Thanks Hail for the first review on this novel. I appreciate it.
The room buzzed with whispers and hushed conversations as the Fords entered. The sudden appearance of such powerful figures sent ripples of shock and curiosity through the gathered guests. Gunnar's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Rome Ford, Catherine, Mr. Ford, and Mr. Miller make their way through the crowd. He could feel the weight of their presence, their reputations preceding them.When Rome finally approached him, Gunnar instinctively bowed slightly, a gesture of respect mingled with nerves. But to his surprise, Rome extended a hand, grasping Gunnar's in a firm shake. The tension in Gunnar's shoulders eased just a fraction as he straightened up."So, you are the young fellow making bold moves recently," Rome said, his voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and approval.Gunnar tried to stay humble, his voice steady but respectful. "Yes, sir. It's an honor to meet you. Thank you for coming."Rome gave a small nod, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I've been hearing q
The room was abuzz with excitement and expectation as Gunnar stood at the front, a confident smile on his face. He cleared his throat, and the conversations gradually quieted down.“Ladies and gentlemen,” Gunnar began, his voice steady and commanding, “thank you all for coming. Tonight is a significant night for us as we announce new partnerships that will shape the future of our company.”He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the audience. Rome Ford and his family stood to one side, their presence adding gravity to the moment. Rene and Maria were close by, their expressions calm but watchful.“I am proud to announce that the first of these partnerships will be with the Ford family.” Gunnar gestured towards Rome, who nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the announcement.Applause erupted from the guests, mingled with murmurs of approval. Gunnar waited for the noise to die down before continuing.“The Ford family has a legacy of excellence and integrity, and the
At nine sharp on the dot, the broad room of the Rossi enterprise was occupied with every member of the family, seated at the oval table except for Maria and Carlo Rossi.With his sharp suit and tighter expression, Jason sat near the head of the table, his gaze darting towards the door every few moments. Suddenly, the large double doors swung open with a creak and Mr. Rossi entered with his usual commanding presence. His face was set in a grim expression as he looked around until his eyes locked onto his grandson and his scowl deepened.Jason's fist tightened as his grandfather strode over and sat down, giving him a piercing glare that held no warmth or welcome."Last night was a complete disaster," Mr. Rossi began, his voice firm and filled with disappointment. The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in as he addressed his family.Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his earlier bravado diminished under the weight of his grandfather’s gaze. He tried to maintain his
In the tense atmosphere of the boardroom, Antonio leaned forward, breaking the silence that Jason's departure had left. "Father, what are you planning to do about Maria?" he asked, his voice tinged with impatience. "Are you thinking about having her head the partnership with ReF Inc.?"Raising his gaze to his son's, Mr. Rossi’s expression remained unreadable, and he didn’t immediately respond. The pause stretched out, and Antonio’s scowl deepened. "Giving Maria the position would be like rewarding her bad behavior," he pressed. "And don't forget, she's supposed to marry Leonardo Varga for our future benefit with the Varga. There was already tension last night between the Vargas and Mr. Gunnar. If Maria directly spearheads the partnership, it will create even more hard feelings between us and the Vargas."Mr. Rossi's eyes flicked to Antonio, measuring him. "And what is your suggestion, then?" he finally asked.Antonio took a deep breath, clearly ready for this moment. "If we want to
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