With a scowl, Leonardo Varga walked into the dimly lit lounge, the scent of whiskey and cigars hanging in the air. His eyes scanned the room until he spotted Benjamin Leland slouched at the bar, nursing a drink. A casual smirk curved his lips, and Leonardo strode over, his polished shoes clicking against the wooden floor."Benjamin," he greeted smoothly, sliding into the seat next to him. "Rough today?"Sighing deeply, Benjamin glanced at Leonardo through bloodshot eyes, his face still bruised and swollen from the earlier encounter. "You could say that," he muttered, swirling his drink. "I’m sure you’ve already heard about my little… incident."Leonardo chuckled lightly, signaling the bartender to bring him a drink. "I did. It’s all anyone’s talking about. You, getting humiliated by some no-name like Kia. Unbelievable."As his eyes hardened, Benjamin’s grip tightened around his glass, his knuckles turning white. "I don’t want to talk about it.""Fair enough," Leonardo said, taking
Holding back his words, Rene scratched at his eyes, struggling to rein in the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. His pulse was racing, and just as he was about to respond to Carlo’s cutting words, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, ignoring the frustrated glances from the rest of the Rossi family.Carlo’s brow furrowed in disbelief, his sharp gaze cutting through the room. "You dare ignore me? After everything I’ve said?"But Rene didn’t answer right away. Instead, he glanced at the phone screen and saw it was his father calling. He immediately felt a wave of relief—anything to pull him out of this tense situation. He met Maria’s concerned gaze, sensing her unease.“I have to take this,” Rene said, his voice low, though he knew it wouldn’t ease the tension in the room.Maria’s eyes widened slightly, and she reached out, gently grabbing his arm. “Kia, don’t... he’ll take offense if you walk off now. This isn’t-”Before she could finish, Rene leaned in, kiss
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
A hush swept over the ballroom, heads turned. Glasses paused mid-air. Even the chandelier light seemed to bend its attention toward the entrance.She stood there... Catherina Ford.Grace was too small a word.She didn’t walk in, she arrived... poised like she owned the ground beneath her heels. Her dress was a deep emerald silk, folding around her like liquid elegance. Hair up in a classic twist, neck adorned with a single strand of pearls that looked like they'd been fished from the private vaults of royalty. Not a wrinkle in her brow, not a misplaced gesture. Only presence.And it was majestic.Mr. Rossi’s jaw dropped open, actually dropped, hanging loose like a broken hinge before he caught himself with a little cough and a half-step forward.“My God,” he muttered. “Is that-?”Gunnar turned toward the entrance as well, brow lifting in curiosity.Rossi's voice was low but urgent. “Gunnar… please tell me you invited her. We’re not… we’re not close enough to the Fords.”But Gunnar onl
The Rossi convoy pulled into the circular drive of the Grand Meridian, the most opulent skyscraper in the city... glass and steel stretching into the stars. Paparazzi flashes crackled beyond the velvet ropes, their lights bouncing off the tinted windows of the luxury cars. Valets and security formed tight lines, working in sharp, clean choreography.The first wave of family emerged... Mr. Rossi leading with Madam Rossi at his side, flanked by Jason, Antonio, Layla, Bianca, Princess, and the others.Then Maria and Rene stepped out next. He stayed by her side, arm tucked beneath hers, smile faint but present, expression unreadable beneath the golden lights of the entrance.The guards nodded. The family entered.But Alejandro didn’t.He stood off to the side, just beyond the corner of the building where the cameras couldn’t see, leaning against his Jaguar, one leg crossed over the other, a cigarette burning low between his fingers.His tuxedo was only half-buttoned, hair tousled like he'
Maria stood near the window, phone pressed to her ear, her back straight, voice low. She wore a floor-length gown of deep emerald, sleeveless with a high collar and a low, scooped back that exposed the elegant arch of her spine. The silk flowed like water over her body, and her earrings... a cute glimmer of green stones... brought the whole look together with effortless grace.She ended the call with a sigh just as the bathroom door behind her opened.Rene stepped out, adjusting the cufflinks on his crisp white shirt. But it was the suit that caught the room.He wore a midnight black tuxedo, tailored to precision... sharp lapels trimmed in a sheen of satin, shoulders squared, waist nipped, the cut hugging his frame like it had been made by hands that knew him well. Beneath the jacket, the subtle gleam of a black silk vest peeked through, layered over a charcoal-gray shirt with the top buttons undone just enough to be daring, but not vulgar. A small silver pin was fixed on his lapel, a
The evening of the party had arrived.Beyond the grand windows of the Rossi estate, the sky bled into twilight, a deep indigo shroud setting the stage for the storm that loomed unseen. The Rossi residence shimmered with golden light, and distant voices echoed in the halls.The party.The celebration no one could stop.In the master bedroom on the top floor, the world was quieter... thicker with tension.Madam Rossi stood before the ornate mirror, a dark sapphire gown hugging her figure like silk. Her hands were at her sides, clenched and still. The diamonds at her ears glinted like ice, and the sharp bones of her face gave her a statue-like elegance. Yet the furrow between her brows betrayed her.Behind her, Mr. Rossi was finishing the final touches. He moved with an eerie calm, slipping the delicate chain of her necklace into place around her neck. His fingers were steady as always. Precise. Cold.“Your hands haven’t aged,” she murmured, watching his reflection. “Even after all these
The dining room was uncomfortably quiet without Maria and Rene.Jason sat at the head of the long table, his hand around a half-filled glass of wine, his eyes dull and unblinking. Layla sat beside him, unusually still, her perfectly styled hair tucked behind one ear, a forced smile frozen on her lips. Juan and Antonio were seated opposite each other, eating calmly but watching everyone else with barely disguised suspicion.No one spoke unless necessary. Only the soft clinking of silverware and the occasional shifting of chairs filled the room. A storm brewed behind every glance, every twitch of a brow, every sip of water. It was the kind of quiet that could split open at the slightest provocation.Abruptly, Layla’s phone buzzed sharply against the table, slicing through the silence. She flinched. Glancing down at the screen, her stomach turned."Dad."She cleared her throat gently, offering a courteous smile to the table.“Excuse me,” she said, her voice smooth, though her fingers gri
Rene tilted his head slightly, the faintest curve of a smile teasing at the corner of his lips. He gave a soft, contemplative hmm, as though the matter were merely an intellectual exercise. The silence dragged, intentionally, until even Madam Rossi’s fork stilled halfway to her mouth.“I must say,” Rene began, voice light, polite, dangerously unbothered, “you make a compelling case, sir. Betrayal, dishonor, public shame… It’s almost Shakespearean.” He set his water glass down with an elegant clink. “But there’s just one problem.”Mr. Rossi’s eyes narrowed to slits.“I didn’t betray anyone,” Rene said, voice sharpening beneath the charm. “I didn’t cheat. I didn’t lie. And I certainly didn’t ask to be used as some sacrificial pawn in your public relations game.”Jason scoffed quietly, just loud enough to be heard. “You act like you’re above the family, like none of this matters to you.”Rene turned his gaze slowly, lazily, toward Jason. “Oh, it matters. Just not the way you want it to.”
The early morning light spilled through the sheer curtains, casting pale gold streaks across the floorboards. Rene stood shirtless before the mirror, the soft scratch of gauze brushing against his ribs as he wrapped the bruises with practiced ease.The muscles in his shoulders twitched slightly at every pull, his face set in quiet concentration. The wound, though shallow, was enough to remind him of the night before... of passion, of pain, and of the call that followed.He barely flinched as he secured the bandage with a strip of medical tape, the sting long dulled. The quiet was broken by a knock on the door.Maria stirred from the bed, tangled in the sheets. Her voice was groggy, but steady. “I’ll get it.”She padded across the room, pulling his shirt over her shoulders, and cracked the door open. One of the younger maids stood there, neatly dressed with her hands clasped in front of her. She dipped into a polite bow.“Good morning, Miss Maria. Your grandfather requests your presenc
Suddenly, Rene rose from the bed, reaching for his belt and unbuckling it. He tossed it aside, then pulled his T-shirt over his head, throwing it across the room as well. His jeans followed quickly after, and when he threw them all aside, his boxer was the only piece left.Rene stared at her for another moment, his eyes flickering down her body. Then, he smiled faintly, a little selflessly, “What now?" Staring down at him, Maria’s breath hitched. Her eyes moved over the bruises on his ribs, the faint marks across his skin. Her hand reached out instinctively, trembling slightly as it hovered near his side.But Rene stepped forward, catching her wrist in his hand and gently lowering it. His touch was warm, patient, but there was finality in it.“Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured, his voice low with a hint of pleading. “Not today.”Maria opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss, soft at first. His lips brushed hers like a question, not a demand. She exhaled ag
Staring ahead, Gunnar reclined on the leather couch in his private office, one ankle resting casually atop his knee, a tumbler of untouched whiskey in one hand. The room was dim, bathed in the warm golden hue of late afternoon light. The only sound was the faint ticking of the antique clock mounted above the fireplace.Across from him, Rene sat stiffly, one arm draped over the couch’s backrest, the other nursing his ribs with deliberate restraint. A thin bruise was forming along his jawline, still fresh from his father’s rage. He wore it like an afterthought, uninterested in pity."Will you tell me who did that?" Gunnar asked, lowering his gaze to the cut."No," Rene said casually.Just then, Gunnar’s phone buzzed on the table between them.He glanced down at the screen, then back at Rene. “Your grandfather-in-law is calling.”Rene smirked faintly, though his eyes remained dull. “Answer it.”Gunnar hesitated only a moment, then tapped the screen. “Okay, boss.”He placed the phone on s