19. Liar

“Are you busy? I want to talk to you.” Caterina asked after she entered Leonardo's study. 

“Get used to knocking on the door before you enter.” Leonardo looked annoyed. He closed this month's financial report book, then took a deep breath. He looked up, looking at Caterina with deep eyes.

Caterina's gaze turned to Leonardo's palm, which was wrapped in bandages. Leonardo seemed to understand; he hid his hands behind a pile of files on the table.

"Why are you looking for me?"

Caterina was silent for a moment. She tried to gather her courage before asking, because she had to be ready to accept whatever answer Leonardo would give her.

"Is this yours?" Caterina held out a necklace, the necklace she found in Leonardo's car the other day.

Leonardo looked very surprised when he saw the necklace in Caterina's hand, but he tried to act normal. He doesn't want to admit his feelings right now, because he is too proud. He was used to rejecting Caterina, being rude to her, even swearing that he would never be interested in her. He didn't want to swallow his own saliva.

"No." Leonardo lied in reply.

Caterina smiled when she heard that answer. She knew Leonardo was lying, because she had a lot of evidence that it was Leonardo's necklace. Now Caterina understands; Leonardo may have opened his heart to her, but he was too proud to admit it.

Caterina lowered her head; she brought her face closer to Leonardo's face. The hot air of her breath gently caressed that handsome face. Leonardo's cheeks immediately turned red; his heart seemed to stop beating when he looked at Caterina from such a close distance. His hands were clenched because he was holding back his desire not to kiss Caterina. That beautiful face, those sexy lips, were too tempting to ignore.

“You… love me, don't you?” Caterina asked confidently. Her eyes sparkled; her red lips smiled broadly.

Leonardo gave a sinister smile. "I think there's something wrong with your brain." He poked Caterina's head to get away from him.

“Then why are you wearing this when I'm not here?” Caterina hung the necklace right in front of Leonardo.

“I've never worn a cheap necklace like that.” Leonardo denies.

“I have a very credible witness. Alex said you wore this necklace after I left, then you took it off when you picked me up at the hospital that time." Caterina explains what she knows.

“Damn that guy.” Leonardo muttered irritably.

"You like me, don't you?" Caterina continues to tease. Her soft fingers caressed Leonardo's face. She touched the man's eyes, down to his nose, then his lips. Her blood rippled when she touched those lips.

Leonardo's breathing sounded very ragged. He was wide-eyed; he even swallowed hard. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. His body seemed to be filled with electricity; his face was red; he felt hot. If Caterina continued to tease him, he wasn't sure he could stop himself.

Leonardo grabbed Caterina's hand, which was on his face. He squeezed her hand a little hard, his jaw tightened, and his eyes became very sharp.

“Kate, I won't forgive you if you act rude to me. I could break your fingers.” Leonardo looked so serious.

Caterina was silent; she felt that perhaps she had misjudged. If Leonardo really liked her, the man wouldn't be rude like this. Maybe everything Alex said wasn't true. However, why was the necklace in Leonardo's car? There were many questions raging in her chest.

Caterina pulled her hand from Leonardo's grasp. The smile that had been etched on his lips suddenly disappeared. She looked very disappointed and, at the same time, felt embarrassed because she had embarrassed herself in front of Leonardo with her excessive self-confidence.

“Okay, I guess I think too much.” Caterina spoke with an indescribable feeling. She lifted her body, turned around, and walked out of the room. Leonardo could only stare as his favorite necklace was taken away by Caterina.

“Why is it so hard to admit that I like her?” Leonardo looked so annoyed that the veins on his forehead were clearly visible. His forehead twitched, his face getting redder. He was very annoyed with himself for keeping running and avoiding his feelings for Caterina.

If only he had been honest about his feelings, perhaps now he and Caterina could live happily.

Caterina, who felt embarrassed, went over to Alex feeling annoyed. The man was preparing an order for a number of illegal drugs to be sent out of town. He is very busy with his work.

“Why did you lie to me?” Caterina suddenly protested to him. She seemed very annoyed with Alex. Of course, she had been thinking about this all night; she couldn't even sleep when she thought about the small possibility that Leonardo liked her. Hearing Alex's explanation about the necklace, as well as about her rescue mission, she thought that Leonardo liked her. Turns out she was wrong.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand." Alex stared with a frown.

“You said this necklace belonged to Leo because you saw him wearing it. I asked him, but he didn't admit it was his." Caterina protested irritably. She was sure it belonged to Leonardo, but Leonardo didn't admit it.

“I'm not lying; I often see Mr. Bianchi wearing that necklace. He deliberately took off the necklace when we wanted to pick you up at that time." Alex tried to reassure.

"But he doesn't admit it!" Caterina raised her volume.

"Ben, you've seen Mr. Bianchi wearing this necklace, right?" Alex asked his friend to strengthen his confession. He took over the necklace from Caterina, then gave it to Ben.

Ben looked at the necklace closely, "That's right. This is Mr. Bianchi's necklace. It even has a name, Mr. Bianchi was looking for it a few days ago.” The man agreed.

Caterina was even more confused now.

“Why would he lie to me?” The question echoed in her mind. On what basis did Leonardo not want to admit it when she asked the man directly? She didn't understand at all.

"Just give it back to him. Tell him, I don't care about this necklace anymore. I already threw mine away.” Caterina said angrily, then just walked away.