Closing the door behind him, Rene stepped into their bedroom and brought the phone to his ear."Rene," Rome’s voice came through with a mix of irritation and concern. "Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack? You promised to call her back, and you didn’t. What’s going on with you today?"Leaning against the edge of the bed, Rene sighed deeply. "Dad, I’m sorry. Too much has been happening today. I didn’t mean to worry her.""Too much?... You mean the attempted accident on you and Maria, or the little altercation with Benjamin Leland? Which one are we talking about here?""Of course, you already know... Both. It’s been a long day, Dad. Can we talk about it more tomorrow? I need to sort through all of this. Can you send someone to pick me up so we can meet up?""Of course. I’ll have someone there as soon as possible. But Rene, take care of yourself. This is serious, and I don’t like how things are escalating." Glancing toward the door as he heard the soft footsteps approachin
The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Maria stirred in her sleep, her face peaceful and relaxed, tangled in the soft sheets. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light. The first thing she noticed was Rene.He was lying beside her, propped up on one elbow, watching her with a gentle smile. His dark eyes softened with affection, and his fingers absentmindedly played with a strand of her hair. The warmth of his gaze made her heart swell. It was a rare sight—Rene, so unguarded, so completely hers in this quiet moment.“Morning,” Maria whispered, her voice still thick with sleep as she shifted closer to him, nuzzling against his chest. “Morning,” Rene murmured back, brushing his thumb lightly across her cheek. His voice was deeper in the early hours, rich with that sleepy warmth that made her want to stay wrapped up in bed with him forever.For a while, they just stayed like that, the world outside forgotten. The tension o
As the tension in the room thickened, Maria’s heart sank, and her fingers trembled slightly as they gripped the edge of her chair. Across the table, her grandfather narrowed his eyes at Rene, his steely gaze demanding an explanation."And why is that?" Carlo asked, his voice low and dangerous, barely masking his displeasure.Rene, calm and unbothered, leaned back in his chair, meeting the older man’s gaze without flinching. “I have to go to work,” he said, his tone casual but carrying an edge.Carlo’s brow furrowed. “Work? I wasn’t aware that work was more important than keeping the peace between families. What kind of job could possibly take priority over this?”Rene’s lips curved into a faint smile. He knew exactly how to shift the power in the room. “Mr. Gunnar expects me to be at the office all the time... I can't just excuse him because of someone like Benjamin, can I?” he said, letting the name hang in the air with just the right amount of weight.At the mention of Mr. Gunnar
In the dimly lit office of Rossi Enterprises, Jason leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the table. His jaw was set, his patience wearing thin. Across from him, Antonio paced the room, his expression a storm cloud of frustration. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the soft ticking of the wall clock.“Kia’s really grown wings since he started working with Gunnar,” Jason finally said, his voice laced with irritation. “He’s been acting like he’s untouchable. If we don’t clip them soon, he’s going to be a real problem.”As Antonio stopped pacing, his eyes narrowed, and he sighed, "You’re not wrong. Kia’s getting cocky, thinking he’s bigger than this family. We can’t let him run loose, not with the connections he’s building... He's getting good at using powerful people's names as a shield."Jason leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with an almost predatory glint. “So, what do we do? We need to send a message. If we let this slide, it’ll only make us look weak.”
Rene sat down across from his father, the thick folders in front of him, hesitating to reach for it.Then he glanced at Rome, who was casually sipping his champagne, a calculated calm in his demeanor. Finally, Rene exhaled and reached for the first folder, flipping it open. Inside were pages of detailed reports, photos, and dossiers, all about a gang he didn't recognize."The Marran Group." He mumbled, staring hard at the faces and dead eyes in the photos."They were known for their ruthlessness, particularly in the underground world. Not just some small-time crew, but an organized crime syndicate with ties all across the country. They were the kind of people you didn’t mess with unless you had a death wish." Rome let out as he reached for an empty glass and poured champagne, the sound of the liquid filling the glass breaking the silence in the room.Rene’s eyes narrowed as he continued to study the pages in front of him. The Marran Group wasn’t familiar to him, but the level of deta
As his mind nagged him with thoughts, Rene pushed through the revolving doors of ReF Inc.Despite the calm atmosphere, Rene’s pulse quickened. There was too much happening, too many pieces moving at once, and he knew he couldn’t afford to make any missteps. Between Jason Rossi’s desperation, the Marran Group, and the Leland family’s looming financial collapse, the pressure was mounting.Taking a deep breath, Rene crossed the lobby and headed toward the executive elevator. As the doors slid shut, his reflection stared back at him in the polished steel, his face betraying none of the restlessness beneath, and he let out a slow breath. The elevator chimed softly, and when the doors opened, Gunnar’s office came into view, and Rene adjusted his coat, marching over to it.Stopping in his tracks, Rene knocked, and then walked in, seeing Gunnar seated behind his desk."Boss," Gunnar greeted him as their eyes locked, rising to his feet. There was an ease in his posture, but his eyes were sha
Without a word, Carlo led Maria down the hallway, his stride steady, his hands clasped behind his back. She walked beside him, her pulse quickening as the silence settled between them. She stole a glance at her grandfather, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that he was taking her to lunch... just the two of them.The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and they stepped inside. The silence stretched on, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Still, Maria couldn’t help but wonder what this was really about. Was there an ulterior motive, or was her grandfather genuinely trying to spend time with her? She pushed the thought away, focusing on the moment.As the elevator descended, the polished steel doors reflected their stillness. Carlo’s expression remained as unreadable as ever, but Maria’s heart swelled a little, being this close to him.When the elevator finally opened into the front lobby of the company, the usual hum of activity greeted them. News about her getting th
Before Carlo could respond, the black SUV glided to a stop in front of them. The driver, dressed in his usual crisp black suit, stepped out and opened the door with a polite nod. With calm eyes, Carlo gestured for Maria to get in, and with a soft sigh, she slipped into the backseat. Her grandfather followed, settling in beside her. The car pulled away from the curb, merging smoothly into traffic.Keeping her silence, Maria stared out the window, her thoughts racing as her grandfather sat there, hands folded neatly in his lap, his gaze fixed ahead. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, a dozen questions swirling in her mind, but she kept them at bay for now.As the car drove through the city streets, Maria’s eyes drifted to the rearview mirror, catching glimpses of the buildings fading into the distance. Finally, the car slowed to a stop in front of an upscale restaurant nestled on a quiet street corner. 'La Maison Étoilée?' Maria thought, swallowing her nervousness.It was flashy