The park was almost empty in the early morning; there were a few joggers and mothers with strollers walking around. Leon had an important meeting in less than an hour, and as usual, he had arrived with plenty of time to spare.

He sat on a bench, unfolded the newspaper he had bought, and began to read, trying to focus on the headlines. But then he felt it: a warm, wet stream soaking his expensive leather shoe. He quickly looked down, and there it was, the culprit: a small dog marking its territory.

Leon’s jaw tightened, and he let go of the newspaper with a sharp rustling sound before standing up abruptly.

"Fantastic, of course! Now my shoes are not only expensive but also come with a special fragrance,” Leon grumbled under his breath, shaking his foot to get rid of the persistent liquid. His expression of anger and stress mixed on his face until he lifted his gaze.

A woman, apparently the owner of the little culprit, was hurrying over, and when their eyes met, his anger faltered.

"Is this your idea of a morning greeting? Sending your dog to baptize strangers?" Leon murmured, raising an eyebrow. Behind his obvious irritation, there was a genuine interest betraying him.