Page 79 of The Mogul: Leonard

Silver tilts her head, her gaze softening as she thinks about my words. “You weren’t doing anything criminal. You were exposing corruption and hacking for good. It’s not like you were profiting or hurting people. You’re a white hat, that should count for something.”

She’s trying to be supportive, make me focus on the positive, but still, the feeling of dread is nagging me.

“That might be true, but it doesn’t matter to the FBI, does it?” I ask because the anxiety I’m trying to reign in is eating me alive. “I’m a hacker, and if they’re looking for a reason to accuse me of something, they could find it. Now that I’m neck-deep in this mess with Leonard and Oliver, all they need is an excuse to take me in. They could easily build a case, even if there’s nothing there.”

Silver leans forward, reaching across the coffee table to squeeze my hand. “Roxanne, listen. You’ve got Leonard and Raphael. Do you honestly think either of them would let the FBI come after you? They both have too much power and influence to let that happen. And Raphael didn’t choose Agent Harris by accident. He trusts him.”

I shake my head, releasing a shaky sigh. “I know they’d try to protect me, but you don’t understand. If the FBI decides to dig deeper, they have all the authority they need to do it. Even if Harris is on our side, they could still decide to seize me for questioning. The minute they start looking into my past, it could be over. They can twist anything I did to sound criminal.”

Silver’s eyes soften, her grip on my hand firm. “Roxanne, you’re safe. I know that you don’t believe me, but I trust Raphael when he says that Harris will keep your name out of it. They arrested Oliver a week ago and your name never came up, even though you worked with Leonard to get him behind bars. Not even to praise you for the outstanding job you did. Do you think that’s a coincidence? That somehow everyone overlooked your part in it? And let’s be honest, Leonard would never let that happen. You’ve seen how much he cares about you. Don’t you think he’d do anything to keep you out of harm’s way?”

A faint smile tugs at my lips despite the weight in my chest. She’s right. Leonard has proven that he cares, that he’s willing to go above and beyond to keep me safe, to shield me from the worst of this mess. He’s stood up for me in ways I never expected—even when he has every right to be completely devastated by the turn of events. He’s always thinking about me and my wellbeing.

“He’s done so much for me,” I murmur. “Even when his life is crumbling, and his situation is worse than mine.”

Silver’s lips curve into a smile. “Of course he does. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but that man looks at you like you’re the only person in the room. He’d walk through fire for you.”

Her words hit me like a punch, and I’m overwhelmed by the implications. I know Leonard cares, but hearing it out loud from someone else makes me realize just how strong his feelings are. It’s easy to forget, sometimes, in the craziness of these days. But Silver is right; Leonard has shown his protectiveness, his attempt to keep the worst away from me. The realization grounds me, bringing a sense of calm I haven’t felt in days.

“You really think so?” I ask to have some sort of confirmation.

She raises an eyebrow. “I’m sure of it. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since all this started. And Raphael? He may be this big shot in politics, but he’s just as protective of you. You’ve got two powerful men who won’t let the FBI lay a finger on you, not without putting up a hell of a fight.”

I sigh, sinking back into the couch, letting her words wrap my heart like a comforting blanket. “I want to believe that. But you know me by now. I can’t just sit here and let other people protect me. I’m not used to other people fighting my battles.”

Silver laughs softly, shaking her head. “That’s the problem with you, Roxanne. You’re so fiercely independent, but sometimes, it’s okay to accept help. Leonard and Raphael—they’re not just random people. They’re people who care about you. And to be honest, they’re a lot scarier to go up against than you are.”

A laugh slips out before I can stop it, a little burst of relief breaking through the tension. “That’s probably true,” I admit. “Raphael can be terrifying when he’s protecting someone he cares about. And Leonard…well, he’s ruthless when he needs to be. And my pink hair doesn’t help.”

Silver nods, her gaze softening. “They wouldn’t just protect you out of duty. They’re doing it because you mean something to them. Especially to Leonard.”

A warmth rises on my cheeks. I’m not blind to Leonard’s feelings, or at least to the way he looks at me sometimes, like he’s seeing past every wall I’ve built around myself. And I can’t deny that I feel the same too, something I haven’t felt for anyone else before. But I’m scared the timing is wrong—with all this betrayal, secrets, and danger.

But maybe I can trust him with this, let him guide me for once. It’s scary but, at the same time, reassuring. I’ve always felt alone, battling the entire world, but now, for the first time in my life, I can trust other people.

“How did you do it?” I ask, struggling to put my thoughts into words. “How did you trust Raphael so completely with your life? Weren’t you scared?”

Silver gives me a small smile. “I was terrified, but I had no other choice. I tried to push him away, to run far from him, but he gave me every reason to stay. He showed me I was safe with him. And looking back now, I can see that I was safer with him than all by myself.”

I nod, and a smile tugs at my lips. “Is this one of those moments where I look back and realize that it was all in my head and I should have been calm and collected?”

Silver leans back, watching me with a bit of amusement in her eyes. “Well, it’s normal to feel scared. I would worry if you weren’t, but you have to trust people who tell you everything will be fine. Because they can see the situation from the outside and think logically without fear interfering with their thoughts.”

I take a deep breath, letting her words sink in. She’s right. Leonard has shown that he’s willing to fight for me and protect me even when it means putting himself at risk. These are not empty words; he actually kept my name out of this situation. And maybe I can allow myself to rely on him. I’m not facing this alone after all.

“So,” Silver continues, her tone brightening, “are you going to keep denying you two are a couple? Because I don’t believe it’s just casual.”

The question hangs in the air for a moment, but in the end, everything seems so clear. How didn’t I notice this before? Am I so blinded by what is happening that I can’t see past my nose?

“I think,” I say slowly, meeting her gaze, “we are definitely a couple. I can see myself in it for the long run with this one.” I’ve never felt so confident in my entire life.

Silver’s smile widens. “I’m so happy for you two. I can’t wait to plan the wedding!”

I bark out a laugh. “Well, now, don’t rush things. I said I’m in it for the long run, not the white dress.”

“It doesn’t have to be white!” She winks at me, and I smile.

I can see the happiness in her eyes, and I don’t want to ruin it for her. She had a rough life; I can let her dream for a bit if it makes her happy. I never thought I would get married, but I also never thought I would fall in love. In the last few months, I’ve discovered that I misjudged a lot of things in my life—and a lot of people too. I had a one-track mind, convinced I knew everything, that I already had everything figured out. I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. But the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and I think I’m on the right track for that.

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