Drowning in the quiet of his office, Carlo Rossi sat there, nursing a glass of whiskey. The dim lighting cast shadows on the wall and his face as the old man stared into his drink, his mind lost in thoughts of the past and the responsibilities that came with his name.The sudden sound of the door slamming open broke his reverie. Jason stormed in, his face flushed with anger, his eyes wild with frustration. Carlo looked up, his brow furrowing at the intrusion."Grandfather, you won't believe what just happened in the lobby!" Jason's voice was a mix of rage and nervousness.Glaring at his grandson, Carlo sighed, placing his glass down on the desk before clasping his hands together, "Calm down, Jason. What is it now?"Jason took a deep breath, his chest heaving. "It's Maria! She accused me in front of all the employees! She humiliated me, Grandfather! And Kia... he had the nerve to threaten me!"Seeing that his grandson was actually serious, Carlo's eyes narrowed, a flash of anger crossi
With a weak smile, Maria took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and placed her hand in Rene's."Let's go," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.Together, they walked down the long hallway towards Carlo Rossi's study. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken words and uncertainties.As they approached the study, the grand double doors loomed large, and Rene squeezed Maria's hand reassuringly before opening the door.They entered to find Carlo sitting behind his desk, his stern gaze fixed on them while Jason stood nearby, arms crossed, a smug expression on his face."Sit," Carlo commanded, his voice cold and authoritative.Staring down at the black couch, Maria and Rene obediently took seats in front of the desk, their hands still clasped together, and Carlo's eyes narrowed at the sight."Maria, Kia," Carlo began, his tone icy. "I've heard disturbing reports about your behavior today. Maria, you created a scene in the lobby and made serious accusations against Jas
The following morning, the first light of dawn was just beginning to filter through the heavy curtains of Maria and Rene's room. The peaceful silence was abruptly shattered by loud, relentless banging on the door.Rene, already half awake, gently turned to Maria, who had finally fallen asleep after a long, emotionally draining night of crying. She was curled up under the covers, her breathing even and calm. Not wanting to disturb her, Rene quietly got out of bed, wincing slightly as he stood. The noise continued, echoing through the room.With a deep breath, Rene walked over to the door and carefully opened it. His groggy eyes were met with a sight that jolted him fully awake. Standing in the doorway was Josh Sullivan, his face a storm of fury. Without a word of warning, Josh's fist shot out, connecting with Rene’s face in a brutal punch.The force of the blow sent Rene staggering back into the room, a sharp pain exploding across his nose. He barely had time to register what had happ
Groaning as his blurry vision cleared, Rene rubbed the back of his neck and then looked around, frowning at the familiarity of the room. He was back in his room at the safe house, and knowing that his father was behind his kidnap, he scowled and then woke from the bed. Just then his eyes caught a sight of Rome sitting on the balcony, and he sighed, approaching the glass door, and pushing it open.Calmly he walked over to Rome, drew out a chair, and sat, staring hard at his father. "You kidnapped me."Gazing at the bloodstain on his son's nose, Rome's brows furrowed and he calmly said, "Say the word.""What?" Rene mumbled and then he saw that his father was staring at his nose.Realizing what Rome meant, Rene drew a deep breath, leaning back as he stared at the sky before exhaling with a smile."I should, shouldn't I?" Rene mumbled, his smile faltering a bit. "After everything they have done, I should... But I can't.""Rene," Rome's voice raised slightly.Silent settled between the t
Looking away from his mother to stare at his buzzing phone, Gunnar stared at the name, "Boss Kia," on his phone before picking up the phone.Gunnar picked up the phone, taking a deep breath before answering. "Hey, Boss. What’s up? How did it go?""Let's meet up. I will send you the address." Gunnar’s brow furrowed as he listened to Rene’s voice on the other end."What's going on?"“Just meet me at the address I’m sending you... We need to discuss something important.”“Got it... I’ll head over there now."After ending the call, Gunnar looked up at Ruby and then stood from the couch. He approached her and kissed her on the cheek, saying, "Ma, I will be back."When she nodded with a faint beam, he returned a smile and then walked off, staring at his screen when his phone buzzed again.The music in Pub 200 was calm when Gunnar walked in a few minutes later. For a moment, he gazed around and then noticed Rene sitting at the far end of the bar, seated at a booth in a dimly lit corner. As
Rene took another sip of his drink, letting the anticipation build. “The first thing we need is a mansion,” he said, looking straight into Gunnar's eyes.“A mansion?” Gunnar repeated, arching an eyebrow. “You mean I need to live like one of them?”Rene nodded. “Exactly. You need to look the part, and that includes where you live. We’ll find a property that fits the profile of a wealthy investor or entrepreneur. It will be our base of operations and the place where you’ll entertain your new ‘friends’.”Gunnar leaned back, considering the enormity of the task. “Alright, a mansion. What’s next?”Rene’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Next, we go shopping. We need to get you some luxurious brand clothes. If you’re going to fit in, you need to dress like them. Think designer suits, expensive watches, the whole nine yards.”Gunnar chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ve never been one for fancy clothes, but I guess I can make an exception for this.”“And after that,” Rene continued, “we’ll get you
A wild laugh escaped Gunnar's lips, catching the barber off guard. The sheer audacity of the barber’s whisper, combined with the absurdity of the situation, struck him as unexpectedly hilarious. He glanced at Rene, who was obliviously enjoying his whiskey, and then at the barber, whose face had turned an uncomfortable shade of red.Gunnar cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "You are such a gullible idiot.""Huh?" The barber’s face twisted in confusion, and he looked from Gunnar to Rene, trying to make sense of the situation.Another laugh escaped Gunnar’s lips as he saw the confusion on the barber’s face. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure, and looked directly at the barber. "Ain't you?"Suddenly, Gunnar’s expression darkened, and a look of annoyance crossed his face."Yes. Yes. Of course. I am such a gullible idiot." The barber laughed, annoyed that he was getting scolded and not Rene. "Listen, I don’t need a lecture from you about firing my assist
Three months laterPushing the back of her head into the pillow, Maria lay in bed, clutching her phone, her eyes locked on the last message Rene had sent her a week ago. "Wait for me. I will see you soon."Those words echoed in her mind, a mixture of hope and despair twisting her heart. She wiped away the tears that rolled down the corner of her lids, wondering where he was and if he was safe. The silence from him for the past days had been excruciating. Just then, a knock on her door startled her from her thoughts. Then Rachel's voice came through. "Miss Maria, dinner is ready. Your family is waiting for you."With a deep breath, Maria forced herself to sit up, brushing away the remnants of her tears. "Thank you. I'll be down in a moment."Forcing herself out of her room, she headed downstairs, feeling the weight of her family's gaze as she entered the dining room. As her gaze lowered, Maria hesitantly took her seat at the table, her heart pounding in her chest. Just as she was abou