Chapter 2

Of course, her parents just had to trust the raven-haired woman to do the math while they internally palmed themselves, they couldn't understand why she had a damn pen in front of her. Oh right, she was the CEO. For one's business to be successful, one has to be able to make crucial calculations in life and Eleonora was a typical example of that. Not only was she a genius in the subject, but she also was a great businesswoman thanks to it as well, which was why she was highly recommended and respected. Anyone who made her go through the rigorous process of calculating would have to deal with her wrath and she would make their job ten times harder. She looked up after she was done with the calculations. "And I make a minimum of 80 million per anum, added to the stress, distractions and psychological damage I will get from this all, there is a 49.8 % chance of me losing about 10% of my wealth just because of this!" She hissed, not happy with the results at all. "Mi Nina, it's not that long and besides, time flies so fast that before you even realize it, you'd be free to divorce him, move out and you two will part ways. Everything will be back to normal once again," The middle-aged man waved his hand nonchalantly trying to dismiss the topic. Eleonora looked up and had her jaw on the ground with shock. "Did I just hear right? I have to move in with him?! Hell no!" She protested immediately. "First, I have to marry him and now I have to move in with him? What next? Do I have to give birth to ten children for him and then give up custody to him?!" She rolled her eyes. "In all honesty, since I walked into this office I have been telling myself to calm down more times than I have done in my entire life and I do not want to hear anything about the supposed marriage come out of your mouths. You both are giving me a massive headache and adding to my already long list of problems so please, use the door and I will get back to you when I clear my schedule," Eleonora knitted her brows together trying to maintain her posture but the exhaustion in her body wasn't letting her. She clenched her fists because she couldn't break down in front of the two people seated on the couch. Vito wasn't having it and immediately reprimanded Eleonora for her rude behaviour towards him and his wife. "You will not talk to me the way you like in the Empire that I built right from the ground up with my money, you hear me?" He gritted his teeth. The old man shook violently with rage as he stared hard at Eleonora but the latter was unmoved by his anger and just looked straight at him with a stoic face. "First off, you got the 'my empire' part wrong because you are standing on MY property and secondly, I got respect for my elders and that is the only reason holding me back from kicking you out from here. You want me to get married? No, I do not wish to get married but I know there is no way out of this so fine! But that doesn't mean that I am automatically your pawn because I am not so please politely keep your orders to yourself for your own good." Eleonora pinched the bridge of her nose as she inhaled sharply, reminding herself that she needed to sit soon. The exhaustion and toll of events were making her feel faint.

Mr Vito was ready to reprimand Eleonora once again for her behaviour towards him but the middle-aged woman who sat down next to him didn't let him get another word out as she tugged his arm effectively making him shut his mouth and direct his attention towards her. "Let her be, she has to catch a break. It's quite obvious that she has been overworking herself and she is exhausted. At the same time, we coming here and just dropping the bomb that she is getting married and she has to spend the next two years with a man that she probably won't be able to love, doesn't help at all," "Think about your daughter's well-being for once or I will take the lead." Rosaline was firm in her decision. Eleonora couldn't believe that the woman who was nonchalantly talking about how two years will go by in a flash just a while ago was suddenly taking her side and standing up for her father. The young woman didn't want more drama so she dismissed them. "I still got lots of work to do and I cannot be involved with your drama so I will contact you when I am free but for now please, see yourselves out of my office." She gritted. Her parents had surprised looks on their faces, Mr Vito was red with anger while Rosaline just stood up and made her way out quietly pulling her husband who was about to protest along. Eleonora shut the door behind them as she walked to the sofa and plumped herself down and drifted off to a dreamless sleep. The woman needed rest and even the Heavens knew that she deserved some sleep. {Later that day} After sleeping for a few hours, Eleonora jolted up from her sleep with panic in her eyes and she looked around wearily as if looking for something or someone and just patiently waiting for that person to emerge from the shadows. It took a few minutes for her to finally let out a deep breath and get herself back together, she then stood up and gathered her things before shutting down her laptop properly and walking out of her office with her sunglasses resting on her face and protecting her eyes. She passed her employees before she entered the general elevator, she had her private elevator but she didn't feel like riding there today so she opted for the usual one. Today was such a hassle and it was already kicking her in the ass, all she wanted to do was go home and snuggle up with Josephine. When the elevator reached the ground floor she got out and walked towards the entrance with her employees greeting her but, of course, she didn't spare them a glance as she had more to think about. She walked to her sports car and entered before shutting the door and driving off. After the two hours drive, Eleonora felt better when she got to the villa, she always liked driving because it had its special way of soothing her. Was it safe to drive alone when she was a wealthy businesswoman? Nope, but you see when you control more than half of the underworld, there are privileges you enjoy. Eleonora alighted from her car and walked inside but unknowingly to her, she had another surprise waiting for her there.

The woman opened the door to be met with her parents again for the second time in a day. Could the day get any worse than it was already? "Why are you two here? Again?" Eleonora slipped her hand into her pocket as she massaged her brows with the other. "You said you will contact us when you're free but we'd be staying for a while and we decided that we'd stay here so we could spend some time together," Rosaline explained making Eleonora scoff. "Let me see. You two want to spend some family time?" Eleonora trailed off as she pointed toward the two people standing in front of her with an amused look on her face Rosaline had a hopeful look on her face but Mr Vito had an impatient look on his face while waiting for the young woman to continue. "Yes we want to sp-" Rosaline wasn't able to finish her sentence before Eleonora interrupted. "I'm sorry but you are twenty-five years too late for that. Maybe when I was five or ten then I'd have been thrilled and excited for quality time with you but now, all I can hear sounds like a joke to me. An expensive joke!" Eleonora didn't give them time to answer as she turned around and went to look for Josephine.

Eleonora found Josephine in the laundry room, hastily taking care of the chore and she simply shook her head.

The woman was a workaholic and she never listened despite the many times Eleonora told her to stop stressing about chores around the house.

The middle-aged woman had a huge smile on her lips when she turned around and saw Eleonora.

She immediately opened her arms, inviting the younger woman for a hug and she wasted no time going in for the well-deserved embrace.

She wrapped her hands around Josephine, holding her tight as if she was scared the older woman would disappear into thin air the next minute.