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The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 157
The area was eerily quiet–nothing like the Manhattan I knew. The gas station looked worn down, with faded signs and cracked concrete. I chatted with the attendant, who seemed surprised to see someone in business clothes.
When I returned, Leo was leaning against the car with an unlit cigarette that he quickly tucked away when he saw me.
“What did you see?” he asked.
“Almost no activity,” I reported. “The attendant says they just get pass–through traffic and vehicles from the rehab center. No local residents.”
I thought aloud, “When developing this area, we need to consider people flow. A shopping center needs foot traffic. Medical facilities might make more sense given what’s already here, but that requires specialized infrastructure…”
Leo nodded. “Good observations. Let’s continue.”
When we reached our destination, Leo parked under a large tree. The area was exactly as desolate as I’d imagined–abandoned buildings with broken windows, overgrown lots, crumbling infrastructure.
“Next time, come better prepared,” Leo advised, eyeing my heels as we got out. “The terrain here isn’t kind to fancy footwear.”
I looked down at my shoes with regret. They were stylish but definitely not made for exploring urban decay.
Leo shook his head. “In this business, we face unexpected situations daily. No one gives you time to prepare. We need to anticipate every possibility.”
He looked out at the landscape. “After all, opportunity favors the prepared mind.”
I nodded seriously. “Yes, Director Schmidt.”
Leo’s expression softened. “Just call me Leo.”
“Oh, I couldn’t! I protested, feeling awkward about addressing my boss by his first name on day one. “That feels too informal, Director Schmidt.”
“Drop the ‘Director Schmidt,” he insisted. “It’s just Leo. I don’t stand on ceremony with people I work closely with.”
After a moment’s hesitation, I nodded. “Okay… Leo.”
For the rest of the afternoon, we explored the desolate landscape of the West Side district. Leo explained his vision for the area
while I took notes, ignoring the pain in my feet as my heels dug intken concrete and uneven ground.
By sunst, my feet were throbbing painfully with blisters forming, but I focused on Leo’s explanations, determined to prove myself.
“That’s enough for today,” Leo finally announced, noticing my unsteady stance. His eyes briefly flicked to my damaged feet, but he made no comment.
He simply nodded with satisfaction. “Let’s head back.”
In the car, Leo handed me a bottle of water.
“Poor planning on my part,” he admitted. “I should have warned you about the terrain. Sorry about your feet.“.
I took a grateful sip, rubbing my foot. “Thanks for bringing me. I learned way more than I would have from just reading files.”
Chapter 157
When we returned to Stark Tower, most employees were leaving. I organized my notes for a few minutes, then decided to call it a day. My feet were killing me, and all I wanted was a warm foot soak
I took the elevator to the parking garage and approached the red Porsche. As I slid behind the wheel, something felt different about the car.
I turned around and nearly jumped out of my skin.
Brandon sat in the back seat, files open on his lap, looking as perfectly composed as ever.
“Jesus Christ!” I gasped, one hand flying to my chest. “You scared the hell out of me! What are you doing here? Don’t you have your
own car?”
Brandon calmly closed the file he’d been reading, dark eyes trained on my face. “Finished work for the day?”
“Yeah,” I nodded, still catching my breath. “Leo took me to the Manhattan West Side district today. Can you believe it? On my first day!”
“Leo? You’re on a first–name basis with him already?”
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