No strings attached / Leon s. Kennedy

Chapter 7

Amber

I stand there for a second, trying to collect myself. My heart is pounding, my skin still feels hot from the way Leon was so close. What the hell just happened? I shake my head, pushing it all down and ordering another drink. The cold glass in my hand is a welcome distraction as I take a long sip, letting the alcohol settle my nerves. I can’t believe he just did that.

After what feels like forever, I glance around the bar, half-expecting him to still be standing there with that infuriating smirk on his face. But when I look, I see him off in the corner, talking to a short-haired woman whose back is turned to me. Of course. Typical Leon, charming his way through the crowd.

Whatever. I’m done thinking about it. I take a deep breath and walk back to the table where Richard and Andrew are sitting, oblivious to the storm that’s just been brewing between me and Leon.

I plop down in my seat and force a grin, raising my glass. "Next round’s on me," I say, trying to sound more carefree than I feel. I don’t know if they noticed anything strange when I left, but I don’t plan on giving them a chance to ask.

"Really?" Richard grins, clearly excited at the idea of free drinks. "You trying to get us all drunk, Amber?"

"That’s the plan," I say, swallowing the knot in my throat. "It’s time to just… forget about everything and get drunk. Deal?"

Andrew chuckles, raising his glass. "Deal."

I take another long sip, willing the alcohol to do its job. I need to forget whatever the hell that was with Leon—forget the way he looked at me, the way he said my name, the way I almost… No. No, it’s time to drown this night in drinks and move on. I can’t let him get into my head. Not like this.

I sit there, forcing myself to focus on the conversation with Richard and Andrew, but my mind keeps drifting back to Leon. That cocky smirk, the way he leaned in so close, the way he said my name… Stop. I remind myself who he is—what he is.

Leon S. Kennedy, the former Stratcom agent who is almost certainly undercover, trying to dismantle the company that gave me everything. He’s here to ruin it all. He’s not someone to get close to, not someone to let into my head. He’s the enemy, even if he’s annoyingly charming sometimes.

I feel a fresh wave of anger wash over me. Fuck that guy. I don’t need to be flustered over some undercover agent who’s only here to cause trouble. He doesn’t care about me, and I’m not about to let him get in the way of everything I’ve worked for.

I down my drink in one quick gulp and immediately flag down the bartender for another. The sharp burn of alcohol hits the back of my throat, but it’s a welcome distraction, numbing the confusion swirling in my head.

I keep drinking, hoping it’ll drown out the thoughts of him. Richard and Andrew are still chatting, but their words start to blur together. All I care about now is that next glass—anything to push Leon out of my mind. Drink after drink.

At some point, Richard stands up, grabbing his coat. “I think I’m calling it a night, Amber. Don’t overdo it, alright?”

I wave him off with a careless smile, raising my glass in a lazy salute. “No promises.”

He gives me a half-smile and shakes his head before leaving me at the table. Andrew leaves soon after, and now it’s just me, alone with my drink.

I put my head down on the table, the cool surface a slight relief from the dizzy haze swirling in my head. Fuck, I’m so drunk. The kind of drunk where the world spins even when my eyes are closed, and I’m too scared to even try standing up.