Rene paused, his hand hovering over the phone in his pocket, the persistent vibration pulling him back to the reality that had started to slip away in the serene space they’d found themselves in. But then, Maria’s voice, soft, broke through his hesitation.“Don’t,” she whispered, her breath warm against his neck as her fingers traced the fabric of his shirt, slowly making their way to the back of his neck. She pulled him closer, her voice barely audible, but the weight of her words was undeniable. “Not tonight.”Her request was gentle but firm, and it sent a shiver down Rene’s spine. He could feel the tension melting away between them, replaced by something far deeper, more intense. His hand dropped away from the phone, and he let out a quiet breath, turning his full attention back to Maria.Their eyes met, and in the flickering candlelight, the world outside felt distant, insignificant. The frustration, the anger that had been lingering between them, all of it dissolved as Maria m
The morning sun filtered through the soft curtains of the Rossi mansion, casting a warm glow across the master bedroom. Mr. Rossi sat on the edge of the bed, his brow furrowed, fingers tapping restlessly against his knee. He hadn’t slept much after the events of the previous night. Madam Rossi, still in her silk robe, sat at the vanity, brushing her hair. She glanced at her husband, noticing the tension in his posture, the way he seemed lost in thought.“They’re not home yet, are they... Maria and Kia?” Mr. Rossi asked, his voice low, though it held an edge of concern.His wife paused for a moment, setting down her brush before turning to face him. “No, they’re not,” she replied calmly, though there was a hint of curiosity in her voice. She noticed the way his shoulders were stiff, the way his fingers had stilled their tapping and now pressed into his palms.She frowned slightly, studying him. “What’s on your mind?” she asked, her tone soft.Mr. Rossi sighed deeply, running a hand
In the dimly lit study of the Rossi mansion, Jason, Antonio, Layla, and Bianca sat in tense silence, each of them processing the events of the previous night. The air felt tense with the weight of their unspoken thoughts, their faces betraying a mix of shock and uncertainty.Antonio sat at his desk, fingers drumming against the wood, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the next step. Across from him, Jason leaned casually in his chair, his eyes sharp and calculating, while Layla sat beside him, her expression unreadable. Bianca, meanwhile, slouched in an armchair near the window, her brows furrowed in frustration.Finally, it was Bianca who broke the silence, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Well, now that Kia doesn’t have Mr. Gunnar’s protection, he’s no threat anymore. We don’t have to worry about him.”Her words were met with a sharp glare from both Jason and Antonio. Jason shifted in his seat, his gaze hardening as he turned toward his sister.“Bianca,” he said, his to
The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as Juan paced back and forth in his study, his hands clasped behind his back. His children... Princess, Alejandro, José, Luis, and Luca sat in various states of boredom or concern around the long table. The dim lighting cast shadows across the study, making the atmosphere feel heavier than usual.Suddenly, Juan stopped, turning to face them. "You all understand what happened last night, right?"Princess, leaning lazily against the armrest of her chair, rolled her eyes as she let out, "Yeah, Dad, we get it. Kia embarrassed the Lelands, and now everyone’s acting like he’s some kind of genius.""Exactly," Juan replied, his voice carrying a tinge of frustration. "And if Father can take Alejandro’s position in the family and just hand it over to someone like Kia, what does that mean for the rest of us?"Alejandro, who had been sitting quietly in the corner with his arms crossed, looked up sharply. His jaw was tight, and his eyes glinted
Monday9:00 A.MAs his eyes hardened, Alejandro slammed the drawer shut, stuffing the last of his files into a black leather briefcase. The faint sound of his office door opening went unnoticed until the hurried click of heels caught his attention. "Morning boss... What's going on?" his assistant, Jessica, asked, her voice laced with concern. She stopped in the doorway, eyes wide, taking in the sight of her usually composed boss in the middle of packing his things. “Are you… leaving?”Reaching for another folder, Alejandro didn’t look up immediately, but the scowl on his face deepened. “It’s happening,” he muttered darkly. “That lowlife, that nobody, is taking my position.”As her brows drew together, Jessica’s heart sank. She had heard whispers in the office, but to see it unfold like this, right in front of her, made the situation all too real. "Kia?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Yeah, my so-called cousin-in-law," Alejandro spat, throwing another folder into his bri
The doors of Rossi Enterprises slid open with a soft hiss, and in walked Rene. He wore a sharp black suit, perfectly tailored to his lean frame, with a crisp white shirt and no tie, giving him a mix of sophistication and rebellion. His dark hair was swept back neatly, and there was an effortless swagger in his step. But what really turned heads was the guy trailing behind him—a cocky-looking dude with dead eyes, like he had seen too much and cared too little. His expression screamed "try me," and his hands were casually tucked into his pockets. Whispers started almost immediately as René strode through the lobby.“Is that… Maria's husband?”“That’s Kia. You know, the guy who-”“Yeah, I heard. He destroyed the Lelands last night... used Mr. Gunnar to get them down on their knees.”“Wait, isn’t he taking over Alejandro’s position? How did that even happen?”As their faint whispers brushed against his ears, René’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smirk, like he knew exactly wha
Without sparing a second glance at Rene, Jessica stormed out of the office, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she clenched her fists at her sides. HHer mind was racing, fury bubbling just beneath the surface as she thought, 'Fired? Just like that? I don't think so."As she reached the elevator, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She was going to fix this. She knew exactly where to go.The elevator doors opened, and Jessica stepped inside, tapping the button for the executive floor. A plan was already forming in her head. She knew how to play her cards right... after all, she had been working in this family’s empire long enough to know how things worked.When the elevator dinged on the executive floor, Jessica straightened her posture, letting her face soften into a look of vulnerability. She walked briskly to Carlo’s secretary’s desk, her expression shifting from anger to desperation.“Hi, I need to speak with Mr. Rossi. It’s urgent,” Jessica said, her vo
As the silence dragged on, Jessica sat there, still on her knees in front of Carlo Rossi's desk, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to hold onto her fragile mask of vulnerability. Her heart raced, hoping that the call Carlo just made would secure her place in the company again, that everything would go as she planned. She waited for the door to open, fully expecting to see Rene walk in.But when the door creaked open, it wasn’t Rene.It was Alejandro.Jessica’s stomach dropped the moment their eyes met.Standing in the doorway, Alejandro’s face twisted in anger the second he saw her kneeling on the floor. His dark eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed into a tight, furious line as he stormed into the room, the tension in his body unmistakable.“Grandfather,” Alejandro greeted, his voice tight, barely masking his rage. “What’s this about?”Quickly, she scrambled to her feet, heart pounding, and brushed off her skirt. She opened her mouth to speak, to explain herself, but th