03. The Girl Just Causes The Tense

Two days after her encounter with Leonard, Chateau finally resolved to follow him to an unknown destination. Leonard had mentioned they would be heading to the city where he lived, which led Chateau to suspect she might end up in his home. She only hoped her growing sense of dread—that Leonard intended to hand her over to a dangerous figure—was nothing more than paranoia.

Their exact destination remained unclear, but Chateau now knew they were in Marseille. The bustling urban environment was starkly different from the peaceful countryside where she had spent her life. The heat, the noise of roaring engines, and the suffocating crowds left Chateau feeling overwhelmed. After the long journey, she rested her head against the car window, her energy drained.

Leonard glanced at her briefly but remained silent, aware of her discomfort in the unfamiliar city.

“We’ll be there soon. You can rest at the apartments,” Leonard said. His words did little to soothe Chateau, who felt too weary to question the destination.

As they drove, Chateau couldn’t help but feel out of place. She sighed, murmuring, “It’s so loud here,” her voice tinged with unease.

Leonard ignored her complaint, too engrossed in browsing artwork on his phone. Chateau, curious about his preoccupation, leaned over slightly.

“What’s keeping you so busy?” she asked.

Leonard showed her the screen, revealing various paintings.

“You like art?” she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

“Yes,” he replied curtly.

“What kind of paintings do you prefer?”

“Anything that looks beautiful to me.”

The conversation ended as quickly as it started, Leonard’s disinterest evident. Chateau bit her lip, deciding not to push further. The oppressive silence returned until Leonard announced abruptly, “We’re here.”

Chateau stepped out of the car, her breath catching as she took in the sight before her. The Apartments were nothing like what she had expected. Instead of grandeur, she was greeted by a dilapidated, middle-class building with peeling paint, rusted balconies, and broken windows. Trash littered the sidewalks, and the air carried a faint but unpleasant odor.

The interior was no better. The narrow hallways were dimly lit, and the walls bore stains and cracks. Chateau tried to suppress her shock, but the sight was a far cry from the lavish lifestyle she had imagined for someone like Leonard.

“Move,” Leonard said, breaking her trance as he led her up the creaking stairs.

Inside the apartment, the atmosphere was even more unsettling. Two women lounged in the living room, their overly revealing clothing and heavy makeup suggesting they were more than just casual residents. One wore a short leopard-print dress and towering heels, while the other had bright red lipstick smudged across her face. Their demeanor, from the suggestive way they posed to their flirtatious glances, left no doubt about their profession.

“Leonard, you’re back!” one of the women, with curled blonde hair and an exaggerated pout, called out, her voice syrupy sweet.

“Did the boss send you on another errand?” the other asked, eyeing him with interest.

“No,” Leonard replied tersely, motioning toward Chateau. “This is her new place. Show her to the room.”

Both women froze, their expressions a mix of surprise and disbelief.

“Wait, you mean her?” the blonde asked, gesturing toward Chateau.

“Yes,” Leonard said without elaboration.

The tension in the room thickened as the women exchanged glances. Their surprise seemed almost insulting, as though the idea of Leonard bringing someone like Chateau into their world was unthinkable.

“She’s... your woman?” one of them managed to ask, her tone laced with disbelief.

“Yes,” Leonard confirmed, his tone sharp enough to end further questions.

Chateau stood awkwardly, absorbing the exchange. The women’s reactions only fueled her unease. Were they shocked because they had feelings for Leonard? Or, worse, because they were also “his” women? Chateau shuddered at the thought.

“I have things to do,” Leonard said abruptly, leaving before Chateau could ask anything else. She watched as he disappeared down the hallway, her questions unanswered.

Left with no choice, Chateau followed the women to a small, dingy room at the end of the corridor. She sat on the worn-out mattress, staring at the stained walls. Was this really her new home? She couldn’t help but wonder if Leonard would return or if she had been abandoned in this strange and unwelcoming place.

***

Leonard entered the spacious room centered around a large round table. Five people were already seated, and with Leonard’s arrival, the group was complete.

His calm demeanor and unwavering gaze irked four of the others, though the man seated directly opposite him, Gabriel Levère, smirked in amusement. Gabriel, the leader of Lafleur, the infamous underground organization ruling Marseille, addressed him first.

“Enjoy your trip, Leonard?” Gabriel asked casually.

“I found something new for my collection. It was enjoyable,” Leonard replied, his tone indifferent.

Renè, the sharp-tongued, black-haired woman seated at the table’s edge, scoffed. “So enjoyable that you couldn’t resist stirring up trouble again, could you?”

At 22, Renè was the only female executive in Lafleur, known for her biting remarks and unmatched skill in digital espionage. Her twin brother, Sancè, was her opposite quiet and observant, gathering intelligence directly from the field. Sancè watched Leonard silently, seemingly unsurprised by his unruffled response, as though Leonard had anticipated Renè’s jab long before the meeting.

Giraud Maxence, a scruffy weapons specialist with a penchant for women and conflict, jumped in next. “Your recklessness will drag Lafleur into serious trouble one day.”

Leonard’s cold stare at Giraud only fueled the tension. “Don’t give me that look, Leonard. You’re tempting me to gouge your eyes out,” Giraud growled.

“Enough, Giraud. Gabriel is still here,” Theo interjected, his calm yet commanding presence restoring order. Theo, the first executive Gabriel had appointed, was the voice of reason in the group. His towering stature and composed demeanor often quelled disputes, though Giraud’s scowl lingered.

Gabriel, unfazed, leaned forward. “Leonard, you know why I called this meeting, don’t you?”

Leonard’s gaze shifted to the floor. “I do.”

“You left without informing us, which I allowed since it was personal. But your actions stirred up conflict with two rival organizations.”

Sancè provided the details. “Leonard killed Lewis Guerda Pearson of Les Veilleurs and Pascal Duboid of Meute Sangria two days ago in Lourmarin.”

Giraud smirked. “The ‘Lafleur’s Devil’ strikes again. How noble of you to endanger our organization.”

Gabriel clasped his hands, his expression serious. “The Meute Sangria group is a small gang in Paris, but Les Veilleurs are a prominent mafia presence in the area. This could escalate quickly.”

“They’re no match for us,” Renè countered confidently.

“They don’t have to be,” Theo replied evenly, “If they join forces, we’ll face significant challenges. Leonard’s actions could be seen as a declaration of war.”

Giraud, barely containing his anger, snapped, “See, Leonard? Your selfishness jeopardizes us all.”

Finally, Leonard broke his silence. “I’ll handle it.”

Rather than apologizing, he doubled down. “I killed them for my reasons, and I’ll deal with the consequences. Don’t interfere.”

Giraud shot to his feet, gripping Leonard’s collar. “Your arrogance is insufferable.”

Unfazed, Leonard met Giraud’s furious glare head-on, his calm fueling Giraud’s rage. Theo’s firm command and Gabriel’s quiet authority finally forced Giraud to back down, but not without a parting threat. “If Lafleur suffers because of you, I’ll deal with it myself.”

Leonard said nothing, walking out without acknowledgment. He was known for his independence, his lack of respect for authority, and his relentless pursuit of his own goals. Yet Gabriel tolerated him, knowing Leonard’s value. His intelligence and resourcefulness made him a formidable force, even if his actions often teetered on recklessness.

Leonard understood the consequences of his actions. He knew Les Veilleurs and Meute Sangria would retaliate, targeting either Lafleur or the object of their original dispute, Chateau. But Leonard didn’t care. Anything that belonged to him, he would defend- against anyone, even his own allies.