Chapter 1

Keith Aldebrando has just set foot back to his hometown—Rose city—after spending six years preparing to become a leader of the Aldebrando mafia family in Italy. It was a little difficult to convince his grandfather when he decided to return to Rose city. His grandfather had thought that the reason for returning to his hometown was because he was no longer interested in inheriting his grandfather's position. Finally, after going through a long debate, his grandfather agreed on the condition that he would take care of representatives of the Aldebrando group in Rose city which he happily accepted.

Because of that reason, he was here, making a cup of cappuccino ordered by a young woman in her mid-twenties who has always been his regular customer—Naila Chandelier—while making the oak-shaped latte art decoration that has always been her favourite. Wearing his business smile, he delivered the order himself to Naila, who was waiting for him, before returning to his job serving other customers.

At first glance, he glanced at the dark-skinned woman who seemed busy dealing with an old lady with curly grey hair who complained that the coffee she had ordered just fifteen minutes ago was too bitter for her tongue. That woman's name was Aura Chen. His high school friend whom he recruited became his confidant and also the cafe manager as soon as he set foot in Rose city. The only woman he knew who had the same interests as him. During his high school, together with her twin brother—Alan Chen—they often spent their time fighting and hanging out with groups of motorcycle gangs that he formed himself.

But that was all in their past. Now, he helped Aura and Alan take their interest in violence in other fields.

He was in the middle of ordering coffee for a new customer when the cafe door opened. He swiftly took his eyes off his coffee cup for a moment to make eye contact with the customer who entered the cafe while greeting the customer—a rule he enforced at his parent's cafe once he took over their business.

For a moment, the time stopped as soon as appeared before him the figure of a woman who took off her sunglasses with wavy brown hair and a formal suit that matched her winter-type skin stepped into the cafe, spreading an aura of strong dominance that could make the breath of everyone who was there choke at once, including himself. The woman tucked her glasses into the Dior tote bag hanging from her left arm, then strolled confidently into the line with a flat face. The woman's right-hand was busy with her smartphone, not realizing that her presence in this less crowded cafe has managed to steal everyone's attention from their respective busyness.

Again he focused his attention on the coffee he made so that he did not make the customers who were waiting for his orders wait too long. Once the fourth line—the woman's turn, his tongue popped out at once. It was strange. Until the third customer, he was still fluent in talking with his previous customers. The woman read the menu board intently, then stared at him with cold, blank grey eyes. There was no sign of life in those eyes. Her thin lips were polished with burgundy lipstick, and the blush that matched her lipstick did a great job of not making her look like a vampire.

"I'll take one red velvet and one vegan chocolate cake," the woman's firm voice managed to break the silence that he had accidentally made. He hurriedly took her order, cursing his stupidity for staring at her for too long.

"Anything else, Madame?" 

"No."

"Okay, I will prepare it immediately. Do you want me to make latte art on top of your drink?"

"No need."

The woman's firm tone did not strangely irritate him.

"Please wait a moment," he said again.

The woman did not answer. The woman's attention returns to the screen of her iPhone 12, revealing her curved and innocent fingernails. It was not coloured nor decorated with anything, but still looked beautiful. Occasionally he stole a little of his time to observe her figure once carefully. From the way that woman walked and talked, it seemed that she was the type who had full power. Not affected by the opinions around her. It means that the woman was likely to work at the executive level. CEO? He thought so. But from her eyes and lips, he felt that the woman was facing difficulties because there were clear signs of stress due to high pressure. He hurriedly grabbed the cup that was already filled with the red velvet mixture when the woman took her gaze for a moment from her iPhone to look around, hoping that she did not notice his gaze earlier.

"Your order," he said as soon as he placed the woman's order on the tray. "Your name, Madame?"

The woman frowned at his question. Hurriedly he added. “A-at our place, we always ask the name of the customer. But, if you feel uncomfortable—"

"No problem. Marie. Rosemarie Clark," the woman responded with a low laugh. "I'll pay with my digital wallet."

"Good."

He took the woman's smartphone, scanned the bar code displayed on her smartphone screen, then returned it to the woman named Rosemarie Clark. "Please enjoy your order."

The woman took her smartphone back. This time, the woman's hand was holding his wrist, causing him to gasp and stare in confusion at the woman who was now smiling at him.

"You are attractive. Do you want to be my husband?"

"Sorry?"

The woman's words succeeded in attracting the attention of those around her. The woman did not falter, nor was she embarrassed after saying that. That confident face seemed to tell him that she could always get what she wanted.

"Do I need to repeat my words again?"

"Sorry, but are you ...," he swallowed repeatedly. "Are you serious about what you are saying?"

"I've never been this serious with a man, but you caught my eye," Rosemarie released her grip, pulled her business card out of her wallet and shoved the card on the table at him, then carried the tray. "Think carefully about my offer."

After saying that, the woman turned around, walking away from him towards one of the empty tables. Leaving him standing rooted in place until Aura had to resuscitate him.

"You know her?" Aura pointed at Rosemarie who was now busy with her own business.

"No."

"How does it feel, being proposed by a woman like her? Isn't she your type?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to comment," he took off his apron, then gave it to Aura. "I have something to take care of. Help me to do the rest."

Aura rolled her blue eyes in disgust, then called out the name Thomas—their new part-timer who had been working at the cafe since last week. Sloppy and clumsy, but hardworking type. It was obvious that their part-timer was interested in Aura. Unfortunately, that woman would not be able to answer his feeling even if he fulfilled all the qualifications as Aura's ideal lover. Except for one. Gender. Aura liked women, and it was clear that Thomas was on the list of people who could not possibly be her girlfriend.

Ignoring Aura, who was busy scolding Thomas for taking the wrong order again, he entered his room. He took his smartphone in the pocket of his black trousers that fit his long legs, calling for his grandfather. While waiting for his grandfather to answer his call, he opened his laptop that lying neatly on his desk. His fingers type the woman's name into the Bing search engine.

Rosemarie Clark

CEO of fashion retailer Clark Co., Ltd.

Only a few photos were displayed on the search engine, but it was clear that the figure he saw on Bing was the same woman who had proposed to him earlier. He continued to scan one site after another about the woman until he came upon a name mentioned on a site that discussed gossip socialites and young businessmen in Rose city, the city where he lived now.

A multi-national company engaged in import-export, Hermann Co.

His lips carved a grin. An unexpected surprise.

"Hello, Keith?"

His grandfather's hoarse voice shifted his attention from his laptop screen to his smartphone.

"Still sleeping?"

"Yes, until you call me and disturb my sleeping time, Damn Grandson," came the voice of laughter from his grandfather. "I hope what you will say is worth the sacrifice I lost for my nap."

"Did you remember our plan to acquire the Hermann Co.?"

"Of course I still remember. And then?"

"I just met one of his grandchildren. Rosemarie Clark. Ring a bell?"

His grandfather was silent for a moment. "Si. As far as I can remember, she's one of James Hermann's grandchildren. Her position in her extended family is not strong because her parents were always underestimated by her grandfather, but I have to admit that she managed to build her company into a large company in less than ten years by herself."

"I just knew about that part from you. I think we can use it as part of our plan, Nonno."

"You mean you plan to marry her?"

"More precisely, she just proposed to me earlier," he said, glancing behind the door to his room which actually did not allow him to see the figure of that arrogant woman.

"Reject it, then," replied his grandfather quickly. He could imagine his grandfather currently picking up his walking stick while shaking his head with a sour expression. “I think this is also the right time to tell you, my grandson. Last week I found the right woman that suits the criteria to be your wife."

“Then I also have the right to decline it," he leaned back in his office chair, taking his eyes away from the fifteen-inch laptop screen. "I agree being the leader of the Aldebrando group doesn't mean that Nonno can control my life."

"What's my fault? I just want to see a child coming from you as soon as possible."

It was clear that his grandfather did not want to be blamed. He continued his words. “Besides, her proposal came at the right time. That company will continue to grow, Nonno. And we need it to disguise the buying and selling of weapons that we have always done quietly and are full of risks. If we can acquire this company and make it our own, well, can Nonno imagine how much profit we can make?"

"You've got a point there. Then what's your plan? Why are you so sure that that woman won't withdraw her marriage proposal?"

“Perche? No reason. Besides, I only need to get married and divorce her a year or two after the company become in our hands."

"Son, I have to admit that your thoughts are too innocent. I won't be surprised if you fall in love with her later."

"It will not happen."

“You can say it like that now. Try to tell me when you've spent your time with that woman, and I will believe what you said earlier. "

“Suit yourself. Va bene. That means Nonno agrees with me. Buona giornata. "

He hung up before his grandfather had time to protest further, snorting irritably at the thought of his grandfather. He shoved his smartphone back into his pocket, then closed his eyes, trying to sleep before he heard the sound of the door, which was not someone who waited patiently. It must be Alan. Only that person had that bad habit of knocking in such a rude way.

"Come in!"

***