Love My Friends with Benefits

What was up with him? I looked up in confusion.

Under the dim light of the corridor, Leonard truly didn't look as cold and distant as before.

He smiled indifferently and flicked his cigarette. "I feel... great."

May opened her mouth, apparently wanting to say something, but Austin shot her a look of warning and led us towards the outdoor parking lot.

He drove an Acura MDX, and it was one of the latest models. It was expensive yet low profile, like himself.

I got into the car and asked May, "Why'd Austin come here?"

May scrunched up her nose and answered, "I called him over."

Austin started the car and smiled at me. "May said that you'd ran into some trouble. I came because I was worried."

"Thank you," I said sincerely.

This was already my second time thanking him in one day.

Austin had really helped me out.

"You're welcome." Austin's tranquil voice flowed over to me like the cool air outside. "Miss. Jones, you don't need to worry about it. I'd even help a stranger out in such a situation."

I was grateful for his thoughtfulness.

However, I started feeling a little doubtful. What exactly had May told Austin about our situation?

Austin wasn't a slow driver. Half an hour later, we arrived at my apartment.

"Thank you." I opened the car door, turned around and thanked Austin for the third time.

After watching Austin speed off, I rubbed my temples tiredly and headed upstairs.

Too many things had happened on this day. I felt terrible.

At this moment, I was exhausted. All I wanted was to get some rest.

Back home, I turned on the lamp in the living room and poured myself a glass of wine.

It was an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. It wasn't considered expensive, but I really enjoyed its flavour.

"I wouldn't have expected you to be so tasteful."

Leonard's voice suddenly rang out next to me.

I almost spat my wine out.

He sat down next to me in a familiar way, reached out a hand, and said commandingly, "Wine."

I took a couple of deep breaths. My headache was getting worse.

Leonard seemed to be displeased with me ignoring him. He frowned slightly and repeated, "I said, wine."

I gritted my teeth. "Mr. Nell, this is my house. I don't think I invited you in this time, either."

"Oh." Leonard shrugged and pointed at the door. "It invited me in."

I couldn't help letting out an exasperated laugh.

There was actually such a shameless person on this earth.

Leonard seemed to lose patience. He grabbed my wineglass and sipped from the same spot I'd sipped at, then frowned. "What rubbish is this?"

He'd taken my wine and still had the audacity to act so disdainfully?

"I didn't ask you to drink it."

I walked past him and grabbed another wineglass, filling it up for myself.

He kept his disdainful expression on and took another sip. "Queena, you must be a masochist."

"Yeah, you're right," I retorted. "If I weren't, I wouldn't have forgotten to change the lock so that you could break in again."

Leonard didn't get mad even though I'd scolded him in a roundabout way. He downed the wine, stood up, and walked over to me. He looked down at me appraisingly.

I put my wineglass down. "Please leave."

"You can save that for later." Leonard rubbed his jaw and lifted an eyebrow. "I have a suggestion for you, Queena."

I turned him down without even thinking about it. "No."

He smiled. "You won't say no."

Where did his confidence come from?

My disgust for him grew. I said, "Excuse me, please leave."

"Queena, let's maintain this relationship for a while." Leonard ignored me and told me what his suggestion was.

Needless to say, the "relationship" he was referring to was me being his mistress.

I didn't even bother to look contemptuous and asked coldly, "Why should I?"

He said indifferently, "Because I can help you see your grandmother."

He'd said he could help me see Grandma.

I couldn't stay calm anymore and rushed up to him. "Say that one more time."

He let out a laugh and wrapped an arm around my waist. "Looks like you've lost your composure, Queena."

My body stiffened subconsciously, but I didn't move away.

I really wanted to see Grandma. I was worried about her...

I was even more worried that she'd turn into my life's regret.

"Losing your composure means that this condition is really tempting you."

Leonard spoke like he was murmuring to a lover. He pulled me into his arms and nibbled on my earlobe. "Queena, oh, Queena... you're tempted by this."

He knew my body even better than I did. Every one of his actions enraptured me.

I gritted my teeth and tried not to moan. "Show... show me that you mean it."

"That's simple." Leonard laughed and started unbuttoning my clothes. "The Jones family doesn't have the guts to turn me down. When you want to see your grandmother, I'll get the Jones family to discuss my and Phoebe's wedding. What do you think?"

With that last word, he bit my collarbone hard right on the wound he'd given me the day before.

I let out a cry of pain.

"Don't." Leonard covered my mouth. "You should know that I don't like loud women."

Indeed, he didn't, especially in bed.

When I was interested in him, this only served to make him more attractive in my eyes. Now that things were different, everything about him made me feel like he was a freak.

I suppressed the pain. "I want you to show me that you mean it."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Leonard frown.

"Queena, you're not in the position to ask for anything." His lips trailed over my wound, muffling his voice. "Without me, you won't even be able to step into that hospital. You're nothing."

With a few simple words, he'd made me sound like I was completely worthless.

...

I held back my anger and tried to negotiate with him as calmly as possible. "Fine. Even if I'm nothing, a deal is a two-way thing. You need me to agree to your conditions before we can come to a consensus." Leonard laughed. "What an idealist you are."

His words were dripping with disdain. I replied calmly, "I'm not an idealist. I just know that death is preferable to dishonour."

He didn't say anything, but the arm he had wrapped around my waist suddenly tightened.

I tried hard to look up at him and saw the deep fury in his eyes.

I removed his arm and reminded him, "Leonard, I'm just negotiating with you."

"Very well." Leonard smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I agree to your condition."

He'd agreed!☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐