After Divorce, Billionaire Ex Found Me Pregnant-Chapter 145 You Insolent Pest!

The next day, Benjamin was surprised to see Leonica at the family Vila, holding the paper he had made Melvin deliver to her a day before.

“Leonica?”

“I’ll step down.” She handed him the paper and when he collected it and took a glance at it, he was surprised to see that she had already signed it.

Masking his surprise, Benjamin cleared his throat. “You made the right decision.” Shoving the paper into the drawer of his study desk, he added. “I’m glad to see you finally came around.”

Leonica’s expression was unreadable, her face blank, void of any emotions. “Yes, I am glad as well.”

“As for the position you’d now be occupying in the company-“

“That won’t be necessary.” Came Leonica’s interruption with a cool smile on her lips. “I won’t be occupying any position.”

Benjamin was confused by her words. “Why is that? Have you finally decided to settle down? Focus more on building your family?”

Leonica involuntarily laughed. “Quite the opposite.” Before her father had the chance to decrypt her words, she was already up on her feet and heading towards the door.

He called after her. ”Leonica,” Pausing, she glanced over her shoulder, but remained silent. Benjamin took this as his sign to continue further. “A party’s going to be held for your brother’s inauguration next week, if it’s not too much, please try and attend.”

Attend the inauguration of the very same brother who had made their father kick her out of a company that was rightfully hers as much as his?

For a moment, Benjamin thought he saw a glimpse of displeasure flash across her features, but in a matter of seconds, it was gone, replaced by a cool smile.

“Of course, father. Anything for my big brother. Just send me the details and I’ll be sure to show up.”

Without waiting for a response, Leonica left her father’s office, not sparing a glance at the paintings she had once admired as a child.

As the car drove her home, she stared blankly at the passing trees. Her mind was running a hundred miles per second.

When her phone began vibrating, she immediately pulled it out, a smile coating her lips when she saw it was Arvan calling. Just the person she needed to discuss with.

“Leonica, hey. I saw your calls, is everything good?” Arvan’s voice boomed from the other end, accompanied by the sound of camera shutters, telling Leonica just why he had been too busy to answer her calls.

The job of Senator was tougher than it seemed. She pitied him.

“I’d be lying if I said yes, but I’d also be ruining my own plan if I said no. So let’s not jinx it. I need a favor from you.” She went straight to the point.

“A favor? What’s the occasion?”

“Family.” She deadpanned.

Arvan groaned. “Oh, I’m not getting involved in any of your family drama.”

“It isn’t exactly family drama,” Leonica quickly defended. “It’s more like, family business... Drama.”

“It’s still family drama Leonica,” Advance sighed. “Alright, for once, I’ll humor you and listen. What is it you need?”

The smile that took over Leonica’s face was bright. “I need you to withdraw your contract with Romero empire for the time being.”

“Whoa whoa whoa, wouldn’t that affect you?”

“Not really, but I’d be grateful if you’d do that. Please?”

“Well, I’d be happy to help, but not without some explanation.”

Leonica knew that was bound to happen and she was ready to give an answer. “Well, let’s just say I’m working on something that’s gonna make the current state of Romero Empire look like a joke once it’s out of my hands.”

“Out of your hands?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll explain the rest of the details later, once I’m certain of it all.”

Arvan was silent for a few seconds. Leonica was certain he was weighing his options, and by the time his next question came, she had been correct.

“What are the chances of this plan of your turning on you?”

Leonica didn’t even hesitate. “I don’t think it’d ever be that way.”

“But it could.” Arvan pressed.

“Arvan, have I ever led you wrong? Have I ever been anything but reliable to you?”

“You have always been a trustworthy ally and...a friend.”

“Then trust me this once, I can handle this.”

She could hear his heavy sigh. “Alright, consider it done. And as a favor from me, please be careful. I’m not sure if I can help you in the future if this blows up.”

“Thanks, Arvan. You’re a lifesaver.”

“I know.”

When the call ended, Leonica’s grin expanded. Everything was going smoothly in the first few hours after her planning, and she was certain that once she put the final phase into action, there’d be nothing that could stop her.

~•~

One thing Leonica hadn’t put into consideration in her mind, was that once she had signed those papers, she’d automatically be jobless, thus, freeing up schedule on her once packed calendar.

And so, with a whole afternoon free, she decided to take Ashley out shopping after picking him from school.

As expected, Ashley was ecstatic about his mother’s sudden appearance. And when Leonica announced their outing, he could barely contain his excitement.

“How about we get you a few things for your sleep over at daddy’s next tomorrow?” Ashley nodded at his mother’s words, grinning from ear to ear as they stepped into the shopping district.

“Mom, can we go get ice cream too?” He asked, tugging at his mother’s hand, causing her to halt and turn around.

“Of course, sweetheart.” She ruffled his hair and continued walking.

For the better part of the next hour, Leonica found herself shopping for toys, clothes and the likes for her son. By the time she was done, the bag carrier was filled to the brim, and she had to hire another carrier to carry the rest.

But Ashley still seemed energetic, rushing towards the next shop, however, falling down when he bumped into someone.

“Argh, you insolent pest!” The lady he had bumped into cursed as she picked herself up.

“Ashley!” Leonica was quick to rush to his side and pick him up. “Are you okay?”

Ashley, who had a few bruises here and there, nodded. “I’m fine mommy.”

Leonica wasn’t so sure about that. But before she could even start her examination, she felt a gaze hard enough to penetrate her skull being directed at her.

Only when she looked up and identified the lady Ashley had bumped into as someone rather unpleasant, Irene Rosewood, did she realize the gaze was meant for her.

“You, you, you, it’s always you. Re you stalking me?”

Leonica measured her from head to to and shook her head. She would’ve laughed if not for her son present.

“Me stalking you? Are you someone worthy of my time?” She said with a hint of mockery. “So if you could kindly take your delusional accusations somewhere else, then that’d be appreciated.”

“You always have one thing or another to say to me when we meet, don’t you.” Irene sneered. “Just because you have all these big men flocking around you, doesn’t make you special. And the fact that you’re trying to make it seem that way, is laughable.”

“Hey, don’t talk to my mommy that way!” Ashley who was watching, suddenly protested, catching the both of them off guard.

“Oh look, the minx has a little version of herself.” Irene sneered.

Leonica frowned. “Don’t talk to my son.”

“I’ll do whatever the hell I want to do, and you can’t do shit about it. So just shut up and watch your place.” Irene snapped.

Leonica was unfazed, instead, a smirk coated her lips. “I would advise you watch the way you address me.” She stood up. “And the way you speak to my son. I’ve warned you of this before, haven’t I?”

“Oh please, you’re all talk and action.”

“All talk and no action, huh?” She was now standing. “We’ll see how long you can say that.”

“Mommy?”

Leonica was no longer focused on Irene, who she had already lost interest in, instead, she was focused on her son, who was gazing up at her with a curious gaze.

“Yes, dear?”

“My feet hurt, can we leave?”

Hearing his question, Leonica smiled. “Sure.”

“What, are you just gonna leave me like that, with no word of apology.”

Leonica had to refrain from rolling her eyes. “Oh grow up Rosewood, picking on people because of jealousy is so insecure. It would do you good to face facts, you aren’t good enough for Arvan.”

As she walked away, Ashley pointed out. “That strange woman looks a lot like you, mommy.”

“Yeah, but we both know there can only be one original.”

And she was sure it was her.

~•~

Exhausted from school and the shopping trip, Ashley had immediately fallen asleep when they returned home, giving Leonica more than enough room to begin the next phase of her plan.

Standing in her room, she scrolled through her contact list, fishing out Rodrigo’s phone number before typing it into another phone.

As she watched the line ring, she smiled at her plan.

If there was one thing she knew more than anyone in this word, then that would be the fact that Rodrigo was a greedy bastard and would jump at any offer to have both power and money.

And that was the exact off she was going to give him.

At last, the line was answered. She made her voice octave lower and added the Romanian dialect she had picked up years ago during one of her visit to Rome.

“Hello, am I onto to Mr. Rodrigo?”

“Yes. And you are?”

“This is Mrs. Tyche Smith speaking, I heard all about you from a close friend. He says you are a very capable man who knows how to work around obstacles and reach his goal, and I came to the conclusion that you are just the type of man I’ve been looking for. I’d like to make a business proposal to you, Mr. Rodrigo, would you be interested to listen?”