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Two

Amélia’s Point of View

My second day at LeonardoCorp began with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The warm reception from my first day and the unexpected encounter with Leonardo Hale were still fresh in my mind, motivating me to give my best. As soon as I arrived at the office, Laura handed me a list of tasks for the day, starting with organizing a stack of documents that needed to be taken to the conference room on the 20th floor, the CEO’s floor, which always left me breathless.

My heart raced at the possibility of seeing Leonardo again, but I took a deep breath and focused on maintaining my professional demeanor. While I organized the documents, Megan appeared at my desk with a curious smile. "Good morning, Amélia. Ready for another day of adventures?"

I smiled in response. "Always ready. And you?"

"Absolutely," she said, winking. "And don’t worry about Laura. She can be strict, but she’s a good mentor."

I thanked her for the tip and continued organizing the files. Megan helped me carry a stack to the copy room. While we waited for the copies to finish, she started talking about the company parties and what it was like to work here longer. I felt relieved to have someone friendly to help me adjust.

Back at my desk, I checked my task list again. There was a clear instruction to deliver the documents to Leonardo personally. I took a deep breath, grabbed the papers, and walked to the elevator, trying to keep calm. When the doors opened on the 20th floor, the sophisticated and efficient atmosphere enveloped me once again.

I walked to the conference room and knocked lightly before entering. "Excuse me, Mr. Hale. Laura asked me to deliver these documents."

Leonardo looked up from his computer and smiled. "Amélia, come in. And please, call me Leonardo."

I stepped inside and handed over the documents, trying to maintain my composure. "Here are the documents for today’s meeting."

"Thank you," he said, taking the papers. "How is your second day going so far?"

"It's going well. A bit hectic, but I'm adjusting," I replied, feeling a little more confident.

"I'm glad to hear that," he said, his eyes fixed on mine. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."

I thanked him and quickly left the room, feeling a mix of relief and excitement. I returned to my desk and finished my tasks before preparing to leave. As I walked down the hallway, Laura called out to me.

"Amélia, I need you to do one last thing before you go. Can you take these documents to the central filing? We need them organized for tomorrow."

I nodded and grabbed the documents, walking toward the central filing room. When I arrived, I started organizing the papers alphabetically. I was so focused that I almost didn’t notice when the door opened.

"Hi, Amélia," I heard a familiar voice behind me.

I turned around and found Leonardo standing there, watching me with a friendly smile. "Mr. Hale... I mean, Leonardo, how are you?"

"I'm good. How are the documents coming along?" he asked, stepping closer.

"I'm almost done," I replied, trying not to seem nervous.

"Great job," he said, leaning in to grab one of the files. "You're doing really well."

I thanked him, feeling my heart race at the compliment. As he passed by me, he leaned in slightly, our faces nearly touching. I could smell the woody and sophisticated scent of his cologne, and my heart raced even faster. The tension in the air was palpable, but he quickly stepped back, leaving me with a mix of excitement and confusion.

Leonardo’s Point of View

When I returned to the building after a brief meeting, I thought about how the day was going. My interactions with Amélia were a welcome distraction, especially considering the heavy conversation I knew I would have with my father.

I arrived at my office to find my father already sitting at my desk. I sighed inwardly, knowing the conversation wouldn't be pleasant. I sat down across from him, feeling like a visitor in my own office.

"What can I do for you?" I asked.

"You know why I'm here."

I sighed. "Is it about the women again?" It always was about the women. He couldn't stand that I was a popular guy.

"I don’t know why you take such pleasure in irritating me, Leonardo. But this isn't about me. It's about the company."

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "What I do in my personal life, and who I get involved with, has nothing to do with the company."

"No, you’re right," my father said, interlacing his fingers. "It's the fact that you have to appear in the tabloids every chance you get. You can't just act behind the scenes, can you? You have to let the world know you have a busy life."

I laughed at my father's choice of words. He rarely used strong language unless he was really upset.

"What’s so funny?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I just don’t see how this relates to the company."

"The board of directors is unhappy, Leonardo. They read the news too. And they are not pleased."

"Why don’t they mind their own business?" My father slammed his fist on my desk, causing papers to jump. "This isn’t a joke! I know you don’t care about this company. Maybe you like throwing it away at the first chance you get, but I’ve poured blood, sweat, and tears into leaving a legacy for you."

I clenched my jaw, feeling my anger rise in contrast to his. I was many things—a disappointment, irresponsible, a womanizer. But I cared about the company.

My father took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "Asking you to change doesn’t work. God knows I’ve talked to you about this a thousand times. So, I’m bringing in a PR consultant to get the company’s image back on track."

"You what?" I asked, surprised.

"You heard me." My father glanced at the door. As if he had everything timed, a woman entered. She was older but well-kept. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and her eyes were sharp.

"This is Brenda Foster," my father said. "This is her job."

Brenda nodded at me. "Nice to meet you, Leonardo. We'll work together while I help manage your public image."

"I don’t think that's necessary," I said.

"And I don’t care," my father shot back. "Brenda is here to keep you on the right track, so you don’t sink a company that I’ve worked thirty years to build. Investors are threatening to pull out, Leonardo. Two of them suggested looking for alternatives. This leaves the board nervous. Son, it’s your job to keep investors interested and the board happy. It’s time to court them instead of the women you seem to enjoy so much."

I squirmed. I wasn’t my father; he did business differently than I did. But just because I didn’t do things his way, and because I enjoyed life, didn’t mean I didn’t work hard. The company was as important to me as it was to him.

"What do I need to do?" I asked with a sigh. If he needed me to work with this woman to prove I took the company seriously, I would do it. No matter the cost.

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