Page 3 of The Don’s Virgin Obsession

She laughed a little too nervously.

“I’m sorry, Vaughn. But let’s get into it.”

“Get into it,” I smirked.

“You’ve been called one of the most strategic developers in Los Angeles,” she continued. “From South Central to Downtown, you’ve acquired, rebuilt, and completely transformed multiple properties. People are saying you’re reshaping the city.”

I leaned back slightly.

“People say a lot of things.”

“But it’s true,” she pressed. “Your South Central development⁠—”

“Is almost finished,” I cut in. “And it’s going to look like what I said it would look like when I bought it.”

She blinked, then smiled again.

“I think what people are most curious about is how you did it. You’re young, you’re private, and you don’t come from⁠—”

“I come from exactly where I’m supposed to,” I said, calm. “The hood.”

I wasn’t here to be explained.

I was here to be understood… correctly.

She cleared her throat, shifting gears.

“Well, you’ve built an empire in a short amount of time⁠—”

“I built structure,” I corrected. “Empire sounds emotional.”

She studied me for a second. Probably trying to figure out if I was serious.

I was.

“Structure lasts longer,” I added.

She nodded slowly.

“Okay… structure,” she repeated. “And with that kind of success comes attention. A lot of people have also been paying attention to your personal life.”

I almost smiled.

Here we go.

“Have they?” I asked.

“You recently came out of a… very public relationship,” she said carefully.

Translation: Messy.

I didn’t shift. Didn’t react.

“Public to who?” I asked.

“Well… social media, blogs⁠—”

“I don’t live there,” I said. “So social media don’t really apply to me.”