CHAPTER FIFTY–SIX–THE HEART’S DILEMMA
“You really care about this, don’t you? Nia observed softly.
Leon met her gaze, his eyes sincere. “I do. Growing up with privilege, I’ve always felt a responsibility to give back. These kids deserve every opportunity we can give them.”
Nia felt a warmth bloom in her chest at his words. “That’s… really admirable, Leon.”
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Then Leon cleared his throat, breaking the spell.
“We should probably call it a night,” he said, his voice slightly husky. “It’s getting late.”
Nia nodded, gathering her things. As she stood to leave, Leon spoke again.
“Nia?” She turned back to face him, “Thank you for your hard work on this. It means a lot.”
She smiled softly. “It’s my pleasure. Goodnight, Leon.”
As she left his office, Nia’s mind was swirling with conflicting emotions. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but the memory of Justin’s kiss on her cheek was still fresh in her mind. She sighed, realizing that her life had become far more complicated than she’d ever anticipated.
The next committee meeting was in full swing when the door burst open, revealing Justin Allistair in all his charming glory.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he announced, flashing his signature grin. “I heard about this wonderful cause and wanted to offer my support.”
Nia’s eyes widened in surprise as Justin strode into the room, his gaze finding hers immediately. She was acutely aware of Leon tensing beside her.
Reverend Thompson, momentarily taken aback, quickly recovered. “Mr. Allistair, what a pleasant surprise. We’re always grateful for support. Miss Watson, would you mind introducing us?”
Nia stood, willing her voice to remain steady. “Of course. Reverend Thompson, this is Justin Allistair, Justin, this is Reverend Thompson, the head of our committee.”
As Justin shook hands with the reverend, launching into an enthusiastic spiel about his desire to help, Nia chanced a glance at Leon. His jaw was tight, his eyes fixed on his brother with an unreadable expression.
“I’d like to donate several items for your silent auction Justin was saying. “I have connections in the art world, and I’m sure we could secure some highly valuable pieces.”
Reverend Thompson beamed. “That’s incredibly generous, Mr. Allistair. Perhaps you’d like to work with Nia and Leon? They’re coordinating the auction.”
Justin’s eyes lit up. “I’d be delighted. In fact, why don’t we get started right now? I’m sure you have other matters to discuss, and we wouldn’t want to disrupt your meeting further.”
Before anyone could object, Justin had ushered Nia and Leon out of the room, his hand resting lightly on the small of Nia’s back. She could feel the tension radiating from Leon as they made their way to an empty conference room.
As they began cataloging the items Justin proposed, the atmosphere grew increasingly strained. Justin flirted openly with Nia, his compliments and charm turned up to full volume. Leon, in contrast, became more withdrawn, his responses clipped and professional.
THE HEARTS DILI BİMA
“You know, Leon,” Justin said casually, “you could try smiling once in a while. This is supposed to be fun.
after all.”
Leon’s eyes flashed. “Some of us take our responsibilities seriously, Justin. This isn’t just a game to impress women.”
Justin’s easy grin faltered for a moment. “And some of us know how to enjoy life while still getting things. done. Not everything has to be doom and gloom, brother.”
Nia watched the exchange with growing alarm, feeling the need to intervene before things escalated
further.
“Hey, why don’t we take a quick break?” she suggested, forcing a lightness into her tone. “I think we could all use some fresh air.”
Both brothers turned to look at her, the tension in the room palpable. For a moment, Nia feared they might ignore her and continue their terse exchange. Then, slowly, Leon nodded.
“You’re right, Nia,” he said, his voice softening slightly. “A break would be good.”
Justin shrugged, his easy smile returning. “Fine by me. Shall we reconvene in fifteen minutes?”
As they filed out of the room, Nia hung back, her mind racing. She knew she needed to find a way to diffuse the situation between the brothers, but she also couldn’t shake the feeling that she was somehow at the center of their conflict. With a deep breath, she steeled herself for what promised to be a challenging remainder of the evening.
he evening shift was in full swing at Colossius Tech, with the janitorial team bustling about their duties Nia found herself working alongside Old Man Barnaby, hauling heavy trash bags to the dumpsters behind the building. The summer heat lingered even as the sun began to set, causing sweat to bead on their foreheads.
Nia glanced over at Barnaby, noticing his labored breathing as he struggled with a particularly large bag. His face was pale, a sheen of sweat glistening on his wrinkled brow. She had always admired the older man’s work ethic, but tonight something seemed off.
“Hey, Barnaby,” Nia called out, setting down her own bag. “That one looks pretty heavy. Want me to give. you a hand?”
Barnaby’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. “I can manage just fine, thank you,” he replied, his tone uncharacteristically gruff.
Nia blinked, taken aback by his sharp response. In all the months they’d worked together, Barnaby had never spoken to her like that. He’d always been kind, if a bit reserved.
“I didn’t mean to offend,” Nia said softly. “I just thought-
“Well, don’t,” Barnaby cut her off, his voice gruff. He hefted the bag with visible effort, his face contorting in a grimace he couldn’t quite hide. “I’ve been doing this job since before you were born. I don’t need any help.
Nia watched him shuffle away, concern etching lines across her forehead. Something was definitely wrong, but she knew better than to push. Instead, she returned to her own work, keeping a watchful eye on Barnaby for the rest of the shift.
The next day, Nia was restocking cleaning supplies in the janitor’s closet when she heard Barnaby’s muffled voice from around the corner. Curiosity piqued, she paused her task, straining to hear.
“Yes, doctor, I understand,” Barnaby was saying, his voice hushed and trembling slightly. “But are you sure about the results? Isn’t there any chance of a mistake?
THE HEARTS DHAMAKKA
A pause followed, during which Nia’s heart began to race. She knew she shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but something in Barnaby’s tone kept her rooted to the spot.
“I see,” Barnaby continued, his voice even quieter now. “And what are my options from here? Treatment, you said? How long would that take?”
Another pause. Nia’s hand flew to her mouth, her mind racing with possibilities. Was Barnaby sick? Is that why he had been so short with her yesterday?
“Alright, doctor. Thank you I’ll. I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
