"Is that how you welcome me?" He asked with a small smile, his both hands tucked into the pocket of his trouser.Vanessa creased her brows. "Welcome you? What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, not finding it funny."Nothing, it's not supposed to mean anything. I just came to tell you that I'm back. You can go ahead and schedule a meeting for our partnership." With that being said, he turned around and walked off before Vanessa decides to chase him out.Vanessa on the other hand looked stunned as she stared at his retreating figure. 'Did Riccardo just come all the way here to tell her that?'Pushing the thought aside, she stepped away from her door and shut it, making her way back to the dining room to continue with her lunch.Her kids and Emily were already done with their meal."Alright, Alright." Vanessa clapped her hands."Go get dressed, we'll be going to the cinema today." She informed her kids."Really, Mom?" Ethan asked, a hint of anticipation in his voice."Of course, baby
Luckily for Riccardo, his driver arrived almost immediately and quickly guided him into his car before some reporters decides to use him as the headline tomorrow.The ride to his home was a quite one, because Riccardo who was now looking drunk didn't utter any words, he just kept staring out of his window. When he finally looked away, his hands reached for a bottle of water beside him.As he uncapped the bottle, he gulped down the water in one go. And that seemed to help him a little.He glanced at his driver who was focused on the road before him."Drive me to my penthouse instead." He requested, before gently placing his head against the headboard.His driver took a peek at him from the mirror with a small nod.An hour later, they arrived at garage of his penthouse. His driver quickly alighted from the car, and proceeded to the other door, to open it for Riccardo."Thanks, you may leave me." Riccardo muttered as soon as he stepped out of his car. He began making his way towards his
Leila returned to her company that afternoon feeling a sense of accomplishment. Partnering with Vanessa's company was going to be a very big step in her business career. And she was just a few steps away from having her revenge.She was going to show the ROYALS that they are not the only big company that she could partner with, especially not after all they had done to her and her family.She made her way towards Hayley's office to tell her how the meeting went. Standing in front of Hayley's office, she knocked on the door and without waiting for her to respond, she pushed the door open and walked in.She met Hayley seated in front of her table, staring at her computer. Hayley raised her head when she heard her door open."Leila, you're back already. Tell me, did everything go well?" Hayley asked, rising from her chair to go meet Leila."Yes, that's why I'm here. Ms Rodriguez is willing to partner with us." Leila informed happily."Really? That's great." Hayley smiled."Yes, it is." L
Leila and Hayley shared a glance, the surprise on their face was clearly written."Ms. Rodriguez, you're... you're Hayley's cousin?" Leila stammered.Vanessa smiled warmly as she settled down. "Yes, I am."Deep down, Vanessa was glad that she got Damien to give her a heads up, if not she'd have been surprised as hell. She could remember that she once met Hayley with Leila in the unveiling ceremony. Not in her wildest dreams would she have thought that she'll turn out to be her little cousin.Hayley's face turned pale, her eyes darting between Vanessa and Damien."Damien, why didn't you tell me?" Hayley asked, her voice laced with confusion.Damien shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise."Vanessa sat beside Hayley, her presence alone was commanding and Hayley almost felt intimidated, but at the same time, happy."I see you're doing well, Hayley," Vanessa said, her eyes scanning Hayley's face.Hayley nodded, still trying to process the unexpected surprise.Vanessa smiled warmly at Hayl
NEXT MORNING: RICCARDO'S PENTHOUSERiccardo dressed in a black tuexudo suit walked out of his house, shutting the door behind him. He made his way towards the parking lot where his driver was already waiting for him with his SUV.As he approached, his driver opened the car door for him with a small bow."Good morning, sir." He greeted.Riccardo responded with a small nod as he settled inside the plush seats of his car. His driver shit the door and made his way towards the drivers seat. After settling in, he drove of immediately.The ride to Riccardo's company was quite as usual as Riccardo seemed to be lost in his own thoughts."We're here, sir." The voice of his driver brought him out of his reverie."Oh. Thanks." Riccardo muttered, opening the cars door by himself.He alighted and walked into his company. He only met a few workers around, who were mostly the cleaners. He was aware that he came very early today and it was not yet time for office work. But he didn't mind. He had a lot
VANESSA'S APARTMENTVanessa was done getting her kids dressed up for school and they waved goodbye to her as they went out with Emily and a guard. Diego and Lily had already arrived, so Vanessa quickly went up to her room to get dressed. In a few minutes, she was done and went to the living room to meet them.Together, they ventured outside and into their Car. Once they all settled inside the car, Vanessa decided to ask the question that had been on her mind. She turned to Lily who was seating beside her and scrolling through her phone."Hey, Lily." She called, her focus solely on her."Yes." Lily glanced up."How did your blind date go?" Vanessa asked her curiosity piqued."It went well." Lily replied, keeping her phone aside."Really? Would you two get to meet each other again?" "Yes, yeah. After working hours." Lily smiled."Oh my gosh. That's great." Vanessa gasped with a wide smile."See!!! Going on a blind date wasn't such a bad idea." She added."But be careful, alright.""Ye
Vanessa wrapped up with the work she was doing on her laptop. Rising up from her swivel chair, she picked up her phone and bag and walked out of her office, shutting her door right behind her. She approached Lily's office that wasn't so far from hers. "Lily, it's time to go." She called out from outside, accompanying her voice with a knock on the door. "Oh, right. I'll be outside in a minute." Lily replied from inside her office. Vanessa could hear the shuffling of files from where she stood, and then footsteps approaching her and Lily swung the door open. "Let's go." Vanessa muttered. Turning around, she walked towards the elevator. Soon, the elevator doors open and they both walked inside with Vanessa glancing at her phone on her wrist. She had a potential client to meet with today, so she couldn't afford to be late. Few minutes later when the elevator dinged and swung open, Vanessa walked out with hurried steps and Lily beside her as she met up with her pace. Vanessa glanced
Just as Vanessa finished reading the message, her phone buzzed again. Another message popped up on the screen. She glanced down at it, her eyes scanning the text quickly. Her heart raced as she saw the new words."And your kids."Her breath caught in her throat, and she gasped, the full meaning of the messages hitting her like a wave. Slowly, she pieced them together."I'm coming for you and your kids."She dropped her phone onto the table, threading her fingers through her hair in frustration. Panic gripped her chest as she stared at the screen, trying to make sense of it. Who would send her such a message? Her mind raced with questions, but none of them led to any clear answers.Vanessa had always been careful. She went to great lengths to keep her kids out of the public eye. No one outside of her close circle even knew she had children. She had worked hard to protect them from the spotlight. So, who could possibly know? And why now?Her thoughts turned to Riccardo for a brief momen
A NEW CHAPTER Three years later. Ethan and Emma were running around, playing tag with Riccardo, who pretended to struggle to keep up with their speed.“Daddy, you’re too slow!” Emma giggled, darting away as Riccardo reached out to catch her.“Oh, I’ll get you!” Riccardo teased, his playful growl making both kids squeal with delight.Vanessa leaned against the doorframe, cradling her six-month old daughter in her arms. The baby cooed softly, her tiny hands grasping at the edge of Vanessa’s blouse.“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Sofia?” Vanessa whispered, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s soft hair.The past three years had been a journey of hope, love, and healing. Vanessa’s diagnosis had been a heavy weight, but with Riccardo’s unwavering support, they’d found the best doctors and treatments. Through hard work and a little luck, her. condition had stabilized.“Mommy, come play!” Ethan called, his dark curls bouncing as he ran toward her.Vanessa smiled, walking over with Sofia in
TWO DAYS LATER Vanessa’s heels echoed on the marble floor of her office as she paced back and forth, her phone pressed to her ear. Her movements were sharp, her mind racing. For weeks, she had been gathering evidence against Alexander Grey.He had done too much harm, kidnapping Ethan and Emma, orchestrating the failed attempt on her life, and lurking in the shadows, ready to strike again. But she wouldn’t let him win.Her phone call ended with a click, and she stared out of the large window overlooking the city. The evidence was solid. It wasn’t just a small victory, it was the beginning of the end for Alexander Grey. She took a deep breath, her hands clenching at her sides.“Ms. Rodriguez?” Diego’s voice interrupted her thoughts. He stepped into the office.She turned to him, her voice calm but firm. “It’s time, Diego. I’ve sent everything to the authorities. The files, the recordings, everything. We’re moving forward.”Diego nodded, his respect for Vanessa clear in his eyes. “They’
ONE MONTH LATERThe sun hung low in the sky, casting golden light through the windows of Vanessa’s office. She sat at her desk, focused on reviewing a stack of reports. The past month had been hectic. Riccardo had recovered, Lucas had been relentless in tightening security, and life was slowly falling back into its usual rhythm. But today felt... different.Vanessa glanced at the calendar on her desk. It was her birthday, but she had no plans to celebrate. Birthdays had never been a big deal for her, especially not now when there was so much work to do. She sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she reached for her pen.A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, expecting Lily or Diego with an update.The door opened, and Emily poked her head in. “Ms. Rodriguez, sorry to bother you, but can I steal you for a moment? There’s a small problem with Ethan and Emma.”Vanessa frowned, setting her pen down. “What’s wrong? When did they get back?"
The warm sunlight streamed into Juliet’s room, touching her skin and making her stir. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking at the brightness filling the space. For a moment, she stayed still, letting the peace of the morning calm her. Then it hit her, like a storm rolling in.She remembered.Her heart began to race as memories came rushing back. She could hear her stepmother’s cold voice, the cruel words that had shattered her world. Juliet had overheard her stepmother plotting to kill her, all for her father’s money and property. The betrayal still burned deep in her chest.Her breathing quickened as more came back to her. The fear. The panic. She could see herself running, her steps fast and desperate as she tried to escape. She had been so scared that she hadn’t noticed the car. She remembered the blinding headlights, the screech of the tires, and the sharp pain when she hit the ground.And then... Romeo.He had been the one to save her. She saw his face in her mind, calm and stro
The quiet hum of the machines filled the room as Vanessa sat by Riccardo’s side, her fingers gently brushing against his cool hand. Each second felt like an eternity as she waited for Lucas. The sound of hurried footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Vanessa glanced up just as the door opened, and Lucas stepped in. His tall frame filled the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room until they landed on Riccardo. His face, usually composed, twisted with worry and anger.“Vanessa,” Lucas said, his voice low but steady. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, his gaze fixed on Riccardo. “How bad is it?”Vanessa stood, smoothing her hands down her blazer as if it would steady her nerves. “The doctor said he’s stable,” she began, her voice quiet but firm. “The bullet missed his vital organs, but he lost a lot of blood. He hasn’t woken up yet.”Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening. He pulled a chair beside Riccardo’s bed, his hands curling into fists on his lap as he stared at his unconsci
Vanessa paced outside the operating room, her heels clicking softly against the sterile tile floor. She kept her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of her blazer like it was the only thing keeping her together. Lily and Emily sat on the nearby bench, their faces pale and somber. Diego stood close by as he watched the hall for any sign of the doctor."I can’t believe this is happening," Vanessa muttered under her breath, her voice thick with emotion. She stopped pacing and turned toward the small group. "He took a bullet meant for me.""Ms. Rodriguez," Lily said gently, her voice trembling. "It’s not your fault."Vanessa shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. "How can it not be? If he hadn’t been there..." Her voice broke, and she quickly looked away, blinking back tears.Emily, sitting with her hands folded tightly in her lap, glanced up. "He’ll pull through," she said, though her voice lacked confidence. "He’s strong, isn’t he?"Vanessa n
The faint sound of the ambulance’s siren echoed in the distance, fading as it disappeared around the corner. Vanessa’s heart raced, a knot forming in her stomach as she turned sharply to face Diego. Her voice came out in a breathless whisper, a mixture of fear and urgency."What hospital is the ambulance heading to?"Diego hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her before he quickly checked his phone. The seconds stretched painfully. He didn’t need to ask why. Vanessa’s face was pale, her eyes wide with worry, and she was already halfway to her car."The nearest hospital," Diego finally replied, his voice calm but urgent. "Saint Anthony’s.""Let’s follow them." Vanessa’s voice was steady, though the tightness in her chest made her words feel like they were being dragged from her.Before Diego could protest, she was already inside her car, the engine roaring to life as she slammed the door shut. The sleek black vehicle peeled out of the parking lot, its tires screeching against
The workday finally came to a close, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft orange glow over the city. Vanessa stood in her office, the final task of the day weighing on her mind. Emily and Lily had just walked into the room, the slight shuffle of their shoes breaking the silence.Vanessa smiled as she looked at Emily. "Emily, dear. You did well today."Emily blinked in surprise, a soft smile crossing her face. "Really? Thank you, Ms. Rodriguez. I’m happy to help with whatever I can."Vanessa’s eyes softened. "I appreciate it, truly."Lily cleared her throat, her expression eager. "Are you ready? Let’s go."Vanessa nodded, the last-minute decision still fresh in her mind. "We won’t be using the same car today," she said, her voice firm but calm.Lily raised an eyebrow, and Emily’s face faltered for just a moment, but they both said nothing."I’ve already told Diego. He’s brought another car for me," Vanessa added.As they made their way to the parking lot, the evening air wra
Vanessa paced her office, the tension in her chest growing heavier with every second. She couldn’t let this drag on. The mole had to be identified before the end of the day. Picking up her phone, she called Damien.“Vanessa,” Damien’s voice was brisk.“Get to my office now,” she said without preamble. “We have a serious problem.” She added.“I’ll be there in two minutes,” he replied and hung up immediately.Few minutes later,“What’s going on?” Damien asked, shutting the door behind him. “We have a mole,” Vanessa said bluntly. “Someone leaked the designs for our new product to Grey Enterprises. They launched it ahead of us this morning.”Damien’s jaw tightened. “Do we have any leads?”“Not yet,” Vanessa admitted. “But we don’t have time to play detective. I want this person caught before the day ends.”Damien nodded. “Alright. Let’s start with the basics."He pulled out his laptop and placed it on Vanessa’s desk. “We’ll need to narrow it down. Vanessa, do you know exactly which files