10.

The next day I was with a client in The Emporium – the finest fashion house in all of Trinity. My client wanted to check out some wedding dresses and also place a custom order for her bridesmaid's dresses. The bride-to-be was busy trying dresses and I was talking to the personal shopper who was giving me some amazing tips to find a flattering dress based on my body type.

Suddenly, I saw a familiar face. It was Leo talking to the owner and roaming around the shop. What the hell is that creepy guy's problem? Why does he always run into me?

He saw me and looked away. It was funny how he was trying to ignore me today but yesterday he had someone point a gun to my head. I turned my attention to the bride who had just tried on a new outfit and was strutting around. She shortlisted this outfit and went on to try the others suggested by the personal shopper.

When Leo came by the entrance, he stopped and looked at me. It was my turn to pretend to ignore him. From the corner of my eye, I saw him approach me. The nearer he got, the faster my heart raced. I hate how I wouldn't stop feeling that stupid sensation, despite being aware that this guy was danger.

"Meg." He said. There was a sense of hesitance in his voice. I couldn't point out what and why it was.

I pretended to not hear him and continued humming a tune while doodling in my planner.

Leo cleared his throat and tried again, "Meg." He said. This time his voice was confident and powerful.

"Huh? Yes." I innocently batted my eyelashes and made the most clueless face ever. "Oh Leo, you? Surprised seeing you here." I said, keeping up my charade.

His not-so-subtle eye roll made me realize that he saw right through my act. Who was I kidding? A gangster like him could see right through people.

"Do you have a minute to spare? I need to talk to you. It is about yesterday." He said, getting straight to the point.

Even though I was angry at him for pointing a gun at me and scared that he may kill me any time he desires, I had a strong urge to hear him out. A part of me still refused to believe that Leo could be a bad guy. He is an arrogant jerk, no doubt but I cannot imagine him to be a bad person. I still had a strong feeling that deep down he was a good guy.

I glanced in my client's direction– she was still busy trying her dresses. I could afford to spare some time and hear him out.

"All right but you have only five minutes. I'm working."

I don't know if I imagined it but I certainly felt Leo's dark eyes brightening slightly.

We went to a secluded corner.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, unable to stop my curiosity.

"The owner is a close friend." He answered. "But I guess we should get to the point."

"You had something important to tell me." I scowled, bitterly crossing my arms.

"I'm sorry about threatening you. It is just that I hate snitches so much that I lost my temper when I found out you went to the police. I don't know how to explain it; it is a mafia thing." He said and looked away. I sensed some guilt from his side.

He continued, "But even when I was threatening you, I swear I had no intentions to hurt you."

"Yeah right." I snorted at his comment.

"I just want to give Gigi a wedding of her dreams and her dream wedding is planned by you Meg. I did not mean to threaten you but I'm desperate because Gigi would be shattered if you went away. She's my baby sister and I just want her to be happy. Maybe that's why I'm a little intense about this." He said.

"Still, you had no right to threaten me. Do you know how scared I was when your friend had a gun to my head? I was shaking and I couldn't stop crying. It must be normal for you but it surely wasn't normal for me."

My words had hit him hard. His face fell and he was clearly hurt. In a fraction of a second, he composed himself.

He said. "I acted foolishly and as an apology I just wanted to know how I could make it up to you."

The fact that he asked for a way to make up for his mistake and not offer an empty apology made me go soft on him. My heart told me that he meant every word he said and he truly felt remorseful. But my mind refused to believe it.

My words choked when I tried to tell him that I never wanted to speak with him. He was a dangerous man and it was for the best if I kept my distance with him. I still found it difficult to trust him.

"Just do me one favour... from now on I'll be coordinating with Gigi and Andrew directly. I... I.... I don't want to speak to you again!"

He was startled. Suddenly, the smile on his face vanished. He looked so sad that I wanted to reach out to him and console him.

"If that is what you want." He said. His voice turned into a low murmur, "I guess it is a punishment I deserve."

What was the last part supposed to mean? I did not understand but I knew that it wasn't telling me, he was telling himself.

I was so engrossed thinking about his words that I never figured out when he left.

When I noticed he was gone, I felt that sinking feeling in my stomach once again.

That night I could not sleep a wink. My mind kept on replaying that encounter with Leo. I felt so horrible for being so rude to him. To think of it, I was at fault too since I tried to push him in jail. Even when it was my fault, he apologized for it. He was trying to mend fences while I was being a straight up bitch.

But, I was afraid of him. I had understood that he lived in a completely different world and I lived in a different world. It was the best if we stayed away. My eyes fell on Leo's jacket that had arrived from the laundry and was folded and placed on a rack. I remembered that day when he'd dropped me home. He has been nice to me while I have always been a jerk to him.

Next morning, I had a meeting with Gigi. I gave her Leo's jacket along with the guns and bullets I found inside. I did not want anything that would make me soften my stance towards him. Leo was a mafia, a cruel and dangerous man who kills people. It was the truth and I had to come to terms with it.