Contrast

Leah walked down the sidewalk in a slight daze. The base of her leg started to hurt because of the stilettos she was wearing. When she found a lawn chair, Leah stepped aside and sat down. She bent over to examine her leg, there was a small, bleeding wound there. Leah's frowned, usually the shoes that caused this kind of injury were the new ones.

Suddenly Leah remembered that everything in her wardrobe looked like brand new stuff, she could tell by the smell of them. A question mark and big suspicion began to appear again in Leah's mind, especially since she heard the latest facts from Adrian. Could it be that Jerome was manipulating her?

Before Leah had time to get up and look for a taxi, a sudden downpour of rain-drenched Leah's body entirely. Leah hugged herself, feeling completely miserable. Why did everything feel so messed up, who should she believe?

"I told you not to trust anyone, lots of people are happy to mess up your mind!" suddenly Jerome appeared and put an umbrella above Leah's head. Leah looked up at Jerome's face. Was this man is the man that she loved? Is their marriage relationship okay?

"Let's get in the car!" Jerome said, taking Leah's hand. Inside the car, Tom, Jerome's driver was waiting. "Turn on the heater, Tom!" yelled Jerome after they got inside the car. Leah hugged her bag feeling cold.

"How did you find me?" Leah asked curiously because she was quite far from VICAR. "I happened to be passing by," Jerome replied dryly.

"You were from there?" Jerome was pointing his hand to the building where Parker & Partners was. How did Jerome know? Having no choice, Leah nodded eventually.

Jerome snorted, "Surely that crazy psychopath has something to say about our marriage!" babbled Jerome irritably. Leah turned around with a confused face, "Crazy psychopath?" Leah murmured in a low voice. "Yes! That stupid Adrian Parker! I think he needs to be taught a lesson! He crossed the line!" scolded Jerome, clenching his fists.

"What do you mean?" Leah gets tensed. Jerome sighed deeply, "If he's talking about our relationship, don't listen to him! He's been obsessed with you, Leah! For a long time! He's a little bit crazy!" Jerome said earnestly.

Leah gasped, Adrian Parker? A Crazy Psychopath? Is it possible? He looks very healthy and stable. Who knows who's the one who made up the stories?

"Did we ever come close to divorced?" Leah asked, at last, unable to help her curiosity. Jerome loosened his tie, then turned his head to look at Leah. "We were at the lowest point of our marriage which at that time had just started, you couldn't stand the pressure of work and marriage so you filed for divorce. But one month later you withdrew the lawsuit and we're back together until now," Jerome replied, reached out into Leah's hand softly.

"Adrian is just taking advantage of your current state Leah, he's sick!” Jerome grumbled with disgust.

"There was a message from me to Adrian which said as if I was cut him out, can you explain that?" Leah asked blankly.

"Maybe the message was made by him! You lose your cellphone, right? Who knows he was the one who hides it from the beginning!" Leah could hear deep hatred from Jerome's tone. If indeed Adrian was a stalker why didn't Jerome act legitimately? Leah chose to keep the question to herself.

"You are safe with me Leah, we will live happily just like before, just stop digging your past, it will only make you more confused and stressed out," said Jerome as he touched Leah's hair which was wet with the rain.

Leah nodded, there was one idea in her head. She will pretend to accept everything with open arms and forget her past. That will make her steps easier.

"Yeah, maybe I should forget everything that I can't remember. What's important now is that you will always protect me," said Leah, turned her head to look at Jerome. Leah could see Jerome's face turned to joy in an instant.

"Are you serious?" asked Jerome with a look of hope. Leah nodded, "Yeah and I've been thinking about going back to work at VICAR, it turns out that the position I previously filled was still empty," said Leah, who immediately made Jerome's facial expression alert again.

"What is it for Leah? First, working there will make you meet Adrian more often and it's a danger to your safety. Second, you don't remember anything about your work experience for the past five years, how can you become a director?"

The second reason was enough to make Leah flinch. Jerome was right, Leah didn't remember whatever she did in the past five years, how could she become a director? While five years earlier she was just an average employee who couldn't think that far.

“You're right,” Leah's words were able to make Jerome grinned triumphantly. "Well, I'll find another job, there must be something I can do," said Leah, who was looking for a job just for the reason that she could freely leave the Penthouse.

Jerome wanted to argue but the expression on Leah's face was undeniable, so Jerome just nodded and smiled wryly.

*****

"We can start sleeping in one room," Leah said suddenly as they had just finished their dinner. Jerome stared, "You're not kidding, aren't you?" Jerome was absurdly surprised.

Leah shook her head, "Yeah even though I still can't do any sex things, but at least we can start by sleeping together," Leah said with a faint smile.

"That's great!" exclaimed Jerome feeling genuinely pleased. "Thank you so much, Leah, this is how we should deal with problems, by leaning on each other," Jerome smiled as he poured wine in his glass and Leah's. 

Finally that night Leah let Jerome sleep next to her. She studied Jerome's face, digging into her thoughts. If Adrian's words were true, for what reason did Leah left Jerome? Just like Adrian, Jerome is also blessed with a handsome face and a well-proportioned athletic body. Moreover, Jerome is very rich! How could Leah leave such a perfect man? The answer may be only one, that Leah was never happy...

In the next few days, Leah will look for Suzy, her secretary during her works in VICAR. She will also meet Donna to ask some questions. Leah will find an excuse so that Jerome won't get suspicious.

Suddenly Leah's mind falls on what happened this afternoon when Jerome found her in the roadside garden. It seemed impossible if it was a coincidence. Was it possible that Jerome might be put a GPS tracking on Leah's phone?

"Leah, you haven't slept yet?" suddenly Jerome woke up from his sleep. Leah smiled, "I'm about to sleep right now," Leah replied and then turned off the nightlight next to her. She tried so hard to close her eyes.

The shaking sound of the cellphone took Leah by surprise, she got up to find Jerome's cellphone on. An incoming message from someone named Jessica. Leah squinted her eyes trying to read the message, but suddenly Jerome stretched his body and changed his sleeping position, making Leah unable to see the cellphone that was now closed under Jerome's arm.

Leah's thoughts were on her only sister, Jessica. Where is she? Did Jerome hide her?