3. BRUTAL

My eyes flew open at the sound of a loud cough, and I was met with the slight darkness of the room. Every window and door had been shut at my command, and the only light illuminating the space was a dim red glow from the far end of the room.

I turned to see someone on my bed coughing and adjusting herself before diving into another round of heavy snoring. She sounded like an over-packed truck, and that pissed me off. My hand connected with the mini apple-shaped table beside my bed, producing a bang loud enough to shake the building.

The lady bolted upright, her eyes wide with fear as she scanned her surroundings, making sure a war had not broken out.

“What are you?” I growled deeply, my voice laced with irritation. She sat there, looking at me with the blanket around her heaving chest.

“Did I just ask a statue a question? Am I not talking to a human? Cat got your tongue!?” The questions flew out of my mouth endlessly while she trembled at the sharpness of my tone.

She managed to find her voice but struggled to speak clearly. “You… I… got here… last night… we… slept… don’t you remember?”

A short silence followed before I thundered again. “So? If you are the bed warmer, what are you still doing here? Did you not have enough fun last night? Do you want me to go another round?” My hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her head back.

Her voice suddenly returned with clarity. “No, sir! I had enough fun!” she exclaimed, slapping my hand off.

That pissed me off even more. How dare she? How dare she touch me without permission? I didn’t realize when my hands wrapped around her neck, pressing down in annoyance.

She struggled for her life, gasping and clawing at my hands, but I wasn’t done with her. She had no manners, and I had to teach her some. Getting cheeky with me was one of the things I hated most. Not even now that I was coming back from the land of the dead and was filled with rage.

A loud bang landed on my door, jolting me back to the present. I released her roughly, and she flew out of my bed, not bothering to cover herself as she scrambled toward Bojana’s side, crying and breathing heavily.

“You didn’t have to make her see the door of heaven when you could chase her out politely after she warmed your bed,” Bojana stated as she walked closer, picking up the blanket to cover the trembling woman.

“Did I not tell you that I never want to see them beside me when I wake up?” I roared, making the lady jump in fear.

Bojana, however, was unfazed. She had been with me for too long to be shaken by my outbursts. She just calmly told the woman to follow her.

Before leaving, she turned and smirked. “Don’t forget your meeting by ten. You look like you had some fun and she served you well. Only if you weren’t an asshole with a nasty temper.” She clacked her tongue and walked out of the room with the woman in tow.

Bojana was right. My temper was nasty. I didn’t hold back when I was livid, and I hated being dared. I loved my rules being kept, and I gave no room for second chances. I wasn’t that generous.

She was my aide and the only person who understood me. She knew what I wanted at all times and never pried into what I didn’t tell her because she understood that either I wasn’t ready to share, or I never would.

She was also a longtime friend. The first person who warmed up to me when I got to Italy. And thankfully, our goals aligned. We weren’t where we aimed to be yet, but we were steadily moving up the ladder. The goal was right in front of us.

The dream I had played over and over in my head as I showered and dressed for my meeting. My mood had already hit rock bottom from the early morning, and thinking about the report I received the previous night, I knew the day wouldn’t be one filled with smiles. And, as always, I was prepared.

The cold morning air brushed against my face as I stepped outside. Bojana was already standing by the car, her knee-length black skirt hugging her form perfectly. The tiny slit along her thigh revealed just enough skin, while her purple shirt was neatly tucked in. The transparent white glasses on her nose gave her an air of authority.

I smirked. “One would think you were my secretary. What’s with the outfit? You are being extra,”

She raised a brow. “I play different roles in your life every day, and today, I think secretary is the next one. You didn’t forget about the visit to the Orange Hub later in the day, right?” She gestured toward the car for me to get in.

I slid into the seat, exhaling. “I see…”

“Taken care of,” she interjected. “No charges will be pressed. But could you, please, be a little gentler with them? You made a great mess.” She snapped at me.

I scoffed. “They wanted money, I wanted their body. It’s a win-win. Money isn’t easy to make—they have to prove their worth.” I spat unapologetically.

Bojana sighed in frustration. “Why do I even bother? Talking to you is like talking to a stone.” She gave up as the car pulled up in front of the company.

The towering glass building loomed over us as we stepped out. The security detail stationed at the entrance immediately straightened as I walked past them, my presence commanding respect and fear.

I turned to Bojana as we ascended the stairs leading to the main entrance. “Everyone is in, right? I hate gathering people twice for the same cause.”

She smirked. “You should trust me on that. I don’t like wasting any second of my time either.” Her heels clicked against the marble floor as we walked deeper into the building.

The tension in the room thickened the moment I stepped into the boardroom. My team has members who were carefully handpicked for their skills and loyalty. They all sat around the long, sleek table, their faces were expectant yet cautious.

I took my seat at the head of the table, leaning back with an air of dominance. “Let’s begin.”

A man in a tailored navy suit, Runy, cleared his throat. “Sir, the shipments have arrived, but there was a slight…”

I cut him off with a sharp glare. “A slight what?”

He hesitated. “A slight complication with customs. Some documents were missing.”

I exhaled slowly, my fingers drumming against the table. “Handle it. I don’t care how. You have just three days to do that.”

Runy nodded quickly, sweat forming at his temple. He knew better than to make excuses.

Bojana leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with an amused expression. She always found it entertaining how easily I made grown men tremble.

After an hour of directives, threats, and finalizations, I stood up. The meeting was over.

As I stepped into the elevator, the polished silver doors reflected my cold expression.

“I am Rocco Lorenzo,” I muttered under my breath as the doors closed, sealing my world off from the rest.