Chapter 85 This Is My Team
“Haa, this is so exciting, our own informal secretive investigation happening,” Marco giggled, clapping a hand over his mouth to stifle the sound. “I know what we’re investigating isn’t a good thing, someone’s life was taken but I’m just excited that we get to do it with the boss’s permission too. No hiding from him, no fear of losing our jobs.”
Stacy nodded, a cautious grin breaking through. “It’s surreal. Ravial Ashbourne basically gave us a green light… through his wife. We’re untouchable as long as we stay in Leitana’s orbit.”
Lafu let out a small, shaky laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing a fraction. “I’m still terrified of him, but… yeah. This is the safest we’ve ever been while digging into something this dangerous.”
Leitana beamed, clasping her hands together. “Mi happy too. Now we really help Celeste proper.”
Lafu leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Speaking of help… there are three more people who want in. They’ve been suspicious about Celeste’s death for weeks but were too scared to speak up. Now that you’re here with Ravial’s backing, they’re ready.”
Leitana’s eyes went wide. “Three more? Who?”
“Jules—he’s one of the senior photographers, shot most of Celeste’s campaigns. Anya, booking coordinator, handled her schedule. And Diego, legal assistant who flagged some weird contract addendums but was told to drop it. I’ll introduce you today. They’re waiting in the archive room.”
Leitana nodded eagerly, excitement sparkling. “Mi wan’ meet dem. Let’s go.”
Just then, the conference room door swung open with a sharp click.
Valentina Rossi strode in, posture perfect, smile brittle and polished like glass. Lafu, Marco, and Stacy stiffened instantly.
“Meeting’s over,” Valentina said, voice syrupy but edged. “I need the room for actual division business. You three have campaigns to prep, don’t you?”
Stacy rose quickly. “Of course, Ms. Rossi. We were just…”
“No need to explain,” Valentina cut in, eyes flicking to Leitana with forced politeness. “Mrs. Ashbourne, I’m sure you have… other engagements. I’d hate to keep you from more pressing matters.”
The indirect barb hung in the air pressing matters meaning anything but real work.
Marco and Stacy stood, ready to file out.
Leitana remained seated.
Her voice was soft, sweet, almost musical but unwavering.
“Why would dey leave?” she asked, tilting her head with genuine curiosity. “We no finish talking. Dis my team now. Mi decide who stay, who go. And right now, mi wan’ dem here.”
The room went dead silent.
Valentina’s smile froze, a muscle twitching in her cheek.
Leitana continued, still gentle, still polite, but firm. “Mi no wan’ take yu time, Ms. Rossi. Mi know yu very busy, very important. So if yu need room for real work… yu can go some place else please. Mi stay here wit mi team. Tank yu for understanding.”
It was flawless, sincere courtesy on the surface, but an unmistakable line in the sand: I outrank you. I decide.
Valentina’s eyes flashed, cheeks coloring faintly. For a heartbeat she looked ready to argue, but Ravial’s words echoed in her mind: You answer to her.
She forced the smile wider. “Of course, Mrs. Ashbourne. My mistake.”
She turned on her heel and left, door closing with a sharp snap.
The second it clicked shut, Marco let out a low whistle.
“Damn, Leitana,” Stacy breathed, eyes wide. “You just… schooled Valentina Rossi. Politely. To her face.”
Lafu stared, awestruck. “That was… incredible. She didn’t have a single comeback.”
Leitana blinked, confused. “Mi jus’ say truth. Mi no mean be rude…”
Marco laughed, shaking his head. “That’s what made it perfect.”
Lafu stood, gesturing toward the door. “Come on. Let’s get you to the others before Valentina recovers.”
They led Leitana down a quiet hallway to a cluttered archive room at the back of the floor—stacked file boxes, old campaign boards, dusty laptops, the kind of place rarely visited. Inside, three people looked up nervously from a table covered in printouts and notebooks.
Jules tall, silver-streaked hair, camera always around his neck. Anya, sharp bob, glasses, color-coded planner in hand. Diego, young, suit slightly rumpled, legal pad full of highlighted notes.
Lafu made introductions. “Everyone, this is Leitana Ashbourne. Special Advisor to the CEO. She’s… on our side, well of course you all already know that.”
Jules recovered first, offering a hand. “Honored. And thank you for doing this.”
Anya nodded vigorously. “Celeste was scheduled for three international jobs the week she died. Then suddenly ‘canceled due to fatigue.’ It never sat right.”
Diego pushed his notes forward. “I saw riders in her contract, non-standard clauses about ‘exclusive availability’ and penalties for refusal. They were buried deep. When I asked legal, they shut me down fast.”
Leitana listened intently, taking the seat they offered. “Mi glad yu here. Mi wan’ know everything yu see, everything yu remember. We work together quiet, careful. Mi tell Ravial what mi find, he already investigating too. We help him… and help Celeste soul find peace.”
The three exchanged glances, relieved, awed and determined.
Jules smiled faintly. “With you on board… we might actually get answers.”
Marco pulled up an extra chair. “So the plan. We keep it compartmentalized. Anya pulls schedules, Diego flags contract oddities, Jules shares photos and shoot notes that felt off. Lafu, Stacy, and I cross-reference bookings and press. Leitana—you’re the hub. Anything sensitive comes to you first, then to Ravial if needed.”
Stacy added, “We meet here—archive room’s off the main system, no cameras. Twice a week, staggered times. No emails, only encrypted chat. If anyone asks, we’re helping Mrs. Ashbourne with ‘talent welfare initiatives.’”
Leitana nodded seriously. “Mi like dis. Safe. Proper.”
Diego smiled for the first time. “Welcome to the team, Mrs. Ashbourne.”
Leitana beamed. “Call mi Leitana. We friends now.”
And in the dusty back room of Ashbourne Global’s modeling division, a quiet, careful alliance took its first real breath, shielded by the most unlikely protector: the CEO’s gentle, determined wife.
“Leitana,” Anya said hesitantly, her cheeks flushing pink. “Ahh, it feels like I’m committing some kind of atrocity just calling you by your name.”
Leitana laughed, the sound light and genuine, shaking her head in amusement. “No. Mi like hearing it.”
But the moment the words left her mouth, a sudden movement in the hallway caught her eye. Her breath hitched, heart slamming against her ribs like a trapped bird.
There, gliding past the glass windows as if she owned the very air was Celeste Rey.
Leitana’s eyes widened in pure shock.