Chapter 57: High-Society Hospitality

Inside the deep shadows of the narrow alleyway, the heavy silence between them felt thick enough to break. Leo stared down at the gorgeous, purple-haired woman pinned against the brick wall, his mind completely reeling.

"Stay at my place?" Leo muttered, his voice full of disbelief. "Are you serious right now? I barely even know you."

Eleanor's sharp eyes narrowed through her clear glasses, her deep pink blush mixing with a look of pure, stubborn defiance. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, raising her chin in a haughty, high-and-mighty stance. "If you refuse to assist me, I will simply step out onto the main street and scream to the top of my lungs that you forcefully kidnapped me. I am certain that the people will love to hear that story."

Leo let out a long, exhausted sigh, rolling his eyes toward the night sky. Of course. Another completely troublesome woman. "Fine. Just keep your mouth shut."

He walked slowly to the edge of the dark lane, peeking out to check the main street. The three men in black suits were completely gone, leaving the sidewalks totally empty under the glowing streetlamps. Leo didn't waste another second. He aggressively grabbed Eleanor’s soft hand, his large fingers locking tightly around her wrist as he pulled her out into the open night. They broke into a fast, silent run, dodging through the shadows of the residential buildings until they finally reached the gates of his apartment building.

Leo hurried up the stairs, pulled out his keys, and twisted the deadbolt open.

Eleanor stepped inside the dim room, her heels clicking against the floor. She took off her clear glasses, her eyes scanning the tiny space with a highly critical look. She wrinkled her nose, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "My goodness... this apartment is incredibly small. How do you even manage to breathe in such cramped conditions?"

Leo closed the door, locking it securely behind them before throwing his backpack onto the floor. He offered her a dry, flat stare. "Look, if my home isn't to your expensive liking, the front door is right behind you. You are completely free to leave and take your chances with the men in suits."

Eleanor violently stiffened, a sudden wave of hesitation crossing her face. She looked at the locked door, then back to Leo's broad shoulders, her haughty pride melting into an embarrassed pout. "I... I never said I was leaving. It is... acceptable for a single night, I suppose."

Leo shook his head, walking over to the small kitchen corner. "Do you want anything to drink? I have water or tea."

"No, thank you. I do not simply consume cheap—"

GROWL!

A loud, deeply hollow rumbling sound suddenly vibrated straight from Eleanor’s stomach, instantly cutting off her sophisticated speech.

Leo stopped in his tracks, a relaxed, entertained chuckle escaping his lips as he turned his head around. Eleanor’s entire face instantly painted itself in a blush. She quickly clamped her hands over her stomach, looking down at her boots in total, frantic embarrassment.

"Yeah, right," Leo teased softly, a warm grin tracing his sharp jawline. "Sit down at the table. I'll make us something quick to eat."

He turned on the small stove burner, pulling out a frying pan and gathering a few basic ingredients from his small refrigerator. A few minutes later, a warm, incredibly savory aroma began to drift through the small studio room.

Eleanor sat on the edge of the study chair, but the delicious smell completely shattered her restraint. Driven by pure hunger, she stood up quietly on her tip-toes, slowly creeping up behind Leo's back. She leaned her upper body forward, trying to peek over his broad shoulder to see what he was cooking.

Leo felt the sudden warmth of her body right behind him. Without turning around, he shifted his broad body sideways, using his chest to completely block her view. "Hey. Out of the kitchen. It's dangerous while the heat is on."

Frustrated by his sudden movement, Eleanor stubbornly leaned even further to the side, trying to look around his arm. But she completely miscalculated her balance on the smooth floor. Her heel slipped, and her eyes widened in a sudden panic as her body began tilting backward toward the hard ground.

"Whoa—catch!" Leo reacted with absolute flash-speed. He lunged forward, his powerful arms reaching out to grab her waist to pull her back up.

But her weight dragged him straight down with her.

THUD!

They tumbled heavily onto the soft kitchen rug together, with Leo landing directly flat on top of her body. The physical intimacy was sudden, intense, and completely overwhelming. Leo’s broad chest was pressed flush against her full chest, his hands resting right beside her shoulders as he stared down into her wide violet eyes from mere inches away. Eleanor’s face exploded into an intense blush, her breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps as her heart hammered wildly against her ribs.

Leo quickly pushed himself up, clearing his throat to hide his sudden arousal as he reached down to grab her hand, forcefully making her stand up. "You are seriously so troublesome. Just stay out of the kitchen."

Eleanor turned her face away, frantically smoothing down her white blouse as her voice trembled with shyness. "You... you are the one who aggressively tackled me to the floor."

Leo sighed, turning back to the stove to scoop the freshly cooked rice and meat onto two clean plates. "If you want to be useful, grab the plates and take them to the small dining table."

Eleanor offered a sharp huff, walking over to the wooden cupboard. She stretched her slender arms upward, trying to reach the top shelf where the utensils were stored. She went high on her tiptoes, her skirt pulling tight against her curves, but the shelf was entirely too high for her reach. She kept hopping slightly, her fingers barely brushing the wood.

Leo watched her struggling for a few seconds, letting out another grounded sigh. He walked over, his tall frame effortlessly towering right behind her back as he reached up, his large hand easily grabbing the items from the shelf. "Just go sit at the table, Eleanor. I will handle it myself before you break something."

Eleanor bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing pink again as she walked away in deep, awkward silence.

Leo carried the hot plates over, setting one right in front of her. The sight of the beautifully prepared food made Eleanor’s eyes glisten. She picked up the fork, and despite her intense hunger, she began eating with absolute, flawless manners and elite high-society etiquette, keeping her posture perfectly straight as she chewed quietly.

Leo sat opposite her, leaning his chin in his hand as he carefully observed her behavior. The sheer contrast between her expensive manners, the royal gown from yesterday, and the fact that dangerous men in suits were hunting her down led his brain to a single, logical conclusion.

"So," Leo started casually, his dark eyes locking onto her face. "Are you some kind of high-end thief? Did you rob a jewelry vault or a museum yesterday?"

COUGH! COUGH!

Eleanor violently choked on her food, her eyes stretching wide in absolute shock. She frantically grabbed the glass of water, struggling to gulp it down as her chest heaved. Once she finally cleared her throat, she slammed the glass onto the table, glaring at him with pure, furious annoyance. "A thief?! What on earth are the absolute odds for such a ridiculous, brainless guess?! Do I truly look like a common street criminal to you?!"

Leo nodded his head completely seriously, a deadpan look on his face. "Well, yeah. You wore a random gown, you're hiding in dark alleys, and a squad of private security guards is literally chasing you across the city. It makes sense."

Eleanor aggressively surged out of her chair, standing tall as her purple hair flared around her shoulders. She stamped her foot against the floorboards, her violet eyes flashing with absolute, unyielding high-society pride as she screamed out the truth.

"I am a literal Royal Princess, you ignorant commoner!"

Leo’s jaw dropped instantly, his face locking into an incredibly awkward, wide-eyed look of absolute shock.