When the car pulled up in front of Star entertainment, Jasmine made to open the door but felt Leonardo suddenly grab hold of her hand.
Turning to face him, he had a warm look on his face as he moved closer.
“Have a nice day.” He said, softly, lifting his hand and running it through his hair.
Jasmine’s cheeks heated.
She had always been told about how ruthless he was. Though, it was too soon to judge, but so far, he hadn’t acted mean to her at all.
His gentle actions left her confused.
“Thank you.” Jasmine opened the door and walked away.
Leon stared at the building meaningfully.
***************
An hour later, the black Rolls-Royce carrying Leonardo stopped outside the Shallow Bay Private Club.
The exclusive establishment overlooked the sea, serving only the wealthiest figures in the city.
Leonardo stepped out as he walked towards the elevator, several attendants bowed respectfully.
*****
The VIP suite was already lively.
Sergio, Marcel, Victor, and several longtime friends sat around a circular mahogany table overlooking the ocean.
The moment Leonardo entered, Sergio burst into laughter.
“Oh man. Look at those dark circles.”Marcel nearly choked on his coffee. “You look terrible.”
Victor leaned back with a grin. “What happened?”
“Were you up all night doing it?! Must have been a wild night!”
Several others immediately joined in.
“I knew it!”
“Our workaholic CEO finally met someone he couldn’t resist.”
“Looks like married life is exhausting you already.”
“You’ve only been married for what? A day?”
The room erupted in laughter.
Leonardo calmly removed his suit jacket before taking his seat.He looked at Sergio.
“I heard your island development project is waiting for government approval.”
Sergio’s laughter abruptly stopped. “Yes?”
Leonardo nodded thoughtfully. “I happen to know the department reviewing those documents.”
Sergio suddenly felt an ominous chill.
Leonardo took a sip of tea. “I wonder if those approval papers accidentally stayed on someone’s desk for another six months...”
Sergio immediately stood. “I apologize. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have laughed.”
The others burst into even louder laughter.
Marcel nearly slapped the table. “Coward!”
Sergio glared at him. “You try having a billion-dollar project delayed!”
Leonardo finally allowed himself a faint smile. “That’s better.”
The atmosphere relaxed once more.
Marcel leaned forward curiously. “Jokes aside...do you really believe that old superstition?”
Leonardo looked at him. “What superstition?”
“The compatibility test, blah blah blah...then getting married to her would ward off misfortune.”
Everyone grew interested. The story had spread through every influential family.
Leonardo Madrigal had supposedly married the Gallo family’s daughter to counteract bad luck surrounding the Madrigal family.
No one knew whether it was true.
Marcel asked directly. So...Was it just family pressure? Or do you actually believe it?”
Leonardo didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he calmly picked up his teacup. “We’ve already registered our marriage.”
“So it’s official?”
Leonardo nodded once. “It is.”
Victor raised an eyebrow. “And? What’s she like?”
For the first time that morning, Leonardo smiled openly. The expression surprised everyone at the table.
“She’s beautiful.”
Marcel nodded. “Fair enough.”
Leonardo continued. “She’s like an angel.”
The smiles around the table faltered.
“So smart, so endearing...
Sergio blinked. “Are you talking about the same Maliyah Gallo we’ve heard of?”
Marcel looked utterly confused. “I thought the Gallo family’s eldest daughter was...” He searched for an appropriate word. “Flamboyant.”
Victor added carefully, “I heard she has quite the temper.”
“Didn’t someone say she chased a man across a banquet with a champagne bottle?”
Another friend nodded vigorously. “And she supposedly slapped an investor during Fashion Week.”
Leonardo looked at them as though they had collectively lost their minds. “My wife isn’t like that.”
The group exchanged bewildered looks.
Had they received incorrect information?
Or was Leonardo hopelessly biased already?
Marcel rubbed his chin. “I have to meet her.”
Leonardo’s answer came instantly. “No.”
“Why not?”
He glanced around the table. “You lots are so ugly. You’d frighten her.”
The room exploded.
Sergio pointed at himself in disbelief. “Ugly?I’m internationally handsome!”
Victor burst out laughing. “Did the great Leonardo Madrigal just call all of us ugly?”
Marcel covered his face dramatically. “I’ve known him twenty years. I’ve never been insulted this badly.”
Leonardo remained completely serious. “My wife is timid. She doesn’t like noisy people. So none of you are meeting her.”
Sergio sighed dramatically. “Marriage has changed him already. It really has.”
“The ice king became a protective husband overnight.”
Even Leonardo didn’t deny it.
Some things were worth protecting.
Especially Jasmine’s peace.
Sergio eventually waved dismissively. “Fine. We’ll wait. Oh...” He suddenly remembered something. “By the way, what did you send Gary to Barcelona for?”
Several people looked toward Leonardo.
Gary was also part of their friend group and was a doctor. He had been in Barcelona for quite a while on Leonardo’s orders.
Leonardo’s expression remained unreadable. “Taking care of some business.”
Marcel rolled his eyes. “That’s all you’re going to say?”
“Yes.”
The answer was final. No one bothered asking further.
If Leonardo chose not to explain, no amount of questioning would change his mind.
Sergio shrugged before bringing up another topic.
“Speaking of business...Dante Esteban has been making moves lately.”
Leonardo’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Oh?”
“I heard he wants to expand into Madrid.”
Marcel nodded. “I heard the same. And his first target is Star Entertainment.”
Leonardo’s fingers paused against his teacup.