Page 81 of The Mogul: Leonard

“I didn’t lose my way, Oliver,” I say, rising to my feet. “I just kept going. And if you couldn’t keep up, that’s on you.”

He glares at me, his expression twisted with fury and bitterness. “You think you’re better than me? You think you’re some kind of saint?”

“No,” I say quietly, looking him straight in the eyes. “I just know who I am. And I know I didn’t betray everything we worked for.”

I turn away, feeling the weight of his betrayal lift from my chest. It’s over. Whatever friendship we once shared is gone now, and it’s not my fault. I came here to try to save something, anything at all, but there is nothing left for me to save.

As I step out of the visitor’s room, my lawyer follows silently, and I feel a strange sense of peace. I finally have clarity. There was nothing I could have done to save Oliver from himself.

It hurts to realize that the person I once trusted more than anyone else is gone, replaced by someone I don’t recognize, someone who’s chosen to view me as the enemy. But as painful as that realization is, it also brings relief and closure.

Walking out of the prison, I take a deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs. I’m leaving Oliver behind, leaving the betrayal and the anger and the bitterness in that cold, gray room. It’s time to move forward, to focus on what I can still protect, what I can still save.

As I get into the car, I catch a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror, and for the first time in a long time, I see someone who’s certain of his path, someone who knows where he’s going and why.

It’s a long road, but it doesn’t scare me.

34

Roxanne

I sit on Leonard’s couch, curled up beside him, both of us staring at the TV. The news blares in front of us, one headline after another scrolling across the screen, each one announcing a new name, a new arrest. The scope of the FBI’s operation is jaw-dropping, spreading across cities and companies all over the country. It originated with Oliver’s case, but the reach is far beyond anything I expected. Inside trading, stolen industry secrets, shady deals—all of it coming to light because of what Oliver had stashed on his computer. He’s such a narcissist, he didn’t think he could be caught so he kept everything in his possession.

We watch as the news anchor explains the latest updates, each name bigger than the last. A graph of Leonard’s companies appears, the stock price going up and down because of the unpredictability of this situation. Leonard’s hand is resting on the arm of the couch, his fingers drumming in a slow, steady rhythm, and through his calm expression, I can see the veil of worry behind his eyes. I place a hand on his arm, hoping it’ll reassure him and remind him he’s not alone in this.

He glances over at me with a small smile, though it’s tainted with a worry he doesn’t often show. “I know it’s just a waiting game now,” he says softly, his voice barely audible over the TV. “But it’s strange. Even though I did the right thing, helped them bring him in, I can’t shake this…uncertainty.”

I nod, understanding completely. “This kind of thing never has a clear outcome. People will believe what they want to believe, even if you’re on the right side. But the people who really matter—they know you’re not tied to any of this. You helped the FBI because you have nothing to hide.”

He shifts, turning his gaze back to the TV. The anchor has moved on to discuss market reactions, the stock prices fluctuating as more companies are implicated in the scandal. “I hope you’re right,” he murmurs, almost to himself. “But people are quick to doubt. They’ll see my name with his, and some of them will wonder. I’m just a billionaire wanting more money, in their eyes.”

I squeeze his arm. “They might wonder, but you’ve built something that’s more than just a name on the sign outside your building. People know you, they know your reputation. It’s not so fragile that it’ll just fall apart because of Oliver’s mistakes. Also, every honest person in your circle, every mogul not dealing in shady business practices, will respect you for this. You put your company on the line to do the right thing. That counts for something.”

He takes a deep breath, looking thoughtful, like he’s trying to weigh my words. There’s a hint of relief in his eyes, but the worry is still there. “Maybe,” he says finally. “But it’s hard to predict. The market, the board, the clients…all I can do is brace myself and deal with whatever comes next. Fix what I can, if there’s anything left to fix.”

Leonard’s always been like this: calculated, prepared with a solution. But I know that no matter how much he prepares, he feels the weight of what he’s built. Seeing it crumble would make anyone doubt the light at the end of the tunnel. Even someone as unshakable as him.

I rest my head on his shoulder, and he shifts, wrapping an arm around me. The news moves to a different story, but it doesn’t matter. The atmosphere in the room remains thick with the heaviness of it all. Leonard’s body is warm beside me, steady in a way that reassures me, even if I’m feeling some of that weight too.

“You’ll figure it out,” I say, my voice soft but certain. “Whatever comes of this, however the market reacts, you’ll handle it. You always do.”

He lets out a quiet chuckle, the corners of his mouth lifting just a little. “I wish I had your confidence in me.”

“Leonard,” I say, pulling back slightly to look him in the eyes. “You’ve gone through difficult times before and survived. Because you are a capable person. You think just anyone could build an empire like you have? Plus, you’re not alone this time; you have me, Raphael, and all your friends that have reached out in these few days. That’s not nothing.”

He nods, taking that in. “I know. It’s just…Oliver and I built this together. There was a time I trusted him more than anyone. And now that he’s gone, it feels like I’m watching pieces of the past crumble and disappear, things I thought would always be there.”

I sigh, understanding that feeling all too well. Losing someone you once depended on makes you feel like the ground is going to disappear under your feet any moment. “You’ll fill those holes with something new,” I tell him, lacing my fingers with his. “Something that’s just yours that you won’t have to see crumble again. You’ve already proven you can start from scratch and become anything you want. It’s the same now, only you just have to rebuild rather than starting from zero.”

He looks down at our hands, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in slow circles. “You’re right,” he says quietly, almost to himself. “This isn’t the end. It’s just one more challenge. One more project to focus on.”

“That’s exactly it,” I say, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “A challenge. And challenges don’t break you, Leonard. If anything, they make you stronger.”

He chuckles again, a little lighter this time. “How do you know exactly what I need to hear?”

“Well,” I say, leaning into him, “it helps that I believe every word. I admire you—for everything you have achieved and for the heart you hide behind those suits.”

He smiles at me and raises an eyebrow. “Even when you thought I was a heartless asshole?”

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