Page 25 of The Mogul: Leonard

Leonard Walton is the perfect devil’s package: gorgeous and tempting on the outside, savage villain on the inside. And I’m not going to make that mistake twice.

9

Leonard

“What the fuck do you want?”

I didn’t expect to come across this rude guy who thinks he’s entitled to insult me when I mustered the courage to go out tonight and potentially be humiliated. His conceited scowl looks straight out of the worst reality show. If he intended to intimidate me, he’s failing miserably.

I take my time to study him. He’s half my age, good looking and probably attractive for the girls his age, but I don’t even know where to start to approach someone like him. Even picking a fight over his rude behavior is embarrassingly easy. I have a hard time trying to hide a smile.

“Are you dumb? I asked what the fuck do you want,” he repeats when I try to peek over his shoulder and spot a bunch of guys playing video games. Am I even in the right place?

“I’m looking for Roxanne,” I say, bringing my gaze back to the rude boy.

“Well, she sure as fuck isn’t looking for you,” he spits.

I tilt my head, contemplating whether I would get into trouble if I physically remove him from the doorway. It probably isn’t worth the trouble. How can Roxanne live in a place like this?

“Are you going to call her, or do you want me to shout until one of your neighbors calls the cops?” My mouth kicks up in a smug smile.

The guy snorts. “Like anyone would do that. This isn’t your bougie neighborhood. Here, people shout all the time.”

“Should we try?”

He crosses his arms over his chest, challenging me.

“Fire! Please help! There’s a fire,” I shout loud enough for someone to hear me.

His pales. “Shut the fuck up, you idiot!” he whisper-shouts.

“So, are you going to call her?”

“What do you want from her? To end up in another magazine?”

So, this is his problem. He’s trying to defend Roxanne from the big bad guy who gets her in trouble. I didn’t know she was upset about that. She didn’t say anything about it, though she could have reached out through her sister.

“I don’t have to explain anything to you, but I’m feeling generous tonight. I don’t plan to get her in trouble, no,” I reply.

He scoffs again. What’s wrong with this guy? “Your name and the word generous in the same sentence is not even believable.”

Jesus, he’s annoying. “Should I start shouting again?” I smirk at him, just to be irritating too.

He doesn’t have time to reply because a mop of curly black hair peeks out behind his back. A stunning girl with flawless brown skin and two huge, sweet hazel eyes widen even more when she sees me.

“Are you looking for Roxanne?” she asks and rolls her eyes at the guy’s scowl.

“Yes, can you get her for me? I don’t want to come in and disrupt your evening.” I pull a charming smile to mess with the boy.

She lowers her gaze shyly, and the guy is utterly disgusted by the scene. Good.

“Like we would let you in at almost midnight,” he murmurs, and the girl punches him in the ribs before scurrying in.

It takes two long minutes where the blond guards the door like I’m the villain, and finally Roxanne strolls to the door. She has a bewildered look, and I can’t blame her. I would be surprised, too, if she showed up at my door at midnight.

“I need to talk to you,” I say when she comes out the door, leaving it open for everyone to see.

A couple of kids turn around and do a double-take, noticing me standing here like an idiot. I hadn’t thought about not having privacy when I came begging.

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