36 Amaya

Alex instantly stood up from the chair and gave a slight bow to her. "He's at work." He straightened up and revealed a smile that held no emotion at all.

"Oh..." Leia slightly nodded her head and her eyes darted around. She took a deep breath and glanced at Alex with a half-smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Can you take me somewhere?" She asked with no utterance on her face nor in her tone.

Alex smiled and nodded at her. "Anywhere you want to go." He gestured her towards the entrance and picked up the car key from the table. 

Leia half-smiled at him and walked out of the mansion with him following behind. Alex pulled the door open for her and she took her seat at the back. He started the car's engine, and they rode out of the compound before speeding off down the road.

The car rode for thirty minutes before Alex halted it in front of a flower store per Leia's request. 

She stepped down from the car and took a long deep breath with a downcast smile on her face. She glanced at the store and proceeded to walk towards it, but Alex hurriedly stopped her and placed an umbrella over her head to shield her from the rain pouring down. "If you catch a cold, he will kill me," Alex smiled sheepishly at her.

Leia shook her head and shifted away from the umbrella. "I don't need it. You should shield yourself from the rain." She gave him a thumbs-up and began to walk towards the store. Alex shook his head and a low sigh escaped his lips as he stared at her.

Leia pushed the glass door open and stepped inside. She glanced around and slowly nodded her head in satisfaction. This place was filled with different varieties of flowers like daisies, lilies, sunflowers, roses, and many more. The store also had this fresh, flowery smell that would draw a customer in. A smile spread across her face, and she let out a soft satisfactory sigh.

From the counter in the store that had flowers placed on it, a young, beautiful lady walked over to Leia with a friendly smile plastered all over her face. "They are very beautiful, aren't they?" The young lady also turned her head and gazed at the flowers that Leia was staring at. "I grew them for my wedding when I was about to get married, but unfortunately the marriage didn't proceed, so I brought these beauties here to sell them off." A cynical smile spread across the young lady's face, and an unknown glint flashed in her eyes.

Leia stared at her and blinked her large eyes. "I am sorry about that." She gave the young lady a friendly smile and nodded.

The young lady turned to her and chuckled softly. "It's OK." She turned to the flowers and gestured her to them. "What types of flowers do you want?"

Leia glanced at the shelf that had different blossoms and walked over to it. She took two lily bouquets and returned with them to the young lady. "I will take these." She pulled out some euros from her pocket and handed them to the young woman. 

The young lady smiled and gazed intently at her. "What is your name?" 

Leia's eyes blinked in confusion at her question, and she replied with a raised eyebrow. "Leia." She fixed her gaze on the young lady, expecting a reaction or something.

However, the young lady simply smiled and chuckled softly. "My name is Amaya. Those flowers are my favorites. White is a very pretty color." She chuckled and waved her hand at Leia when she saw her mouth twisting funnily. "I am sorry. Hold on a sec, let me get your change." She turned around and walked back to the counter.

Leia smiled and gazed at the young woman. She slightly shook her head, and with a turn, she left the store.

Amaya returned with the change in her hand, but she saw no one at the spot. She peeked out the window and saw Leia, already stepping into the car. She proceeded to leave the store and give the change to her, but the car engine started and sped off into the road. Amaya let out a soft sigh and shook her head with a smile on her face. She turned around and walked back into the store to continue what she was doing.

.....

Leia sat inside the car with her eyes fixed on the Lilies. A deep breath escaped her nose and her lips arched up on one side. She averted her stare and gazed out of the car window.

"Miss Leia..." Alex took a deep breath and peered at her through the small mirror hanging inside the car. 

Leia dissuaded her gaze from the shady sky and glanced at him. "Anything?" She asked in a solemn tone that held no emotion.

"It's nothing... It's just that I have something I want to speak to you about. " Alex's grip on the steering wheel tightened a bit and then loosened.

"O...kay." Leia stared at him and caressed the flowers in her hand.

Alex nodded and let out a soft breath. "I know it's not my place... but, can you give him a chance?" He peeked through the mirror and stared at Leia's face, which was expressionless. "I, um, understand you feel bad and everything, but... what about him?" His face grimaced, and he gazed intently at her. "I have been with him for years, and you are the first lady he has ever treated in such a nice and special way. Everyone knows him to be cold and heartless, and he indeed is, but to you, he is not. He is a different man around you. He is... his real self."

"I don't know... but he cares for you. I am not asking you to love him or anything, but at the very least, return his kindness too. He deserves it. " Alex let out a soft sigh and fluttered his eyes. He gazed through the small mirror and saw her head resting on the window with no mood on her face. He slightly shook his head and focused his eyes on the road ahead of them. He wasn't expecting anything out of this, but he was glad he expressed his thought to her.