Leonardo glared at Warren again. Warren lowered his head slightly, as though he did not say those words earlier.
He looked cool, calm, and collected, but his tightly clenched fists did not fool Summer.
She broke into a smile. Summer had previously thought that Warren was steady enough to not be afraid of Leonardo.
Standing behind her, Leonardo was placing his hands on the table. That posture made it look like he was holding Summer up in his arms.
He raised two of his fingers and tapped on the desk, reminding her to sign the transfer agreement.
How could Summer sign it with confidence?
Warren was a famous lawyer in Hoover City and Leonardo’s private legal adviser. Once she signed the papers, it would become legally effective.
How could Leonardo give her a big company like Emerson Group as if it was a plaything?
She had never thought of taking over Emerson Group. She did not have the courage to accept it even though Leonardo wanted to give her the company.
“Leonardo!” she called him out with her brows set in a frown. She did not know how to persuade him otherwise.
“Time is money for Warren. The longer you drag this out, the more I’ll have to pay him. We need to save up for Rosie.”
He sounded serious as if that money, which was a small change to him, really mattered.
She knew that he was teasing her. How the hell could he still be in the mood to flirt with her?
“I won’t sign, Leonardo. Emerson Group belongs to your family. How can you treat it like a toy and give it away?”
Leonardo seemed to find her reaction funny. “It’s not a toy. It’s my wedding gift to you.”
Summer was stunned. It took her a long time to finally find her voice.
“Aren’t you afraid that I’ll find another guy and run away with your money later?” She lowered her voice.
“Really? I remember you saying something before.” He paused for a moment, then continued to speak slowly. “‘No man in Hoover City has a better future than Leonardo.'”
She almost forgot ever saying that.
It had been such a long time ago. As far as she could remember, she had uttered those words in front of the press back then. It amazed her that he could still remember it.
“Let me ask you, do you think there’s any man with a better future than me in Hoover City now?”
Her answer would still be the same: no.
“Ahem!”
Being ignored the entire time, Warren tried to remind them of his presence. He was not there to see the two catch up on old times.
Only then did it dawn on Summer that someone else was in the room. She glowered at Leonardo and looked at Warren.
“Should I come by some other day?” Warren sighed.
Leonardo shoved the pen back into Summer’s hand.
“I’m hungry. Make it quick.” Leonardo went around the desk, sat down on the other side, and signed the documents.
Yet, Summer still did nothing.
“You won’t get to see Rosie if you don’t sign.” Leonardo put on an angry face and looked at her.
Her mouth twitched. She found that Leonardo was exceptionally childish sometimes.
Warren also sat down and started to sort out the documents.
…
There were many documents to sign. By the time they finished, it was already close to one in the afternoon.
Warren left as soon as they put down their last signatures. Before he left, Summer invited him to lunch.
“I would love to join, but I still have work to do. Next time. Maybe I could taste your cooking—”
Before he could finish, Leonardo grabbed a book and hurled it toward him. “Keep dreaming!”
Warren dodged the book, then eloquently complained to Summer, “Look how he treats me. How can I have lunch with him?”
He excused himself, grabbed his briefcase, and left one second before Leonardo exploded at him.
Summer closed the door and looked back at Leonardo. “Can you be nice to him?”
“They are already unruly even when I’m not nice to them. I can’t imagine what will happen if I play nice with them.” Leonardo sounded as serious as ever.
Summer did not know what to say.
The two went out together for lunch.
When Leonardo brought her out of the elevator by the hand, the receptionists’ jaws dropped to the floor.
Leonardo glanced at them with a frown.
They quickly looked away and lowered their heads. “President,” they greeted.
He swept his eyes over them. “And?”
They looked at each other, and after a few seconds, they understood what he meant.
“Ms. Jarrett.” They bowed, bending their body forward.
However, Leonardo just sneered at them.
He looked like a scary monster to the receptionists. Summer tugged his hand, signaling him to leave them alone. It was just a goddamn greeting; why did he have to be so uptight about it?
“Have a nice day, Mrs. Emerson!” one of the girls, who had a keen eye, immediately said.
When the others saw the improving expression on Leonardo’s face, they greeted Summer the same way as the first girl. “Mrs. Emerson.”
Leonardo escorted Summer and left the lobby, his face less intimidating now.
Once they were out of the building, Summer looked at his hand that was holding hers, and her mind drifted off. It was probably the first time Leonardo and her had appeared together openly in Emerson Group.
“How did you handle the media earlier?” Summer asked him when they were in the car.
“Just like that.” After he buckled his safety belt, he leaned over to help with hers.
Summer knew what he was going to do. “I can do it myself.”
“Won’t you give me an opportunity to appease the boss?” he asked in a low voice, his eyes looking down slightly. He supported himself by placing one hand on the backrest and the other on the car door.
“Appease who?” Summer was constricted by his arms inside the small space of the cabin. He did not get what he meant at first.
“Tell me what I should do to make you happy.” While he spoke, he lowered himself to kiss her ear.
The light kiss sent an electric shock throughout her body.
She trembled and flinched. “Please be serious.”
“I’m working for you now. You’re the one who’s paying me. It’s my duty to appease my boss in hopes that she’ll raise my salary. Isn’t that serious enough?”
He spoke so bluntly, but it sounded like he was flirting with her.