From Mr. Nobody to Mr. Perfect!

Chapter 3

Dante Rossi's knees hit the marble floor with a painful crack.

"Please!" His voice broke as tears streamed down his face. "I'll fix everything! I swear on my mother's grave!"

Leon stood above him, hands clasped behind his back. "Go on."

"I'll restore all cooperation with the Quinn family immediately!" Dante's words tumbled out frantically. "Full partnership! Better terms than before! And I'll... I'll personally visit Mrs. Quinn to apologize!"

"When?"

"Tomorrow morning! First thing! I'll grovel at her feet if necessary!"

Leon studied him for a long moment. "This is merely a small lesson, Mr. Rossi. Remember it well."

"Yes! Yes, I will! Thank you for your mercy!"

Leon turned and walked away, leaving Dante sobbing on his office floor.

The house was quiet when Leon returned home. Moonlight streamed through the windows as he climbed the stairs. Mia's bedroom door was closed, soft breathing indicating she was finally asleep.

He paused outside her door, his hand hovering over the handle. Then he pulled back and walked to his own room.

She needed rest. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges.

Morning sunlight painted the kitchen golden as Leon prepared breakfast. The aroma of fresh coffee and warm pastries filled the air.

Mia appeared in the doorway, dark circles under her eyes. Her usually perfect hair hung limp around her shoulders.

"Good morning," Leon said gently, setting a plate before her. "You should eat something."

"I'm not hungry." She poured coffee with shaking hands. "I need to get to the office. The suppliers are threatening to—"

"Mia, you look exhausted. Maybe you should—"

"I can handle it." Her voice was sharp. "I have to handle it. No one else will."

Leon opened his mouth to speak when the front door burst open.

"Where is she?" A commanding voice echoed through the house. "Where is my granddaughter?"

Mia's face went pale. "Grandmother Clara."

An elderly woman swept into the kitchen, her silver hair pulled into a tight bun. Her cold eyes took in the scene with obvious displeasure. Behind her followed several family members, their faces grave.

"Mia Quinn," Clara's voice dripped disappointment. "Look at you. Sitting here playing house while our family empire crumbles."

"Grandmother, I can explain—"

"Explain?" Clara's cane struck the floor. "Explain how you've destroyed twenty years of careful business relationships? How you've made our family a laughingstock?"

Mia stood slowly. "The situation is temporary. I have plans—"

"Plans?" A younger woman pushed forward, her designer dress immaculate despite the early hour. "What plans, cousin?"

"Lisa." Mia's jaw tightened. "This isn't your concern."

Lisa Romano smiled coldly. "Oh, but it is. When the family business suffers, we all suffer." She turned to Clara. "Grandmother, surely you can see that Mia is in over her head."

"I've made mistakes," Mia admitted, "but I can fix them."

"Fix them?" Clara laughed bitterly. "Child, you've lost our biggest investor! Our workers haven't been paid in weeks! How exactly do you plan to fix bankruptcy?"

"The Rossi partnership was problematic anyway. I'll find better—"

"Better?" Lisa interrupted. "Mia, you're delusional. Face reality—you're not capable of running this company."

"That's enough." Mia's voice rose. "I won't stand here and listen to—"

"You'll stand there and listen to the truth!" Clara's cane slammed again. "Your grandfather made a mistake putting you in charge. A young woman with no experience, married to..." her disgusted gaze fell on Leon, "this nobody."

Leon remained silent, calmly sipping his coffee.

"Hand over the company, Mia." Lisa stepped closer. "I have connections you don't. Resources you've never dreamed of. I can save our family."

"Never."

"Then you're selfish!" Lisa's mask slipped, revealing her hunger for power. "You'd rather watch everything burn than admit you're not strong enough?"

"I am strong enough!"

"Prove it!" Clara demanded. "Show us one solution. One real plan that doesn't involve empty promises!"

Mia's hands trembled. "I... I need more time..."

"Time?" Lisa laughed harshly. "We don't have time! Every day you delay, more damage is done. Step aside before it's too late."

Clara nodded slowly. "Perhaps Lisa is right. The family needs strong leadership, not stubborn pride."

"No." Leon's quiet voice cut through the argument.

Every head turned toward him.

"Excuse me?" Clara's eyebrows rose. "Did the househusband just speak?"

"Mia is perfectly capable of running the company," Leon said calmly. "She just needs support, not sabotage."

Lisa burst into laughter. "Support? From who? You? What could you possibly offer except washing dishes and cooking meals?"

"Stay out of this, Leon," Mia whispered. "Please."

"Listen to your wife," Clara sneered. "At least she knows her place, even if you don't know yours."

Leon's eyes remained steady on Clara. "With respect, ma'am, you don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't know?" Clara's voice rose dangerously. "I built this family's reputation while you were probably begging on street corners!"

"Grandmother, please—" Mia started.

"No, let him speak." Lisa's smile was vicious. "I want to hear what brilliant business insights our family chef has to offer."

Leon was about to respond when the front door slammed open again.

"Who dares ask my daughter to give up her position?" Beverly Quinn's voice boomed through the house.

She strode in like an avenging angel, her heels clicking authoritatively on the marble floor. Behind her walked a tall, handsome man in an expensive suit.

"Beverly," Clara acknowledged coolly. "We were just discussing—"

"I heard what you were discussing." Beverly's eyes flashed. "And I won't stand for it."

The tall man stepped forward, his movement graceful and confident. "Ladies, perhaps I can help resolve this situation."

Every woman in the room straightened, their hostility momentarily forgotten.

"Oliver Taylor," he introduced himself with a charming smile. "I came as soon as I heard about the Quinn family's... difficulties."

Lisa's eyes widened. "Oliver Taylor? Of the Taylor Group?"

"The same." His smile was modest but his eyes held power. "I believe I might have a solution to your problems."

Murmurs rippled through the gathered family members. The Taylor Group was a C-tier family with connections throughout the city.

"Oliver," Beverly beamed, "how wonderful of you to come. Please, tell them."

Oliver's gaze found Mia. "I'm prepared to invest fifty million dollars in the Quinn family business. Immediately."

Gasps echoed through the room.

"Fifty million?" Clara's stern expression cracked. "That would solve everything."

"More than solve it," Oliver continued smoothly. "It would expand your operations beyond your current dreams."

Lisa's face had gone pale with envy. "That's... incredibly generous."

"I believe in investing in quality," Oliver said, his eyes never leaving Mia. "And the Quinn family has always represented the highest quality."

Beverly practically glowed with pride. "You see? Oliver understands Mia's true worth. Unlike some people."

"But," Oliver's tone became serious, "such an investment requires certain... assurances."

"What kind of assurances?" Mia asked quietly.

Oliver stepped closer, his voice dropping to an intimate level. "The kind that comes with permanent partnership, Mia. I'm not just offering business cooperation."

The room fell silent.

"Oliver is only helping because of his feelings for you, darling," Beverly announced triumphantly. "Which means you absolutely cannot step down as company president. The family needs you in charge."

Mia's face flushed. "Mother, this is—"

"This is perfect!" Clara's cane tapped approvingly. "A union between our families would secure everyone's future."

Oliver moved even closer to Mia, his smile confident. "What do you say, Mia? Will you marry me? Let me save your family and give you the life you deserve?"

The room held its breath. Lisa looked sick with jealousy. Clara beamed with approval. Beverly clasped her hands together in delight.

Mia's mouth opened, no words coming out.

Oliver reached for her hand. "Say yes, beautiful. Let me take care of everything."

Leon's cold voice sliced through the air like a blade.

"I disagree."