After Divorce, Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant
Chapter 87 Turning Point.

Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Turning Point.

“...With this, I think it’s safe to say the meeting has come to a conclusion?” Standing at the head of the meeting table, Leonica looked at each of the shareholder’s face which now held complete doubts towards Rodrigo’s words after she had tallied not only evidence of wrongful accusation concerning her personal life and private image, but also evidence of how much the company had risen in the last two months since she had taken over.

The scales were weighed, supposed bad against all the good she had done since taking seat, and as wise business individuals, they chose the right side of the scale. The side of the scale that ensured the Romero Empire continued to raise more than it already was.

With nods of agreements from each and every shareholders present, the meeting of presidency debate was brought to an end. Flashing them one last smile of professionalism, Leonica exited the conference room. As she walked out, Rodrigo nearly got slammed in the face by the opening doors. He staggered back just in time for the tips to grace his nose.

Leonica’s eyes narrowed at him as soon as she saw him and she scoffed when realizing that the snitch had been ease dropping, probably praying that the tables would be turned in his direction and she would lose her seat as president of Romero Empire.

Sadly it hadn’t gone that way.

“I don’t pay my employees to hang around and ease drop on executive level meetings, Rodrigo. So, would you mind telling me why you are here, ease dropping. Oh, and why you are at it, be a dear and explain to me why you turned in those photos to board members of my company.” Leonica questioned. With each word she said, she took a step towards Rodrigo, causing him to take a step of his own back as he scrambled his brain for an escape route, which he had failed to come up with earlier.

Why should he have bothered coming up with a backup plan when his plan was fail proof. Everything had been going perfectly, Leonica’s reputation was falling and falling fast and he took that opportunity to execute his ultimate plan, knowing that if it worked, he’d no longer have to work as a mere employee and refer to her as the boss.

But that was one thing he failed to consider. The word ‘IF’. His mentality at the start of his ‘master plan’ as he called it was that it was going to go throw. It was either he won it all nothing, that’s why he put his all in it and targeted the perfect moment.

So who would have told him that he would need a ‘back up plans’? Rodrigo would have laughed if it had not been him in this situation.

“Are you going to tell me the reason or would you rather I did?” Leonica asked after he had remained silent for quite a while, mind not being able to come up with an escape route.

It was all or nothing and all or nothing, had failed him.

“You hoped to bring me down, wasn’t that why?” She continued, shaking her head, not because her uncle’s plan was flawed in every way, but rather because he couldn’t even defend himself after being found out and now cowered like a complete coward.

Left to look speechless and back boneless. That was probably the one that pushed Leonica over the edge.

Getting into the business world, she had always been aware of the opponents she could face. The greedy ones, the backstabbing ones, the ones who played saint yet were more than ready to throw you under the bus the moment situation called for it. She knew all sorts of them, seen her fair share and had been left with trauma of equal level, during the reign of her father as president. Because of that, her guard had always and constantly been up, her mind expecting the worse type of opponents, yet here she was, faced with an uncle of hers who couldn’t even pull off a simple plan and now cowered like a total coward because his plan had failed.

Angering, but now that she thought of it, it was equally laughable.

“Leonica...” Rodrigo managed to speak after a while, but the rest of his words trailed off as his niece held up her hand, silencing him.

“I don’t even want to hear it. Up till this point I have tolerated your shit, Rodrigo because you are my uncle, my father’s brother. But it’s clear to me now that, that by doing so I was gradually digging my own grave. It was a huge mistake, one I would not repeat a second time. Clear your desk and visit HR for your severance package. You’re fired.”

Her words were so unexpected that it stunned Rodrigo long enough for her to walk past. Kennedy followed suit behind her. “Ms. Romero?”

“What is it?”

“I think there’s something you need to see.” The assistant said and watched as his employer looked over her shoulder, raising a questioning brow at his statement. At this, he handed the tablet he had been scrolling on, over to her before explaining in brief. “While the meeting was going on, Mr. Richardson and Lee made statements with the press concerning the recent rumors surrounding you.”

‘They did what?’ Leonica thought as she collected the tablet and read through the article Kennedy had been monitoring. For a few seconds, her brows knitted together and then they shot up in surprise upon realizing that it was just as Kennedy had said. Owen and Arvan had indeed made statements with the press and their separate interviews had gained more view than any of the articles laying allegations against her.

Taking a brief moment in the elevator, she read through each of their individual statements. By the time she was done, Leonica had bright pink tints on each side of her cheeks. The manner, at which both men had expressed their admiration and feelings for her in their full speeches, certainly wasn’t something she was expecting.

Arvan, well she could somewhat tell that the relationship between them had the vibe of more than friends. He had been exceptionally nice to her since day one and being the grown and very much aware of her surroundings, woman she is, Leonica had instantly suspected that it was love at first sight.

Stupid, she knows, after all, she’s not some heroine in some coming of age novel.

And believe of or not, she had been fine with that. She had thought of leading him on and gave subtle hints of rejection, praying that Arvan got it. But it was clear to her now that, he didn’t and if he did, he still went forth to make his feelings known, worldwide.

Now Arvan aside, Owen... Owen was another case that Leonica did not phantom. Heck, they had just met like a week ago. Could love at first sight really exist?

However, it was safe to say their speeches had done more good than harm for her, because the public opinion seems to have taken a turn for the better after their speeches and the pressure became less.

Leonica didn’t want to be a total dick that would come off as unappreciative and made a mental not to send texts of gratitude to each of them when she had the chance and perhaps set things straight with their feelings.

Each of them were wonderful men and had she met either of them before Gabriel then she was sure her story would have been different, but like she told her mother, right now, she wasn’t really looking for romance.

After reading some of the articles carrying Owen and Arvan’s speeches, Leonica caught herself scrolling some more, mindlessly looking for something... another person’s speech that she had expected to see alongside the other two.

Gabriel’s speech.

As soon as the thought passed her mind, Leonica switched the screen of Kennedy’s tablet shut and handed it back to him, scolding herself for even having such a thought.

What happened to being done with Gabriel? She questioned, sinking into her seat with a loud sigh the moment she returned to her office.

God, Gabriel was really doing more damage to her than good, she thought, wanting nothing more than to be done with the said man this very moment, but realizing that the moment she does that, Ashley would be affected.

She groaned in frustration.

“Ms. Romero,”

“What is it this time around, Kennedy?”

“Doctor Bailey also called while you were in the meeting,” Her eyes snapped open at his words. “He requested I pass on the message that the procedure for the IVF matching would begin today and would appreciate if you could make it.”

Ah, she had almost forgotten she had to prepare for something like that. But then again, with everything going on, she really didn’t want to have to meet or even see Gabriel. Not even an apology from him could change that. But as much as she wanted that, remembering that Ashley’s fate rode on her cooperation, sealed the entire deal.

“So, can you?” Kennedy asked when her silence dragged on.

Sighing out in defeat, she answered. “Do I have a choice?”

~*~

Arriving at the hospital, the first person Leonica ran into was the very same man she had wanted to avoid. Her expression became sour and Gabriel did not fail to notice and he knew it was because of everything that was happening.

Their bitter past and complicated present. Even he understood, because over the past few days he had thought over his past actions and realized that if he had been in her shoes, he would have reacted the exact same way.

With the intent to apologize for whatever he could, Gabriel stepped forward. “Leonica...” He began but the rest of his words trailed off by the sound of Doctor Bailey’s approaching footsteps.

“Ms. Romero and Mr. Bryce, I’m so glad you could both make it. Please follow me.” He said and began leading them in the direction of their examination room. “Everything’s been set up, so all you both need to do is just sit back and allow my teams do their job. Rest assures; you’re both in good hands.”

Leonica forced a smile. “I trust you, Doctor.”

“Pleased to hear that. Now please,” He pointed towards one door and then towards another. “You go in there and Mr. Bryce, you in there.”

Leonica nodded her head. She glanced in Gabriel’s direction one last time before walking into the room Doctor Bailey had told her to enter. The next few minutes were all about medical test, blood being drawn and several more things down that line.

When the test concluded, she was lead to a room where Gabriel and Doctor Bailey were waiting for her. As she walked in, she glanced in Gabriel’s direction once more and cursed the fact that she couldn’t go a freaking second without looking in his direction, while one of the nurses who had handled her testing walked up to the doctor and whispered a few words in his ear, showing him what she believed was the chart of her result.

“Is everything alright?” Gabriel beat her to the punch before she could question.

“Of course, but it seems like the results would have to be delayed for a while. I apologize.”

Delayed result? Sounded like bad news, but Leonica hoped not. “It’s alright. Can we take our leave now?”

“Yes, if you wish to.”

Leonica smiled at his words and bade him goodbye, turning on her heels the very next second and walking out of the room. Gabriel, after bidding Bailey goodbye, quickly rushed after her, catching up to her just in the nick of time as she stepped out of the hospital.

“Leonica wait.” He said and grabbed onto her arm, bringing her walk to a halt.

“What do you want Gabriel? Don’t you think you’ve done enough already?” She asked, not bothering to hide her bitterness towards the entire situation.

“I know. I’m bitterly aware of what I did, and,” He paused and took a second to collect his words, swallowing and gathering the courage before he continued. “And I’m sorry. For the past and my actions during Ashley’s party. The kiss I mean, but I don’t regret it. Ki-”

Kissing you. I don’t regret kissing you; at least that was what the last of his words were meant to be before sudden fleets of journalists and Press reporters stormed the scene by surprise, Cameras and microphones ready at will.

“Ms. Romero, is it true that you are behind the cancellation of Mr. Bryce and Ms. Fernandez’s engagement?” The first reporter asked as they closed in around Gabriel and Leonica.

“Mr. Bryce is it true that you are intimately involved with Ms. Romero?”

“Ms. Romero you just stepped out of the hospital with Mr. Bryce, are you by any chance pregnant? Is that how you forced Mr. Bryce to end his relationship with his long time fiancée?”

“Mr. Bryce, rumors have been speculating that you are being blackmailed by Ms. Romero because she may potentially be carrying your child, is this true?”

As they pushed on with their questions, each person having a different question than the previous person, backed by ridiculous rumors and assumption, Leonica finally snapped. She could no longer listen to their ridiculous way of thinking and if it was an explanation they so craved, then she was going to give it to them.

However, just as she made up her mind to do so, Gabriel stepped in front of her, shielding her any further from the press and their blinding work tools. “Leonica won’t be answering any of your questions because all and every question asked here today would be answered by me and me alone. So don’t bother wasting your time.”

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