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 she wasn't going to let a little family drama bring her

Leonica drove straight to her company to carry on

did.

day, before leaving, she took a marker and marked the day after tomorrow on her bedside calendar, giving herself a hand made reminder

forgetting to, she grabbed her tablet off her nightstand and

office, Leonica was glad to note that her spirit was feeling lighter

called, or the thought that she had a lunch date with Owen today, Leonica could not tell,

her smile

to notice her and a

here?" She demanded

unfazed by her tone, choosing to smile

from seconds ago fading. "What the hell are you doing here?" Melvin's eyes widened at

be more welcoming. Then again, I guess we

She hissed, not caring if they were attracting

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, else it would be forcefully

Leonica was near about to smack the smile off Melvin's face when

seemed to change the moment she turned around and

food.

gravitated from his little sister towards the

spot for this blondie? He thought, resisting the urge to tilt his head as he studied Owen from head

Partially forgetting her brother's presence, Leonica sauntered towards Owen, offering him a smile as

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

felt Leonica give his arm a light squeeze and when he briefly glanced down at her,

going to question. If that's what

alternate answer was followed by a

so?" He mused, once again gauging his sister's reaction around the male before smiling.

him with a cold gaze, drawing his attention back to her

his departure, only slowing down when he was near Owen. "It was nice meeting you, Owen. I look

encounters, yeah, he wishes, Leonica thought

a wrong time?" Owen's voice snapped

faintly smiled upon seeing his slightly guilty

a portion of

spared a glance behind him almost as if trying

time since, well since a day before yesterday, she found herself trying

she gave up and Shrugged.

-O-

the same black car that picked him two days ago. Except

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

agreed on." His voices his

his uncle's discontent. "I know it wasn't, but Leonica seemed suspicious of

no such thing. This is simply you taking back what

someone

Wey Ownership

rumor that nearly

so he thought of it that way, but in reality, Leonica was barely bothered by it, one could say it was thanks to the reliable men she

the data he had gathered, he'd say

had played the clever card. She dealt with such a situation without

Uncle," He truly didn't. "But we don't want to overdo things, now do we?

more than enough to pacify Rodrigo's anger. For the moment at

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

just ran into

are they going to prove to

www

"No one's

of course!" Melvin could practically hear the grin in his voice.

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

the way he

threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, Leonica, you've always been a cruel one, charming yet another wrecking ball." Seconds later, the smile faded. "Well, what is to be expected

profile - a smaller profile - before instructing. "Change of plans, let's head towards Norlight International

in her mouth, Leonica found her foul

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

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

Cute.

questioned, getting ready to pounce on him

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

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

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

and silently groaned when the door to her office suddenly flew

New Ownership

3/3.

other 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

I turn around?" He

what he had Leonica had used to eat, wavered gingerly

just tried turning my sister

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