Page 40

Roxanne

I sit on Leonard’s couch, curled up beside him, both of us staring at the TV.

The news blares in front of us, one headline after another scrolling across the screen, each one announcing a new name, a new arrest. The scope of the FBI’s operation is jaw-dropping, spreading across cities and companies all over the country.

It originated with Oliver’s case, but the reach is far beyond anything I expected.

Inside trading, stolen industry secrets, shady deals—all of it coming to light because of what Oliver had stashed on his computer.

He’s such a narcissist, he didn’t think he could be caught so he kept everything in his possession.

We watch as the news anchor explains the latest updates, each name bigger than the last. A graph of Leonard’s companies appears, the stock price going up and down because of the unpredictability of this situation.

Leonard’s hand is resting on the arm of the couch, his fingers drumming in a slow, steady rhythm, and through his calm expression, I can see the veil of worry behind his eyes.

I place a hand on his arm, hoping it’ll reassure him and remind him he’s not alone in this.

He glances over at me with a small smile, though it’s tainted with a worry he doesn’t often show.

“I know it’s just a waiting game now,” he says softly, his voice barely audible over the TV.

“But it’s strange. Even though I did the right thing, helped them bring him in, I can’t shake this… uncertainty.”

I nod, understanding completely. “This kind of thing never has a clear outcome. People will believe what they want to believe, even if you’re on the right side. But the people who really matter—they know you’re not tied to any of this. You helped the FBI because you have nothing to hide.”

He shifts, turning his gaze back to the TV.

The anchor has moved on to discuss market reactions, the stock prices fluctuating as more companies are implicated in the scandal.

“I hope you’re right,” he murmurs, almost to himself.

“But people are quick to doubt. They’ll see my name with his, and some of them will wonder.

I’m just a billionaire wanting more money, in their eyes. ”

I squeeze his arm. “They might wonder, but you’ve built something that’s more than just a name on the sign outside your building.

People know you, they know your reputation.

It’s not so fragile that it’ll just fall apart because of Oliver’s mistakes.

Also, every honest person in your circle, every mogul not dealing in shady business practices, will respect you for this.

You put your company on the line to do the right thing. That counts for something.”

He takes a deep breath, looking thoughtful, like he’s trying to weigh my words.

There’s a hint of relief in his eyes, but the worry is still there.

“Maybe,” he says finally. “But it’s hard to predict.

The market, the board, the clients…all I can do is brace myself and deal with whatever comes next.

Fix what I can, if there’s anything left to fix. ”

Leonard’s always been like this: calculated, prepared with a solution. But I know that no matter how much he prepares, he feels the weight of what he’s built. Seeing it crumble would make anyone doubt the light at the end of the tunnel. Even someone as unshakable as him.

I rest my head on his shoulder, and he shifts, wrapping an arm around me.

The news moves to a different story, but it doesn’t matter.

The atmosphere in the room remains thick with the heaviness of it all.

Leonard’s body is warm beside me, steady in a way that reassures me, even if I’m feeling some of that weight too.

“You’ll figure it out,” I say, my voice soft but certain. “Whatever comes of this, however the market reacts, you’ll handle it. You always do.”

He lets out a quiet chuckle, the corners of his mouth lifting just a little. “I wish I had your confidence in me.”

“Leonard,” I say, pulling back slightly to look him in the eyes.

“You’ve gone through difficult times before and survived.

Because you are a capable person. You think just anyone could build an empire like you have?

Plus, you’re not alone this time; you have me, Raphael, and all your friends that have reached out in these few days. That’s not nothing.”

He nods, taking that in. “I know. It’s just…Oliver and I built this together. There was a time I trusted him more than anyone. And now that he’s gone, it feels like I’m watching pieces of the past crumble and disappear, things I thought would always be there.”

I sigh, understanding that feeling all too well.

Losing someone you once depended on makes you feel like the ground is going to disappear under your feet any moment.

“You’ll fill those holes with something new,” I tell him, lacing my fingers with his.

“Something that’s just yours that you won’t have to see crumble again.

You’ve already proven you can start from scratch and become anything you want.

It’s the same now, only you just have to rebuild rather than starting from zero. ”

He looks down at our hands, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in slow circles. “You’re right,” he says quietly, almost to himself. “This isn’t the end. It’s just one more challenge. One more project to focus on.”

“That’s exactly it,” I say, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “A challenge. And challenges don’t break you, Leonard. If anything, they make you stronger.”

He chuckles again, a little lighter this time. “How do you know exactly what I need to hear?”

“Well,” I say, leaning into him, “it helps that I believe every word. I admire you—for everything you have achieved and for the heart you hide behind those suits.”

He smiles at me and raises an eyebrow. “Even when you thought I was a heartless asshole?”

I look up into his eyes, and I hope he believes every single word I want to say.

“I was blind. I was so convinced I was right about everything that I didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt.

You’re right when you say I was just a kid at my sister’s wedding.

I wasn’t mature enough to understand the person right in front of me.

I believed the gossip about you without spending one minute to check if it was true.

I spent my days justifying my distrust in you instead of comprehending your reasons. I was wrong.”

He smiles and kisses my head. “I’m happy you came to your senses,” he whispers

“It was a long road, but I made it.” I chuckle.

We’re quiet for a long moment, letting my confession sink in. This is the first time I’ve ever admitted that I was wrong to someone else. I need to process this moment too.

“I’ll figure it out,” he says after a while as if trying to make sense of the thought in his mind. “If there’s fallout, if there’s anything to fix, I’ll do it. I won’t let his actions define what we’ve built.”

“That’s the spirit,” I say, smiling up at him. “This doesn’t define you. And no one who truly knows you would ever think otherwise.”

He nods, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit, and I feel a sense of relief settle over me too.

It’s strange, sitting here with him, watching his world all over the screen and Oliver’s betrayal casting shadows over everything he built.

But even with the weight of it all, I know he’ll come through.

He’s too strong, too smart, too determined to let this bury him.

We sit in silence for a while, just listening to the news, letting the storm of this day settle around us.

He leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, and for a moment, I close my eyes, letting myself just breathe him in.

In the quiet of his home, it dawns on me how this event will disrupt my life too.

I won’t be the same, and I can’t go back to my past life either.

I’ve discovered a new world, and I confess that I like it more than the one I was in before.

Even with its challenges, even if there isn’t a straight road ahead, I want to see where this path will take me.

When I open my eyes, I see him watching me, his gaze full of gratitude and something else, something unspoken but heavy with meaning. And in that moment, I know that no matter what comes next, we’ll face it together.

The news continues to buzz in the background, but it feels distant, belonging to another world. Right here, in this small bubble of peace and warmth, it’s just the two of us.