***
"Leo, how long are you going to sit in front of that screen?" A feminine voice called out, filled with exasperation.
"I'm working, Cara." He said simply, his eyes focused on the game in front of him.
The woman named Cara was dressed in a black robe, her long tanned legs visible beneath the hem. Her face was almost like a dolls with long eyelashes that fluttered as she wore a pouting expression.
"Come on Leoooo, let's go do something fun, I'm bored." She whined.
However, the cold man didn't respond, his attention not even drifting from the screen in front of him. It was as if nothing else mattered but the game he was watching.
Cara blinked a few times before making her decision. She tugged at the black robe around her, sliding it off her shoulders, revealing a red lacy lingerie that had been hidden beneath.
She strut forward with confidence, standing in front of the TV and placing her hands upon her hips. Giving her best seductive look, she fluttered her eyelashes, "Want to have some fun now?"
Leo's expression shifted briefly before he stood up from the couch and approached her.
A satisfied expression crept onto Cara's face as she saw this. 'Of course, men cannot resist me.' She thought, 'There's a reason why I'm the best upcoming model in New York.'
Leo stopped right in front of her before placing his hands on both of her shoulders. For a moment, Cara thought he was going to lean in for a kiss, but her expression turned dumbfounded in the next moment.
Instead of bringing her closer, Leo turned her body and easily moved her out of the way.
"You are starting to interfere with my work. If you want to do something fun, go by yourself. I am busy." He said simply.
Cara stared blankly at the man who had so easily denied her, her mind unable to process the recent events. As she watched him casually return to the couch and rewind that game he was watching, she didn't know what to say.
Feeling embarrassed, she let out a huff and grabbed the black robe, tying it around her shoulders and leaving the room, slamming the door behind her.
Leo didn't even spare her another glance, his eyes focused on the game.
On the screen, the debut match for the Ligers was playing. Ken's historic debut match with 21 strikeouts was something that even Leo had to acknowledge as brilliant.
But it was not just Ken that he was focused on.
His eyes narrowed as Daichi squatted behind home plate. At first he had been surprised to see that this guy was in the Majors, but it was clear to see why.
'He has improved tremendously…' Leo mused inwardly.
The defeat that he suffered in the U18 World Cup was still something he thought about despite the success he'd had in College. This man was also someone that he had not forgotten about.
"Daichi Takagi… To think you would also join the Ligers. Very interesting." He mumbled.
In the background, the door once more opened and Cara appeared, now fully dressed.
"So you're really going to let me to go out by myself?" Cara exclaimed, her bag clutched in her arms.
Leo turned and looked at the woman, his expression impassive. "You have free will, Cara. I do not have to give you permission to leave."
At these words, Cara was left speechless for a moment. "That's really how you're going to play things? I thought we were a good match… Me, a model and you, an athlete. But it seems that all you care about is baseball."
Leo frowned, finally showing some emotion for once. "Love cares nothing for status, Cara. If I love a woman, it will have nothing to do with her work or occupation." He explained.
"As for only caring about baseball… It is both my passion and my job. What else do you expect from someone who has dedicated his whole life to reach the Major League?"
His words led to an awkward silence between the two.
Cara's lip quivered briefly before she spoke, "I'm really going to leave…"
'Please tell me to stay…' She pleaded in her heart.
However, Leo let out a sigh in response. "If you wish to leave, who am I to stop you?"
Cara's eyes began to mist up so she quickly turned on her heel and walked to the front door before stopping in front of it.
"Goodbye, Leo Cameron." She said, opening the door and leaving promptly.
Once the door closed behind her, Leo shook his head before running his fingers through his hair. He paused the match and leaned back on the couch, letting out a sigh.
'These women don't understand. If I don't continue to work hard, they will surpass me…' He said in his heart, his expression solemn.
Ever since a young age, Leo had put his whole life into baseball. He had been hailed as a genius early on, but it was not enough for him who wanted to be the best in the world.
Throughout Little League and High School, he had dominated because of his investment in both his body and his mind. Such a dedication was rare for anyone, especially for a child at that age.
Yet as he continued to dominate, complacency crept in. Leo had been the best young player in the country for too long, to the point where even he himself had become arrogant.
It was in his final year of High School that he finally had a reality check.
The first game they played against Japan was a rout. The Japanese National team had somehow figured out his weakness and capitalized, embarrassing him thoroughly.
They would later meet again in the finals where the US had played better, but it still ultimately ended in defeat.
And the cause of his defeat was none other than the two brothers on the screen at this moment. Despite being younger than him, their skill and talent was almost equal to his own.
"I cannot let my guard down…" Leo muttered, his hand clenching into a fist.