Chapter 2 Twists and turns (2)

Alanna's POV.

After a few hours in my black private jet I arrive in the bustling city of New York. I peer out the window at the seemingly tiny humans below,each deeply engrossed in their daily activities and the worries of life to be bothered to pay attention to their surroundings.

Skyscrapers stand proudly and seem to swallow up the smaller buildings. The streets are packed with both cars and people, some walking alone and others engrossed in an animated chat with friends or family. I wish we could get closer so I could analyze the expression on their faces, so I can be assured that there are some souls as miserable as I used to be down there.

I want to see the face of a sad lost kid again who wishes her parents could go back to the way they used to be before the other woman moved in with her daughter . I want to watch her drag her feet on the side walk looking forward to getting a lecture from her mom about how expensive her shoes are and how unladylike her behavior was. I want to relinquish in the thought that not only smiley faces are out there but that others are facing the exact distressing situation I had to go through.

"Miss?" Leonard's voice rings out breaking my line of thought. I stop looking out the jet's window and lay in my seat with my arms crossed. When he doesn't speak up I sit upright and observe him, hesitation is clearly written all over his chiselled handsome face. He walks over to me and takes the opposite seat to mine, facing me. Then he smooths his black T-shirt and pants and starts inspecting his armylike boots.

I observe him for a while then I take my transparent glasses off before speaking. "Since when do you stall?" I ask amused at his antics, his ears turn pink and he pushes a loss strand of his blonde hair back to it's slicked back position before looking straight up at me.

"Are you sure about this?" concern is laced in his words and I give him a small smile,

"I always am, aren't I?" I say, I take his big hands in mine and Pat them before continuing;

"I understand your concerns but I won't let them hurt me anymore. You know I can protect myself and I have you to protect me too right, besides that mistress and her daughter should be the ones scared not me." I boldly respond. Finally he gives me a smile and pats my hair like he used to when I was a lot younger and would complain about Dad favoring my half-sister over me.

"I know... I won't let them hurt you again, little Lana! I won't let anyone hurt you again." he states with dark eyes, knowing I believe him more than I believe myself.

The pilot announces we're about to land and we follow the safety procedures for landing. On getting out I scrutinized the environment Leo's chosen.

"Serene and private...I like." I smile at him approvingly as he helps me down the Jet's stairs while the house staff set out to grabbing my luggage. "Since when did our boorish Leo develope such impeccable taste?"

He scratched his head like he always does whenever he's nervous. "You didn't think I'd get a woodshed as a residence for my young mistress, now did you?" he grins boyishly.

"Good, very Good" I nod approvingly eyeing the elegance of my new home. It's appearance is as white as the house and for a split second I consider naming it that.

"Too bad I won't be here for long." I sigh.

"Welcome Young Mistress." a man in his fifties bows to me, from his attire I guess he is the butler.

"Thank you, you must be Mr Rollins the butler." he nods slightly. "I would prefer to use the outhouse now since I won't be long, it'll give you ample time to get my things settled nicely. I trust it is inhabitable?"

"Of course, I will have them send the necessary items over immediately." I nod and walk towards the simple looking outhouse that stands on the Eastside of the premises with Leo closely behind me.

************

After three hours of stepping in and out of clothes, I make my way to the jet once more with my Entourage and fifteen minutes later we land on the roof of PETUNIA sending a gush leaves and dust everywhere.

"Is everything ready, Matt?" I ask my PA over the phone,

"Yes Miss, I await your arrival on the top floor, so we can proceed to the banquet hall."

"Good." I walk into the building and immediately spot my boyish PA by the elevator. He pushes the button nervously when he sees me approaching and it opens up just in time for us to step in. Silly boy.

We ride all the way to the ground floor and as soon as the elevator opens I notice a man in a tailored coffee brown suit. With his back to me he seems well built and is probably six foot and seven inches tall.

He turns my way and I look away but the familiar black orbs looking at me intensely do not go unnoticed.

"I didn't think you'd be the first familiar face I'd see." I think to myself. Finally I get to see him up close after seven years. I walk out of the elevator with my guards and Matt. We head to the banquet hall but few steps away I halt and ask them to wait there before making my way back to my handsome friend for some fun.

Not exposing my identity I engage in a teasing conversation with him before walking away. After getting back Leo presents my invitation card.

"Sorry Mme but they'll have to wait outside. Only your PA can go in with you." The bodyguard attempts to stop me, what a joke!

"Give this to him," I say handing a business card to Matt who in turn hands it over to the security. I smirk slightly when I notice his trembling hands, he gulps and pales immediately. Not waiting for a response from him I signal one of my guards to remove the red rope in my path and he does so swiftly without receiving a single complaint.

"Let's go." I command and we move forward to occupy a front table with my name tag on it. Having an exact number of six chairs my table is filled and I notice the whispers and eyes on me. Opposite my table is the Rolands table and my seat makes my eyes meet the black orbs from earlier. I move my left leg slowly over the right pronouncing the slit in my dress and I lower my lashes before bringing my eyes to meet his one more time.

Gently lifting a glass filled with red wine I sip a little licking the drops off my lips seductively. He breathes in again sharply and downs his glass quickly.

"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, as you all know today marks the thirtieth anniversary of Dragon Empires so let the festivities begin!!" the host announces in a high-pitched voice.

"Time to play!"I whisper to myself. "Finally I get to have some fun!"