Chapter 5: Dangerous Undertakings

(Aurora)

Late that night, Jenny and I sat across from each other in her cozy apartment, an eclectic blend of modern chic and personal quirks—plush throw pillows, twinkling fairy lights, and scattered books on a bohemian rug. She perched on a floor cushion, leaning against a giant bear plushie, while I sat on a similar polka-dotted mat, a bottle of wine between us.

 "Okay. Talk to me. What happened between you and Leon?" 

I sighed, swirling the wine in my glass. “Where do I even begin?” I muttered, then unloaded everything as dry as sand paper. 

Jenny’s dove-gray eyes went wide in disbelief. “No way. That arrogant bastard—how dare he do that to you? Does he even realize that without you, he’d be barely half the person he is?”

"Never," I laughed bitterly. "To him, I'm forever the glorified fixer—someone to smooth over the messes, with just the right amount of cooing, wooing, and strategizing."

"Don't sell yourself short." Jenny wrapped her arms around mine, her warmth grounding me. "You've held his life together—personally and professionally. Leon does what he does because he's Leon Kingsley. He waits for others to smooth things over for him when he can't swallow his pride. You still remember the fiasco with that designer making a comeback?"

“Yeah, how could I forget?” I winced at the memories. “ ‘a bygone star’ whose comeback collections ‘have lost their former brilliance,’ quote the brilliant Leon Kingsely. The hellish weeks I spent doing damage control.”

Jenny let out an exasperated sigh, “Also that time he rejected an entire shipment of gemstones because, according to him, they were nowhere near the crème de la crème?"

I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I do. The supplier explained about the unstable terrain and worker shortage. But no.” I shaked my head, mimicking Leon’s gruff retort. “‘Excuses. We overcome difficulties with solutions.’ You should see the suppliers’ faces. His little stunt nearly cost us the partnership, and guess who had to smooth things over with pretty smiles?”

“You,” Jenny snorted, her tone turning sarcastic. “Ah, Leon Kingsley, champion of pricks and dicks.”

I shook my head, setting my glass down with a soft clink. “You know, I can handle a workaholic, uncompromising asshole. But it’s more than that. It’s Claire. The moment she appears, all his principles just go puff. It’s bizarre, really—the way he goes out of his way for her. And last night? That was proof of just how far he’s willing to go.”

Jenny’s expression softened as she reached out to squeeze my hand. “Aurora, I’ve told you this before, but I’ll say it again... Chasing someone like Leon Kingsley, with all his edges and contradictions, is a dangerous game. You’ll only wear yourself thin, and be left with nothing. Please don’t allow anyone to undervalue you, Aurora.”

“It’s just...,” I murmured, though the words felt hollow. “I thought there might be something more between us. I thought, maybe, if I was patient and the timing was right—”

“The right time will never come for two people whose hearts aren’t aligned,” Jenny interrupted, her voice gentle yet firm. “Put yourself first, Aurora. There could be a million men like Leon Kingsley, but there’s only one you.”

I smiled, feeling the weight in my chest easing. “You always know the best words to say.”

“Aren’t I just a bundle of sunshine?” Jenny winked, as she leaned back, tilting her head. “You know what you need? A break. Time away from all this chaos. Refocus. ”

I laughed softly. “What do you suggest?”

“Branch out,” she said, shrugging. “Try new things, meet new people. Hell, come to the reunion with me next month.”

I furrowed my brows. Leon and I had avoided the college reunion on purpose, keeping our relationship low-profile. The fewer people who knew, the fewer explanations to give—the better. By the time we broke up, it would be a clean break, no friends caught in the middle, no messy tears.

Well, except here I was, aching for a relationship that was doomed from the beginning.

 "When is it?" I looked up at Jenny.

"In a week," Jenny replied, her excitement barely contained. "You wanna go? You never go!"

“You said to try new things,” I smiled. “I’m following the wisdom of the wise.”

Jenny smirked, but then the glint in her eyes dimmed. “Just so you know... Owen’s going to be there.”

My stomach twisted at the mention of his name, and my mind involuntarily conjured his image—his calm, effortless presence, his intelligent eyes shining with endless intrigue, his warm and mellow smile. 

“He’s back in town.” Jenny peeked at me curiously, “Everyone thinks he came back for you.”

I let out an awkward laugh. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?” Jenny asked with a twinkling in her eyes. “What happened between you two anyway? You’ve never really talked about it.”

I hesitated, but the wine had loosened my tongue. “It wasn’t a clean break,” I admitted. “When I married Leon, I cut ties with everyone. But Owen was... persistent. He showed up, demanding answers, and we had a big fight. He didn’t understand why I’d done what I did, and I couldn’t explain it without revealing everything. Things got ugly, and he left for the UK not long after.”

Jenny’s brows knitted together. “And now he’s back.”

“Apparently,” I said, taking another sip of wine. “I’m not sure I’m ready to face him. He always had this way of seeing right through me. And now, with everything that’s going on... I feel like I’m just one big mess.”

“You know it’s not all bad,” Jenny said, her tone thoughtful. “Maybe this is your chance to set some boundaries, pick up unfinished business, and find some closure.”

I shrugged, feeling uncertain. “Easier said than done. Owen wasn’t just a friend... he was like family. Losing him felt like losing a part of myself.”

“And this could be your chance to change that,” Jenny’s voice hinted at the exciting prospect. “Aurora, focus on what you want—the possibilities ahead, not just what life is pushing onto you. Maybe fate is guiding you toward something new, something better, something thrilling.”

Amused, I waved off her suggestion. “Hold your horses, Jenny. Let’s not do a complete 180 and dive headfirst into forbidden territory.”

Jenny flashed a mischievous grin. “Well, just don’t say the universe didn’t give you a shot.”

 "Thank you, universe, for your gracious offering," I made an exaggerated bow. "But I think I'll hold out until I’m less married and more 'ready to mingle.’"

We laughed, shifting to lighter topics—college memories, funny work anecdotes, and reunion plans. Hours passed, wine replaced by tea, and soon it was already early hours. By then, the weight on my chest had lifted. As I crawled into bed, the first light of dawn had creeped in.  Maybe Jenny was right—it was time to start putting myself first.