Chapter 168

"3:00 pm it is," Leonardo said, not budging. Samantha pressed, "Just half an hour later? Please?" He settled back into the couch, his posture relaxed yet exuding an effortless dominance. His gaze remained steady on her. Though she stood while he sat, there was no mistaking the implicit hierarchy between them. "Speak," he said. "What's the matter?" Samantha thought of Layla's words. Opportunities are earned! She had feared he'd laugh at her and dismissed her dreams as naive fantasies. To her surprise, Leonardo nodded after hearing her out. "Okay. You can try if you want." "I… I don't know how long it'll take, but I'll hurry back. What's the latest I can show up?" Her fingers twisted together nervously, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. She wondered if she was pushing her luck. If she was overstepping. "Whenever." "Whenever?" Samantha didn't understand what Leonardo meant. "Come whenever you're done," he explained. "Just call me, and I'll pick you up." "But your family—"