Paint Me Saved ✓ Book 1

22. The inevitable truth

A few hours ago

Leonardo

I was in the office by six-thirty a.m. Perched in my seat, I scanned my calendar. My schedule was filled with meetings, none of which I had any idea about. I kept harboring a nagging voice in my head, bullying me to confess my disinterest in the company affairs.

Though Antonio's grasp over company matters always came to my rescue, I could never focus on understanding the affairs myself. My mind kept wandering to places and people; one in particular, whenever he rambled about contracts and clients. 

Business enthusiast Antonio carried an affinity for brutal decisions that I hated being part of.

I always regretted my escape from Sofia's reality. My decision led Antonio to stay back. It sucked him into being my replacement. While I assumed he did everything to appease Dad, witnessing Antonio under the light of the Ford deal, it appeared he enjoyed playing the part too.

With an earlier boost of caffeine activating my systems, I geared up for yet another day of faking it.

Around mid-morning, Antonio appeared at my doorstep, leaning against the frame. "I see you're all brightly beautiful today!"

"You must have me confused with Dad. All I'm is brightly bored."

"Ready for this?" He walked in, handing me some color-coded files.

With the Ford merger dates closing in, we had uncountable meetings with their attorneys that Antonio managed alone. However, the one scheduled for today was different. 

Dave Ford was an attendee in the final round of negotiations.

"Yes, I'm ready." An unsettled sigh released from my chest.

"It's your future father-in-law. So be very careful what you say."

Although Antonio knew about the arrangement and its duration with Zemira, he wouldn't let an opportunity pass when he had the upper hand in mocking me.

"I don't have to worry, Anto. Remember, it's not me who pulled a sex stunt." My jab rattled him. His eyebrows bridged, narrowing his eyes for a counter.

"You know..." He began.

"We don't have time, little one," I said, dragging him out by his elbow. "Can't wait to see Grant's reaction, seeing you again."

After a few hours of grueling interaction where all I could do was admire Mr. Ford's way of negotiation, Antonio and I walked back into my office.

"We can't let Grant Ford have the upper hand?" Fuming, my brother fell into a chair, untangling his tie. "Who does he think he is?"

I stood next to him, leaning over. "To be fair, the man's only asking for the same amount of publicity for his company as much as we are getting."

"But I'm the one who came up with the plan and Zem agreed. So why is he getting equal rights to it?"

Antonio's fists tightened around the armrest, turning pale. With the markings of a heartless being, Antonio sat still, eying the ceiling.

"Zemira is also part of this deal, just like me," I said, rubbing over his stooped shoulder. "So the Fords asking for the same kind of publicity shouldn't come as a surprise."

"You're taking their side, Leo?" Antonio tossed the chair backwards, walking in circles around the table. "This was my plan. Not Grant's or Zemira Ford's. Mine."

Even though he stood at a distance from me, the blood rush on his bronze-tinted face was evident. He wanted everything for the Brentons', unwilling to share anything more than scraps.