The night started with a casual walk through the streets of the coastal city, just before they reached the restaurant with the aquarium. Leander and Brianna strolled side by side, the breeze cool against their skin. The city lights sparkled along the waterfront, casting reflections over the calm sea. "Do you always have surprises planned, or is today special?" Brianna asked teasingly as they walked, her hands tucked into the sleeves of her light jacket. Leander grinned, adjusting his pace to stay in step with her. "Today is special, but I wanted to keep things simple at first." Brianna raised an eyebrow. "Simple, huh? You’re taking me to a fancy restaurant by the sea with dolphins swimming around. I don’t think you know what simple means." Leander chuckled. "Okay, you got me. But it’s all for a good reason." They made small talk as they walked past street vendors and musicians playing soft tunes for the evening crowd. Brianna seemed relaxed, her usual elegance showing in the
"Leander, you think you’re so much better now, don’t you?” Camila said, folding her arms as she leaned against the edge of the table. Her sharp eyes were locked on him, and her boyfriend, Rex, stood beside her with a smug expression. Leander tilted his head slightly, a small smile playing on his lips. “I don’t *think* I’m better. I just know I’ve worked hard to get here.” His tone was calm, deliberate. They were standing at an exclusive rooftop lounge, the perfect spot for the wealthy to mingle and flaunt their influence. The golden light from the setting sun made Camila’s features glow, but there was irritation on her face, hidden beneath a forced smile. Rex, dressed in a sharp, expensive suit, looked Leander up and down. “It’s funny seeing you like this. Back in the day, Camila told me you wouldn’t amount to much. Guess she wasn’t entirely wrong. I hear your position in the Goldstein family is still being questioned.” Leander’s smile didn’t falter, but his eyes grew sharper.
Leander picked the call and pressed the phone to his ear. “Dorian, what now?” His voice was clipped, irritation creeping in from the disruption. On the other end, there was a pause, followed by a heavy sigh that told Leander whatever Dorian was about to say wouldn’t sit well with him.“You’re not gonna like this,” Dorian finally muttered.Leander leaned against the bar, motioning for a whiskey neat. “I already don’t. Just spit it out.”Dorian’s voice dropped into a solemn tone. “It’s about Camila.”Leander stiffened, his jaw clenching. He’d already endured enough of Camila’s mind games tonight, and the thought of her entangling him in another problem made his head ache. “What about her?”“She betrayed me.” The words came bluntly, as if Dorian was struggling to keep his frustration in check. “Everything we built, every agreement—she’s been feeding our competitors information. My private dealings. My investments.”Leander’s fingers tightened around the phone, his drink arriving just in
Leander picked the call and pressed the phone to his ear. “Dorian, what now?” His voice was clipped, irritation creeping in from the disruption. On the other end, there was a pause, followed by a heavy sigh that told Leander whatever Dorian was about to say wouldn’t sit well with him. “You’re not gonna like this,” Dorian finally muttered. Leander leaned against the bar, motioning for a whiskey neat. “I already don’t. Just spit it out.” Dorian’s voice dropped into a solemn tone. “It’s about Camila.” Leander stiffened, his jaw clenching. He’d already endured enough of Camila’s mind games tonight, and the thought of her entangling him in another problem made his head ache. “What about her?” “She betrayed me.” The words came bluntly, as if Dorian was struggling to keep his frustration in check. “Everything we built, every agreement—she’s been feeding our competitors information. My private dealings. My investments.” Leander’s fingers tightened around the phone, his drink arriving
Leander stared at his phone, knowing Dorian’s request wasn’t going to be as simple as calling Yvonne. The line went silent after their last exchange, but the weight of the conversation lingered. His gut told him Dorian wouldn’t reach out unless there was something big involved—something more than just apologies and regrets. His phone buzzed again, and Leander glanced at the screen. Another message from Dorian, “I need to meet you. It’s important.”Leander sighed. With a reluctant shake of his head, he texted back, “Where?”Dorian’s reply was quick. “My place. 30 minutes.”---Thirty minutes later, Leander pulled up in front of Dorian’s penthouse, the skyline glittering in the background. He hated getting dragged into situations like this, but curiosity and the nagging feeling of unfinished business kept him moving forward. Dorian opened the door before Leander could knock, greeting him with an uneasy smile. “Come in. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”Leander stepped inside, the fami
As Leander pushed open the door to leave Dorian’s penthouse, his phone buzzed again. He knew who it was without even looking. He sighed, debating whether to pick up or let it ring out. After a second, irritation won, and he swiped the screen. “Leander,” Dorian’s voice was smooth, but there was a slight edge to it. “You’re walking away from the deal too quickly. You’ll regret it.” Leander chuckled bitterly, already halfway down the hall. “Do you think I’m stupid, Dorian? You were setting me up from the start.” Dorian’s silence on the other end gave Leander all the confirmation he needed. “You thought I wouldn’t figure it out, huh?” Leander said, lowering his voice. “I pull the job, get the money, and the moment the Sullivans start sniffing around, you throw me under the bus. Tell them it was my idea. That I was the mastermind.” “That’s not—” Dorian started, but Leander cut him off. “Save it. I know exactly how this works. You keep your hands clean, and I take the fall. Smar
Leander and Brianna sat side by side on the sofa, hands still intertwined, as they pieced together their plan. The air between them felt lighter now, not just because of the kiss but because they knew they had a path forward. Whatever Rex and Dorian were scheming, they wouldn’t go down without a fight.“We’ll need to time this perfectly,” Brianna said, her fingers gently tapping against Leander’s knuckles. “If we expose Rex and Dorian too early, they’ll wriggle out of it, and we’ll be the ones left in the fire.” Leander nodded, his mind sharpening with focus. “Yeah. We wait until they start their operation—whatever scam they’re running. That’s when we make our move. If we hit them mid-action, it’ll be harder for them to cover their tracks.” “And that’s when we go to the Sullivans,” Brianna added, her eyes narrowing in thought. “With enough evidence, they won’t be able to ignore us.” Leander tilted his head, considering the dangers. “What if Dorian figures out what we’re doing? O
At approximately 7:30 a.m., Leander Hawthorne and Camila dashed into the library, textbooks in hand, their minds set on the looming final exams.Although attractive and brilliant, Leander faced financial struggles while his peers enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. Despite their efforts to reduce social inequality, their resentment served as a reminder of his low status. They engaged in various behaviors, from gloating and monopolizing resources to making his path to success more challenging. He was belittled for his part-time job, mocked for his second-hand clothes, and excluded from expensive social events because they believed he didn't deserve special treatment.In the absence of any festive arrangements, murmurs and whispers, accompanied by background music boomed. Irritated, Leander and Camila glanced up from their books to see what was happening."Camila, come over here!" They heard their friends' voices echoing as one. Additionally, Leander couldn't help but wonder if those students w