Chapter 2 - The Severed ContractThe waltz drew to a breathtaking close, but Leandro didn't release my hand.
He tucked my arm securely through his, guiding me toward the grand head table where Blair’s father, Arthur Kensington—the CEO of Kensington Development—sat frozen beside two city council members.
Blair rushed over, her face flushed with frantic, desperate humiliation. "Mr. Vitali! You... you can't be serious! This girl is just an entry-level graphics assistant at my father's firm! She bought her clothes off a discount rack!"
Leandro stopped dead in his tracks.
He didn't shout. He didn't raise his voice. He slowly turned his storm-dark eyes onto Blair and her father. The sheer, freezing temperature in his gaze made Blair stumble backward two paces, her heel catching against her dress hem.
"Your father's firm, Miss Kensington," Leandro spoke, his baritone smooth and cold as a razor blade, "currently relies on a forty-million-dollar municipal concrete supply contract held by Vitali Industries."
Arthur Kensington froze, his glass dropping onto the table, spattering red wine across the white linen. "Don Leandro... please! My daughter was just—"
"As of eight o'clock tomorrow morning," Leandro announced deadpan, every word dropped into the silent room like a heavy block of frozen iron, "that contract is permanently terminated. And if your board asks why... tell them to thank your daughter's manners."
Blair let out a high-pitched, choked shriek of pure terror as Arthur collapsed back into his leather chair, his face paper-white.
"Leo," Leandro commanded smoothly without looking back. "Clear our path."
Leo opened the grand arched entrance doors, bowing his head in absolute, terrifying reverence as Leandro guided me out into the cool Minnesota night air.
Waiting at the curb was a massive, matte-black armored Maybach, its engine idling silently, white exhaust curling into the dark sky.
Leandro helped me into the plush leather rear cabin. As the heavy door clicked shut with an airtight, reassuring THUD, I sank onto the heated seat, looking at the man beside me.
"Where are we going?" I asked softly, my heart hammering against my ribs.
May you like
Leandro unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket, looking at me with dark, quiet eyes that held zero cruelty and endless warmth.
"We are going to my estate on Lake Minnetonka, Clare," Leandro promised softly, reaching out his broad hand to gently, reverently cover mine. "Where no one will ever make you feel small again."
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