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“What the hell did you do to her now?” Leonardo thundered as he approached him.

“I think you will find her reaction directly resulted from your arrival.” Emmanuel took great satisfaction in informing his brother.

It was worth it to see Leonardo’s anger deflate, to be replaced with a look of anguish.

His brother's attention switched to the young woman.

“Jasmine,” he greeted.

“No,” she replied.

Her reply seemed to confuse Leonardo. “Sorry?”

“Just no. Whatever you have to say, I don’t want to hear it. Stop calling and texting me. Whoever you are.” Jasmine stood. “Thank you again for being so gracious, Emmanuel and Ivy. Frank, it was nice seeing you again.”

They gave her a chorus of goodbyes. Without taking a glance or a word of acknowledgement to Leonardo or his guest, she left the room.

His brother tracked Jasmine’s movements until she closed the door behind her. Leonardo grimaced and shook his head. He seemed to take a moment with his thoughts. Then he turned back to Emmanuel.

“I hear you’ve been busy. Congratulations on becoming the major stockholder in my company.” Leonardo’s tone sounded borderline blasé, but his jaw ticked. The news was affecting him. Finding out the company which he had grown from the ground up could be taken from him at any moment should elicit an emotional reaction.

“Really, Leonardo?” The man he brought with him grumbled.

“What? I’m supposed to come here and pretend I don’t know what he did. Or better yet, beg for mercy. I will not tiptoe around him because I made a mistake.”

“Who is this?” Frank asked. Leave it to his friend to get to the point.

“Oh, this is Gordy. He is a friend. I figured I’d bring my own emotional support person as well.”

Gordy just rolled his eyes at Leonardo’s declaration. Frank introduced himself to Gordy. Then made introductions around the room, introducing him to Emmanuel and Ivy.

When everyone was seated, Leonardo asked, “what was Jasmine doing here? I thought I told you to leave her out of this.”

His tone and accusations ticked Emmanuel off. He’d promised Doc and Frank that he would exhibit some patience in an effort to get Leonardo to work with him. But Emmanuel was even more pissed at his brother than he was before.

“I don’t owe you answers. As for Jasmine, she wouldn’t be involved in this mess if you had just been honest with her. You are a fifty-year-old man pretending to be some stranger. Do you think this is a game? You played with her life and mine. Your actions have consequences.”

He could feel himself getting worked up. He couldn’t muster tolerance for Leonardo, even if that meant not getting answers for himself.

“Emmanuel,” Frank warned.

His expression pleaded with him to relax and take a step back. They had spoken about this.Fuck that shit.

“Just so you know, another by-product of your actions is I own you. Not only your company. I have the means to legally bankrupt you and take everything you possess. So, I would tread lightly if I were you. You’re starting at a deficit. I already don’t like you.”

Leonardo and Emmanuel locked eyes.

“Why am I here?” his brother asked.

Why indeed?He broke contact with Leonardo and his gaze clashed with Frank. His friend had laid out the pros of working with Leonardo on this. Besides, what was that saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?

“You are here because we have answers to find. It is best if we work together and get them.”

“Then what?” Leonardo challenged.

Emmanuel wasn’t in the headspace to negotiate with his brother. “All I can promise is a cease-fire while we figure this out.”

Leonardo didn’t answer right away. “I get that. Just tell me you didn’t do the same financial shit to Jasmine as you did to me.”

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