President."

"Leonica," Benjamin called, pulling her attention towards him. "I am not asking you to leave, I'm just requesting that you step down from your position, and let your brother run the company. If you still want to remain in the company, then you can have the position of Vice Leonardo's role, how ironic!

Leonica without second thought was about to turn the offer down when Melvin beat her to the punch.

"I don't think that would be possible, dad." All head turned towards him. Wearing his usual graceful smile, Melvin added. "I'd like uncle Rodrigo to have that position, seeing as he is my benefactor."

And that about broke the Camel's back. With one swift movement, Leonica was up on her feet while the chair she had been seating on, crashed to the floor. "This is absurd and I refuse to seat here any longer and listen to it."

Without giving her parents a chance to react, Leonica swiftly stormed out of the room, leaving her parents and Melvin in the garden.

Leonica was beyond fuming at this point. As she drove to her apartment, her grip on the steering wheel was so tight that her knuckles had begun turning white.

Just the audacity of her brother and her father, had her seeing red.

She had proven herself worthy in other to become the CEO and even worked her butt off to maintain that seat. In a matter of five months since she bad returned, her hard work had skyrocketed Romero Empire, bringing it out of the doldrums Rodrigo had sank it into, and now, all because of Melvin, she was being kicked out.

Just thinking about it gave her a splitting headache. And just as if the universe decided to pardon her, a call came in and much to her delight, it was from Owen.

With a flick of a button, she answered the call and immediately Owen's voice flowed through the speakers.

"luce mia, how have you been?"

"Not well." Leonica answered honestly, trying her best to not let her emotions slip.

"How so?"

She hesitated before answering. "...Dad's giving the company to Melvin."

"Well that's unexpected."

"Yeah, and he wants me to step down from my position as CEO and be vice president instead. But plot twist, Melvin wants me to hand the VP role to Rodrigo." "Rodrigo?"

"My scheming Uncle. I'm sure he's behind all this." She sneered. "And for that reason I can't let the company fall into Melvin's hand. I'll do whatever it takes to keep it out of his hand, even if it means returning it to its previous state."

The other end of the line was silent for a bit as Owen choose his next words carefully before asking. "You can't, or won't?"

"What?"

Leonica heard Owen sigh, followed by the sound of papers being flipped closed. She assumed he had been rehearsing some of his lines when he decided to call her.

"I'm not against you, luce mia, you know that. I will stand by whatever decision you make, and support you, but, are you certain about your choice?"

"What do you mean?"

"You love the company, right?"

"Yes,"

"Then are you certain about your choice, or is this anger and the fear of losing what you love talking?"

Owen's words struck her like a knife, forcing her to think back to the events that had occurred back in the mansion.

Was she really ready to let the company she had saved from destruction go, or was she merely making a decision because of anger and fear?

"Leonica,"

Owen calling her name snapped her back to reality and she was quick to respond.

"I can't let the company go Owen, it's one of the only reason why I am who I am."

"No, no, no, there's so much more in you than the CEO of Romero empire." He countered. "And you should know that, if anything, that should be what drives you, so, don't worry yourself, because one way or another, you'd find a way to fix this and I'll be beside you every step of the way."

Leonica couldn't help the small smile that graced her face, and a tingle in her heart.

"Thank you Owen."

"Anytime Luce Mia." She could almost hear the smile in his voice. "Now, as much as I'd love to continue hearing your voice, I have a role to rehearse."

"Right, I apologize for taking up your precious time." Leonica playfully said.

"It's alright, but if you wish to apologize, then how about Lunch in your office tomorrow?"

Leonica smiled, knowing full well that was Owen's way of asking her out on a date even during their busy schedules. "Alright. It's a

date."

"Then I'll see you then. Bye luce mia."

"Bye."

When the line went dead, Leonica finally allowed herself to breath.

realized she was holding it

herself with the problem. She has faced troubles far more tedious than this and she

feeling somewhat rejuvenated, Leonica drove straight to her company to carry

did.

on her bedside calendar, giving herself a hand made reminder that she had to drop Ashley off at Gabriel's and visit Owen's family

her tablet off her nightstand and shoved it Into her

office, Leonica was glad to note that her

hadn't called, or the thought that she had a lunch date with Owen today, Leonica could not tell, but her mind was in a good place, which is why when she stepped out of the elevator,

past the receptionist desk, and into the main hall, her smile dropped as her

too seemed to notice her and

are you doing here?" She demanded as she walked

to smile and greet her. "Good

fading. "What the hell are you doing here?" Melvin's eyes widened at her sudden hostility and with a frown, he

expect the CEO of the company I'll soon be running would be more welcoming. Then again, I guess we both have things to learn

out." She hissed, not caring

first, I have a message to pass along from out father." He began and when Leonica didn't say anything, he continued. "'Starting now, you my lovely sister, have 48 hours to vacate your position,

smile off Melvin's face when she heard her name being called from

demeanor seemed to change the moment she turned around and spotted Owen carrying

food.

fail to notice the shift in her character. His eyes gravitated from

have a soft spot for this blondie? He thought, resisting the urge to tilt

what are you doing here?" Partially forgetting her brother's presence, Leonica sauntered towards Owen, offering

thought it would be nice to surprise you ahead of time," Came Owen's response, but Leonica could tell he wasn't one hundred percent focused on her. When she followed his line of sight - once again recalling that she had been dealing with Melvin- she groaned. "Hyung, nice to see you again." Owen tasted the water even though he knew Melvin wouldn't recognize him. Heck, even Leonica who had spent hours with him back in the days barely remembered him, so there was absolutely no guarantee that Melvin would. As expected, Melvin tilted his head,

give his arm a light squeeze and when he briefly glanced down at

going to question. If that's what

of Leonica's." His alternate

mused, once again gauging his sister's reaction around the

leave." Leonica fixed him with a cold gaze, drawing his attention back

he began his departure, only slowing down when he was near Owen.

thought as

at a wrong time?"

faintly smiled upon seeing his slightly guilty looking

a portion of the Nylon. "No, not

if trying to see if

he?" Leonica mused and for the first time since, well since a day before yesterday, she found herself

sometime, she gave up and Shrugged. "Doesn't really

-O-

by the same black car that

would be an understatement, but all the excitement and fuss seemed to die down when Melvin informed him that it's the

we agreed on." His voices his

but Leonica seemed suspicious of me. She was more than certain that you had put me

you taking back what belongs

meant when Leonica had fired him for having someone tail her and

Wey Ownership

that nearly dethroned

in reality, Leonica was barely bothered by it, one could say it was thanks to the

the data he had gathered, he'd say it

card. She dealt

do we? I promise to elevate your status further once we have the company in

was more than enough to pacify

of people in Leonica's life?" He asked as his eyes lingered on the photo of Owen he had fetched after having silently hacked into the company's CCTV feeds. Humming in

I just ran into someone

to

www

"No one's a

practically hear the grin in his voice. "Good job,

Uncle. I have a few things to do, I'll call you during spare time." Ending the call, he placed his phone down and focused on Owen's picture, actually

the way he had addressed him, it

wrecking ball." Seconds later, the smile

the tablet, he looked at another profile - a smaller profile - before

custard pudding in her mouth, Leonica found her foul mood quickly

beside her with his temple proper against his knuckle while his elbow rested on the couch top, Owen watched, his lover, a slight smile on his lips. Only after a while did she notice his stare. But unlike in the past, she didn't shy away and instead offered him a spoonful of her desert. "Want some?" "Of course," He leaned in when she placed the spoon close to his face, but the next second, tactically diving to the

she assumed was crumbs of her pudding. "Delicious." Owen offered her an innocent smile which expanded

Cute.

getting ready to pounce on him at any

held her index finger, which had pudding on it, close

for Leonica, her threat did little to nothing when it came to scaring Owen. She only realized this when his grin seem to grow rather than seize and just when she tried to flee, his hand caught her waist and jerked her forward, causing her to lean in. Thankful, she stopped herself before she could completely trash into Owen. But the proximity, damn the

had her heart beating wildly, making her cheeks flush red like a damn high school girl who was

groaned

New Ownership

3/3.

way as if he wished to forget what he had just seen. "And what happened to knocking." Came Leonica's challenging response as she slid off Owen's lap, the latter

that's my fault... can I turn around?" He

who was now gathering what he had Leonica had used to eat, wavered gingerly

just tried turning my sister into a baby

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255