At the Valentino Building, headquarters for Leo's three companies, Leo had just stepped into his office when Daniel burst in excitedly.
After the main team headed west, Daniel's workload had surged. Thankfully, with financial support, he had assembled a small think tank to assist him. Now, he laid a thick binder on Leo's desk.
"Boss, this is the Virginia highway network plan my team and I spent three days working on."
Without even glancing at it, Leo removed his dark formal suit and changed into a sleek white one. While buttoning up, he said casually:
"Now's not the time to look at that."
"Why not? Boss, this is a billion-dollar project!" Daniel protested, noticing Leo's behavior—he was clearly heading to New York again, most likely to see the Broadway actress.
Leo paused mid-change and turned toward him, eyes sharp:
"Why not? You were at the auction yesterday. We couldn't even scrape together twenty million.
And you're dreaming about a billion-dollar contract?
Since Thomas left, our political friends have started turning into enemies.
Listen, Daniel. I need you to shift your focus entirely to the James River Foundation under the Lynchburg Veterans' Mutual Aid Association.
Get the regional councilmen's and public officials' dividend distributions sorted out.
Pay them. Fast."
Leo's words were loaded, and Daniel—still catching up—blurted instinctively:
"Aren't those dividends usually distributed at the start of the year?"
"We can't wait that long. I need their help now. Make it happen!"
Leo headed down to his private garage on the first floor, where three identical Bentley sedans were parked.
Instead of getting into the one driven by Noodles, he chose the car driven by his elder brother, Lucas Valentino.
The garage doors opened and the three Bentleys drove out in different directions—one of Leo's usual tactics to avoid assassination.
Lucas took several winding turns before speeding down the southern highway. Just as they approached a bridge, he suddenly veered off into a country road and accelerated.
Through the rearview mirror, Leo spotted two cars clearly trying to tail them. They were soon lost in the winding turns.
Now on the open highway to New York, Leo turned to Lucas:
"Your driving's gotten better. With all the work lately, is your schoolwork suffering?"
With Leo's help, Lucas had officially enrolled at the University of Virginia in September, majoring in media studies.
"It's fine. Thanks to the 'gifts' you sent the professors, they mostly look the other way when I skip class.
I even hired a senior girl as my tutor. As long as my finals aren't a disaster, I'll pass."
When Lucas mentioned his tutor, a soft glow came to his face.
"Sounds like my big brother's fallen in love," Leo smiled.
"Bring her over to the Highland estate sometime. We'll have dinner together."
"No… not yet. We just started dating," Lucas replied quickly.
He understood that though Leo owned many homes, the Highland community was different. That was where Leo considered home—a place only for family.
Since Emily, Evelyn, and the rest had left, Leo rarely returned there.
Lucas felt a warm tug at his heart. Leo truly saw him as family.
"Alright, I'll let you decide.
But let's talk business. How's that assignment I gave you going?"
Lucas beamed with pride:
"All done. Across 90+ counties in Virginia, we've acquired shares in over 50 fourth-tier newspapers."
Leo sat up in surprise.
"You're telling me you managed to acquire stakes in over 50 newspapers in just four months?
Lucas, don't joke about this."
Lucas was prepared. He handed over a thick file of equity certificates from the passenger seat.
Leo eagerly flipped through them—his upcoming plan hinged on this very groundwork.
Leo's classification system defined the "fourth-tier" press as the lowest local publications:
Top-tier: National media like The Washington Post
First-tier: Regional giants like The New York Times
Second-tier: State-wide papers like The Virginia Gazette
Third-tier: Major city newspapers like The Richmond Daily
Fourth-tier: Small-town and county papers like Southside Gazette or Monroe Park Post
These small outlets, with loyal local readerships, often hovered around breakeven—just enough to pay staff.
While building elite networks in Richmond, Leo had also quietly set his eyes on this overlooked media frontier.
Knowing Lucas's interest in media, he gave him $600,000 to acquire stakes.
Leo looked up from the documents, studying Lucas with admiration.
"How'd you pull this off, Lucas?
Less than $20,000 per paper? Were they that close to shutting down?"
"Only eight of them were on the verge of collapse," Lucas explained.
"I got controlling shares in those for just $8,000 each.
The rest weren't driven by profit—they were run by people with strong values and pride in their content.
Money didn't motivate them.
I visited a factory in New Jersey and purchased a batch of new printing presses—about $11,000 each.
I used those as capital for equity.
Most of them welcomed me with open arms."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Leo gave him an enthusiastic round of applause.
He hadn't expected this much initiative and skill from his own family. Lucas had truly earned his respect.
"Tell those papers," Leo said as they approached the Broadway theater,
"If the plan succeeds, I'll also supply them with new camera equipment.
Go, Lucas. Finish this job, and you're coming to work directly by my side."
Broadway, outside the Ront Square Theatre.
Before Leo got out, he told Lucas his final instructions.
This theater—founded in 1912—was considered "new" by Broadway standards but still held prestige.
Outside, a large poster announced tonight's performance: Are You a Liar?—a classic revived from the theater's early years.
Beneath the leads, the most prominent line read:
"Stage Debut of Grace Kelly, Prodigy of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts"
A group of ushers stood at the entrance, but one, clearly the head usher, had his eyes fixed on Leo as soon as he exited his Bentley.
He deliberately waited for Leo to see the poster and register satisfaction before hurrying forward to bow:
"Well, sir?
Did I lie?
Thanks to my recommendation, Miss Grace Kelly finally made it to her dream stage."
Leo nodded and slipped him $5,000 in cash:
"Very good. I'm pleased.
You reserved my private box, yes?
I've heard the actors visit the box after the show to thank patrons.
Make sure Grace Kelly is there."
"Understood, sir. Consider it done!"
As Leo followed him inside, a new usher asked the head in awe:
"Boss, why were you bowing to that guy like that? You never do that."
"You don't get it," the head usher whispered.
"Ever since the Great Depression, Broadway hasn't seen this kind of Gilded Age extravagance.
Leo showed up three months ago—a true high roller.
He found Grace Kelly at a student theater behind the alley, fell head over heels, and started showering her with gifts: flowers, diamonds, jewelry.
He even promised a $1 million donation to any theater that cast her as a lead.
But the directors here? They're too proud. No one's letting some student headline for cash."
Another usher chimed in:
"That's where our boss came in.
He's just an usher, but he knows everyone on Broadway.
He couldn't get her a leading role, but a supporting part? That, he could do.
He told me privately that it took $300,000 to make Grace Kelly the supporting actress in this show."
The new usher stood slack-jawed in disbelief.
As Leo neared his box, he passed a guest from the adjacent VIP suite.
They exchanged a polite nod, and Leo entered his box.
The usher poured him wine and joked:
"Sir, you and Mr. Augustus Morgan sure have a knack for showing up at the same performances every week."
Leo's face stayed neutral, but his eyes flashed cold.
"Yes… although we don't know each other, it seems the theater has made us fated companions.
Now leave—I want to watch the play. Don't forget Grace Kelly."
The play began. Grace Kelly—whom Leo had spared no expense to support—didn't appear until Act III.
By then, Leo's private box was empty.
Next door, in Augustus Morgan's suite:
Leo sat across from the man he just claimed to be a stranger to.
"Mr. Morgan, I accept your other conditions,
and I agree to remove the Valentino name from the new company."