As Rene escorted Gunnar to his car, the tension of the meeting gradually dissipated into the warm morning air. The black SUV gleamed in the sunlight as the driver opened the door for them.Gunnar settled into the back seat with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "That was quite the meeting," he said, his tone more relaxed now that they were outside the confines of the conference room.Rene nodded, his face still composed as he slid in beside Gunnar. "Indeed, it was. But there's more to be done."Gunnar glanced at Rene, curiosity piqued. "What's next on the agenda?""I think you should head back to the company first," Rene suggested, his voice calm and deliberate.Gunnar raised an eyebrow. "Why's that? Aren't you coming with me?"Rene shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "No, I need to go back in for Maria. Now that she decided to take a stand, I don't need their negativity corrupting her mind."Understanding dawned on Gunnar's face, and he nodded slowly. "Ah, I see
Rome's eyes darkened with concern as he watched the fear spread across Catherine's face. He quickly reached for her hand, holding it firmly in his. "Hey, it's alright," he said softly, trying to soothe her. "It's just a glass of wine. Don't let your mind run wild."Catherine's gaze remained fixed on the shattered glass, her breath coming in shallow bursts. "But... Rene," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I just... I have a bad feeling. What if something's wrong?"Rome squeezed her hand gently, trying to steady her. "You're letting your motherly instincts get the best of you," he said in a calm, reassuring tone. "Rene is a grown man. He can handle himself. You know how strong and capable he is."Catherine bit her lip, her eyes still wide with anxiety. "I know, but... you know how it is. Sometimes, as a mother, you just feel things. And right now, I feel like something's not right."Rome sighed inwardly, knowing how deeply Catherine's instincts ran when it came to their son. He didn't
In the silence of his office, Jason leaned back in his chair, still nursing the ache in his nose, a scowl etched on his face. The taste of blood was still fresh in his mouth, but the ringing phone on his desk demanded his attention. He glanced at the screen and recognized the number.He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and pressed the answer button."What’s the update?" he demanded, his voice clipped and cold."We've got eyes on him," the voice on the other end reported. "But there’s a problem. It looks like Kia is aware we're tailing him."Jason sat up straighter, a spark of irritation flashing in his eyes. "He knows?""Yeah, boss. He’s checking the mirrors, and his driving is getting a bit erratic like he’s trying to shake us off."Jason’s scowl deepened. This was supposed to be simple, and now Kia was making things complicated. "What about Maria?" he asked, his tone dismissive."She's in the car with him," the voice replied. "They seem to be heading out of the city."Jaso
As the clock ticking got louder, Jason tapped his fingers on the edge of his desk, his patience wearing thin. Each second felt like an hour. He had expected an update by now, something to confirm that the plan had gone off without a hitch. Instead, there was nothing but silence, and it was gnawing at him. “Where the hell are they?” he muttered under his breath, standing up abruptly. The silence in the room felt suffocating, the only sound was the rhythmic thud of his boots against the hardwood floor as he began pacing. He tried to distract himself, focus on something else—anything—but his mind kept circling back to the same question: 'Why hadn’t they called?'Anxiety was creeping in, an uncomfortable itch he couldn’t shake. His gut told him something wasn’t right, but he shoved the thought aside. He had learned to trust his instincts in this business, yet today, his nerves felt raw, and exposed. His jaw clenched. It was supposed to be a simple job. Why the hell was it taking so lo
Ignoring his father's question, Jason stood motionless, staring at the TV in disbelief. The reality of what had just happened hit him like a punch in the gut. His men were the ones critically injured in the accident, not Kia or Maria. Everything had gone wrong, horribly wrong. He could feel his father’s eyes burning into the side of his face, but he couldn’t bring himself to meet his gaze."Jason!" Antonio snapped, his voice sharp and commanding.Jason flinched, finally tearing his eyes away from the screen. His father, Antonio, was no longer smiling. His face was a mask of fury, the vein in his temple pulsing visibly."How the hell did things get this out of hand?" Antonio demanded, his voice low but seething with anger. "This was supposed to be clean! A warning at most, not this... mess!"Staring blankly at him, Jason opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He was still reeling from the realization that his men were the ones lying in the hospital, and he had no idea wh
Drawing a deep breath, Rene stood by the restaurant window, the phone pressed to his ear as he stared out into the evening glow.The conversation with Catherine had barely registered in his mind. His thoughts were a whirlwind, trying to piece together the events of the past hour—the chase, the black vans, the unsettling calmness he’d felt when they’d narrowly escaped."Are you alright, Rene?" Catherine’s concerned voice came through the phone, pulling him back to the present.With a deep sigh, Rene blinked, his eyes focusing on his reflection in the window. He was about to answer when something behind him caught his attention.He turned and saw Maria sitting at the table, her posture stiff, and next to her was a man he didn’t recognize, leaning casually in the seat Rene had vacated. Maria’s face was tight with discomfort, her hands balled into fists in her lap."I’m going to have to call you back," Rene said abruptly, his tone hardening as he tucked his phone away without waiting for a
As Rene stood over Benjamin, the whole restaurant seemed to be holding its breath. The manager had rushed over with two security guards, but they hesitated, unsure of how to proceed as Benjamin, heir to the Leland family, lay bloodied on the floor. Meanwhile, the whispers from the other patrons swirled in the air, a mix of shock, judgment, and curiosity.Benjamin struggled to push himself up, wiping the blood from his nose. His face contorted with anger as he glared at Rene. "You think you can just kick me around? Do you even know who I am? The Lelands can ruin you. You’ll regret this, you nobody."Meeting his raging eyes, Rene didn’t flinch. He let out a small, almost amused chuckle and then spoke, his voice calm but carrying a weight that made the room quiet again. "Benjamin Leland, right? I know exactly who you are. But it looks like you have no idea who you're dealing with."Benjamin scoffed, but Rene wasn’t finished. "Let me make one thing very clear. You think throwing your famil
Ignoring the sudden quiet around them, Rene's eyes remained locked on Benjamin as he took a slow breath, allowing the weight of the silence in the room to settle. Benjamin, still clutching his nose, was struggling to maintain his composure. The tension between them crackled in the air as Rene stepped closer, his voice calm yet full of authority."Option one, apologize to my wife," Rene said, his tone cold and uncompromising. His gaze bore into Benjamin, leaving no room for negotiation. "Option two, apologize to my wife."Benjamin hesitated, glancing nervously between Rene and Maria. He wiped the blood from his nose again, the fear in his eyes clear now."I… I’m sorry," he muttered under his breath, barely audible.Rene didn’t move, his posture still intimidating. "Louder," he demanded. "And look her in the eyes when you say it."With a shaky breath, Benjamin straightened up and turned toward Maria. His voice cracked as he forced the words out. "I’m… I’m sorry, Maria. I shouldn’t have—
After a silent momet, Maria took a slow, steadying breath, rolling her shoulders back as if the motion could shake off the tension still clinging to her.She didn’t look at Rene, not right away. Instead, she reached for her phone on his desk and walked off, keeping her stepped steady.Rene exhaled, running a hand through his hair before moving toward her. Just as he reached for the door handle, his office phone rang, and Marco eyed him but said nothing, and Rene hesitated.His jaw tensed. He debated letting it go to voicemail, but something about the timing made him reconsider. With a reluctant sigh, he reached for the receiver, pressing it to his ear.“Hello.”“Ah, Kia,” came the familiar voice of Mr. Rossi, and Rene straightened, his fingers tightening slightly on the phone.“Mr. Rossi,” he greeted, flicking his gaze toward Maria. She was watching him now, her expression unreadable.“Maria’s with you? I called her office and she's not there.” the old man asked, his tone sharp with e
The moment Maria stepped into the room, the atmosphere shifted. Her heels clicked sharply against the polished floor, each step deliberate, each movement laced with unspoken authority. Her eyes locked onto Layla standing far too close to Rene, her fingers still resting lightly on the edge of his desk.Maria didn’t hesitate.She approached Rene with a slow, graceful stride before leaning down and claiming his lips, tasting him.Immediately, his hand settling on her waist, pulling her into him, matching her pace. When Maria finally pulled away, she didn’t move far. Instead, she turned, her gaze finding Layla as she lowered herself onto Rene’s lap as though there were no other chair in the room.As their eyes locked, Layla stiffened.Maria smiled, not wide, not exaggerated, just enough to show that she was perfectly at ease. Perfectly in control.“Oh, Layla,” she finally said, her voice warm, smooth. “I didn’t realize we had company.”Layla opened her mouth, but no words came. The confid
Marco didn’t flinch. His deadpan expression remained as he stood his ground, his gaze locked on Layla’s. “Not without permission, you don’t.”Rene, who had been watching the exchange with mild curiosity, leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together as he studied Layla’s expression. There was something different about her...something urgent, determined. “Marco, let her through,” Rene finally said, his tone calm but commanding.Marco hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping aside, though his gaze lingered on Layla for a beat longer than necessary, a silent warning passing between them.Layla didn’t acknowledge him. Instead, she strode forward, stopping just short of Rene’s desk. She placed both hands on the polished wood, leaning in slightly, her eyes dark with intensityThen her lips curled into a coy smile as she crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly, her gaze locking onto René’s with a teasing glint.“Hi,” she whispered.René remained unfazed, his expressio
Drawing a deep breath, Rene sat back in his leather chair, casually leaning his elbows on the armrests, eyes scanning the office around him. Across from him, Marco stood, hands still tucked into his pockets, his expression as deadpan as ever. René glanced at him and then, with a small grin, spoke in his calm, collected voice."Marco, I need you to understand something. This whole job I hire you for... it doesn't run on loyalty to anyone else. It runs on loyalty to me. I need to know everything that’s going on in this building. You get me?"Locking eyes with him, Marco nodded, his gaze steady. "Yes, boss.""And that means," René continued, leaning forward slightly, "you don’t take orders from anyone unless they come directly from me. Not from Mr. Rossi, not from my wife Maria, not even from my so-called in-laws." He paused, giving Marco a pointed look. "Your loyalty is mine and mine alone.""Understood, boss." Marco’s tone didn’t waver. His dead-eyed stare might have been unsettling
Drawing a deep breath, Alejandro stood in the middle of his destroyed office, his breathing heavy, fists still clenched, when the knock on the door came again.For a moment, he ignored it, staring at the shattered remains of the vase, the overturned coffee table, and the scattered papers. He wasn’t in the mood for company, and whoever was at the door was the last thing on his mind.The knock came again, a little more insistent this time.With a growl of frustration, Alejandro wiped a hand over his face, trying to collect himself. “Come in,” he barked, not bothering to hide the irritation in his voice.The door creaked open, and in stepped a timid figure... a man Alejandro immediately recognized. It was Derek, the guy his grandfather had laid off earlier this morning. He was dressed simply, his face pale and anxious, clearly not expecting to find Alejandro amidst the ruins of what used to be a pristine office.The second Derek saw the mess and Alejandro’s furious glare, he froze in t
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
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
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
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