After Divorce, Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant-Chapter 36 An Open Challenge.

"Who the fuck does he honestly think he is?!"

Brimming from head to toe with anger, Leonica stormed into her office. Behind her, Kennedy, the giver of bad news followed. Although he made sure to put as much distance between as possible, not wanting to be within reaching range when his boss finally blew the remaining of her fuse.

"Ms. Romero, please calm down." He advised, voice low and tentative in the event that Leonica took actual offense to his suggestion.

And she did.

Shooting a sharp glare at him as soon as she sat down, she questioned. "Why should I? That fucker is obviously challenging me just to get on my nerves." She spat. Kennedy winced at her choice of language, although a grown as man, he still chose to speak in a more subtle manner compared to his boss.

"I understand your anger, Ms. Romero," Closing the small space between himself and the table, Kennedy gently aligned all the documents he had been carrying in his arms ever since stepping into the company this morning, with great hopes that Leonica would actually tend to them. "But once you’ve calmed down, and viewed the situation from a perspective standstill, you’ll realize that Mr. Bryce didn’t in fact do anything wrong."

Leonica glared at him once more, but ignoring, or better yet, choosing not to let the cold, murderous glare get the better of him, the assistant continued. "The position of the president of Norway’s business Chamber is a very sought after one, and even though as of current, that position belongs to you, it does not stop anyone influential enough from challenging you."

Sighing, he folded his hand behind his back and concluded. "This may seem impudent of me, but I must say, from my point of view, it seems to me like this is more of a personal matter rather than a business one."

Leonica’s eyes twitched at his words. She looked up at him, and although the glare on her face had disappeared, she still looked angered by the words of her assistant. Made concrete sense, after all, what type of assistant admitted that her challenger has done nothing wrong.

“Kennedy?”

Hearing his name from her voice which now sounded like she was indeed about to snap at him, the assistant answered with a sigh. “Yes Ms. Romero,”

Smiling, but one that not quite reach her eyes, Leonica gently pushed the aligned heap of files on her table towards him. “Take care of this, would you?”

No doubt, this was his punishment for running his mouth and upsetting someone who was already upset to begin with.

Hanging his head and sighing yet again, something he had come to do a number of times since becoming Leonica’s personal assistant, Kennedy reached for the files, returning them to his arms.

“Sure thing, Ms. Romero.” Bowing he turned around, attempting to exit the office when Leonica’s voice stopped him.

“Oh, and Kennedy?” With the same smile still on her lips, she all but kindly requested. “Send the legal team up to me office immediately.”

“Of course, Ms. Romero.”

And with that, the assistant finally exited the office, grumbling inwardly at the fate his unfiltered mouth had landed him in.

Meanwhile, the smile which had been on Leonica’s lips, evil or not, completely faded as she looked at the brown envelope on her table. It was the letter of challenge Gabriel had sent officially from his office.

Just seeing the piece of paper reminded her of his smug, but admittedly handsome face.

Her blood boiled, a hundred degree if possible.

“Fucking...” She stopped herself before yet another string of cursed could escape her lips.

Reaching into her drawer, she pulled out a hair band and pulled her hair into a messy pony tail and at one, relaxes her body into the chair.

Talk about tense. She sighed.

Who would have told her that a time would come when she’d be stressing so much over a simple letter from Gabriel.

She’d be lying if she said she had never anticipated to encounter Gabriel on the business field, she was already more prepared for that fate upon returning to Norway as the president of her father’s company.

However, this encounter, despite their many unsightly ones, was far from what she had expected.

She had never, ever expected the man to challenge her, her! Out of all the people he could have picked.

The action was almost laughable. Sure Gabriel was known as the prodigy of the business world, shouldering the responsibilities of young master Of Bryce Empire at a young age and making waves, Leonica was equally as powerful, after all, not only was she the current president of Norway’s business chambers- having contributed and produced several useful inventions and products to advance the business market forward- she also had the identity of Tyche Smith, Colorado’s business Queen, as a backing.

It was safe to say that they were evenly marched and if she was to accept the open challenge and move along with his schemes, then their war would go on for weeks, months even, after all, the war would only end when the company with smaller market value concedes.

If it was a war like that Gabriel wanted, then she’d be more than happy to give him one like that.

“Ms. Romero,” The head of the legal team gently knocked on the door, opening it and stepping in as soon as Leonica permitted. “You called, Ms.?”

Entwining her fingers and leaning forward, her previous smile came back to Leonica’s face. “Yes I did. There’s something I need to do that only you can handle.”

“Of course Ms. Romero. What are your orders?”

*~*

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Lloyd swore as he stepped, no, practically barged his way into Gabriel’s office, Bill hastily trailing behind him to stop him, but later giving up and walking away. “Gabriel, man what are you doing?” Facing the Noirette working behind his desk, he questioned.

A few seconds passed before Gabriel dropped his pen, took his medicated glasses off and finally faced his friend.

“It’s rude of you not to knock, Lloyd,” Gabriel reminded.

“Fuck knocking, are you aware of how much products in the market is skyrocketing?”

It had been a few days since Gabriel had sent the open challenge to Leonica and she, well, she responded by buying out the piece of Land Bryce Empire had been struggling to get for the past six month. After that, it was challenge accepted. Gabriel went ahead and fought back, releasing the latest product of his company and leaving her company’s revenue in the dust.

Leonica’s clap back to that action was anything but subtle. She had bought a major distribution center building and began preparations to launch a new shopping mall.

No big deal, one would have thought, except her new shopping mall, was less than a block away from Gabriel’s own, inevitably drawing customers away and decreasing half of their sales.

After that, she, or rather her assistant Kennedy Brooks, had more or less released a statement, publicly accepting his challenge.

And the game had continued, neither backing down. And in a matter of days, it had become a menace to society as each move their company caused, resulted in the sky rise of the market.

But either of them cared.

“You don’t look worried,” Lloyd stated, walking around Gabriel’s desk and seating on the edge. “You’re not worried?”

“I’m not,” Gabriel confirmed, pushing the papers in front of him away. He stood up, taking a glance at his watch, and then the window. The sky outside was dark and rain was pelting against the windows, not hard enough to cause a storm, but hard enough to keep someone like Gabriel, who had an important meeting to attend, stuck inside the building.

“Of course you’re not. The two of you don’t seem worried in the least bit because it’s either of who’s suffering the consequences of your actions.” Pushing him off the table, Lloyd faced his friend. “Tell me, what’s this all about, again?”

Gabriel’s gaze fell to the floor before it slowly rose to stick in the falling rain again. “Nothing that you need to concern yourself with. This is between I and that woman.” He dismissed.

Lloyd, having heard this same answer for the past few days, sighed in resignation.

“Uh, Mr. Bryce,” Bill returned into the office, phone held close to his ear. “I think we have a problem.”

*~*

“The Senator wants to have a meeting with that Bastard and I?” Leonica questioned her assistant who had just gotten off the phone half an hour ago with, Chloe, the assistant of Norway’s Senator.

“That is what Ms. Chloe said, Ms. Romero.” He affirmed. “They say you should come alone, since you and Mr. Bryce are the two major heads of the business chambers and that it’s only reasonable for the two of you to discuss this issue and reach a solution.”

Leonica scoffed loudly, but still asked. “Can I refuse?”

Kennedy shot her a look that clearly spelt; are you even listening to yourself. This is the Senator requesting your audience, for fuck’s sake!

Sighing, she leaned back into her chair. “When’s the meeting set for?”

Kennedy glanced at his watch. “8pm.”

“Tomorrow?”

It was the assistant’s turn to smile wickedly as he shakes his head. “No, today.” Leonica’s eyes widened slightly. “That leaves you with approximately five hours to get ready, Ms. Leonica Romero.”

*~*

Meandering through the hallway of Celca-Lodge, dressed in a black jumpsuit, outer suit of matching color and red heels, that she had only put together a few hours ago, Leonica cursed her assistant from underneath her breath.

She was almost certain that he had delayed as much time before informing her of the arranged time.

One way or another, she’d have to punish him for that stunt he pulled.

Replacing the menacing smile that had crept to her lips with a more serene one, Leonica approached the woman standing in front of the designated room they conference between she, Gabriel and the Senator was meant to be held in.

"Good evening, Ms. Romero," The assistant, Chloe, bowed as soon as she recognized the approaching figure.

Leonica acknowledge with a nod.

"Mr. Bryce and Mr. Richardson are already waiting inside." Chloe said and gestured towards the door.

Ignoring the fact that she was arriving late, Leonica tried to recall where she had heard the latter name out of the two called.

Her moment of digging didn’t last long enough as the double doors slowly pulled open, and aside from Gabriel’s aloof face, she spotted another familiar looking male.

Seeing her enter, he rose from his seat, a warm smile enrapturing his features. "Ms. Leonica Romero, welcome." He gestured towards a free seat, which she sank into speechless and confused. "Now that everyone is present, allow me to reintroduce myself." Giving a brief bow, he finished off. "My name’s Arvan Richardson, Senator Of Norway. It’s my pleasure to make your acquaintances."