Page 143 of My Big, Fat, Secret Billionaire Baby

“No, Leo, you don’t understand!” Luca cuts me off, his voice rising. “This isn’t a PR thing anymore! This is… existential! They’re threatening to pull the plug! We needyou!The closer! The rainmaker! Not… not the guy playing house!”

The dig lands sharp and intentional. He knows exactly which buttons to push.

“I have… commitments here, Luca,” I say, my jaw tightening. I look at Sabrina again.

Her expression is carefully neutral.

“Commitments?” Luca scoffs. “Leo, this is Maxwell & Briggs we’re talking about! Our fucking empire! What’s more important than that?” He pauses, his voice dropping conspiratorially low. “Besides… a little fresh air might do you good. I’ve got the chopper prepped. Auger’s ready and waiting. Quick hop upstate. Clear your head. Then hit the office, full power. Like old times.”

Auger. The chopper. Upstate.

It’s not an emergency investor meeting after all. It’s code. Fucking code for wingsuit training.

Leo’s lying.

Manipulating.

Trying to lure me back into the game.

Rage fills me.

Luca.

You fucking deceitful bastard.

He refuses to accept that things have changed.

ThatI’vechanged.

Or at least, that I’m trying to.

But then… another thought begins to form.

A quick jump.

Just one.

Blow off some steam.

Clear my head.

Get that old familiar rush back.

The silence.

The control.

Then hit the office, truly focused, truly back in the game.

Maybe Luca’s right.

Maybe that’s exactly what I need.

What thefirmneeds.

Show them I’m not broken.

Not domesticated.

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