Page 13 of The Mogul: Leonard

“The one in the golden dress next to Silver.” I point at Roxanne.

“That’s her? Jesus, she’s grown up a lot since Raphael’s wedding.” Harrison’s mouth is hanging open in surprise.

“Look at those pigs drooling all over her,” Sienna points out with disgust.

I look past the two of them and see at least ten old farts undressing Roxanne with their eyes. They could be her grandfathers, for Pete’s sake! My gut clenches in an uncomfortable grip. She doesn’t deserve those filthy eyes on her. Nobody deserves to be treated like a piece of meat ready to be devoured.

“You look like you want to murder someone.”

I turn my gaze from the disgusting show toward Harrison, who has an amused grin on his face.

“Are you okay with the way they’re looking at her? She’s not a piece of cake to stuff into their filthy mouths,” I point out.

My friend frowns. “No, I’m not okay with that, but I don’t really want to smash someone’s face in just for looking at her,” he points out.

His statement unsettles me. I would do it because I know what thoughts are going through their minds at this exact moment. They’re the same thoughts that have crossed my mind time and time again, and I feel guilty about them. She is a guilty pleasure a forty-year-old shouldn’t indulge in.

“Well, I’ll kick their asses if they try anything funny,” I grumble.

“Who are we fighting?” Aaron joins us with Dakota at his side.

He is a famous producer in Hollywood, and his fiancé is one of the most promising actresses of our generation. He definitely gets what we are talking about. A lot of men hit on his woman without any restraint, and he is doing a damn good job at staying out of jail.

“The pigs that are fucking Roxanne with their eyes,” I point out, nodding toward the crowd.

“Jesus! She grew up,” Aaron blurts out.

“She is gorgeous in that dress,” Dakota adds, admiring her lean figure.

“Nobody is concerned about how they’re looking at her?” I ask, frustrated.

All eyes turn toward me, and I feel suddenly exposed. Why am I so upset about it? I mean, I saw her once four years ago. Just saw her? My conscience reminds me of my faults.

“Yes, but it’s not like we can cause a scene or gauge their eyes out,” Sienna points out, and my friends look at me with curiosity in their eyes.

I look like a fool. “Okay, whatever,” I grumble for the second time in a few minutes.

It’s going to be a very long night. I usually try to enjoy these events, but I’m not doing well right now. Every time I’m in the same room with that girl, I become a mess.

“I’m going to drink something at the bar,” I say stalking away without waiting for them.

I need to vanish for a few moments, before saying or doing something I’ll deeply regret. I make my way towards the bar, but my path is abruptly intercepted by Philip Sullivan. My mind, consumed with thoughts of Roxanne, had failed to register my surroundings. Now, it’s too late to evade him.

“Leonard Walton! You’re exactly the person I wanted to talk to tonight.” He chuckles and extends his hand.

His handshake is unyielding, a reflection of his unflinching demeanor. Philip is a tycoon with an iron grip on the most lucrative oil-related companies in the United States, and he’s a man of mystery. Speculations about his rise to power swirl wildly, but one thing is certain: crossing swords with him in a negotiation is a surefire way to end up on the losing side. He’s a master at reducing opponents to tears, always getting what he wants.

This is precisely why I should steer clear of him, especially when my mind is preoccupied with a certain blondie sporting pink-tipped hair. The last thing I need is to be drawn into a business discussion with him.

“How come? Are you thinking about changing businesses? Am I in trouble?” I smirk at him.

Whenever we meet, we always engage in a playful dance, carefully balancing between teasing and delving into the heart of our conversation. We never reveal our intentions too soon, as no one wants to be at a disadvantage to the other.

“Why? Is there anything interesting I should know? Are you branching out into my business…or, you know, some other area?” He raises a knowing brow.

He knows about HD Security. How the hell did he get this information? We kept everything under tight wraps. We haven’t even discussed proceeding with the acquisition because we’re still in the preliminary stage.

“I’m not going to involve myself in the oil business. Trust me, I don’t want to have to negotiate contracts with you.” I may have dodged the question, but I know he is not convinced.

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