NEVER NO DOLLAR

Blake Symphon

Leonidas tapped his fingers on the table, still riding the thrill of his earlier confrontation with Emma. He felt powerful, almost invincible—but that confidence faltered when Blake Symphon stood before him.

Blake gave a relaxed smile, the kind that seemed friendly on the surface but carried hidden layers beneath. Leonidas didn't know what it was, maybe because his charisma. He extended a hand toward Leonidas, who hesitated only for a second before shaking it. Blake’s grip was firm, his grey eyes cool and assessing.

“Leonidas, right?” Blake said smoothly, his tone pleasant. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you."

Leonidas blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you.”

Without waiting for an invitation, Blake slid into Claire’s seat across from Leonidas. The gesture was casual but deliberate, as if Blake already owned the space. Leonidas stiffened slightly, unsure how to react. It wasn’t every day that one of the most admired men on campus—someone Leonidas had once envied—sat across from him, looking perfectly composed.

Blake smiled faintly, drumming his fingers on the table. “I just wanted to stop by and congratulate you,” he said. “I heard about you and Claire.”

Leonidas tried to mask the flicker of discomfort in his expression, forcing a polite smile. “Thanks.”

“She’s not as cold as she seems,” Blake continued with a small chuckle. “She’s a good girl, deep down. Loves her mother a lot.”

Leonidas tilted his head, unsure how to respond to Blake’s strange familiarity. He gave a tentative nod, trying to maintain his composure. “Yeah… I’ve noticed that.”

Blake’s grey eyes locked onto Leonidas with an unreadable expression. “I hope the two of you have a healthy relationship. She deserves better.”

Leonidas blinked, momentarily at a loss. The words seemed well-meaning, but something in Blake’s tone felt unsettling—like he was implying Leonidas wasn’t good enough. Leonidas forced a chuckle, though it sounded awkward.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

In truth, Leonidas admired Blake. He had always been the epitome of everything Leonidas wanted to become—charming, refined, untouchable. Even with all his recent successes, Leonidas still felt like he couldn’t quite match Blake’s effortless charisma.

Just as the silence threatened to grow uncomfortable, Claire appeared with their order. She stopped in her tracks, her usual cool expression faltering for a brief moment when she saw Blake sitting in her chair.

“Blake,” Claire said, her voice calm but laced with subtle confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Blake’s smile didn’t waver. “Claire. I thought I’d stop by and congratulate you two. It’s good to see you happy.” His words sounded kind, but there was a subtle tension beneath them—something Claire noticed right away.

“Thanks,” she replied evenly, though there was an unmistakable edge in her voice.

Blake rose from the seat with an easy grace, brushing his hands over his perfectly tailored suit. “Well, I won’t intrude any longer. It was good meeting you, Leonidas. And Claire...” He gave her a brief, meaningful look. “Take care of yourself.”

With that, Blake turned and walked away, leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than before.

Claire lowered herself into the seat Blake had just vacated, her expression taut. Leonidas watched her closely, picking up on her discomfort.

“So… that was your one and only ex here?” Leonidas asked, trying to sound casual, though curiosity gnawed at him.

Claire nodded, not meeting his gaze. “Yeah.”

Leonidas hesitated before leaning in slightly. “You guys must’ve been a perfect couple.”

Claire’s lips pressed into a thin line. “We were.” There was a finality to her tone, as if she didn’t want to continue the conversation.

Leonidas frowned, sensing that there was more to the story, but he knew better than to push. Still, Blake’s sudden appearance—and the way Claire reacted to him—left Leonidas with a nagging feeling. There was history between Claire and Blake, and whatever it was, it wasn’t simple.

For a moment, Leonidas wondered if this whole relationship with Claire was just a facade after all. The woman sitting across from him felt more distant than ever—her heart seemingly tied to memories she didn’t want to share.

As Leonidas stared at his untouched coffee, he couldn’t help but feel a creeping insecurity. Even with Claire by his side, Blake’s presence had made him feel small.

***

Leonidas pushed the door open and stepped into the quiet hospital room, the sterile scent of antiseptic lingering in the air. Behind him, Claire followed with a bouquet of fresh flowers, the petals still glistening from the florist’s water spray.

Alex, lying on the hospital bed with a pale complexion but bright eyes, perked up the moment he saw Leonidas. His face split into a wide grin, though his chest rose and fell in careful, shallow breaths from the recent lung surgery.

“Leo!” Alex’s voice was hoarse but filled with excitement. “I'm so glad you're finally here!”

Leonidas gave a warm smile and moved closer to the bed. “Hey, Alex, how are you feeling?”

“Much better,” Alex replied, adjusting his position against the pillows. His gaze flickered curiously to Claire, who stood beside Leonidas, cradling the flower bouquet. “But... who’s she?”

Claire’s lips twitched into an uncertain smile, and Alex’s question made the room feel momentarily heavy with awkwardness.

Leonidas cleared his throat and placed a hand lightly on Claire’s back, glancing between the two of them. There was a flicker of pride in his expression as he introduced her. “This is Claire Adwell—”

Alex’s eyes brightened, a little spark of mischief dancing in them. “Your girlfriend?” he guessed, a bit hesitantly but with clear delight.

Leonidas hesitated, caught off guard by the assumption. His hand slipped from Claire’s back as an awkward silence stretched between them. He stole a quick glance at Claire, who looked equally uncertain but said nothing. Their relationship was complicated—a far cry from what Alex was assuming.

But explaining that felt impossible. Leonidas gave a strained smile, not wanting to disappoint Alex. “Yeah,” he replied, trying to sound casual. “That’s what everyone says.”

Alex chuckled, visibly pleased by the response. “That’s awesome, Leo! Where’d you find such a beautiful lady? You’ve really outdone yourself.” He grinned warmly at Claire. “Hi, Claire. I’m Alex.”

Claire relaxed a bit under Alex’s kind gaze, her smile softening. “Hi, Alex. I’ve heard a lot about you from Leo.” She held out the bouquet and added sincerely, “It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”

Alex’s eyes lit up at the flowers. “You brought these for me?” He took the bouquet carefully, as if it were a treasure.

Claire nodded. “Yeah, I got them from the florist down the street. Thought they’d brighten your room a little.”

Alex beamed. “They’re perfect. Thank you, Claire.”

Leonidas watched the interaction with mild amusement, feeling an odd mixture of relief and discomfort. Seeing Claire smile—truly smile—was something rare, and for a moment, it felt like the lines between their fake relationship and reality blurred.

Claire quietly moved toward the small table by the window, arranging the bouquet in a vase with care. Meanwhile, Leonidas sat on the edge of Alex’s bed, his sharp gaze softening as he observed the boy’s fragile frame. Despite Alex’s pale complexion, the surgery had clearly been a success—this was far better than the sight Leonidas had feared when he first brought Alex to the hospital. Relief settled in his chest.

Alex’s large, curious eyes flicked up at Leonidas. “It must’ve been a rough time for you, Leo...” His voice was soft, tinged with guilt, his small hands fidgeting with the blanket.

Leonidas leaned back slightly, trying to play it off, but the truth lingered in his silence. He had spent countless nights working himself to exhaustion, every cent he earned going toward Alex’s surgery. The calloused palms Leonidas rested on his lap betrayed the hard labor he used to do before.

Alex lowered his gaze, his voice cracking. “I’m sorry, Leo... I keep causing you trouble. I’ve only made things harder for you.” Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes, his lip quivering with the weight of guilt.

Before Alex could fully cry, Leonidas leaned in and gently wiped the tears away with his thumb, as if to erase the sadness before it could take hold.

“Hey, don’t say nonsense like that,” Leonidas whispered, his tone firm but tender. “For you, I’ll do anything. You’re the last thing I have in this world, Alex.” His voice wavered slightly at the end, but he forced a reassuring smile.

Alex blinked up at him, the tears retreating under the warmth of Leonidas’ words.

“You don’t need to feel bad or worry about me,” Leonidas added, brushing the boy’s hair lightly. “From now on, everything’s going to get better. I promise.”

Claire, watching from the side with the now-full vase in her hands, glanced at Leonidas, seeing a side of him she hadn’t expected. For a moment, her usual coldness melted away.

Alex sniffled and gave a small nod, his fragile smile returning. “Okay, Leo... I believe you.”

Leonidas gave him a playful nudge on the shoulder. “That’s my guy.”

Alex relaxed a little, comforted by Leonidas’ soothing words, but the curiosity gnawing at him refused to stay buried. He tilted his head, his young mind working through the gaps in Leonidas' story.

“You’ve changed so much, Leo,” Alex murmured thoughtfully. “Is someone helping you pay for my medical bills?”

Claire, who had been adjusting the flowers in the vase, froze mid-motion at the boy’s innocent question. Her gaze shifted subtly toward Leonidas, curiosity now flickering in her own eyes.

Leonidas instantly sensed the shift in atmosphere. He knew this topic could stir something in Claire—after all, he hadn’t just paid for Alex’s surgery. He’d also covered the medical bills for Claire’s mother, and where that man who used to live as a loser— got that money was still a secret until this time.

Without missing a beat, Leonidas forced a calm, easy smile onto his face, brushing off the question as if it were no more important than the weather. “That’s not something you need to worry about, little guy,” he said, ruffling Alex’s hair playfully. “Your job right now is to rest and get better. Stressing over things like that won’t help your recovery.”

Alex gave a small, hesitant nod, seemingly satisfied by Leonidas’ answer. As young as he was, the boy’s worries could easily be soothed by a few comforting words from someone he trusted.

Leonidas leaned back casually, trying to ease the tension. “Now, let’s talk about something more fun. Have the nurses been sneaking you extra pudding cups?” he asked with a grin.

Alex giggled, the heavy atmosphere quickly lifting. “Maybe... but only if you don’t tell!”

Claire forced a smile, though a part of her mind stayed behind in the previous conversation. Leonidas noticed the flicker of thought in her expression, but he knew better than to address it now.

For the moment, Alex was smiling, and that was what mattered.