After leaving Gabriel behind, Leonica and Owen had made their way back to the table where everyone had gathered, Rodrigo included.As she sat down, he gave a look that Leonica knew all too well. She responded with a confident smile that confused Rodrigo momentarily.Before he had the chance to decipher the smile, Benjamin had already drawn his attention away.“I think it’s about time that we start with the announcements.” His brother said, looking around the room and gauging how crowded it had become in less than an hour since the party began.“Yes, that’d be a good idea.” Rodrigo agreed, and Benjamin stood up, kissing C*ssandra on the cheek before beckoning that his two sons and Leonica follow him up the stage.“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming to this very important day.” He began, drawing the attention of those present. “Today, we’re all gathered to welcome back my son, Melvin Romero and witness the inauguration of a new president into the seats of Romero Empire.”“Ne
After much congratulations from friends, potential new clienteles and family as well, Leonica stood in front of the refreshment area, fetching herself a fresh gl*ss of wine. As she sipped on it, surveying her environment with an absent mind, she thought back to the little accomplishment she had just made.She smiled, once again proud of herself.That smile however, vanished at the sound of Melvin's voice."I thought I had you all figured out," He stood beside her, stuffing both hands into his pocket and releasing a heavy sigh through his lips. "But you're more of a sly minx than I thought."Leonica shot a glare his way. "A minx? That's one way to address your sister."Melvin shrugged, a smile on his lips that didn't quite reach the light in his eyes. "You have to admit, it's not entirely wrong."When silence descended on the two, Leonica glanced at him, expecting another witty saying, however, much to her surprise, she found a desolate look on his expression.Makes sense, she thought
The look of an unrequited love, Owen knew it all to well because during his second year of high school, he had experienced it.It was winter that year and the third year running of his unrequited love towards Leonica when she brought home some tanned skin looking guy, claiming he was her boyfriend.C*ssandra, Benjamin and even his own mother had been glad. They treated the boy like he most definitely was going to be part of their family, but he was different.That was the first time Owen had ever been hostile towards anyone. He refused to be in the same room as Leonica ex boyfriend, talk with him, heck, even look his way. That was just how much his unrequited love at that time had made him jealous.And then with the belief of a sixteen years old, he thought that getting a girlfriend of his own would erase his feelings for Leonica.So, when a girl in his cl*ss confessed her feelings to him, he had agreed to be her boyfriend, but even then, his feelings didn’t disappear and seeing Leoni
Leonica found the drive towards Owen's penthouse to be filled with a sense of anticipation even she didn't know she possessed.Having called Grace and informed her of the possibility of she staying out late, or perhaps the entire night, Leonica was *ssured that Ashley would be safe.The silence between her and Owen however, was something she wasn't used to. It was tense, but not in a bad way, it was filled with expectation and the tension that comes with the realization that one has something, someone to look forward to.Owen's penthouse was in a luxurious apartment, a thirty minute drive from where the venue for the inauguration party was situated, and as they walked into his suite, the smell of fresh air and vanilla greeted them.Although it wasn't he first time visiting, Leonica couldn't help but inhale the sweet scent, releasing a sigh of contentment, which made Owen chuckle."I'm happy you like the smell," He said and then placed his keys on the rack before retrieving his jacket
Between changing a few rules at her Father's previous company, now hers, a couple of hectic video and in person conference and a meeting with Owen, who she had lunch with, Leonica barely had time to prepare for her upcoming interview.So, when Kennedy, who might I tell you, was happy to know that he had gotten his old job back, even though he didn't express it emotionally, walked in and informed her that Florence was downstairs, waiting for her greenlight to be let up, she was a bit stressed out.She wasn't prepared, not mentally nor physically.But that didn't deter her, because despite everything, she was a woman who was ready for anything and everything.So, without wasting a second, she headed downstairs, and into the lobby where the young Journalist stood, dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a hoodie, her long hair in a ponytail."Hello, it's nice to see you, Nica." She said, using the Alias Leonica had given her, as soon as she had reached her, a bright smile on her lips, a sm
Somewhere in Mexico, He had just finished a business conference call, dressed in a fancy bath robe when he got a video call request from the person he had appointed as supervisor somewhere in Oslo.The name read; Jaxson, and so he took the call without hesitation.A few seconds later, the picture was up o a huge 75 inch Television which he had connected his phone to, and Jaxson, who was smiling widely, greeted him."Hello Sir, how have you been doing?" He asked, his gaze not meeting the screen, but rather, at the floor."Pleasant." Came his pale response. "How's things with the journalist department? Were you people finally able to be competent and get me a good story?""Eh, about that Sir," The head journalist stuttered a bit under his boss's gaze. "We were able to secure the company a story, a rather juicy one at that, but along the line while recording with the client, Journalist Winslow had a issue, now she's being restricted from uploading the story."The man in the bathrobe rais
A week had gone by since Leonica's interview with Florence. During those seven days, nothing noticeable had happened and because of that, Leonica was just about thinking that her love was finally settling down.But that was wishful thinking. A month couldn't go by in her life without drama, Leonica knew this much after getting to the hospital for Ashley's monthly checkup and being informed that his condition hadn't improved, in fact, it had worsened."How is this possible?" She questioned, her expression full of worry as she held onto her son's hand. "You said everything was okay as long as he took his meds. A few years, you said." She was speaking with Doctor Bailey, who at this moment couldn't even explain why Ashley's condition had suddenly deteriorated.It was like there was a hidden factor driving his condition in the wrong way.Malnutrition? Certainly not. Lack of love from his guardian? Strong doubt, Leonica looked like the type of mother that would dote on her son all day long
The parents didn’t say anything, neither did their children, but the silence didn’t last long, not when Agatha had finally found her voice.“Mrs. Lance and Mrs. Browder, would you kindly take a seat, same goes for the rest of you.” She instructed, and with a slight hesitation, the parents followed her orders, although their expressions showed how nervous they were.“Now,” Agatha turned to face Leonica, her face showing a clear expression of respect. “This is Ms. Romero, the mother of Ashley Romero, and a few days ago, your children,” She pointed at the kids seated beside their parents. “And Ashley had a little, misunderstanding.”“It was no misunderstanding,” Leonica boldly interrupted, scanning each and everyone of the parent and their children present. “My son, Ashley, was verbally bullied by your children who haven’t been trained enough to know the right words to use on their peers.”“Ha! How outrageous!” One of the parents who Leonica recognized as Georgina Browder, raged. “Haven’