LEONARDO

"Aargh!" Megan screamed as they both fell into the pool together. She could not swim, as she opened her mouth to tell Mr. Valenti, water filled her mouth. She struggled for breath and to stay afloat but she only drowned the more. A pair of hands wrapped around her waist and lifted her up and out of the pool. She was on the floor coughing and when it finally subsided, she looked up and he was looking at her. So he was the one who saved her, of course, it would be him as they were the only ones in here. His body was wet, his dark blue suit was soaked and his hair had fallen over his head. He was still looking like a Greek god. She wondered what she looked like.

He crouched down to where she was sitting on the floor. "Are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm fine." She told him while avoiding his eyes. She could not believe this happened to her client. How could she be so reckless? She questioned herself.

He stood up at his full length. "What the hell were you doing walking around the edge of the pool like that when you can't swim? What if I wasn't here and you fell and drowned?" Mr. Valenti hollered. Megan looked at him in shock, he was shouting at her like that when he was the one who caused it. If he did not scare her like that, she wouldn't have fallen into the pool.

"Why are you yelling at me? It's not my fault I can't swim, besides, you were the one who scared me." She said, her voice cracking as she felt a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Are you crying?" He exclaimed. He was staring at her in astonishment.

"No, I'm not." She croaked, wiping her face which was already wet. She brushed her long hair that fell over her face and tried to stand up only for her to fall back with a yelp. Mr. Valenti was already by her side, holding her so she wouldn't fall hard. The pain in her ankle increased because she attempted to stand up.

"Are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?" He asked seeming concerned.

"My feet hurt. I think I twisted my ankle when we both fell into the pool." She replied as Mr. Valenti helped her up to stand with his support because she was limping.

"We need to take you to the hospital so you can treat your leg and get a change of clothes." He told her.

"You don't have to worry about me. Julie can take me home and you also need to change your clothes." Her eyes darted to his expensive handmade shoes. "I will compensate you for your clothes and shoes."

"Julie has left. Don't worry about me, you come first." Megan's heart skipped a beat as she heard those words. Brandon has never said this to her throughout their years of dating. When they go out, he doesn't open the car door for her or put her first. But now, a stranger has said those words she had been dying to hear her boyfriend say to her. "This won't do." He said and before she could understand what he meant by that, he had lifted her into his arms like the way a man carries his bride.

Her hands wrapped around his neck unconsciously. "Mr. Valenti... What are you doing?" She exclaimed in surprise.

He looked her in the eyes. "Leonardo."

"What?"

"Call me that instead of Mr. Valenti. Leonardo Valenti is my full name. Besides, I have enough money to pay for my clothes." His voice was deep.

She felt his chest vibrate as he spoke. His face was so close to hers that she could see how hot he was. "What will the others outside think when they see you carrying me like this?"

"Do you want to walk all the way outside with a leg like this? Your shirt is also transparent because it is wet. Surely, you do not want the others outside to see you looking like that." He used her words against her.

Megan looked down at her chest and her white chiffon shirt was indeed transparent. Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned red. "Oh." Was all she could say as embarrassment washed over her. At least she wore black trousers which are not transparent.

His foot began to move and he carried her out of the indoor swimming pool. As they came out, she heard gasps and some of them looked at the both of them in surprise at their wet clothes and Leonardo carrying her in his arms. Leonardo kept walking till they reached the entrance and outside the house, not minding the attention on them. She also caught a glimpse of Mr. Earnest's surprised expression.

There was an SUV parked at the entrance and his driver rushed and opened the back door when he saw Leonardo striding towards the car. He placed her gently in the back seat and went to take something from the back. He handed her a piece of cloth like a quilt. She took it from his and covered her body. He rounded the car and entered beside her. Mr. Earnest brought her bag and handed it to her. The engine of the car roared to life and they started their journey to the hospital.

On arrival, Leonardo insisted a wheelchair be provided even with her opposition to the idea. The nurses quickly brought one and they wheeled her inside. Luckily, it was minor and would take a few days to heal with special care and medication. The doctor bandaged the affected area. She called Julie who was on her way to pick her up. The doctor who knew Leonardo admitted her to a private room where she could stay until Julie arrived.

"Thank you." She said when he was about to leave the hospital room.

He turned around. "For what?"

"For helping me. I appreciate." According to what she had read about him online, they described him as a ruthless man and someone who would not hesitate to destroy a business. But seeing him help her like this is making her doubt the online articles. "I did not expect you to be this kind."

A hard look came on his face. "Don't thank me for I am not kind. I do things for a reason and this one is not excluded." He turned around and left the room.