hley off at his school. The Leonica drove straight to her company after dropping Ashley she took notice of the fleet of securities lined up by the entrance.

he moment she arrived on her company's premises,

Kennedy, who as usual, was waiting by the entrance for her, received her with a bow. "Good Morning, Ms. Romero "

"Morning Kennedy. What's all this about?" She gestured towards the four men in black standing guard in front of the entrance. Before he could answer, they parted at the middle and Leonica watched a familiar figure walk towards her, hands tucked in his pocket. "Arvan," She smiled, greeting him lightly. "I see you got yourself more trustworthy guards."

"The last ones were utter disappointments." He wasn't joking, seeing as his ex wife had been able to make her way into his house without him knowing. "How are you doing, Leonica?"

"Best shape." She offered him her best smile, but he did not fail to notice the dark circles underneath her eyes as they turned and headed Inside. "What are you doing here, anyways?"

At her question, Arvan paused the instructions he was giving to his guards and flashed her a look. Quickly, Kennedy appeared by her side and whispered in her ear.

"You have a contract signing with Senator Richardson today."

Contract signing, of course! How could she have forgotten that today was the day she and Arvan would make their cooperation official.

"Leonica," Arvan began but she cut him off with a smile while reaching for the elevator's button.

"Old age." Her excuse was so weak that it had Arvan even more worried.

Old Age? He would have understood if she said the stress of single parenting was getting to her, but old age? Leonica didn't look the least bit like her age mates. Even today, dressed in long brown suit pants, white inner and a brown neutral blazer, she looked more stunning than most, if not all twenty nine year olds that Arvan knew.

When they finally stepped into the presidential elevator alone, since both assistants had to take the regular employee elevator, he asked.

"Is everything alright with you?"

"Peachy," Leonica responded with a nod. "I happened to overwork myself last night." She quickly added upon seeing that he wasn't buying into her words.

Arvan nodded but he was far from convinced. Even at that, he decided not to push any further when the elevator dinged open. As they walked towards the conference room, Leonica changed the subject, asking after Daisy,

"She good." Arvan responded as he held the door open for her. She thanked him while stepping in. "However, she's been going on about a sleep over?

"A sleep over?" She mused..

"Yeah, know anything about it?"

Leonica shook her head when he asked, letting him know that she knew nothing about the children's plans.

With a sigh, the conversation temporarily came to a close when their assistants walked In, each carrying

g the official documents that needed each of their signatures before their cooperation was made public to the entire business words.

Arvan was the first to finish signing. He once again examined Leonica's face in the few seconds window.

It was clear to him that she had lost a night or two of sleep.

He couldn't help but wonder what had happened? And why had she refused to tell him anything about it?

Not that he had any right to know her every where and how in life, he thought and sighed at the fact that even after two month of telling Himself that he was going to be a friend and a friend alone, he clearly still had romantic feelings for her. "All done!" Leonica's voice had him blinking away the unpleasant thoughts and they exchanged the contracts, sealing the deal at last. "As for the press conference-"

his

caught off guard by his interruption and as he turned to leave, she realized that she had been rather rude, not even bothering to ask about his wellbeing, whereas he had done so, and only choosing to focus on work "Arvan," She called out, waiting until he looked over his shoulder before she flashed him a smile. "Wanna

the most private corner of Leonica's favorite café near her

each other's company. But it was obvious that Arvan wanted

instead, kept flicking down, like a child waiting to tell their

go on for a few seconds more before placing her coffee down and stretching her hand flat across the table. "Arvan," She called.

Arvan nearly forgot

up feelings. "How's things with Owen?" The question came out before he could stop

when Leonica broke the news to him, no, more accurately, Ashley had broken the news to him,

filled with enough emotion to light

his chest constricted painfully. "Good. And uh, how's Ashley... adjusting to his presence

know Ash. He's never taken to just anyone, but I guess that's the effect Owen has on him as my boyfriend." She

Boyfriend, huh.

He nodded

a surprise." She added, a fond look crossing her features as she recalled her son's interactions with Owen a few days ago. Arvan couldn't help the small

good, right?" He offered

nodded and placed her coffee down before standing up. "I need to

direction of the restroom. It was meant to be a quick in and out business, but just as she flushed the toilet, about to step out, she heard a female voice that she found vaguely familiar. "Uh, I can't believe that

stop.

voice answered her. "I mean, it's not every day you

siding with that staff?" Irene asked, a hint of shock coating

all." The other voice quickly responded, clearly trying not

Leonica couldn't help but roll her eyes. She didn't know all that much about Irene, at least not

for that trashy article she had released that caused her more trouble at the press

this was the right time to repay

report it to the

s will still

gown. "Those maids w be the same, incompetent pieces of shit and that manager will always try and please me. "Ah, is that so?" The other woman's voice

behind her opened. She turned, ready to snap at the person for eavesdropping on her conversation,

her lips held an amount of animosity that surprised

on the other hand, remained indifferent to it.

doing here?!" She demanded and the other woman, a

as you." She deadpanned, the look in her eyes revealing how she really felt about Irene's presence. Disgusted. "You should watch your language in a public place, Ms. Rosewood. Wouldn't wanna be

"Why you-

moved around her, heading straight for the sink. "You

her tongue smoothly and the other woman glared at

like that, you

you're saying, Rosewood," Leonica warned and flashed her a smile. "Remember what I told you about that

as she looked Irene in the eyes. "I'd watch that tongue

took a step back and scanned ber. "And rather than giving that poor waiter hell, you should

lips, Leonica spun around and left the bathroom, leaving a

and Arvan's table, she couldn't help the wide smirk that

as she took a

nothing noteworthy at

her suspiciously but didn't say anything. He'd already decided to distance himself from her, he shouldn't bother trying to pry information out of her, but damn if it didn't feel right "Alright." He

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