Page 78 of Falling for Them

As I stepped into the hallway, lost in thought, I nearly collided with Libby.

“Hi. I was just coming to say good morning since you were gone before me and Ethan woke up.” She looked up at me with a smile, completely oblivious to the storm that was brewing around us.

I was tempted to tell her what was going on, but she was in such a good mood. Plus, I didn’t know the extent of things yet, and why ruin her day? The gossip website could have just posted the article for all I knew.

“Good morning.” I kissed her and forced a smile that I hoped she couldn’t see through. “I’ve got an urgent meeting with my father. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Her face fell slightly. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just some business stuff.” Either way, it would boil down to business, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

Before she could respond, I was already moving past her, heading for the elevators. I could practically feel her confused gaze on my back, but I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t risk her seeing the panic I was sure was written all over my face.

As I stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the lobby, I took a deep breath. Whatever fallout was coming from this article, I had to be ready.

Fifteen minutes later, my father’s executive assistant led me into his office where both he and my mother were waiting. Shit. This was bad.

Their faces were a mix of disappointment and anger. I’d seen this look before, but somehow, this time felt different. I was almost thirty, yet they made me feel like a wayward thirteen-year-old all over again.

I plopped down in the chair next to my mother, crossing my arms over my chest like a petulant teenager since that was how they were probably going to treat me. “What’s this about?”

“Leonardo.” My father’s voice held a warning, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Care to explain this?” He slid the same article Ryker had shown me across the desk.

“No.”

“No?” My mom’s voice was shrill. “This is scandalous! Two people, Leonardo? One is a man!”

“It’s not scandalous. We’re in a committed relationship with each other. Committed people kiss publicly.” My temper, which I usually kept in control, was rising to the surface, and I had to remind myself that blowing up at them wasn’t going to help matters.

My father pinched the bridge of his nose. “Leo, have you forgotten about the couple that blackmailed you? What if they resurface now? This kind of publicity is exactly what they’d capitalize on.”

I hadn’t thought about that. The memory of that nightmare made my stomach churn.

“And what about your future?” My mother chimed in. “How are you supposed to find a suitable wife and give us grandbabies when you’re gallivanting around like this?”

“Luca’s in a poly relationship,” I pointed out, frustration coloring my voice. “Why is it different for me?”

My mother’s face fell. “Don’t remind me. Your brother has already jeopardized his chances. We can’t have both of you throwing away your futures.”

“So, I’m held to a higher standard?” I scoffed. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”

“Watch your language,” my father warned. “Luca has made it clear he has no interest in running things. He also doesn’thave his indiscretions plastered all over the internet. You, on the other hand, seem to attract scandal like a magnet.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “What do you want from me? I can’t live in isolation because some idiots don’t understand the concept of privacy.”

“We want you to be responsible and to think about the consequences of your actions. You’re supposed to take over when I retire. No one is going to respect a man who-”

“Who loves two people? Who fucks men?” Since both of them were skirting around the major issue, I’d say it for them.

My mother leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with what I recognized as her ‘I have a solution’ look. “There is a way to fix this, Leo. You’ll marry Clara Accardo.”

Not this again.

If I had a dollar for every time my mother tried to get me and Luca to marry Clara, I’d be an independent billionaire.

“Mom, I’ve told you before, I’m not interested in Clara.”And she’s not interested in me… or men.“I’m not marrying someone to appease you or the press. I’m in a relationship with two people I care about deeply. Why can’t that be enough?”

My father slammed his hand on the desk. “Because it’s not! This isn’t just about you, Leo. It’s about our legacy. Every time you pull a stunt like this, it affects all of us.”

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