Chapter 2 - THE DANCE THAT STOPPED THE ROOM
Tessa thought she would never see Leo again.
She was wrong.
Twenty minutes later, Paul found her in the kitchen.
“You're done.”
Tessa looked up.
“What?”
“Pack your things.”
“Why?”
“Because Declan Gallagher doesn't like employees who forget their place.”
Tessa laughed bitterly.
“I didn't forget anything.”
Paul lowered his voice.
“You embarrassed Dominic.”
“He embarrassed himself.”
“You want to live?”
Tessa stared at him.
Paul looked genuinely frightened.
“You don't understand these people.”
“I understand enough.”
“You don't.”
Before she could answer, a young man entered the kitchen.
One of Declan's security men.
“Tessa Morgan?”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Gallagher wants to see you.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Which Mr. Gallagher?”
“Leo.”
She blinked.
“Leo?”
The guard nodded.
“Upstairs.”
Tessa followed him through a private corridor.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The ballroom had been loud and glittering.
The upper floor was silent.
Leo sat beside a large window overlooking the gardens.
His broken headphones rested beside him.
“You came.”
“You asked.”
He looked toward the headphones.
“They're broken.”
“I noticed.”
“I can't use them now.”
“I can repair them.”
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
He studied her.
“Why did you help me?”
Tessa leaned against the doorway.
“Because everyone else was watching.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“It does to me.”
Leo looked away.
“You don't know me.”
“No.”
“You don't know what I am.”
Tessa smiled.
“A lonely guy in an expensive suit.”
His mouth twitched.
“That isn't what they say.”
“What do they say?”
“That I'm sick.”
Tessa became serious.
“Are you?”
Leo was silent.
Then he said, “Not the way they mean.”
That sentence stayed with her.
“What does that mean?”
“My brain processes certain things differently.”
He tapped the side of his head.
“Sounds. Lights. Crowds. Sometimes people.”
Tessa nodded.
“My younger brother was like that.”
Leo looked at her.
“He died?”
“No. He lives in Arizona.”
“Then why isn't he with you?”
“Because life happened.”
Leo looked toward the city.
“Life always happens.”
Tessa noticed his expression.
“You don't like parties.”
“No.”
“Why did your father make you attend?”
“He wants people to see me.”
“Why?”
“So they know I exist.”
“That sounds cruel.”
“It is.”
A silence settled between them.
Then music began drifting from downstairs.
Leo's body stiffened.
Tessa noticed.
“Too loud?”
“Yes.”
She thought for a moment.
Then she walked to the small speaker beside the window.
She turned the volume almost completely down.
A soft piano melody filled the room.
Leo watched her.
“What are you doing?”
“Changing the music.”
“Why?”
“Because you hate that one.”
He stared at her.
Then something unexpected happened.
He stood.
“Dance with me.”
Tessa laughed.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
“Leo, I work for the catering company.”
“I know.”
“You're the son of the most dangerous man in Chicago.”
“I know.”
“And you want to dance with me?”
“Yes.”
Tessa stared at him.
Then she smiled.
“Okay.”
She stepped toward him.
Leo hesitated.
Tessa held out her hand.
He stared at it.
“Only if you want.”
Slowly, he placed his hand in hers.
His fingers were cold.
They moved together across the quiet room.
No orchestra.
No cameras.
No politicians.
No armed men.
Just a nervous man and a tired waitress dancing beside a window.
Leo moved awkwardly at first.
Tessa laughed.
“You're terrible.”
“I warned you.”
“You didn't.”
“I thought it was obvious.”
She laughed again.
Leo smiled.
Then the door opened.
Declan stood there.
His face went completely still.
Behind him stood Dominic.
And two other family members.
Nobody spoke.
Leo immediately pulled away.
Tessa expected anger.
Instead, Declan stared at his son.
Then at their joined hands.
His eyes narrowed.
“Leave.”
Tessa released Leo's hand.
“Yes, sir.”
But before she could walk away, Leo spoke.
“No.”
Declan looked at him.
Leo swallowed.
“I asked her to stay.”
Declan's voice became colder.
“Leo.”
“No.”
The word was stronger this time.
Tessa stared.
Leo was trembling.
But he was standing.
“I want her here.”
Dominic laughed.
“Look at that. The ghost has found himself a girlfriend.”
Tessa's face heated.
Leo's expression changed.
He looked at Dominic.
“Don't.”
Dominic grinned.
“Or what?”
Leo didn't answer.
But Tessa noticed something.
His eyes had stopped looking afraid.
They were angry.
Declan noticed too.
“Everyone out.”
Dominic's smile disappeared.
“Father—”
“Out.”
The door closed.
Declan remained alone with Leo and Tessa.
“You,” he said to Tessa, “will not see my son outside this house.”
Tessa frowned.
“I don't understand.”
“You won't need to.”
Leo stepped forward.
“She's not my employee.”
Declan looked at him.
“She is.”
“No.”
Leo's voice shook.
“She is my friend.”
Declan stared at him for several seconds.
Then he turned toward Tessa.
“You're dismissed.”
Tessa's heart sank.
She looked at Leo.
He looked devastated.
Tessa wanted to tell him it was okay.
But she knew better.
She left.
Outside the estate, freezing rain had begun again.
Tessa walked toward the bus stop with her coat wrapped tightly around herself.
She didn't notice the black SUV following her.
She didn't notice the man sitting inside.
But Leo did.
From the upstairs window, he watched her disappear into the darkness.
Then he turned.
His father's security chief stood behind him.
“Mr. Gallagher wants you to forget her.”
Leo stared through the glass.
“No.”
The security chief frowned.
“What?”
Leo's eyes hardened.
“I said no.”
May you like
For the first time in years, Leo Gallagher had decided there was something in the world he wanted badly enough to fight for.
And neither his father nor his family understood what that meant.
