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

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

spirit feeling somewhat rejuvenated, Leonica drove straight to her company to carry on about with

did.

day, before leaving, she took a marker and marked the day after tomorrow on her bedside calendar, giving herself a hand made reminder that she had to drop Ashley off at Gabriel's and visit

she grabbed her tablet off her nightstand

dropping Ashley off at school, and making her way to the office, Leonica was glad

a lunch date with Owen today, Leonica could not tell, but her mind was in a good place, which is why when

the main hall, her smile dropped as her eyes

too seemed to notice her and a smile

doing here?" She demanded

was unfazed by her tone, choosing to smile and greet her. "Good morning, my lovely

hell are

CEO of the company I'll soon be running would be more welcoming. Then again, I guess

She hissed, not caring

when Leonica didn't say anything, he continued. "'Starting now, you my lovely

to smack the smile off Melvin's face when she heard her name

around and spotted Owen carrying nylons of what

food.

in her character. His eyes gravitated

the urge to tilt his head

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

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, finally sub coming

give his arm a light squeeze and when he briefly glanced down at her, he could tell by her eyes that she

If that's what she wanted, then so be

His alternate answer was

answer. "That so?" He mused, once again gauging his sister's reaction around the

can leave." Leonica fixed him with a cold gaze, drawing his attention back to her with every word

forget Father's message." With that, he began his departure, only slowing down when he was near Owen. "It was nice meeting you, Owen. I look forward to our

yeah, he wishes, Leonica thought as she watched

I come at a wrong time?" Owen's voice snapped

smiled upon seeing his

a portion of

behind him almost as if trying to see if Melvin had truly left. "Hyung's changed."

for the first time since, well since a day before yesterday,

sometime, she gave up and

-O-

outside, he was once again picked up by the same black car that picked him two days ago. Except this

him of the development. To say Rodrigo was pleased would be an understatement, but all the excitement and fuss seemed to die down when Melvin informed him

isn't what we agreed on." His voices his

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

fauxed surprise. "I did no such thing. This is simply you taking back what belongs to you, all

him for having someone tail her and spread that Video at

Wey Ownership

nasty rumor that nearly

Leonica was barely bothered by it, one could say it was thanks to the reliable men she had around her, other

with all the data he had

little guileful sister had played the clever card. She dealt with such a situation without even needing to

Uncle," He truly didn't. "But we don't want to overdo things, now do we? I promise to elevate your status further once

more than enough to pacify Rodrigo's

something, Uncle. Is there someone you forgot to add to the list of people in Leonica's life?" He asked as his eyes lingered on the photo of Owen he had fetched after having silently

reason at all, I just ran into

to prove

www

one's

course!" Melvin could practically hear the grin in his voice. "Good job, once

you Uncle. I have a few things to do, I'll call you during spare time." Ending the call, he placed his

thinking back to the way he

always been a cruel one, charming yet another wrecking ball." Seconds later, the smile faded. "Well, what

profile - a smaller profile - before instructing. "Change of

a spoonful of custard pudding in her mouth, Leonica found her foul

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

his tongue touch the flesh of her cheek and lap up what she assumed was crumbs of her pudding. "Delicious." Owen offered her

Cute.

Leonica questioned, getting ready

the pudding cup, she straddled his lap and held her index finger, which had pudding on it, close to his nose. "Do you

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

beating wildly, making her cheeks flush red like a damn high school girl who was about to get a long awaited kiss

and silently groaned when the door to her office suddenly

New Ownership

3/3.

turning the other way as if he wished to forget what he had just seen. "And what

can I turn around?" He asked

gathering what he had Leonica had used to eat, wavered

"Not after you just tried turning my

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