The bell rang.
Maddox turned to the class and gave a slight nod. "Alright, that'll be all for today"
Leo slipped his laptop into his bag and stood.
Felix didn't waste a second. "Listen, about Rivers…"
Leo raised a brow. "What about her?"
Felix sighed. "You… You should probably stop being so nice to her… It's obviously giving her ideas".
Leo slung his bag over his shoulders as they stepped into the hallway.
"So am I supposed to bully her or something?"
Felix sighed again rubbing his temple. "You know very well that's not what I mean. Just… avoid her as much as possible"
They turned the corner and nearly walked straight into Sebastian Hayes.
The student council president wasn't wearing his usual calm expression; his tie was tugged loose, and there was a faint crease between his brows.
"Perfect timing", Sebastian muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking at Leo "Of course I'd run into you today".
Felix tilted his head, "Well that's one way to greet people"
Sebastian exhaled through his nose. "Apologies it's just…"
His gaze wandered back to Leo. His eyes calculating. "Hey Ashford can you do me a favor?"
Felix raised a brow. "That doesn't sound ominous at all".
Sebastian ignored him, moving in between him and Felix and throwing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't happen to know if the Ashford Group would lend out one of their hotels, do you?"
Leo slid his hands into his pockets. "For what?"
"The Concord Summit. We're still stuck on a venue. Nothing fits, it's either always too small or too flashy or just in a completely bad area. An Ashford hotel would pretty much cover everything: Space, security. Reputation and since it's in a hotel the other schools could just stay there"
Felix let out a low whistle.
Sebastian gave a flat look before turning Leo. "Can you ask? Or at least… put in a word"
Leo didn't answer right away. Finally he said, "Hmm… we're mostly booked solid but I'll talk to my father".
"Good", Sebastian said quickly, already reaching for Felix's arm. "And you, you're coming with me. Finance needs to sign off this mess before the committee eats me alive".
Felix blinked, then scowled. "'Seriously? I was just trying to breathe fresh air for five minutes."
"You can breathe on the way", Sebastian muttered, dragging him down the hall.
Leo watched them go, Felix tossing him a helpless look over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner.
The rest of the day passed by in a blur.
It was 2pm when Leo got out of his last class for the day
He placed a call to his driver to come pick him up.
His driver showed up about 15 minutes later, with a 2025 Continental GT Speed Bentley.
Leo walked to the parking lot and got into the car.
"Where to sir?" the driver asked once he'd settled into the leather seat.
"Ashford Group Headquarters"
The Bentley rolled up to the private entrance of the Ashford Group's headquarters, the glass tower slicing into the skyline like it belonged there.
Leo slid out, hand shoved in his pockets as he made his way to the lobby.
The lobby was solely marble and glass, polished to shine.
Behind the front desk, the Ashford Logo gleamed in gold against a black stone.
"Mr. Ashford?" The receptionist blinked like she wasn't sure she was seeing right.
Leo didn't break his stride. "Is my father in?"
She fumbled at her keyboard. "He's in a board meeting right now. I can-"
"Don't bother". He was already walking towards the elevators.
By the time the doors slid open on the top floor, the mood had shifted.
Assistants glanced up from their screens as he passed.
At the end of the hall there was a mahogany double door.
Leo stood in front of the half-opened doors. He didn't bother knocking, he just pushed them wider and walked in.
The room stilled instantly. A dozen board members blinked at him like someone had dragged in a wild animal.
At the head of the table, Gabriel Ashford lowered his pen. His expression didn't change. "Leo"
Leo shoved his hands into his pockets. "Didn't mean to interrupt your PowerPoint party."
Gabriel leaned back in his chair, cutting off the discussion with a glance at the board. "We'll postpone this until tomorrow. Have the revised drafts on my desks by nine."
The directors and assistants began gathering their things, murmurs of acknowledgement filling the room. Once the last of them had filed out, Gabriel turned his eyes back to Leo and gestured to the seat closest to him.
"Sit".
Leo slipped into the seat, leaning back with an ease that didn't quite hide the tension in his shoulders.
Gabriel studied him for a moment, his fingers tapping against the table.
"You don't usually show up here unannounced."
Leo's mouth tugged in the faintest hint of a smirk. "Maybe I missed the place".
Gabriel didn't look amused. "Try again".
Leo exhaled slowly, meeting his father's gaze. "Alright, someone asked me for a favor".
Gabriel raised a brow. "Someone?"
"Sebastian Hayes", Leo said, tone even. "He's on the student council. They're scrambling to secure venue for the Concord Summit. He wanted to know if they could use one of our hotels".
Gabriel didn't answer immediately. He leaned back, adjusting his cufflinks as though weighing the words. "And what did you tell him?"
"That I'd ask you"
For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick but not hostile. Gabriel tapped a finger against the desk. "So you're making promises on behalf of the Group now?"
Leo's smirk faded, replaced with a flat look. "If I was making promises, I wouldn't be here asking, would I?"
That earned the faintest quirk of Gabriel's mouth, though his eyes stayed sharp. "Hm. Fair point"
Leo leaned forward slightly. "So? Yes or No?"
Gabriel finally looked back at him. "Yes. But I'll handle the arrangements. You tell Sebastian it'll be at one of our flagship hotels, and the details will flow through the proper channels".
Leo nodded, leaning back again. "Simple enough"
Gabriel's gaze lingered, searching his son's face. "You surprise me, Leo. I didn't think ypu cared enough to get involved in…Student Council politics".
Leo shrugged, lips curving faintly. "I don't. I just hate watching people run around like headless chickens when the solution's sitting in plain sight".
Gabriel let out a low sound, something between amusement and disbelief. "You're more like me than you want to admit".
Leo's smirk sharpened. "Or less".
Gabriel's gaze lingered on him a beat longer before he leaned back in his chair. "Have you eaten?"
Leo blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "What?"
"Lunch". Gabriel's tone stayed matter-of-fact, like he was asking about quarterly reports. "it's well past two.''
Leo shrugged. "I'll just grab something back at Ashbourne".
For a moment, Gabriel said nothing, just studying him with that unreadable look he always wore. Then, with the faintest sigh, he pressed a button on his desk phone.
"Have lunch sent up", he told his assistant on the other end. "For two"
Leo arched a brow, half standing. "You don't have to-"
"It's not about have to", Gabriel cut him off. "Sit back down, You might as well as eat before going anyways".
Leo hesitated, but his stomach betrayed him with a low growl. He sat back down without another word.
The food didn't take long. Within ten minutes, a knock sounded, and two trays were wheeled in.
Grilled chicken with roasted vegetables, rice on the side, and small bowls of steaming soup.
The assistant set it on the table, bowed slightly, and left them in silence.
Leo picked up his knife, twirling it between his fingers before finally cutting into the chicken.
"You don't usually eat with people during work".
Gabriel's expression didn't shift. "You're not people."
Leo smirked faintly at that, but it didn't reach his eyes. "That supposed to be comforting?"
"Just a fact." Gabriel cut into his food with mechanical precision. After a pause, he asked, "How are classes?"
"Fine"
"That's all?"
Leo looked up, fork halfway to his mouth. "What else do you want? A report?"
Gabriel didn't bite at the sarcasm. He just studied him, quiet, in that way that made it feel like he was dissecting his every word. "You'll need more than fine. Ashbourne isn't one of your numerous playgrounds''
"I noticed," Leo said dryly, leaning back in his chair. "Between the professors and the rumors, It's hard to miss."
Something flickered across Gabriel's face, interest maybe. But he didn't press.
Instead, he set his knife down and folded his hands together. "And friends? Anyone worthy knowing?"
Leo hesitated, then stabbed another piece of chicken. "One or two"
Gabriel's brow lifted slightly, but he let the vague answer stand.
They finished most of the meal in silence, the only sound was the clink of silverware against porcelain. When Gabriel finally spoke again, his tone was calm but strict.
"Next time, call before you come. I won't always have time to rearrange by day."
Leo set his fork down. "Noted"
When the plates were cleared, Gabriel leaned back in his chair. "I'll have my people contact the Academy directly. It'll be sorted out by tomorrow."
Leo stood, sliding his hands into his pockets. "That's all I needed"
Gabriel gave a short nod. "Stay safe."
Leo brows lifted faintly, but he didn't answer. He just turned and walked out of the boardroom, the door shutting behind him.
.....
Author's Note
Hey guys, it's Nyra thanks for reading up to this point. I really appreciate you guys.😘 Please do continue to read and leave your reviews and comments.
Bye for now👋