Maria’s eyes were fiery as she continued, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. “Why don’t we give Kia a position in the company and have him head the partnership with ReF Inc.?""What? What did you just say?" Josh blurted out, wondering if he had misheard her words. Sighing, Maria bit back her tongue for a moment and then said, "It was explicitly stated in the marriage contract that Kia would have a role in the company. He has a relationship with Mr. Gunnar, and this could help us more than just making a quick move with Antonio. Kia’s involvement would honor our promises and potentially strengthen our position with ReF Inc.”A murmur of surprise rippled through the room. The idea of giving Kia a leading role was unexpected, and Mr. Rossi’s eyebrows furrowed as he considered the implications. Antonio’s expression darkened with irritation, clearly disliking the challenge to his proposal.Josh’s face turned red with a mix of anger and disappointment. He glared at M
The restaurant was a cozy haven of ambient light and rich, warm colors. The aroma of fresh basil and garlic filled the air as Rene arrived at exactly 6:00, just as promised. He scanned the room for Maria, his heart beating a little faster at the anticipation of their evening together.The hostess greeted him with a warm smile. “Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?”“Yes, under the name Maria Rossi,” Rene replied, scanning the room for her.“Right this way,” the hostess said, leading him to a table near the window with a view of the city streets lit by the soft glow of streetlights.As Rene settled into his seat, he glanced at his watch. It wasn’t long before he saw Maria approaching, dressed elegantly in a teal dress that complemented her features perfectly, and her hair was pinned back loosely.Quickly, he stood from his seat, pulled a seat out for her, and pulled her into a hug. “You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered in her ear.Her heart fluttered as she felt the gent
The sound of the alarm clock was buzzing in Rene's ears, but his eyes were already wide open, staring unblinkingly at the ceiling.A faint crease formed on his forehead, and his breathing was slow, steady, and measured.Quietly, he slipped out of bed and padded to the bathroom, careful not to wake her. As he looked at himself in the mirror, his mind replayed the conversation from the previous night. The frustration and disappointment he felt were still fresh, like a wound that hadn't begun to heal.By the time he returned to the bedroom, Maria was stirring. She blinked a few times, then stretched, her eyes landing on Rene as he moved about the room, gathering his clothes for the day. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes."Good Morning," she said softly, her voice still husky with sleep."Morning," Rene replied, his tone flat. He didn't meet her gaze as he continued to get dressed.Maria's brow furrowed slightly. "Are you okay?""I'm fine," he said curtly, slipping on his shirt.She sigh
Maria drove through the bustling city streets, her fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel in rhythm with the music playing softly from the radio. Pulling up to the ReF Inc. building, she took a deep breath before stepping out of her car. She adjusted her blazer and walked with determined steps toward the entrance. The sleek, modern architecture of the building was impressive, and the glass doors reflected her confident stride as she approached.Inside, the lobby was a hive of activity, with people bustling about and phones ringing. Maria headed straight for the front desk, where a young receptionist greeted her with a polite smile."Good morning! How can I help you?" the receptionist asked."Good morning," Maria replied warmly. "I have an appointment with Mr. Gunnar."The receptionist's fingers flew over the keyboard as she checked the schedule. "May I have your name, please?""Maria Rossi."After a moment, the receptionist looked up with a nod. "Yes, Ms. Rossi. You're schedul
Watching her eyes, Rene could sense the tension, the uncertainty in her tone. "I will try," he replied quietly. "Can you wait until I get back?"Darting her eyes away from him, she hesitated but eventually gave a slight nod, and Rene turned and strode away, leaving the office.A moment later, he walked into Gunnar's office, casually flopping down onto the couch. He leaned back, eyes closed, and let out a heavy sigh. Hearing that, Gunnar, who had been working at his desk, looked up from his paperwork and stared for a long while hesitantly. Then finally, setting down his pen, he approached the couch and took a seat at the opposite end. "Boss, can I ask you something?" Gunnar's tone was cautious, but there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.The was a brief pause, and then Rene opened one eye, giving Gunnar a lazy glance. "Sure, Gunnar. What's on your mind?"Gunnar shifted in his seat, trying to gauge the best way to phrase his question. "Would you let Antonio take Maria's position
The sound of Rene storming into the office and the door slamming against the wall with a reverberating bang had Gunnar, who had been deeply engrossed in paperwork jolted upright in his chair, eyes wide with surprise.“Call Carlo’s office,” Rene commanded, his voice brimming with urgency and leaving no room for argument.Gunnar blinked, momentarily taken aback by the fierce determination etched on Rene's face. “I thought we were going to wait?” he stammered, confusion and concern mingling in his voice.Rene shook his head vehemently, his eyes blazing with an intense fire. “I changed my mind. Make the call and tell Mr. Rossi that you are willing to go over to the Rossi Enterprise and hear Antonio's proposal tomorrow.”Gunnar hesitated, the weight of the sudden shift in plans pressing down on him. “Are you sure about this? I mean, you were pretty clear about giving Maria time to-”“Just make the call, Gunnar,” Rene interrupted sharply. The rage in his eyes left no doubt—this was not a mo
As soon as Maria stepped through the grand entrance of the mansion, Princess, who was pacing in the hallway, spotted her and practically flew over. Without a word of greeting, she grabbed Maria’s arm and tugged her down the corridor.“Hey, what’s going on?” Maria asked, her voice laced with confusion as she stumbled to keep up.“Just trust me,” Princess said, her voice urgent. She didn’t look back, but Maria could see the intensity in her cousin’s eyes.Maria tried to pry her arm free, but Princess was relentless. “Seriously, Princess, where are we going? What are you doing?”“Just trust me!” Princess repeated, her tone brooking no argument. “You’ll understand in a minute.”They turned a corner and headed straight for her grandfather’s office. The tension between them spiked, and Maria’s nerves were getting the better of her. She felt a hint of frustration as they approached the heavy oak door.Without knocking, Princess swung it open and pulled Maria inside. The room was filled with
As the sound of the bathroom door opening echoed in his ear, Rene jumped slightly, looking back to see Maria standing in the doorway in her nightgown.Her eyes looked puffed, and Rene rested his toothbrush on the sink as he turned to face her properly, brows furrowed. “What’s wrong?” He asked softly. She shook her head and then walked up to him, resting her forehead on his bare chest gently, shutting her eyes.Although he was confused since he slept deeply last night, Rene slowly stroked her hair, mumbling, "You want to talk about it?""You were right," Maria whispered, her voice hoarse. "About what?" Rene mumbled as she squeezed him tightly."Everything... I am only a tool for them to use... They don't see my worth past that.""Oh baby,"Silently, Rene listened to the muffled sobs from Maria. Her body trembled against his, and she cried quietly. "They never seem to want to sell Princess or Bianca off," she repeated, her voice breaking. "But me? I'm always the one they dangle in f