Leo woke slowly at dawn.
He looked at the sleeping girl beside him and felt an odd sense of unreality.
So… he'd really gone through with it.
Grace Kelly. The future Princess of Monaco was someone Leo had first stumbled across online in college, captivated by that flawless face in a black-and-white photo.
As a true "face connoisseur," he'd been completely smitten by her image.
When he spotted Grace Kelly at that student theater, Leo's thinking had been very simple: If I have to pick some actress to favor, why not pick the one I liked in my last life?
He hadn't planned on sleeping with her or "collecting" her like a trophy. After all, Grace's destiny was practically a female version of a power-fantasy novel protagonist:
An acting career that rocketed to success, an Oscar at a young age, retirement as the Princess of Monaco, and a life devoted to charity.
Why mess with that?
But as they spent time together, Leo had drawn Grace in—and the living, breathing Grace, far livelier than any old black-and-white photograph, drew Leo right back.
Her parents had both been athletes. Grace had played multiple sports in high school.
That gave her not just perfect proportions but an incredibly fit, full, athletic body.
Curves were just the start. The real killer was her long, white, impossibly flexible legs.
Leo murmured to himself:
"Guess you and the Princess are out of destiny now."
Grace stirred, blinking blearily:
"Princess? What princess?"
"Nothing," Leo replied calmly. "Grace, even though we lost a night here, the schedule hasn't changed."
"Can't I come with you?"
Freshly initiated into adult passion, Grace clung to his arm, pleading.
"Being with me is too dangerous." Leo was already buttoning his shirt. "I'm leaving. Noodles will drive you to Philadelphia."
It was the classic "put on your pants and pretend nothing happened" move—but Grace liked that domineering quality in him.
Her bright eyes brimmed with affection.
"When will I see you again?" she asked softly.
"If everything goes well… soon. I'll come for you at Christmas," Leo promised, then left without another word.
His New York trip felt like a seductive dream.
Returning to Richmond meant slamming right back into cold, harsh reality.
Since most of his core people had headed west, Lynchburg Party's No. 3, Hans Mueller, had replaced Toussaint as Leo's executive secretary.
Hans was a law student who occasionally offered legal advice—but he was nowhere near as capable as Toussaint.
The one thing in Hans's favor was that he was rock-solid and calm.
Now he was standing in the office, methodically pulling colored pins off the big map of Virginia, each pin representing a business contract they'd just lost.
Even Leo, who had steeled himself for this, winced at the scale of the financial damage.
He'd always thought Lamb & Harmon's "barbarian" reputation meant underhanded tricks like before. But now he understood what real corporate barbarism looked like:
Leveraging huge cash reserves, deep supply-chain trust, and sheer volume, they could slash prices at a loss per deal but profit overall—just like Leo's own general-store model, scaled up to real estate.
Only a truly big company could play this game.
This was honest, open, brute-force crushing.
The room got even colder when Daniel walked in looking utterly defeated.
Without a word, he went to the municipal contracts map and yanked out more pins.
Blue Ridge Company was taking hits too.
After the silence, Hans spoke up coolly:
"I went over the numbers with accounting. These massive breaches actually netted us a $500,000 profit—small change. But without new contracts, the banks will start demanding repayments early. That'll crush our liquidity.
And no new business means no future.
After consulting with a few industry veterans, I have two suggestions: downsize or pivot.
Either would shrink us dramatically but keep us alive."
Hans fell silent.
Daniel scowled:
"It's pointless. We're surrounded by wolves. Our only chance is to charge straight through."
Leo got up and clapped Hans on the shoulder.
"Good. Hans, I need people who solve problems. But you're too new—you don't know the full picture yet. Daniel's right."
Hans nodded grimly.
"So what do we do now?"
Leo picked up a battered copy of The Art of War on his desk.
"There's an old Eastern maxim:
'In battle, use the orthodox to engage, the unorthodox to win.'
Our existing business volume is enough to hold our line for now.
That means our front won't collapse immediately—it's a stalemate.
The key to breaking it is a surprise move.
Luckily, my hidden troops are already in position."
He turned to Daniel:
"Is the funds distribution list ready?"
"Ready," Daniel confirmed.
"Good. While everyone's staring at the state highway project, we'll quietly complete this year's James River Association dividend payouts.
Send out invitations for the shareholder meeting.
Lynchburg Hotel. December 1st. Afternoon."
Hans frowned:
"Sir, big meetings are usually in the morning."
"I have to attend the state highway bidding that morning."
Daniel looked confused:
"But we can't even compete in that project?"
Leo explained patiently:
"That morning, yes, we can't. But if I don't show up, they'll get suspicious.
I'll go get humiliated for them, so they keep looking there.
That means our real meeting has to be in the afternoon.
Hans, send out the invitations.
Daniel, take that fat binder of yours and turn it into a bid package."
Watching Leo calmly marshal the plan gave both men new confidence.
"Yes, Boss!"
After final instructions and paperwork, Leo headed for his garage.
Noodles was busy driving Grace to Philadelphia.
Lucas was traveling around Virginia, managing other tasks.
Today's driver was William "Billy" Lynchburg, one of Leo's most trusted.
Unlike Hans, who'd gone into law, Billy had chosen education—because his grades were so awful no other major would take him.
But William hadn't sulked. He'd thrown himself into Leo's business and college life.
On his third day at UVA, the football coach spotted William's bear-like build and extraordinary speed—honed by years of running in the Blue Ridge forests.
Six weeks later, he was the star of UVA's football team.
But he also led the Lynchburg Party's more… colorful side.
Billy's school record made him useless in Leo's legit companies, but perfect for the street-level crew.
After Feiss's death, Billy had quickly emerged as a rival to the old guard leaders like Billy Jute.
Leo trusted him deeply.
William folded his giant frame into the car seat, trying to look formal despite the cramped space.
He remembered what his father John had told him on the day he got into college:
"You're not smart. Without Leo, you'd never have gone to university. He's the only person you owe. Don't call him 'big brother.' Treat him like God. Obey him, follow him, always."
Billy had asked back then:
"What if he's wrong?"
"If he's wrong but alive, then he's right.
If he's wrong and you're all dead, tough luck. Follow him anyway."
Billy's father's words had never left him.
So despite grueling football training, he always made time for Leo's work.
Now he sat upright, alert.
"Boss, where to?"
"Virginia Veterans' Mutual Aid Association."
Billy nodded, tense at every intersection, scanning for threats.
He'd personally handled many of Leo's enemies.
Leo liked that watchfulness, and appreciated Billy's work ethic even more.
"Billy, I've heard some of the boys think you should lead the Lynchburg Party. What do you think?"
Billy's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Tell me who said that, Boss. I'll shut them up."
"No, Billy. I just want to know your own view. It's not wrong for brothers to want to move up."
Billy looked down, shame-faced.
"That's on me. I didn't keep them in line.
But me? I'm too dumb. I just do what you tell me."
Leo watched him carefully. Billy meant every word.
He really would be better than Billy Jute at leading. But Leo couldn't risk him yet. He needed to protect him—let Jute be the scapegoat if needed.
"Billy, take your men back to Lynchburg for now. Especially around the hotel—I don't want even a fly getting in.
Coordinate with Hans.
When you're done, give everyone an early Christmas break.
When Richmond needs them or things settle here, they'll come back.
As for you—once Lynchburg's secure, focus on your football.
I'll call when I need you."
"Understood, Boss."
The Virginia Veterans' Mutual Aid Association's HQ was grander than Leo's own offices.
When Harry was lieutenant governor, he'd had the power to evict a minor state agency from this beautiful old building and gift it to the veterans' association.
Leo stepped out of the car and turned to Billy.
"Go do your work. They'll give me a ride back."