuine smile on his face. "Today is Chocolate Day!" he announced to the room. "Every kid in this mart gets chocolates for free!"
A deafening cheer erupted. "HIP HIP HURRAY!"
Leah watched, mesmerized, as the man she thought was cold and arrogant began to play with the children. He looked truly happy, his laughter mingling with theirs. He wasn't a businessman then; he was just a man who found joy in a child's smile.
The mother and daughter walked toward the exit, pausing to say goodbye. Leo walked over to them, holding the little plastic horse and a new teddy bear he'd grabbed from a shelf. He knelt on one knee before the little girl.
"Hey, Little Doll. There is a gift for you, sweetie."
The girl beamed at him.
"You are the best customer, sweetie," Leo said softly. "You did the best shopping today for your mother. You both deserve a gift."
He handed her the teddy bear and returned her plastic horse. The girl hugged him tightly, and the mother whispered a sincere "Thank you."
After they left, Leo pulled out a debit card to settle the staggering bill for all the chocolates. The manager rushed over, bowing slightly.
"Sir! You are here. I am glad to meet you, sir."
The cashier looked confused. "Who is this, sir?"
"He is the boss," the manager revealed. "He is the owner's son. He owns this entire group of marts."
Leo looked at the manager, his expression turning serious but kind. "Increase this cashier's salary threefold," Leo commanded. "I believe a person's character describes their loyalty. Put him in a better position, too."
Leah stepped out of the mart, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years. The evening breeze was cool, and the sky was a deep, bruised blue, heavy with the promise of rain. She felt a surge of pure affection for the man inside.
When the first drops began to fall, Leah didn't run for cover. She ran toward a large tree, spinning in the rain, the water drenching her clothes as she let out a joyous laugh.
"I AM IN LOVE!" she shouted into the wind. She pressed her hand to her heart. "I love Leo."
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps behind her made her freeze. For a fleeting, hopeful second, she thought it might be him.
"Maybe Leo has come," she whispered.
But when she turned, her blood ran cold. Three young men stood there, lighting cigars, their eyes dark with a predatory lust.
"Hey, beautiful," one said, stepping forward. "What are you doing here alone?"
"Are you waiting for someone?" another sneered. "Or did you think someone close to your heart would come to you? Do you need company?"
Leah backed away, her hands shaking. "Please leave me. I will call the police."
She reached for her phone, but the screen remained black. It had died. Panic surged as she turned and bolted. The boys laughed and began to give chase.
As she ran, she desperately tried to restart her phone. Miraculously, it flickered to life for a second. She dialed the only number she had memorized recently.
Leo was just reaching his car when his phone buzzed. An unknown number.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Hello! Save me, sir!" Leah's voice was a frantic sob. "Save me, Leo! I'm near the mart... please... you saved me at the college... please..."
Her phone died again. In her haste, her pink bracelet snapped and fell into the mud. She tripped, falling face-first into the muck. By the time she scrambled behind a tree to hide, she was covered in mud and shivering from the downpour.
The drunks found her almost immediately. "There she is," one hissed, reaching out to grab her.
"LEO, PLEASE SAVE ME!" Leah screamed in her mind. "COME FAST, LEO!"
And then, he was there.
Leo moved like a shadow in the rain. Before the man could touch her, Leo's boot connected with his chest, sending him flying backward.
"Are you okay?" Leo asked, his voice low and steady as he looked at Leah.
She could only nod, clutching his shoulder for support.
The goons scrambled up, trying to look tough. "Hey hero, leave the girl for us! We aren't good people. We're goons! If you want to live, walk away."
The rain began to taper off as they mocked him. "Girls are weak," one laughed. "They can't even save themselves."
Leo did something unexpected. He smiled. He stretched his fingers, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Who said I was going to save this girl?"
Leah's heart sank. Scaredy cat! she thought. Is he going to leave me to these buffaloes?
Leo looked at the leader. "If you have the guts to take her, take her based on your belief, mister. Like you said... girls are weak."
The goon laughed, stepping toward Leah. "Smart boy."
But as the man reached for her, Leo moved with lightning speed. He grabbed Leah, lifting her slightly and positioning her so that her foot connected squarely with the goon's stomach. The man collapsed with a wheeze.
Leah gasped, her eyes wide. Before the second goon could react, Leo grabbed Leah's hands, using her own momentum and his strength to guide her into a sharp punch that sent the second man sprawling.
The final goon charged from behind. Leo stepped in front of her, a wall of protection. He reached into his pocket and pulled out her pink bracelet, which he must have found on the road. He wrapped it around Leah's fist, turning it into a makeshift knuckleduster.
"Make a fist," he commanded.
As the goons tried to rally, Leo dismantled them with clinical precision—kicks and punches that left them bloody and broken on the wet pavement. When the leader tried one last desperate move toward Leah, Leo stepped aside, guiding Leah's arm.
She swung. Her fist, protected by the bracelet, slammed into the man's nose.
"GIRLS ARE STRONG, NOT WEAK!" Leo shouted, his voice echoing through the street. "GIRLS CAN SAVE THEMSELVES AND DO ANYTHING WITH WILLPOWER!"
The sound of sirens filled the air. The police arrived, taking the groaning men away. As the officers thanked them, Leah looked down at herself, humiliated by the mud caking her face and clothes.
Leo walked over to her. "Are you okay?"
She nodded silently.
"Should I come and save you every time?" he asked, a hint of a smile touching his lips. "Don't ever believe that girls are weak. You have to be brave and intelligent. You have to have willpower. Girls can save themselves—and even men. Learn some defense, miss."
He reached into his pocket and handed her a spare key to his car. "Be brave and intelligent."
"Should I drop you?"
She nodded again. As she reached for the key, it slipped, falling into the mud.
"Sorry," she whispered.
Leo just smiled. She picked it up, cleaning it carefully. On the fob, a silver 'L' was embossed.
The memory faded, and Elsa found herself back in the cold hallway, staring at the modern-day Leo.
The man before her was arrogant, yes. He was difficult and demanding. But she remembered the man who bought chocolates for children and taught a terrified girl how to fight back.
"I don't know how to help him," Elsa whispered to herself, her heart heavy with a new, painful resolve. "But Leo stood for me when I was a stranger. He saved me. He made me feel safe."
She looked at him—really looked at him—standing there in his leather jacket, waiting for her answer.
"It's my turn to repay him," she vowed silently. "I don't know if I will live or fade away after these six months are up. But I will save the love of my life. I will fill his life with happiness and protect him from every danger. And... I will help him find his true soulmate, even if it isn't me."
A single, ethereal tear escaped her eye as she made the silent, painful vow. She would do the investigation. She would do anything for him.