Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 51: Intrigued By Her

Chapter 51: Intrigued By Her

"Resemblance?" Viviana asked.

She did like the storyline with the kids because she too made a wish. Not in a fountain, but in an equally mystical place. She didn’t pay much attention to the romance part as she found that nauseating.

After she learned that she was infertile, she cultivated a bitterness toward romance and men in general. She did that to protect herself mainly. Why wish for something that she doesn’t deserve? It’s only logical.

She didn’t have the beauty to make men fall on her feet, but she maintained an indifferent attitude in front of men that borderline became an aversion to men. You become whom you want to be, they say. She became someone who didn’t like men that way. Men around her caught her aversion and avoided her.

She rarely looked at men as if they are something to be desired whether they are in front of her are in a screen. So, she wouldn’t know how the adult version of that girlish boy turned out to be.

But her friends kept gushing about that guy.

But Leander?

The Leander Kastello she knows, likes to be petted in the head, is bipolar and snaps out of nowhere, likes cats, is extremely unorganized, acts like a puppy at times, sniffs makeup, and wants to taste lipstick.

She didn’t remember that male lead like that. He was so masculine and as her friends would say, ’would make women’s ovaries burst’ or something weird like that.

Leander... well, he breaks stuff too—like the fingers of poor hairdressers. And if he bursts something in women, that would be their bladder and not their ovaries or uterus or whatever.

What is Lionel on about?

"Yes. I based Michael based on Leander. You couldn’t say?" Lionel raised his brows.

Ugh! He’s still...

"Oh, yes! Now that you mention it, I can remember the resemblance... Their walk, right?" Viviana went along with Lionel.

Leander’s walk was masculine... or was it feline as it resembled a lion? But people call lions majestic, right...Whatever!

"Yeah!" Lionel clapped and scooted close to her. "I had to drag him to the premier. Here," he scrolled down through his camera roll and showed her some pictures.

For a celebrity like Lionel, Viviana was surprised that he didn’t have many pictures in his camera roll. She would have thought his camera roll would be filled with selfies. But maybe, he is more organized and deleted all his pictures after backing up, leaving only those close to his heart in his phone.

Leander looked like he would be anywhere but at the premiere. Lionel was all smiles and Viviana recognized the main stars of the movie with Leander. She was surprised to see that Leander was bulkier than the macho man who played the male lead.

Heh! It is true the camera adds fifteen pounds, huh? If Leander actually acted in a movie, he could play a thug. That would fit him well.

And whoa! The actress is salivating... Is Leander that attractive? Ah, it’s his money, right? It is attractive. That lucky woman should count her blessings that Leander didn’t eye her. She really escaped a psycho.

"You are smiling... Leander sure is handsome, isn’t he? And very young, almost your age in those pictures," Lionel said placing his phone inside his pocket.

He knew her smile was not one admiring Leander. But he was curious to learn more about the woman who sat Leander down and applied LIPSTICK on his lips. She must be something!

"Yeah," Viviana nodded with a smile.

She picked the wine bottle to pour another glass of wine to avoid chatting with Lionel further. For a rich guy, he was more sensitive and sensible. She had a feeling that he could read her as well as she reads him.

It was hard for her to learn that skill, but she had to learn for her survival. As someone who depended on strangers for her basic necessities, she needed to observe what others think and act according to their wishes.

But for Lionel, maybe it is inherent. That’s why he creates characters who are believable. Maybe he is more of an artist than the mafia.

"May I?" Lionel asked politely and poured her the wine. "I am curious. What is your story?" he asked.

Viviana looked at him with a smile. "My story? You should ask your friend," she said and scooted away a little to keep distance between them.

Lionel does not seem to be a vulgar guy like Evander, but it doesn’t hurt to be a bit more careful. Who know whether the hole is a rabbit hole or a fox hole?

"I mean..." Lionel leaned away from her sensing that she is getting wary of him. "I know something brought you to that bridge that day... I just... I’m curious," he said.

Lionel knew that flattery won’t get him anything from her. He knew her type. Honesty would work better.

Viviana supported her chin in her hand and crossing her legs, she looked at him with a smile. "Are you going to turn me into one of your characters?" she asked.

"I do get inspired by real people. That’s why my characters are praised by the critics, and no one dismisses me as "just" a romance writer. I even got awards for my writing; you see..." Lionel spoke candidly.

Viviana nodded. He does have a good name in the field.

"So... If I want to write a character based on you... Will you be opposed to that?" Lionel asked.

Although she tried to be indifferent, he could see that she is in the least interested in that prospect. It is romantic for some to have their life memorialized on paper while some hate it. That’s why there are words like "anonymous" and "inspired" for writers like him to use.

If she is interested, he can turn her into a character. Even if she is not... he already has a story in mind for his next project. She’s going to be the best female lead he’s ever written.

Viviana chuckled holding her chest. Maybe because she was drunk or maybe this was the first time she is laughing so freely after a long time, it felt weird.

"Do you think my story would be interesting enough to suit your dramatization of characters? I don’t think so..." she laughed. "You are the one who writes convincing stories about "fate" and "magical fountains" and..."love". My life..."

Her life was never rainbows and unicorns. And she is just a burnt, charred remain of the bright, understanding girl she once was.

"...is boring..." she looked at him, her bright chuckle reduced to a simple smile. "Maybe as a side character...?"

Lionel shrugged. Not many people would lump love with magical fountains and call it impossible. In his opinion, love is something real that anyone can feel. The feeling of love needs no convincing.

She sure is interesting.

"Maybe as a deuteragonist?" Lionel went along with her.

"Hmm," Viviana shrugged. "Should I?" she leaned to his face.

Lionel looked into her eyes and his heart pounded.

Gosh! Those eyes... So familiar...