Chapter 2: The recurrence

Brielle POV

"You what?" My best friend Hera yelled at the mention of Enrique De Leon's name.

"You, you had a long conversation with a De Leon?" She muttered in excitement. "Do you mean you had the chance to talk with a De Leon and not just a De Leon but Enrique De Leon!" She doubts with widening eyes.

"Do you even know who Enrique De Leon is?" She raised a question as I raised a confused brow at my best friend with my face, not trying to know what was going on.

"Who the hell are the De Leon's? Are they popular? Working for the president?" I quizzed Hera with my hand, finding a way to my crunch's snack.

"The De Leon's, The De Leons!" She kept repeating it over and over again.

"C'mon Hera, what the fuck is going on?" Now things are getting out of hand, and my best friend is acting weird, and I just don't get it. What is it with the De Leon's? I watched as Hera pressed her iPod with excellent stability and stamina.

"Here!" she hands over the iPod to me. I looked at it and saw a photo of Enrique and a guy who I find attractive and a bit familiar but couldn't figure out when and where I had seen him. His neon eyes give the chill to me that I've seen him before, but I couldn't recall where. My jaw dropped when I saw Enrique, not just Enrique, but the who of De Leon's.

"Enrique is the Second son to the Mexican Household, and he's the second son to Dario De Leon, the retired CEO of  DARIO AND SON'S LIMITED DEV.CO deals with logistics, dredging, the building of vessels, and ship transportation, and they own a lot of shares around the world. They were simply the top one after biding over the shell commerce tender money gram, they took over the HONG KONG dispute which was the number one around the world 2002, and now they are the top one tender money gram since 2014 till date, isn't it amazing?" Hera grinned from ear to ear.

My visions could pop out any minute. I can't believe it because when Enrique was with me, I knew his accent where a replica of a rich person, but he dressed in simple attire, and I must confess that he had a body of a model.

"Holy fuck!" Hera snatched the iPod from my hand, and I was dumbfounded as she started to emphasize the De Leon's.

"Here is Dario De Leon, their dad and the founder of DARIO AND SON'S LIMITED DEV.CO.", she continued.

"Here is Freya De Leon, their mom; she is the founder of LEXORI NEM GYNAECOLOGY HOME. She's a gynecologist; here is Hermione Ximena De Leon, eldest and their only sister; she's one of the youngest architects, but she's married now to Inigo Montoya, the co-heir to NNDP Construction Company.

Here is Enrique De Leon, the one you have seen. He is an engineer and the heir to the CEO position to D.F SHELL in Tokyo and Japan but sometimes does direct the upcoming local companies. Lastly, there is Jace De Leon, the eldest, hottest, and most heartless of De Leon's genes. He is the CEO that controls everything concerning all the company's provisions and logistics around the world, but how on Earth did you not know anything about the De Leon, and you call yourself a soon-to-be Economics graduate? Hmmm." she frowns.

I watch as she points at me with her eyes still pinned to the iPod, showing each person at a time and explaining their statuses; I tried to recall where I met this Jace De Leon, and I ultimately know I've seen someone like him somewhere but don't know where and when.

"Oh shit! You spoke to a De Leon! I'm so proud of you, Brielle. Ain't you just full of surprises?" She hugged me so tightly, and I tried to breathe, then she let me go when she noticed that I was about to die.

"So..." she smiled like a glutton looking at me with taunter puppy dog eyes.

"So what?" I raised a confused brow at her.

"So, you've got his number? You know Enrique's number. You've got it, right?" She smiled at me casually.

"Well..." I huffed.

"Come on, Elle, talk to me," she smiled crazily, waiting for my reply, but I knew my response to her would send me parking straight to hell, so I gently got up and carried my bag before she knew it, I ran out screaming

"No." I'm dead, I know. I didn't bother to turn back to look at her killing expression.

"Ms. Brielle Damara!" she screamed my name, but I didn't take any chances.

_

I close my eyes and take a deep purifying breath trying to recover what's left of my equilibrium but looking at Jace De Leon's photos, I know I've seen him somewhere before, and it makes my heart pound but still cannot fathom why is it his looks? His civility? Wealth? Power? Playboys cavity, as Hera has said? I don't understand my irrational reaction, or is it how Hera praised and described him? I breathe an enormous sigh of relief.

What in heaven's name was that all about? Leaning against one of the steel pillars of Hera's parent building, I valiantly attempt to calm down and gather my thoughts.

I shake my head. Holy crap – what was that? My heart steadies to its regular rhythm, and I can breathe normally again. I head for the car as I leave the Crimson's limits behind. I begin to feel ridiculous and embarrassed as I replay what Hera said about Jace De Leon in my mind.

Indeed, I'm overreacting to something imaginary. Okay, so he's handsome, confident, commanding, at ease with himself at least that's what Hera said about him– but on the flip side, he's arrogant. I can see it in his looks, and Hera also noted that by interviews and all, Jace is controlling, and Enrique is easy, sweet, and kind.

Well, on the surface, an involuntary shiver runs down my spine. While cruising along with Palermo, Sicily, Italy. My mind continues to wonder if I'm genuinely perplexed as to what makes someone so driven to succeed like this. Some of Enrique's answers were so cryptic – as if he had a hidden agenda, and Hera question about having Enrique's number – ugh! The silly reply! I shudder. I can't believe it. Ground, swallow me up now! Every time I think of that question in the future,

do you have his number? I cringe with embarrassment. Damn.

I scold myself. I decided that all in all, It's been an exciting experience, but I shouldn't dwell on it. Put it behind you. I never have to see him again. I'm immediately cheered.

_

"Brie! You're back." My mom, Gemma Damara, sits at my study table.

"I was beginning to worry. I expected you back sooner." She sounds worried.

"Oh, I thought I made good time considering the stress in the coffee shop." I handed over the can of coffee to her since she texted me when I was coming.

My mom usually comes to visit during weekends, and she'll be leaving tomorrow. I'm glad she came, but Hera was at her parent's house for the weekday's visit.

"Hera, thank you so much for the coffee. I owe you. How was work today? I hope it wasn't stressful, and I hope no cute guys gave you a hard time making coffee for them?" she sounds exceptional.

Oh no – here we go again, Hera Crimson Inquisition.

I was not yet home from running away from her queries about having Enrique's phone number. She had already phoned my mom and told her everything in just a few minutes.

I struggle to answer her query. What can I say? I rolled my eyes before replying to my mom.  "I'm glad I meant him, and I don't have to see him again, and he was rather intimidating, you know." I shrugged and continued.

"He's much focused, intense even, and young but too wealthy and powerful for my reach, Really young." My Mom gazes innocently at me. I scowl at her.

"Don't you look so innocent? Do you know about rich people in the world, mom? Can you give me a brief record of some of them if you know about the rich people in the world," I qualm her, looking hysterical!

"What are you talking about?" I watched my mom's bewildered look, and then I knew that Hera didn't call her nor told her anything yet.

Fuck! I'm screwed, "My dear," She called.

"I'm sorry, mom, I didn't think." I huff.

"About who?" She gave me the spill now graze, "Common tells me," she suggested. I blew up and sighed.

"Just tell me about some few rich persons in the world." I requested with an awful gaze.

"But you do have a phone and a laptop. What is technology made for? Just go and question Google not me." I watched as she rolled her eyes annoyingly.

"Please, mom," I pled with puppy dog eyes, knowing that this would get to her.

She moans on the last sip of her drink. "Okay, you win, I lose. Here are the few I know that have never stopped trending."

One- HYUNDAI SHU

Two- MARPOOL LINDER

Three- MAXIMILLIAN CASTRO

Four- FLORENZA SERENO

Five- MARCO FLAVIANO

Six- INIGO MONTOYA

Seven- DE LEON CLAN

"Yes...Yes, mom, that is it, that is the rich family I'm talking about." My mom was staring at me as if I'd just lost it.

"Who?" my mom disputed as if I'm going crazy,

"Oh, mom, I'm talking about Enrique and Jace De Leon." I tiff on my breath.

"Thirty-one for Jace, twenty-nine For Enrique, and twenty-four for Hermione, Brie," My mom looked at me with wide eyes, "Why asking about the De Leon's?"

"You look better, have you finished with your coffee?" I ask to change the question.

"No, and I will now before it gets cold." She smiles at me in gratitude. I check my watch, and I have to run. I can still make my shift at the coffee shop since I've two shifts today.

"Brie, you'll be exhausted, " She looks concerned at me sipping at her drink.

"I'll be fine, mom. I'll see you later. Make sure to lock the door properly while leaving. I love you!"She walked up to me and kissed me on the head.

"Bye, mom." I smiled as I rushed out with a smile.

"Bye, my pumpkin," she waves back as I exit the door.

I've worked at The Cafe Sicilia Coffeeshop since I started at the University of Palermo. It's the largest coffee shop in Palermo, and over the four years I've worked there, I've come to know a lot about everything we sell – although making cakes is included, I'm crap at any sauce making. I leave all that to Lawson, Iker and Florenza.

I'm much more of a curl-up-with-a-book-in-a-comfy-chair-by-the-fire kind of girl. I'm glad I can make my shift as it gives me something to focus on that isn't thinking about where I've seen Jace De Leon or remember about my chitchat with the first richest Mexican guy. We're busy, it's the start of the summer, and I want my remaining shift to be good without any Jace or Enrique handsomeness in my mind. But I swear Hera is going to kill me and feed me to the vulnerable Zombies of the movies. God help me.