Susan's jaw tightened as she looked at him. "Well, I'm sorry too," she muttered, her tone clipped. "I'm sorry I let things get this far."
She brushed past him, pulling her suitcase out from the closet and haphazardly tossing clothes into it. Leo watched her, his anger flaring as he took in her rushed, almost defiant movements.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, fists clenched as he watched her shove clothes into her bag without a second glance.
"Going home," Susan replied, her tone dripping with false sweetness.
A fresh wave of anger washed over him, both at her defiance and his own reaction to it. He shouldn't care, he reminded himself. If she wanted to leave then so be it. He didn't chase after anyone—especially not a woman who was so quick to throw in the towel. He could get another woman to take her place for the weekend if he wanted. But he didn't want another woman. He wanted Susan, and the thought of her leaving, of her walking away, was more than he could stomach. He let out a sharp breath, forcing himself to keep his tone cold.
"Fine," he said, turning away and heading for the balcony. "If you think I'm going to chase you or beg you to stay, you're wasting your time. I don't chase women, Susan. I don't chase anyone."
"I know," Susan muttered under her breath as she concentrated on getting her things ready.
She continued packing, her expression hardening with each word he said. She couldn't really blame him; It was her fault anyways that she'd jumped into conclusions on what this trip was about, and it had been foolish. She should have known what he meant when he said he had business to take care of. She had no one to blame but herself.
She'd nearly finished packing when he reentered the room, his suit jacket discarded, tie loosened, and sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked effortlessly handsome, with a mix of anger and intensity in his gaze that left her unsettled. Even now, as she stood with her suitcase almost ready, she hated that she noticed how good he looked.
They stood staring at each other for a long moment, until finally, Leo took a step forward, his expression unreadable. "I'll see you downstairs," he said, his voice unexpectedly soft.
Susan shook her head fiercely. She couldn't let him get in that elevator with her. She clenched her jaw, fighting the wave of emotion that threatened to spill over. She could feel tears stinging at the back of her eyes, but she was determined not to break down in front of him. "No, you don't have to—" she started, her voice unsteady
But Leo wasn't listening. In one swift movement, he reached for her suitcase, his hand wrapping around the handle before she could stop him. Wordlessly, he led her to the door. She refused to look at him as he opened the door, prepared to walk out on her own terms.
But just as she took a step forward, Leo reached in front of her and shut the door again. She turned to face him, her heart racing as he looked down at her with an intensity that stole her breath.
"What are you—" she began.
"Stay," he said quietly, his voice a low, insistent murmur. "Don't go, Suzy. Stay. Not because I'm asking or because I'm making you stay, but because you want to."
Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked up at him, her anger wavering, caught off guard by the unexpected vulnerability in his eyes. She'd never seen Leo like this—vulnerable, almost remorseful. She knew how hard it must have been for a man like him to admit he'd made a mistake, and the gravity in his eyes struck something deep within her.
"Please, Suzy," he said softly when she stayed silent. "I've enjoyed every moment here with you, and I don't want it to end like this. I'm sorry that I hurt you… I didn't mean to, but I did, and I am sorry."
Slowly, he reached out, his hand grazing her cheek as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The gentleness in his touch made her close her eyes, feeling the warmth of his fingertips linger on her skin. Despite everything, it was nearly impossible to stay angry, not when he was looking at her like this and saying everything she needed to hear. As if sensing her resolve waver, Leo took a step closer, his arm slipping around her waist, pulling her firmly against him. When she opened her eyes, his gaze was intense, his expression softened with a vulnerability that made her heart skip.
"Say you'll stay," he murmured, his voice husky, his grip on her waist tightening as he drew her even closer. She could feel the warmth of his breath, the steady beat of his heart against her, and the fire in his eyes that left her breathless. "Please, Suzy,"
"I'll stay," she whispered, barely able to finish the words before he closed the distance between them, his lips finding hers in a kiss that held both passion and apology. She gasped, letting herself be swept away, feeling the last of her anger dissolve as she melted into him.
____________
The bathroom was quiet, save for the occasional sound of water lapping against the sides of the tub as Susan shifted against him. Leo's arms were wrapped around her, their bodies comfortably submerged in the warm water, steam curling around them in a soothing haze. Susan relaxed, letting her head rest against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She hesitated, but the question was one she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Leo…" she began softly, her fingers tracing patterns on his forearm, "how did you… I mean, how did you become the man you are now? How did you end up here?"
There was a long pause. She felt his body tense slightly beneath her, his heartbeat slowing as he considered her question. She wondered if she'd pushed too far, asked for too much, but after a moment, his voice broke the silence, low and thoughtful.
"It's… not a pretty story, Suzy," he murmured, one hand moving to rest gently on her shoulder, his thumb stroking her skin absently as he gathered his thoughts. "I didn't grow up with much. My father was… let's say, unpredictable. He wasn't always there, and when he was, it usually wasn't a good thing."
He exhaled, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "I learned early that if I wanted something, I'd have to fight for it. Nothing came easy. I started with small jobs—things I'm not proud of. But back then, I was just trying to survive, trying to prove myself."