Page 18 of Craving My Secret Billionaire Alpha

Despite the fact that I was grateful, Leon didn’t bring up our past meeting or the event surrounding it. I wasn’t interested in hanging out with him or giving him the opportunity to speak to me further. Otherwise, he was going to start asking me about my life and what I’d been up to. I wanted to keep things as simple as possible with him.

After declining his invitation to have better wine somewhere, I wanted to move away from this situation with him and possibly have the opportunity to change my shoes before someone else stopped me to talk.

“Errr… Leon, I’m quite busy, and I would like to get back to managing this event.”

“Oh, no problem at all. Please, return to your work.”

As he was turning to leave, Miguel, an art enthusiast looking to invest in some upcoming projects of mine, approached us.

“I see you two have met.” He said and Leon nodded. “She is the artist I was telling you about. One of the best in the field if you ask me,” Miguel said and I smiled at his compliment.

“Thank you. I’m grateful. I hope you’re having a great time.”

“I am, it’s really amazing,” Miguel said.

“Leon, Valentina and I have been speaking on a few projects. We are looking at ways to put a few art pieces on all the branches of my company. Recent studies have shown that art pieces make a place more inviting. It also makes people happy and if I want people to spend their money on me, the least I can do is make them happy.” Miguel said and we all laughed.

I noticed Leon looking at me while I was laughing.

“You have a point. I think this is a great idea. It wouldn’t be bad to have some art in the Pierce building and our smaller offices,” Leon said.

His interest was piqued, and he wanted to talk more about the project. I was desperately looking for an escape from this situation. Miguel was telling him more about the plans and it was only a matter of time before Leon asked me a question.

As if he heard my silent thoughts and prayers, James walked up to us and said hello to Leon and Miguel. After introducing himself to them, he whispered in my ears, telling me that the wine was running low again.

“Miguel, Leon,” I said, shaking both their hands. “I have something pressing to attend to but I’ll see you both soon.”

“Alright then. We are still around, looking at these wonderful works.” Miguel said as I walked away with James.

We went into my office and I gave him more money to get more wine. When he ran off to purchase the wine, I sighed and started taking off my black high-heeled shoes. They were one of the few expensive shoes I owned.

After taking them off, I put on a pair of comfy flat shoes I had in my drawer. My phone started ringing. Vivian was calling.

“Hey, Viv.”

“How are you? How is your exhibition going?”

“It’s so amazing. The turnout is massive and the sales are so high. It’s my best one yet,” I said excitedly.

“I’m so happy for you,” Vivian responded with a high pitch. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it. I’m so held up at work and I don’t even see myself leaving anytime soon.”

“It’s fine, Viv. It really is. I’m happy but there’s one thing though.”

“What is it?”

“Leon is here. I didn’t know he was friends with the man who had been talking to me about new projects. Now he is here and knows of it and is interested in putting in some money too,”

“Wow. What are you going to do?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I’m thinking of turning down his offer. Maybe telling him that I’m too busy to work on his own project.”

“Don’t do that. Remember all the financial targets you want to reach and all you wish to achieve. If you turn down business from someone as influential as Leon Pierce, word will spread, and you know when something like this spreads, some parts of the whole thing are changed. It won’t be a good look for your business, at least not now.”

I sighed. “What do I do then? If I accept to work with him, we’ll automatically see each other more often and he might find out about Ava.”

Vivian hesitated before she said, “Val, you realize that even if he didn’t do business with you, you would still eventually have to tell him about Ava.”

“Why would I?”

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