CHAPTER 5

Leon’s POV

The sharp ring of my office phone sliced through the quiet. Without looking up from the papers in front of me, I reached for it.

"Yes?"

"It’s done," Davis said on the other end.

I didn’t need to ask for clarification. I knew what he meant.

"We’re moving forward?"

"Yes," Davis replied, his voice low but confident. "Everything’s in place. The new shipment arrives tomorrow."

I leaned back in my chair, fingers tapping the edge of the desk. "Good. Make sure everything stays clean. I don’t want any mistakes."

"Understood."

We ended the call, and I exhaled slowly, my gaze drifting to the window. The city sprawled out beneath me, a chaotic mix of ambition, desperation, and power, all of it mine to control.

But there was always something else lingering beneath the surface. The things I couldn't control. My mother’s incessant demands. The family legacy I had no choice but to uphold.

The weight of the Garcia name was a burden, one I’d learned to carry but never fully accepted. The company. The mafia. The expectations. It was all a cage.

I stood up and walked toward the window, watching the cars below, the flashing lights from the streetlights.

Andy.

Her confidence, the way she bluntly rejected my offer, the way she is not easily controlled. Different from the usual, not my style, yet somehow she made me feel something I hadn’t felt in years.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to shake the thought of her, but it wasn’t easy.

The door to my office opened, and Davis stepped in, holding a folder.

"You need to see this," he said, handing me the documents.

I took the folder from him, flipping through it as he stood by the door, waiting for my reaction.

I stood up and walked toward the window, watching the cars below, the flashing lights from the streetlights.

Andy.

Her confidence, the way she bluntly rejected my offer, the way she is not easily controlled. Different from the usual, not my style, yet somehow she made me feel something I hadn’t felt in years.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to shake the thought of her, but it wasn’t easy.

The door to my office opened, and Davis stepped in, holding a folder.

"You need to see this," he said, handing me the documents.

I took the folder from him, flipping through it as he stood by the door, waiting for my reaction.

"Everything checks out?" I asked.

Davis nodded. "It’s clean. But..."

"But?" I raised an eyebrow, already sensing there was more to it.

"There’s a new player in town," Davis said, his voice quieter now. "A rival. We’re not sure where they’re coming from, but they’re starting to make moves."

I glanced at him, the weight of my responsibilities sinking deeper.

"Keep me updated," I said, setting the folder down. "And make sure this doesn’t interfere with the shipment."

Davis nodded again before leaving the room.

I walked back to my desk and stared at the papers in front of me, but my mind wasn’t on business.

It was on Andy.

Just as he was about to leave, I stopped him.

"Davis."

He turned back, waiting.

"I need you to find out more about Andy," I said, my voice calm but firm. "Get close to her. Gain her trust."

Davis frowned slightly, but he didn’t question me. "You want me to become her friend?"

"Yes," I said. "I need to know who she really is. Where she came from. If she’s hiding something, anything."

Davis let out a small chuckle. "You’re really interested in this girl, huh?"

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.

Davis shook his head with a smirk. "Alright. I’ll see what I can do."

I nodded, watching as he left the office.

Once I was alone again, I leaned back in my chair, exhaling.

This wasn’t just about curiosity anymore.

Andy was a mystery I needed to solve.

And I always got what I wanted.

ANDY'S POV

I walked through the club’s back entrance, the dim neon lights flickered above me, casting shadows that danced along the walls. My shift was over, but my mind was still tangled in the events of the night.

Room 217.

I still couldn’t believe it.

Of all the clients Martin could have sent me to, it had to be him. Leon Garcia.

The audacity. The arrogance.

He thought he could summon me like I was just another one of his possessions. Like I would simply fall in line because he had money, power, and that damn smirk that lingered in my head longer than it should have.

I scoffed under my breath, running a hand through my hair as I sat in front of my locker.

He had no idea who he was dealing with.

I wasn’t just some woman he could buy and keep under his control. He could demand all he wanted, but I wasn’t the kind to be commanded.

Martin had warned me before about disrespecting certain clients, but this wasn’t about business anymore. This was personal.

My thoughts were interrupted when Lizzy, "You look like you want to kill someone," she teased as she plopped down beside me, chewing on a piece of gum.

"Not just anyone," I muttered. "Just a particular someone."

"Not just anyone," I muttered. "Just a particular someone."

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Must be one hell of a client."

I sighed, shaking my head. "He thinks he can control me."

Lizzy let out a laugh. "They all do, babe. That’s what men like."

"Yeah, well, this one’s worse," I replied, grabbing my bag.

I stood up, adjusting my dress before heading toward the door. The thought of Leon still lingered in my mind, but not in the way he probably expected.

He might have money, connections, and that dangerous edge to him.

But I wasn’t scared of him.

And if he thought he could control me, he was in for a rude awakening.

I pushed the door open and threw my bag onto the couch. Kicking off my heels, I let out a loud sigh. My head was still spinning from what had happened at the hotel.

Leon Garcia.

That cocky bastard really thought he could summon me like I was at his beck and call.

"You’re home early,"

"You’re back early," Sophie called from the kitchen.

I turned to see her standing by the fridge, eating a spoonful of ice cream. She wore an oversized T-shirt, her long hair tied up in a messy bun.

She took one look at me and frowned. "Uh-oh. What happened?"

I flopped onto the couch beside her. "You won’t believe it."

She handed me a spoon. "Try me."

I took a bite of ice cream, sighing. "Remember the shootout at the hotel?"

"Yeah… don’t tell me..."

"Yep. Him."

Her eyes widened. "Leon Garcia?"

I nodded.

"No way. What did he want?"

I scoffed. "He thinks he can order me around like I belong to him."

Sophie blinked. "And… what did you do?"

"I brushed him off," I said, crossing my arms. "Made it clear I don’t take orders from him."

She let out a low whistle. "Damn. You’ve got guts."

"He might be powerful, but he’s not untouchable," I said firmly. "I won’t let him control me."

Sophie studied me for a moment before smirking. "You know… I think you like messing with him."

I frowned. "What?"

"You totally did," she said, nudging me. "I bet he was all serious and brooding, and you just had to push his buttons."

I rolled my eyes. "He deserved it."

She laughed, then wagged a finger at me. "Still, Andy… be careful. Mafia bosses...if he is indeed one don’t take losing well."

I waved her off. "I can handle myself."

"Uh-huh," she said, licking her spoon. "That’s what they all say before things get messy."

I opened my mouth to argue, but… was she right?

I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that Leon Garcia was dangerous.

But the real question was… did I want to stay away, or did I want to see what happened if I got closer?

After lamenting, I stretched and stood up "I need to take a shower, I feel of cigar smoke and cheap whiskey"

Sophie wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, you do. Go, before our whole apartment smells like a nightclub."

I smirked and grabbed a towel, heading to the bathroom. Just as I reached the door, my phone buzzed.

Dad.

I already knew what this was about before I even opened the message.

Dad: Andy, send me some cash. It’s urgent.

I exhaled sharply, gripping the phone tighter. Of course, it was always urgent.

I typed back: How much?

A reply came almost instantly.

Dad: 100k. I’ll pay you back soon

I let out a dry laugh. Lies. He never paid me back. And a 100k? He wasn’t even trying to ask nicely anymore.

Sophie’s voice came from the couch. "What’s wrong?"

I clenched my jaw, locking my phone. "Nothing."

I’d deal with this later. Right now, I just wanted to wash away the stink of the night, and maybe the stress that came with it.