Leo leaned forward, resting his elbows lightly on the polished table. His voice stayed calm — too calm — the kind of tone that made everyone in the room uneasy.
"You've always taught me to read between the lines," he said to his uncle, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "So I did."
He slid another document across the table — one his assistant had handed him earlier that morning. It contained an alternate version of the contract… the real one, with accurate numbers and correct authorizations.
"This," Leo continued, tapping the paper, "is the legitimate file. The one I personally reviewed and sent to our legal team."
His uncle's smile slowly faded. The other board members shifted uncomfortably.
Leo stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. "Next time, uncle, make sure your people don't send me a copy of your fake draft by mistake."
There was a long silence before Leo added quietly, "I built this company with my own hands. Don't test how far I'll go to protect it."
Then, with that same unshakable composure, he walked out of the meeting room — leaving everyone stunned.
After his long, stressful meeting, Leo didn't heading back to the offices
Instead, he found himself driving straight to Daisy's apartment. He already knew she wasn't working that day — his assistant had mentioned it earlier when checking her filming schedule.
When Daisy opened the door, she was wearing a simple oversized sweater, her hair tied in a loose bun. She looked surprised to see him standing there.
"Leo?" she said softly. "What are you doing here?"
He leaned casually against the doorframe, a small smile curving his lips. "I wanted to see you. And… I needed to tell you something."
She stepped aside to let him in, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "What is it?"
He glanced around her cozy living room, then turned to face her. "I have to go on a business trip. It came up suddenly — I'll be gone for a week."
Daisy's smile faded. "A week?" she repeated quietly.
"Yeah," he nodded, watching her expression soften into something almost childlike — the kind of look that made him want to stay.
She looked down, playing with the sleeve of her sweater. "That's… kind of long," she mumbled.
Leo chuckled under his breath. "You don't want me to go, do you?"
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. "I didn't say that."
He leaned a little closer, his voice lowering. "Then what did you mean, Daisy?"
She froze, unable to answer. Her lips parted, but the words tangled in her throat.
He smiled again — a slow, knowing smile. "You have no idea what you do to me, do you?"
Her breath caught, and her heart thudded so loudly she was sure he could hear it. "Leo…" she whispered, taking a small step back.
Leo's voice dropped low, almost a whisper. "Tell me not to," he said, his gaze locked on hers.
Daisy's breath hitched, her heart racing so fast she could barely think. "Leo…" she whispered, but before she could say more, he closed the space between them and kissed her.
It wasn't gentle this time. It was deep, desperate — like he had been holding it in for far too long. Daisy's eyes widened in shock, and she tried to push him away, her hands pressing against his chest.
But he was too strong, his grip firm as he pulled her closer, refusing to let go.
Her thoughts scattered — the room felt too quiet, too close. His warmth, his scent, the pressure of his lips — it was all too much.