Chapter 79While she waits for Estefan, he was still at the office wrapping up his day. He leaned back in his chair, eyes focused on the last report his assistant had delivered.The day had been productive, and he was in high spirits throughout the day. He checked his watch; he realized it was time to head home. Before he left, he asked his assistant for an update about Michael’s activities in the past two days.“Mr. Salvatore,” the assistant began, flipping through his notes. “Michael has been working overtime since receiving the notice of your upcoming inspection. His team is putting in extra hours to ensure everything is prepared for your visit.”Estefan smirked, nodding as he listened; his eyes lit up with amusement. “Good. Let’s see if he can hold up under the pressure. Continue to keep an eye on him.”The assistant, sensing the quiet satisfaction in Estefan’s tone, nodded and handed Estefan the finalized reports on Michael befo
Chapter 80“You would do great, Kaitlyn. But whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.” Estefan reached for her hand again, giving her a small smile.Kaitlyn's heart skipped a beat at his words; she was getting more comfortable with his presence, which was surprisingly strange.Then, in a quiet tone, she thanked him. “Thank you,” then she hesitated before she proceeded again. “You know Melissa also works with Eminence magazine too, right?” She asked, staring at his face to read his reaction.“I know, and that shouldn’t be a problem for you.”“Only concern about Melissa; she shouldn’t cause more trouble because I won’t stand and let her...”Estefan’s phone buzzed, interrupting their discussion. He glanced at it briefly, then stood up.“I need to make a quick call. I’ll be right back. Will continue from where we stop, I promised.” He flashed her a small smile, making her heart flutter before he excused himself to the study.As Estefan stepped out to take his call, Kaitlyn leaned ba
Chapter 81Kaitlyn BedroomKaitlyn dialed her number, and after a few rings, Sarah’s familiar voice came through.“Hey, Kait! What’s up?” Sarah chirped.Kaitlyn smiled at the sound of her best friend’s voice. “Hey, Sarah. I’ve got a lot to tell you.”“Oooh, spill!” Sarah urged, clearly excited.Kaitlyn told her everything; about the Eminence Magazine offer, change in Estefan’s recent behaviors, and how he had kissed her on the forehead again that morning. As she recounted the events, her voice wavered with uncertainty.Sarah listened carefully before bursting into laughter. “Wait, wait… hold up. He kissed you on the forehead? Twice? In a day?”“Yes!” Kaitlyn exclaimed, feeling her cheeks heat up again. “And he called me Cara Mia. I don’t know how to feel about all of this. It’s like he’s being... sweet. But that’s not part of our contract. I don’t know what he’s doing.”“Do you know what that means?! He is calling you his beloved, Kaitlyn, and you are saying you don’t know what he is
Chapter 82Salvatore’s Subsidiary Group Under Michael’s ControlThe day had finally arrived. Michael paced through the halls, his sharp eyes watching as employees moved in delivering their duties. Each department was putting the final touches on their presentations, ensuring everything was perfect for Estefan’s inspection. The atmosphere was filled with anxiety.“Are the team heads ready for their presentation?” Michael asked, masking the anxiety firing at his gut.“Yes, sir,” replied Jessica, his assistant, who had been coordinating with all departments. “They are ready to have you, sir.”Michael nodded with a clenched jaw as he walked with Jessica in the other direction.He was anxious, thinking of the last-minute checks and adjustments they had made in the past few days. Everyone had been working overtime, pushing themselves to the limit to ensure the visit would be flawless. He glanced at the clock. It was 10:45 a.m., and the president was expected to arrive in just at noon with h
Chapter 83Back at Salvatore’s headquarters, Estefan had just finished a virtual meeting with international investors. The conference room was filled with excitement; his team was pleased with how the meeting had gone. As Estefan made his way to his office, his assistant, Anna, followed him closely, her clipboard in hand. Her expression was professional but with a hint of concern."Sir," she said carefully, “your inspection at the subsidiary group is scheduled for noon, which is in about two hours. I wanted to remind you.”Estefan didn’t stop walking, only nodding as he strode past her. “Noted.”As he walked back to his office, Anna was stunned at how her boss was handling the issue about the subsidiary inspection; he had personally scheduled this meeting suddenly last Friday.A few minutes later, Anna followed him into his office with her clipboard in hand and a cup of his favorite coffee, which she placed on his table before she went over the rest of his schedule with him. “The driv
Chapter 84Eminence StudioHailey stood frozen at the door, her heart racing as she stared at the man before her; Gregor Hollis, the director’s personal assistant. She blinked rapidly before clearing her throat.“Mr. Gregor, please, come in,” Hailey said in a slight trembling voice as she stepped aside to let him in. The sight of him standing so tall and composed calms her uneasiness and at the same time made her anxious.Melissa, who had been fuming just moments earlier, quickly composed herself. Her shock at seeing Gregor melted into a forced smile, though her eyes betrayed her annoyance. She instantly dismissed those in the room except Hailey. “Gregor, what a surprise,” she said, trying to sound pleasant, but the edge to her tone was palpable.Gregor gave her a brief smile, his face unreadable. “Melissa,” he greeted, his voice as calm and professional as ever taking away the tension in the room. “I’m here on behalf of the director. He wanted me to ensure everything is running smoot
Chapter 85The inspection at the subsidiary group began promptly after the team arrived. Though Estefan’s absence affected the team, Michael maintained his professionalism, ensuring that the inspection process went as smoothly as planned. The welcome team lined up at the entrance, greeting each member of the inspection committee with polite smiles and firm handshakes.“This way, please,” Michael gestured, his assistant by his side holding a tablet, already keyed into the day’s agenda, taking the lead, guiding the six-member inspection team through the building. The team, consisting of four men and two women, were all dressed in sharp, tailored suits and moved in silence, their sharp eyes taking in every detail. Their notepads in hand as they noted observations, occasionally pausing to ask questions.The inspection team followed him through the corridors, nodding appreciatively as Michael gave a brief introduction to each department. As they reached the Marketing Division, Michael’s as
Chapter 86Eminence StudioMelissa’s shoot was in full blast. The camera clicked, flashes went off, and everyone in the room was moving in sync. This time, unlike two days ago, Melissa was flawless. Her poses were sharp, her expressions perfectly tailored to the brand’s needs—no forgotten lines or missed angles. The director watched from behind the camera with a pleased expression. There were a few minor corrections, but overall, the shoot was a success.The crew, while still wary of Melissa’s infamous temper, was visibly relieved. After the disaster two days ago, today felt like a reprieve.Melissa, however, couldn’t enjoy it. Her mind was elsewhere. The frustration about the mysterious new face of the special edition was clouding her thoughts even as she performed.However, Hailey’s mind was far from calm. She had been working non-stop, her nerves frazzled as she hunted for any scrap of information about the special edition’s new face. During a quick break, she spotted one of the di