Leo looked at the gentle, slender girl before him — her stubborn eyes revealing both fear and strength.
"This was indeed a transaction," he said evenly. "But given how well last night went, I'll remember your name.
I can't promise you anything, but if you ever find yourself in trouble, call me.
Aside from life and death, I can usually solve most of the world's problems."
He turned to leave.
"My name is Isabelle Moreau," said the girl — who resembled Eva Green — just as the door was about to close.
"I'll remember," Leo replied, his voice fading as the door shut behind him.
Back in the same meeting room, Leo ate breakfast while listening to Vincent report:
"Mr. Valentino, they've basically agreed, but they want to know who your partners will be."
Leo smirked slightly. He knew what they feared — that his supposed partners would turn out to be nothing but his own puppets.
"Rockefeller will participate in some of the financial sectors," he began.
"Morgan will oversee coal and steel.
Federal Reserve Chairman McKay will ensure stable capital returns and dollar linkage.
As for me — I'll handle the conversion of funds and direct management authority. In other words, I need shares in the Coal and Steel Community's governing company and ownership of a partner bank."
With every name Leo mentioned, Auriol and Adenauer's eyes lit up further.
They both understood what those names meant — real power, far beyond one man's control.
More importantly, with such a combination, neither the U.S. government nor anyone in Europe would dare oppose the plan.
Once the general framework was set, the three men began negotiating the details, each word a test of will and calculation.
Just as they were about to toast the agreement, Leo spoke again.
"There's one more condition — a prerequisite for our cooperation."
The two men paused. "Please, go on."
"When the time comes, I want you to put pressure on the American government — on my behalf."
Auriol nodded without hesitation. "Of course. We're in the same boat. Helping you means helping ourselves."
Both leaders knew it was a test — a final measure of loyalty. If Washington ever turned on Leo, they'd have to side with him, for their own survival.
Leo smiled faintly. "Good. Then we understand each other."
With that, the European mission was already half complete.
As Leo prepared to leave, Auriol noticed he was alone. "Mr. Valentino, do you need… company?"
Before he could finish, Leo interrupted calmly, "No need. I appreciated last night's gift very much."
The two girls were beautiful, but they had been sent by others — and Leo trusted no gifts that came with strings.
He didn't fly back to Paris. Instead, he drove to Monaco.
The European Financial Corporation's only direct venture — the Monaco Casino Project — was nearing completion. As its largest shareholder, Leo wanted to see it for himself.
But that wasn't the real reason for his visit.
He came to meet Augustus Morgan.
He still needed Augustus's help to persuade Jack Morgan back in the States.
"Don't worry," Augustus said confidently. "Since I came to Europe and opened new channels for the family, many have started to take me seriously.
And since you gave Jack a fair share of the French industrial contracts, he owes you one. He'll agree — it's good business and good politics."
Leo nodded. "As long as you're sure. By the way, where's Nelson Rockefeller these days?"
"In England. Why?" Augustus frowned. "You're not thinking—"
"Of course I am," Leo said coolly. "This project is too vast for Valentino and Morgan alone. We need allies."
"Then why Nelson? You're closer to Lawrence," Augustus asked.
Leo smiled faintly. "Lawrence and I were never friends. I kept him on a ship for ten days once — friendship doesn't survive that.
There's no friendship in our world, Augustus — only interests.
I need the Rockefeller family to remain divided, balanced within their own ranks. Lawrence is too powerful. If he dominates, it's bad for everyone.
No one wants J.P. Morgan resurrected, nor John Rockefeller reborn."
He didn't add the rest — that Nelson was far easier to deal with. Unlike Lawrence, Nelson longed for political influence.
Augustus sighed. "You think too far ahead, my friend. It's exhausting just to watch you work. Still… thank you. You've always stood by me.
Stay a few more days. Enjoy the Mediterranean sun. Grace is having a wonderful time by the sea."
Leo shook his head. "Congress is accelerating the Far East proposal. Time's short."
Just then, a blue Volkswagen screeched to a halt outside the villa.
Out jumped Prince Rainier, lively as ever despite still having bruises from their last "meeting."
"Augustus!" he shouted excitedly. "I believe in love again! I met the most enchanting woman by the beach — so noble, so radiant, like an angel! I swear I'll win her heart and make her my princess!"
Only then did he notice Leo standing beside Augustus. His smile froze, and the pain in his bruised jaw returned.
"Mr. Valentino… long time no see," he said nervously.
Leo's expression turned faintly amused. Rainier's description reminded him of someone.
"Rainier," Augustus sighed, "if you like the girl, go after her. Why come to me?"
"Because I need your help!" Rainier said earnestly. "She's American. I'm hosting a ball tonight. I want you to come. When she sees I'm a prince — and friends with the Morgans — she'll be impressed!"
Augustus groaned, rubbing his temples. "Rainier, you can't win a woman's heart with your title alone."
"But she looks wealthy," Rainier insisted. "She had several bodyguards."
That made Augustus pause. A thought struck him — could it be… Grace Kelly?
He knew Grace well; Leo had once confided his feelings for her. She was everything Rainier described — graceful, luminous, impossible to ignore.
"Rainier," Augustus asked carefully, "what's her name?"
"I heard her bodyguard call her Grace. I didn't catch her last name."
Augustus's expression darkened instantly. "She's Mr. Valentino's companion."
Rainier froze.
For a moment, he stood speechless, then turned pale. "Is… is that true, Mr. Valentino?"
Leo looked at him, his tone cold but measured.
"I appreciate your admiration for her beauty, Rainier. But let's end it there.
Otherwise, Monaco might not remain Monaco — it might become part of France."
Rainier understood the threat perfectly.
Once, he might have dismissed such words as arrogance. But now, facing the world's richest man — whose influence stretched across politics, finance, and the military — he knew better.
Between love and survival, Rainier chose survival.
He got into his car and drove off, vanishing into the streets below.
Leo watched him go, then decided there was no reason to stay longer.
He and Grace left for England that very afternoon.
On the way, he casually asked, "Did anyone bother you on the beach?"
Grace smiled. "No one spoke to me — but there was a strange man who kept staring."
Leo laughed.
London was gray as always.
In a quiet private room of an old café, Leo met Nelson Rockefeller.
Nelson was surprised by the visit. Although they had cooperated before — and Nelson was now a shareholder of International Media Group — everyone knew Leo was closer to Lawrence.
After listening to Leo's proposal, Nelson quickly realized what he was doing — balancing the Rockefeller brothers against each other.
It angered him, yet the sheer scale of Leo's vision eventually won him over.
If Europe truly unified, America might suffer economically — but politically, it would pin down the Soviet Union. For Nelson, that meant immense political capital.
He agreed to help push the plan when he returned home.
That evening, Leo and Grace strolled through London.
It was their second time together in the city, and Grace's demeanor had grown far more confident — her presence radiant and poised.
The next morning, as they prepared to return to America, Grace suddenly said:
"Leo, can we stay one more day? I want to see a ballet performance."
On the table lay two newspapers — an old one with the headline:
"The World's Richest Man and His New Muse, Audrey Hepburn."
And a new one that read:
"Tonight: Little Swan Audrey's Enchanting Performance."
Underneath was Audrey's photograph.
Leo immediately understood. Grace was challenging him — a silent confrontation between past and present.
But Leo was unshaken. He wasn't the kind of man to run from his past.
So he agreed.
That night, at the Royal Opera House, Audrey led her troupe to bow after a flawless performance.
As the lights dimmed, she glanced toward the first row — her favorite moment, when she could see the satisfaction on the audience's faces.
But then, her smile froze.
There he was.
The man she had loved, sitting beside another woman.
Grace.
Audrey had always felt insecure about her height, but she had been proud of her beauty. Yet seeing Grace's radiant elegance, her confidence shattered.
What broke her completely was not comparison — but the fact that Leo had brought another woman to watch her perform.
At that moment, the stage lights dimmed completely.
Only darkness remained.