Leonardo sat behind his enormous glass desk, the horizon shimmering behind him. He leaned back, slowly drumming his fingers, a smile already forming on his face as he looked at the contact information his secretary had unearthed.

Elena

(Mateo's "mysterious woman")

She rolled the name on her tongue like wine.

Sharp. Beautiful. Dangerous.

Frame.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

Then her voice came: soft, silky, indifferent.

"Hello?"

Leonardo's lips curled even more.

"Hello, stranger."

His voice adopted that deep, honeyed tone he used to seduce both investors and women.

There was a brief pause.

"…Who is it?"

Leonardo laughed softly, tilting his head as if he could see him smiling through the phone.

"Well... I'm sure you're wondering who has the honor of calling you on this beautiful evening."

"Am."

He let the silence float for a second, savoring it.

“This is Leonardo.”

A heartbeat.

“The gala boy.”

Another short silence, then Emilia replied coldly:

"Oh. Leonardo. To what do I owe this..