Ruined by the Ruthless Billionaire

04: Repercussions

Leonardo

(Earlier)

It has been a long hectic night and despite hours of going over our database with my tech department,we found no substantial lead to the buyer my shareholders were rapidly selling their shares to and what is prompting them to sell in the first place.

Everything was right with the hotel, a few losses as expected but more profit.

The more records we went through the more more confusing my team and I found the entire situation, this buyer was practically invincible! How is that even possible!

Few minutes before the moon kisses the sun goodbye,Andrew,one of my team runs towards me Mac book in hand,swiftly I spin my chair to the side and look at him expectedly.

"What did you find?" I ask, the anxiousness in my voice visible for all to see. Silence resonates the room.

"Mr Alonso Calcedonio Just sold his shares sir.."

"No way!.." Alonso is one of my first and longest shareholders,the Man was literally obsessed with this hotel,I'm convinced the only way the man will sell is at gun point.

"Thought so too,I traced the sale and the buyer happens to be a subsidiary company of yours sir" Andrew continues. Murmurs erupt in the room.

"Be more specific" I enquire. The boy types rapidly before navigating the macbook screen to me.

"That is the tricky part, I traced it down to your clothing line in Newyork,but it merely pass through an unidentified person and disappeared into thin air." He concludes looking apologetically from the screen to me.

"Sor...enm,I will keep digging sir" he stutters.

I was frustrated to say the least,for the first time my tech team couldn't crack a code.

Whoever was doing this knew me well but clearly not well enough if they chose this hotel out of my numerous ventures to steal. They should know I don't back down easily.

I couldn't help but notice how defeated my tech team looks, we were almost losing for the first time and I can tell their spirits are down,I better rid them of that energy.

"They don't have our hotel just yet so don't look so down. Go home,rest,do yoga,read a book,drink tea,scotch,have s*x or whatever helps you destress. Then go back to your systems and get me the thief"

I hear chuckles round the room,much better. I need an active team not a sulking one.

"We reconvene on Monday, I expect positive news and energy by then or even before then. My secretary will send you a little bonus to help your distressing process."

I inform and as if on cue my assistant walks through the double glass door looking dishevelled.

Clapping and cheers fill the room but my eyes are on Andrea as she makes her way towards me.

"There is a mole to find and a thief to catch so rest your fried brains and get to work" I instruct

"Yes sir!" They chorus as they begin to chat while preparing to leave. I give Andrea who is beside me a questioning look.

"The guards at the entrance just called. Your father just arrived with Marco,Marco is carrying an unconscious girl sir" she reports already out of breath,her ipad bibs,she quickly looks down at it then up at me before saying "message from the reception,they are on their way to your Penthouse."

My father rarely visits but when he does,he almost always comes with trouble.

"Did he state his mission?" I ask rhetorically but Andrea answers anyway. "I'm afraid nobody dared to ask sir."

As expected, the Man scared the hell out of most of my staff. People around here are very hesitant to interfer in family affairs.

I make for the door already exhausted. "Are you eating in or out today? and what would you like?" She ask concern written all over her face.

"Depends on the mood my father leaves me in, usually,I loose my appetite afterwards. But not to worry, you can head home now. You're dismissed for today" I say plainly

"But sir..."

"Go Home Andrea" I say with finality as I walk into the elevator.

"Y..yes sir, Have a nice day sir" she stutters

"I'll try" I say as the elevator door closes. The girl worries too deeply about me of recent, if she keeps it up,I might have to swap her. Which will be a shame because she's the first one who hasn't made subtle advances at me.

Maybe I should consider a male assistant for a change but women are often more coordinated,I weigh my options in my mind momentarily distracting myself from the real issue at hand till the elevator dinged.

I step out of the elevator and walk through the half closed door of my Penthouse,my father does this on purpose the man loves to announce his arrival by any means possible.

I walk in, to an empty living room and make for my bedroom. Unsurprisingly Marco is standing casually beside the door. I give him a courteous nod,the man is the only person close to my father that i can stand,at least he doesn't follow my father blindly.

"Mimmo!" He exclaims the second he sees me by the door, he looks almost genuinely happy to see me but I'm not buying any of it,the Man does not come without trouble,so quickly I take in his appearance. He looks as calm and collected as always,an emotion passes through his eyes too fast for me to pin point.

I discreetly sniff the air,I discovered when I was ten that I could pick the scent of blood on a person or in a room no matter how well the scent is washed or masked. But Instead of blood the sweet,lush scent of raspberry hit my nose.

That's when I look behind him and notice something in my bed,morelike someone and without thinking I make for the bed,time and time again but my father seems determine to keep me from reaching the bed untill I hear what he has to say.

He offers to help me save the hotel which didn't come as too big a surprise, the Man has his nose perpetually stuck in my businesses despite my defiance towards him.

Part of me wants to accept his help,he owes me a great deal afterall but I dread the price I'd have to pay if I let him save the day,he already knows how much I value the place.

I evade everything he says, resolved not to accept his help even though I needed it badly. But my father has always been very persistent especially when he wants something.

"I know who wants your favourite hotel,he is a stealthy and vicious man Piccolo,he won't stop till he gets what he wants or destroys it if he can't have it. Did I mention he never works alone?" He says confirming my speculations. My father's tongue is full of deceit but I know for a fact that he doesn't bluff about things like this.

Much as I knew there would be repercussions and I'm going to hate them,I'd have to stomach them this once. How bad can it be anyway. He already knows I want nothing to do with his line of business.

"What's the catch?" I finally force the words out and immediately regret my decision upon seeing the smirk on his face.

(Present)

"Keep my sleeping beauty here by your side at all times and I will make the thorn in your flesh disappear"

he casually say patting her hair ever so gently. For the first time in a long time I am utterly loss for words,is he really giving me one of his numerous pets to look after while he goes about doing God knows what,I know his help always comes with a price but this is ridiculous even for him,no way in hell I'm agreeing to it.

He finally notes the look on my face and as though he reads my minds, he carefully stands up from the bed as if he is afraid of waking her.

"Piccolo relax,it's not what you think" he begins laughing heartily while approaching me. The man had lost his mind .

"Her name is Anika,her family owes me alot of money and she is my way of ensuring the debt is paid, a sort of collateral" he clarifies

"Because that is completely normal" I scof "Well its you so.."

"There is nothing normal about business Piccolo, but you already know this. You get brutal when the need be or you'd be cheated out of all you've worked for! Never let people perceive you as weak Piccolo!" He cuts me mid sentence with a hint of anger in his voice.

"You really expect me to believe she's purely business" I shake my head in disbelief. Both hands in his pocket he walks up to me till our foreheads are almost touching,he is too close for comfort so I step back.

"Much as we both hate to admit it, we need each others help. You keep the girl safe and healthy and I'll save your hotel. Its a win win if you ask me." My father states.

He's right,I do need his help but I can't help but feel like there is more to this offer.

"How long do I have to keep her?" I inquire

"Long enough for me to recover my money" he answers and I nearly run mad with frustration but I don't let my irritation show,he knows how much I hate sharing my private space for too long and God knows how long I'd have to do this. This isn't exactly as easy as I initially thought, well, I can attach a permanent bodyguard to her and keep her as far away from me as possible.

Yeah that could work, I think with a smile.

"Come to the living room son,I have one last thing to show you.

I follow him to the living room where Marco places a brown file with 'For Leonardo' written boldly on it in block letters on the center table.

My father hands me a sheet of paper from the file. "Sign if you agree" he simply says handing me a black pen.

I sit to read,it was an agreement. The terms and conditions are same as he mentioned. Then I read the last paragraph and look up at my father.

"Wherever I go she goes?! Isn't this ridiculous and a bit unrealistic? I can't possibly take her everywhere and still keep her safe" I lament

"You can and you will Mimmo,find a way" he says ever so calmly. I'm almost losing my mind at this point when the ever observant Marco hands me a glass of tequila. I thank him sincerely and down it in one gulp.

"Don't forget the last line" came my father's voice. I give him a confused look then bring the paper up to my eye level. I read the line same time my father whispers it dramatically.

Do not fall in love with the collateral.

"Never gonna happen,worry not" I confidently state before signing.