In love with the billionaire

Scars be found

Thankfully, there was a hospital close by. Leonardo, with the utmost care, placed Sylvia on the hospital bed as several nurses rushed to his aid, which seemed useless. He frowned as his eyes glanced at the little cut on her upper lips which already had a purplish stain. Her eyes were sunken with gray patches and her neck was stained with blood and dust. Leonardo's knuckles grew white, silently hoping that blood wasn't from her.

Andrew watched his boss from behind, wondering why his eyes were fixed on the woman's face.

“Boss,” Andrew gently called.

“Yes?” he responded, fixing his studying eyes on this strange woman.

Andrew’s eyes strolled to Leonardo’s hands. “You need to let go of the bed.”

“Oh.” He immediately stepped back after noticing he was holding the bed’s handle. “That was… I hope she gets better.”

“She will.”

Leonardo finally looked at him and then shifted back to the door the nurses went through, dragging the bed with speed. “Andrew. Do me a favour. ”

Andrew smiled, knowing what he wanted to ask. “No. I'm not doing it for you.”

“Oh well…” He smiled inwardly, “You know I'm still your boss, right?”

That made Andrew's eyes roll backwards. “You just met her. Why do you need to research on her?”

He shrugged. “Because I can do anything I want to do.”

“Leonardo, this–”

Leonardo let out an exasperated sigh and said, “Are you going to do it or not?”

Andrew wanted to refuse, but he knew how Leo acted when he wanted to get something. “You will find the report tomorrow–”

“No.” He stated. “I want it today; specifically this evening.”

“Noted.” Andrew didn't like this. Whether Leonardo knew or not, he didn't let on.

Leonardo curved a broad smile, smacking Andrew's left shoulder, leaving the hospital, walking towards the car. Leonardo's phone began to ring, which caused a frown to scar his face. He answered the call.

“What?” he demanded immediately.

“Boss…the bo-ard of di–re–ctors are here wai–ting for y-ou before the m-eeti-ng comm–ences.” the person on the phone stammered terribly.

He looked at his wristwatch, which was followed by balling his wrist in rage. “The meeting was supposed to start by 11 am. Why are they gathering one hour earlier?” he asked, exchanging glances with Andrew. Andrew understood and increased the speed of the car.

“It was your elder brother that changed the time." And clearly, he wasn't told. Though the person on the phone was careful not to mention it.

“Hmm.” was all Leonardo said, facing the car’s window with a smirk. The last words he said before ending the call was “Tell the directors I'll be there soon”.

Andrew stared at his boss from the car's mirror. Whenever he smirked like that, it never ended well.

After a moment of silence in the car, Leonard decided to break it. “Andrew.”

“Leo.” He answered, keeping his eyes on the road.

Leonardo circled the ring in his middle finger for the umpteenth time in the car. “Tell me something. Do I underestimate people a lot?”

“No sir. You just wait for the best time to strike.”

“Hmm. The best time, you say,” he whispered to himself.

Andrew couldn't tell what was going through Leonardo’s mind, but he knew it was not good. It was never good. “Boss, we are here,” he said, driving into a vast compound.

The car was packed in a secluded garage reserved for Leonardo. He stepped out of the car, strutting briskly into the tall building that was mostly built with glass.

As he entered, a woman took over the files Andrew held, and another opened the door that led to the elevator. Andrew kept looking at Leonard without saying a word. Leonardo’s shoe hit the floor with gusto that announced his arrival. A young man with nerdy glasses rushed towards him, almost blocking his way.

“Sir! There was nothing I could do. They already started the meeting without you,” he said with shaky hands.

Leonardo felt his rage intensify the more. “What?”

Everyone around him shuddered in fear except Andrew. “Leonardo, calm the hell down! Let's go in for the meeting. This will be sorted out.”

“Of course it will be, and I'll sort it out,” Leonardo said to Andrew with anger bulging from his eyes, as he took long strides to the meeting room.

He could hear their voices emanating from the room, which made him kick the door open in annoyance. The eight of the directors immediately stood up, shock etched on their faces.

“So…” a finger drumming resounded throughout the quiet hall. “You finally decided to show up. So much for being the CEO. You can't even come to a meeting early” a voice mocked. A voice Leonardo knew very well.

Leonard curved a smile that did not reach his eyes. “You must be a fool to think this little stunt will get to me, Jonathan.”

“Watch your tongue!” He hissed.

Leonardo nodded and said, “I'll do that if you stop meddling in my company's affairs.”

Jonathan snickered. “Your company? The same company our father built from scratch!”

“The same one I am the CEO of. I was of the opinion that you don't forget things so easily.” Leonard retorted, strolling to the other end of the meeting table where the highest seat was. “Guess I was wrong.”

Jonathan couldn't think of the best response to give, which made him curl both of his fists in rage. Leonard smiled inwardly as he sat comfortably on his chair.

“And this will be my last warning. Nobody is to begin a meeting without me until I say so.” he stated, studying the old men that were seated with him.

A few grunts and little murmurings stained with mockery answered him back. Leonardo had gone through this plenty of times. This isn't the one that will cause him to break.

Seeing that the issue had been resolved, the youth with the nerdy glasses immediately rushed to the meeting table and gave Leonard the necessary files for the meeting.

He cleared his throat to begin. “After the market research you said we should embark on, we gathered enough information about what our customers want for our next designs.”

“We decided to focus on our female customers, right?” Leonard asked, fixing his eyes on the documents.

“Yes–”

“But, focusing on the women for our next design will bring about a profit decline” Jonathan cut in, directing staring at Leonardo.

Leonard shook his head, smiling, dropping the files on the table. “The reason you wanted to start the meeting without me, I gather.”

“Stop being ridiculous, we waited–”

Leonard waved his hand dismissively. “Just tell me about our declining profits.”

Jonathan gritted his teeth in anger but said, “Our most profitable customers over the years have always been the male folks. They love our wristwatches. Shifting this pattern will surely create a profit dent.”

All the board of directors nodded to what Jonathan said. One of them stood up to speak, “Jonathan is right. Our next wristwatch designs can't be focused on women folks. I mean, most women don't even know the beauty of wristwatches.” He chuckled, which made everyone laugh. Jonathan's eyes met Leonard's, smirking at his silence.

“Are you done?” Leonard asked, bringing sudden silence into the room.

“Leonard, it can't–” Jonathan began saying.

“Ricky, from your market research, how many women will love to buy from us?” Leonard asked, addressing the man who had informed him of the meeting.

“Ranging from all ages? Over 90 percent, sir.”

“That brings this meeting to an end.” Leonard smacked his hand on the table, drawing his chair backwards to get up from the chair.” Andrew, tell our designers to begin with the first batch.”

Andrew finally smiled and said, “Yes Sir,” and trailed him from behind.

Immediately he stepped out of the meeting room, his phone chimed. It was a message, and it read.

“The woman you brought in has woken up.”