That night, Ava was already packed and ready when Leo picked her up for their flight. She stood beside his private jet with three large white ivory suitcases and two medium-sized ones with two hand-carries.
Leo smirked. "Baby, you know I can buy you anything if you forget something. Is this for a week or a month?" he teased, chuckling. She rolled her eyes and ignored him.
Two hours later, they arrived at Leo's penthouse suite at Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, a courtesy from Ferrari. The luxurious space had two massive bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool, and a sleek open-concept living area. The kitchen and laundry room were tucked behind the suite.
Leo had an early morning at the circuit, so he headed straight for a shower. Before getting into bed, he kissed her goodnight. Within minutes, she heard the soft rhythm of his breathing—he was already asleep.
Ava stood by the balcony, looking out at the breathtaking view of Barcelona. The city lights shimmered in the distance. She glanced back at Leo, fast asleep. A soft smile touched her lips. But then, her thoughts drifted to Ethan.
He was still caught in the mess of his family's drama. She knew how much he hated being trapped in that situation. A part of her felt like she should help him. But she needed to prioritize her own life first. Leo came first. Then… maybe, maybe Ethan next.
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She didn't realize she had fallen asleep on the couch, her phone still in her hand. When she woke up, it was nearly 11 a.m. A warm blanket covered her—Leo must have placed it over her before leaving.
She glanced at the bedroom. It was empty. She got up and searched around, quickly realizing Leo had already left for the circuit.
Opening the fridge, she found a neatly packed breakfast with a note: "Baby, I had to leave early. Eat this, okay? See you in the evening." Ava smiled. She ordered the breakfast service to the room. The breakfast was a classic British spread—white sausages, scrambled eggs, toast, and baked beans. She ate everything except the baked beans, then cleaned up before opening her laptop.
She did her best to manage work remotely, answering emails and checking off urgent tasks. But by 2 p.m., her focus had begun to fade. A break felt well-earned. After a refreshing shower, she dressed in a light blouse and slipped on a wide-brimmed hat, the kind that made her feel like she belonged in a postcard.
The city beyond the window called to her—sunny, vibrant, full of promise. As she strolled through the hotel lobby, greeting the cleaner with her smile, the air-conditioned hush was a stark contrast to the lively streets outside. The hotel manager, standing near the concierge desk, spotted her and offered a warm smile.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Vargas-Clairmont." he said and made Ava pause mid-step, caught off guard. Her cheeks warmed as she returned his smile with a polite nod.
"Afternoon," she murmured, her voice soft, before continuing toward the exit, the doors sliding open to welcome her into the golden afternoon.
Just outside the Mandarin Oriental, where their penthouse was located, she walked toward a restaurant—Ciutat Comtal. She ordered Gambas al Ajillo and sparkling water, scrolling through her tablet as she emailed suppliers and contractors.
An hour later, after paying the bill, she walked for fifteen minutes until she reached La Pedrera – Casa Milà. The architecture was breathtaking. She found a nearby bench, pulled out her sketchbook, and began sketching. She also took a few photos, capturing the details that inspired her. Time slipped away.
By the time the sun began to set, she finally looked up— only to realize she had completely lost track of time. Her phone buzzed with multiple missed calls and messages. Leo. Her stomach tightened as she quickly called him back.
Leo: "Baby! Where are you? Why didn't you answer my calls?!"
Ava: "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I lost track of time—I was at La Pedrera, sketching."
Leo: "My God, Ava… Wait there. I'm coming to get you."
Ava: "No, no, it's okay! It's less than a kilometer away. I'll come to you."
Leo: "No. You wait there. I'm coming to you."
Ava sighed, tucking her sketchbook away. There was no arguing with Leo when he made up his mind.
Ava waited for Leo, who arrived about ten minutes later, his expression sour. Pedestrians stopped in their tracks, stealing glances at him, but his eyes were locked only on her. She felt a little nervous.
Leo sat beside her, turning his head to face her. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone firm.
She put aside her sketchbook and tablet before reaching for his hand. "I was bored, so I went for a walk," she admitted, then teased, "I'm sorry if I made you miss me that much."
A small smirk tugged at Leo's lips. "Baby, I know you can take care of yourself, but the media is insane. One headline, and they'll be all over you. The worst part is that I wouldn't be there to protect you." His voice carried a hint of worry.
Ava tightened her grip on his hand. "I knew what I was signing up for when I agreed to be your girlfriend. Your world and mine are different, but that doesn't mean we can't make it work, right? You have to trust me to take care of myself too. Okay, my dear racer?" she said playfully.
Leo finally smiled. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close so her head rested against his chest.
After a few pedestrians slowed down to stare at them, he sighed and suggested they head back to the hotel. That night, after showering and having dinner via room service, Ava curled up beside Leo in bed, wrapping her arms around him. He kissed her forehead and murmured, "I could get used to this—to you." She blushed but said nothing, simply enjoying the moment.
A few minutes passed in comfortable silence before Leo suddenly spoke. "I need to tell you something… and apologize," he said, his voice hesitant.
Ava frowned and looked up at him. "What is it? Did something happen?"
"No, no, nothing like that. You're perfect for me," he reassured her. "But… before we got together, I kind of had someone look into you. I wanted to know more about you, and for that, I sincerely apologize." Leo hesitated before turning to gauge her reaction.
To his surprise, she laughed."That's it?" she said between giggles. "I thought you did something worse! So… what did you find out?" she teased, nudging him.
Leo smirked. "Well, nothing much that you haven't already told me. But I did know your Nice address before we went there." He paused, then added dramatically, "Also, you 're so beautiful, so kind, so pretty, and so cute."
Ava laughed even harder. "If you needed to hire someone just to figure that out, you deserve a full refund. You could've just looked at me and seen all that."
Leo chuckled. "You're right. But I wouldn't have needed to look into you if you weren't so mysterious."
"Mysterious? Me?" She raised a brow. "Are you sure you were researching me and not someone else?"
"Yeah, at first I was so convinced you were the anonymous painter, Stars," he admitted. "But then I saw how busy you were. Plus, I even bought another painting while I was in Montreal. So there's no way it's you."
Ava's breath caught for a split second. She debated whether to tell him the truth. "What painting? What anonymous painter?" she asked, feigning confusion. She wasn't ready to reveal her secret.
"Oh, back in Monaco, I went to this secret auction. There was a painting called Tsuki up for bidding. The painting was out of this world. I also got another one—Floatante—both by Stars," Leo explained excitedly.
Ava stared at him in awe. Of all the people who could have bought her paintings, it was him. What were the odds? She suddenly cupped his face and kissed him.
Leo blinked, surprised. "What was that for?"
"Nothing," she whispered, smiling. "Just feeling grateful that I met you."
They spent the rest of the night talking until they drifted off in each other's arms.
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