The Pact - Book cover

The Pact

Jessica Morel

Chapter 4

FRANCESCA

As promised, Leo is sitting on my bed at seven in the morning.

“Wake up, Cheer. We got places to go.” Leo unceremoniously pushes me out of bed, and I land with an oomph on the floor.

“You are a jerk,” I mutter as I push my blonde curls out of my face.

“I’m making the most of our day. Come on, get up and get dressed.”

“Does it matter what I wear? Like where are we going?”

“Where would the fun be if I told you?”

I roll my eyes as I head toward my wardrobe. Thanks to Leo’s household staff, all of my clothes were unpacked while I was out yesterday.

I don’t know whether to be creeped out that someone went through my duffle bag or thankful that they saved me from having to unpack for myself.

After a few minutes of deliberating and a call from Leo to hurry up, I pick out a maxi skirt, singlet, and cardigan.

I walk out of the wardrobe, holding my selection, and see Leo lounging back on my bed now with a spread of breakfast laid out in front of him.

“What?”

“I had one of the maids bring it up. Tea or coffee?”

“Uh, tea, please. I’m just going to have a quick shower, and I’ll be right back.”

Leo nods, too interested in his food, and I tie my hair up into a bun on top of my head as I walk toward the bathroom.

My shower lasts almost exactly two minutes, and I apply a light layer of makeup before getting dressed. I’m pulling my singlet over my head as I start to make my way out to Leo.

“Can’t you tell me where you are taking me?” I ask, my voice muffled through my singlet.

“Wherever you want me to take you, kitten?”

I freeze at the sound of the familiar Italian and quickly pull my singlet down to cover my bare midriff.

“What are you doing in here?”

“What do you want me to do, gattina?”

“Leo is supposed to be—”

“He had a work call,” Christian says, sitting down on my bed in a similar position I left Leo earlier.

“You are in my spot.”

“Feel free to join me,” he says, popping a blueberry into his mouth.

“That’s mine,” I mutter, and the smirk on his face makes me roll my eyes.

“Come and get it,” he says with a smile, and I find myself smiling back.

I shake my head, quickly remembering all the reasons I’m against him.

And what were those reasons again?

He is an egotistical jerk. He is self-important and cocky, and he judged me at first glance.

The smell of delicious food and my rumbling stomach gets too much, and I wiggle my way onto the bed next to him. I grab one of the pieces of bacon, shove it in my mouth, and moan at the taste.

God, I’m hungry.

I look up to find Christian staring at me with lust-filled eyes.

“Okay! I’m all yours now, Cheer. I cleared my whole day, which means maybe two more calls tops.”

Leo struts back into the room, not realizing the tension in the air. “Uh, and I forgot your cup of tea. Can we get one on the road?”

“Sure,” I say with a slight shrug.

“Awesome. Let’s go.”

“Oh, I haven’t finished—”

“Don’t worry, one of the maids will do it.”

“No, I mean, I haven’t finished eating.” I finish my sentence, but he is already gone.

I grab a scone from the pile and grab my shoulder bag off the floor. When I look back at Christian, he is glaring at the door, unmoving.

“Well, I guess that’s my cue. If you want to hang out in my room all day, make sure you read Harry Potter.”

“You haven’t eaten,” he says, still glaring at the door.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Eat.”

“Leo is waiting. I have to go.”

“Francesca.” Christian’s eyes bore through mine, and I shiver.

“Christian.” I mimic his tone, trying to keep my face stoic. “Seriously, best book you’ll ever read,” I say, throwing the Philosopher’s Stone on the bed and making my way out of the room.

Once the door is shut, I take a few moments to breathe without his gaze on me. I still don’t know his deal, but he makes me feel things I haven’t ever before.

So, when Leo said another two calls, that was a lie. It was another ten, and that was just in the car.

He let six go to voicemail once we reached the miniature golf place. I thought it was sweet that he picked mini golf; it was very much our thing during high school.

But after those six calls went to voicemail, he answered the next five, and now I’m sitting next to a Japanese Koi pond at hole seven.

Another group of teens pass us by, and Leo steals a glance at me, mouthing yet another sorry. I shrug, not knowing how else I am supposed to respond.

I know a lot has changed since high school and even more since Leo graduated from Harvard and I graduated from NYU, but I don’t remember this Leo.

My stomach rumbles loudly, and I cringe, realizing once again that I still haven’t eaten. I think we were heading to eat twelve calls ago.

My own phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my bag. I smile at the text from one of my work friends, Cassandra Little, or as she is known by everyone, Candy.

CandyHey girl! We miss you. Hope London is dreary and you get your ass on a plane home.
FrancescaSo far London ain’t too shabby. I’ll be staying until the wedding.
CandyHold up! Wedding? Yours? Did you finally tell him how you feel?
FrancescaNO! Turns out Leo is engaged. I’m one of his groomsmen.
CandyOK shit is getting weird. I don’t know whether it is just the time difference but you are talking crazy. I have to sleep before my shift. The regulars miss you. Talk later, Cheer.

I smile as she uses my nickname. When I told everyone at work about high school and college, the nickname just stuck.

FrancescaSweet dreams, Candy. Give everyone my love. I’ll see you in a month and a half.

“Okay! That was the last call.”

Leo puts away his phone and moves back to my side.

“Let’s just go home, QB.”

“No, Cheer, I promised to spend the day with you.”

“And you are, and I love you for that, but let’s face it, you can’t take a day off. The CEO is just too important.

“So let’s go home and sit on the couch and watch bad movies like old times, where you can answer your phone as often as you like.”

Leo wraps his arms around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest. He kisses my hair, and I relax into him.

“I love you, Cheer.”

“I love you too, QB.”

***

“Excuse me, bitch?”

“Bitch? Watch your fucking language in my house!”

“Your house? Bitch, please! This is my brother’s house!”

Leo and I slowly cross the threshold of the Chambers’ mansion.

“Does that sound like—”

“My sister,” Leo says, finishing my thought.

A look of complete and utter fear covers Leo’s face as we venture further into the house.

As someone who has been on the end of one of Lily’s rants, I grin, knowing there is only one person in this house stupid enough to argue, and she deserves exactly what is coming to her.

“Lily?” Leo calls out, and all heads snap to us.

“Francesca!” Leo’s parents rush to my side, pulling me into their arms. Leo rolls his eyes with a smirk.

“Thanks, guys. I see how it is,” he mutters.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers,” I mumble into the hug. Mrs. Chambers has tears in her eyes when the two finally pull away.

“Oh, Francesca, we have missed you. You haven’t been home in years, honey.”

“New York is pretty much my home now.”

“Nonsense, you will always have a home in Jackson, Francesca.” Mr. Chambers rests his hand on my shoulder.

“Of course she will. Frankie is part of the family. What I want to know is who the fuck this bitch is.” Lily’s voice interrupts the happy family moment I was having with her parents.

“Lillian,” her mother scolds, but it goes unheard.

“Lil, Mom, Dad, I see you have met my soon-to-be sister-in-law Evelyn Walker.”

“This bitch thinks the sun shines out of her ass,” Lily scoffs, and I can’t help but laugh.

“At least I am somewhat sophisticated. Whatever backward hick town it is you came from, you might as well go back there. There is no way in hell my father will pay for this wedding.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that, Evelyn?” An unfamiliar male voice calls out through the house, and from the way the voice has Evelyn cowering, I’m assuming this is her father.

“Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, it is a pleasure! I’m John Walker.”

“John, I’m Thomas, and this is my wife, Jennifer.”

“I should apologize for my daughter’s behavior. She tends to feel entitled.”

“That is one word for it,” Lily says, not subtly. “I’m Lily Evans. Leo’s older sister.”

Beth walks in behind her father. She moves straight to Lily, wrapping her in a hug. Lily stares at her awkwardly, standing ridiculously still in the hug.

“Lily, it is so nice to finally meet you! And, Daddy, this is Francesca Barton, Leo’s best friend.”

I shake hands with John Walker before Beth leads us all to the dining room for a late lunch.

Conversation flows easily now that Evelyn has been silenced by her father’s presence. John inquires about life in Jackson and what Mr. and Mrs. Chambers do for a living.

“You must be incredibly proud of your son.”

“Of course we are. Leo has always been a go-getter, and we knew nothing would stop him.”

“He said that he has offered you money, but you have refused.” John raises his eyebrows in question as he speaks.

“Yes, we lead a happy life and want for nothing. Leo’s money is his, and he has earned it. Who are we to ask him for such a thing?” Mr. Chambers says with a smile.

“Both of our children are successful. Whilst Lily might not be a billionaire like Leo, there is no denying she and her husband Kyle are good at what they do.”

“And what is that?” The question comes from Evelyn.

“My husband and I own and operate a dairy farm. We also run a few farm stays on our excess land,” Lily explains.

“Smart,” John comments.

“Thank you.”

“Sorry I’m late,” Christian says from behind me. “Urgent business.”

“Nothing bad, I hope.” Leo laughs as he stands from the table. “Mom, Dad, Lil, John, this is my best friend and CEO of the New York part of my company, Christian De Luca.

“Chris, this is my family and Beth’s father, John.”

Christian politely goes around and shakes hands, completing the introductions. He wins brownie points with Mrs. Chambers and Lily when he kisses the back of their hands.

I giggle slightly when I see Lily actually blush.

“Chris, please sit. We are just about to have a late lunch,” Beth insists with her normal smile plastered on her face.

With two spare seats at the table, one beside Evelyn and one beside me, I’m not surprised when Evelyn pushes out her cleavage.

“Christian, this one is free,” she says, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.

“I’m fine here, Evelyn,” Christian replies in a short tone, falling into the seat closest to him, which happens to be the one next to me.

“God, she is so desperate.” Lily leans closer to me to whisper, and I let out a small laugh. “Fuck, he is hot.” She looks over my shoulder toward Christian.

“Lil, you are married.” I laugh.

“Hey, there is nothing wrong with looking at the menu as long as I eat at home.” She winks.

I shuffle in my chair, trying to hide my laughter, when a hand falls on my thigh. I sit bolt upright, tensing under his touch. I feel my skin heat, and I’m positive I’m turning red.

“What are—” I try to mutter under my breath, but he cuts me off.

“What is for lunch? I’m starved.”

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