Share

The act of the century

Author: Rever
last update Last Updated: 2024-09-30 06:47:36

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. H

Her 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
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   A knock

    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

    Last Updated : 2024-09-30
  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   Benefit

    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

    Last Updated : 2024-09-30
  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   Her rights

    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

    Last Updated : 2024-09-30
  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   Too close for comfort

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-03-17
  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   Trust me, please

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-03-19
  • The son of a billionaire in disguise    A silent battle

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-04-04
  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   Defending him

    The moment Maria and Rene took their seats, the tension in the room thickened like an insoffociating smoke. Eyes darted. Chairs shifted. Even the air conditioner’s hum seemed to hold its breath.With a deep sign, Mr. Rossi stood at the head of the table, his hands resting on the polished mahogany surface. He wore a crisp navy suit, his tie perfect, his expression… smug.“Now that everyone is here,” he began, clearing his throat with purpose, “there’s something important I’ve been meaning to address.”Madam Rossi glanced up from her seat beside him. Her expression gave nothing away, but her fingers curled slightly around her crystal glass.The old man smiled, gaze sweeping the table, lingering just long enough on Rene to make the others shift.“Kia,” he said, pausing for effect, “has been with the family for some time now. He’s proven himself to be an asset. Efficient. Focused. Calculated. Traits this family used to pride itself on.”A beat passed. Rene said nothing, his expression as

    Last Updated : 2025-04-07
  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   bruise on your ego

    The room stood frozen... like someone had sucked all the air out of it.Alejandro’s hand was still gripping Rene’s collar. The veins in his neck pulsed, but Layla’s voice still echoed in the silence she had created.Jason rose slowly from his seat. His expression wasn’t angry. It was almost amused. That slow, superior smirk... the one that said he was always ten steps ahead.Layla drew in a sharp breath and, before anyone could speak, her voice broke again, soft this time, trembling just enough to sound real.“I just… I can’t stand violence.”Scoffing, Alejandro turned to her, his brows furrowing.She continued, letting her hand fall from the table, brushing it against her chest as if calming her own heart. “It triggers me. I-I’ve worked so hard to move past things, and this? Watching you manhandle him like that? I can’t.”As her brows snapped together, Maria’s eyes flickered toward her, suspicion flashing for just a moment. But Layla didn’t waver. She lowered her gaze, perfectly meas

    Last Updated : 2025-04-08

Latest chapter

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   A crack

    The morning sun spilled through the tall windows of the Rossi estate, its light bouncing off the polished wood floors. The house was unnervingly quiet except for the low murmur of conversation coming from Jason's study. Inside, Jason and his father, Antonio, sat in heavy leather chairs, each nursing a glass of expensive whiskey, their expressions grim but contemplative.The heavy oak door creaked open without warning, and in popped Bianca, her face flushed with excitement. She didn’t even bother to close the door as she practically bounced on her heels."You won't believe it!" she announced loudly, her voice spilling into the hallway. "Maria and Kia fought last night! I heard it with my own ears!"Jason’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing into slits. He rose swiftly from his chair, crossed the room in two strides, and grabbed Bianca by the wrist, yanking her inside. With a rough jerk, he slammed the door shut and turned the lock with a loud click. He glared down at her, his voice a

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   A promise

    “I don’t care!” Maria’s voice cracked.Rene blinked, caught off guard. She wasn’t yelling to be dramatic. This wasn’t some jealous outburst she’d regret in an hour. This... this was different. Her eyes were wild and wet, her chest rising and falling in sharp waves. Her hands were clenched so tightly at her sides, it was like she was holding herself together by sheer will.“Then avoid her,” she snapped. “Leave the room. Walk the other way. I don’t care how awkward it is or who notices. I’m telling you right now... If you ever willingly share space with her again, we’re done. Do you hear me? Done.”His mouth opened, but no words came out.She meant it.Every syllable landed like a punch, and he could see in her eyes she wasn’t bluffing. There was no fire-and-ice whirlwind here, no threat tossed into the air just to watch it fall. This was real. This was her drawing a line in the sand with shaking hands.“You don’t understand what this does to me,” she said, stepping closer. Her voice ha

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   The forbidden word

    As the seconds passed, Maria stood there, frozen, her hands hovering over the now-open pink box.Watching her a few feet away, Rene didn't move. He stood at the edge of the room, his fists clenched at his sides, as though bracing for impact.Inside the box, carefully folded and stacked with painstaking intention, were pieces of a life Maria had never lived… Rene’s life before her.At the very top sat an oversized navy blue hoodie, the fabric soft and worn at the elbows. Maria touched it like it might burn her. The faint smell of cologne still clung to it. Her fingers trembled as she picked it up and beneath it, she saw more... another hoodie and more stuff that seemed to belong to him.“She kept your clothes.” Maria chuckled, eyeing Rene. Underneath them were some pajamas… soft flannel ones in faded pinks and creams, obviously too small to be Rene’s. Folded beside them were a couple of plush teddy bears, the kind you win at a fair, with one having a crooked little bow.Then came the

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   A gift from his ex

    The tires had barely stilled when Rene turned off the engine. The quiet hum of the Rossi estate’s grand driveway didn’t soothe the storm rising in his chest.He glanced at Maria beside him.She hadn’t spoken much during the drive. She was staring straight ahead, lips pressed into a thin line. Her hand was resting near the console. He tried to reach for it, brushing her knuckles lightly, just to feel her warmth. But she didn’t flinch, didn’t look at him.Then she blinked.And her entire body stiffened.“Don’t tell me…” she muttered.Rene followed her gaze and his jaw clenched.Their eyes locked on Layla, standing in front of the mansion, leaning against her car like she’d been planted there for hours. Her arms were crossed, her knuckles white, like she’d been gripping something too hard for too long. The moment she spotted them, her lips curved into a sweet, slow smile.Pushing the car door open, Rene’s entire body went tense.He stepped out of the car first, moving toward Maria’s side

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   Ready... Set... Action

    The room was too quiet now. Too still.Layla’s heart pounded as she stood slowly, hoping Jason wouldn’t notice the tremor in her steps. Her voice was calm, “I got rid of everything.”Jason didn’t respond at first. He simply stared at her with a predator’s stillness. Then he nodded slowly, lips twitching into a faint smile.“Everyone out,” he said, not taking his eyes off Layla.Smiling at her brother, Bianca’s brows lifted, amused. “All of us?”Jason didn’t blink. “Except her.”With a deep sigh, Antonio paused, narrowed his gaze toward his son, and then at Layla, whose face had paled. He was quiet for a moment before setting his drink down with a heavy clink.“Be careful,” he muttered, then turned and walked out.Holding in her breath, Bianca lingered, an eyebrow raised, clearly enjoying the tension before Jason snapped, “Bianca.”“Alright, alright,” she said, smirking as she glided past Layla. “Have fun, lovebirds.”Watching them with desperate eyes, Layla’s breath hitched as the doo

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   This is sick. I love it.

    The office smelled like cedarwood. The heavy oval desk gleamed beneath the amber lights as Jason stood at the head of the room now, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, the embodiment of calm arrogance as he paced slowly before the others.Eyes glinting with mischief, Bianca lounged on the leather sofa, glass of wine in hand, already smiling at her brother’s smug expression. Antonio stood by the liquor cabinet, refilling his drink but watching Jason closely. Layla sat stiffly, arms crossed, her gaze wary but silent.Finally, Jason stopped pacing and turned toward them, a smirk creeping across his face.“Well,” he said, voice rich with satisfaction, “it worked. Exactly like I said it would.”Pausing the wine glass to her bottom lip, Bianca’s smile widened. “What? You mean you actually getting Maria to question him?”When their eyes locked with such a sinister glance, Jason let out a short laugh.“I didn’t just make her question him,” he said. “I planted doubt in her like a slow-burning fus

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   No clever answer

    When Rene didn't utter a word, Maria’s voice cracked again. “Would you stay away from her? Completely. If it comes to me or her?”Rene looked at her... really looked at her... and something in his eyes shifted. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t guilt. It was something much heavier. Something sad.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he drew in a breath, slow and deliberate, before speaking in a voice so quiet she almost missed it.“If I have to cut someone out of my life just to prove that I love you... then what we have isn’t love. It’s fear.”Maria blinked, stunned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“It means,” Rene said, tone still calm, but laced with an ache she hadn’t expected, “that if you don’t trust me… if you honestly believe that I’d cross a line with Layla, then we don’t have the kind of foundation a marriage is supposed to be built on.”Her throat closed around a lump she couldn’t swallow. Every breath started to feel heavier.He stepped closer, slow and steady. “You’re asking m

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   No In-Between

    When Rene suddenly locked eyes with her, Maria’s breath hitched. Again.The words Jason had thrown at him, felt like daggers dipped in honey, sliced through something fragile in her chest. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs, loud, loud, too loud.And Rene… he hadn’t moved.Hadn’t spoken.But his fists were clenched so tightly at his sides that it was a wonder his knuckles hadn’t split open.“Maria-” Vittoria tried again, her voice concerned now. “Say something.”“I…” Maria started, glancing at her mother.But her voice cracked. Broke like glass under pressure.Rene turned his head, eyes meeting hers for the briefest second.And she knew.He’d heard the silence too.She opened her mouth again, but-Rene stepped forward, quiet but purposeful, reached for her hand, and gently pulled her to her feet.Everyone’s heads turned. Gasps. Whispers.Mad at her daughter humiliated because of Rene again, Vittoria reached forward slightly. “Maria, wait-”But Rene didn’t even glance b

  • The son of a billionaire in disguise   The effect of History

    The silence after Jason's question clung to the room like smoke after a fire. All eyes turned to Maria.Her gaze was locked on Rene.She didn’t speak.Didn’t blink.Didn’t move.And that alone said more than any answer she could have given.Jason saw it.The hesitance.The falter.The smallest stutter in her usually calm facade.He smiled, the kind of smug only someone who knew he had struck the right nerve could smile.“Maria?” he said softly, feigning confusion. “Cat got your tongue?”Lowering her gaze, Maria opened her mouth, then closed it again.Her lips parted just slightly, her throat working around the words she couldn’t quite force out.“I–” she managed.One syllable.Choked.Unable to restrain the rage burning his chest, Rene turned toward her slightly, his jaw flexing just once, but Jason cut in before he could say anything.“Don’t feel pressured,” Jason added smoothly, shrugging a little. “It’s not like anyone’s expecting you to defend him. After all, it’s not like he’s gi

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status