Staring at the sky, Rene drew a deep breath, feeling well-rested from his trip yesterday and glad to be home... relieved that it was Sunday.Just then, his phone buzzed and he reached for it in his pocket and answered, "Good morning, father.""I'm proud of you," was the first words that left Rome's lips."For-""Spending my money wisely."Sighing, Rene stared at the cloud and then said, "I couldn't have done it without you-""Give credit where it is due... It's all you, son. I might have pushed some buttons, but you're the one who stepped up and made it happen. You proved me right, and I knew you would. I just needed to give you that extra push. You've got the cunning and intelligence."Rene listened quietly, his expression unreadable as his father continued, "I've seen what you're capable of. You're not just my son; you're the future of our family. Keep making those connections, and keep climbing higher. You've got a legacy to build."A hint of pride crept into Rene's voice as he rep
Speeding through traffic like a maniac, Rene arrived at the Rossi estate in under twenty minutes and burst inside the large mansion, shouting, "Maria!" The guards in the hallway glared at him like some sort of madman, and then stood in his way, saying, "How dare you cause such disruption in the Rossi home. Don't you know Sunday is Master resting day and you dare to intrude?"Rene didn't pay them any mind as he shouted back, "Let me pass. Now!"The guards remained silent, glancing at each other nervously, but they stood their ground, refusing to move.Rene growled under his breath as he tried again, yelling, “Maria!!"Soon the sound of footsteps alerted the guards, and Rene stared past the guards to see Josh approaching him from the opposite direction. "I told you to stay away from my daughter. Didn't I?" Josh said angrily.Seeing Josh, Rene felt fury flare up within him but swallowed it down, glaring back. "Maria is not some commodity that you can pass around in exchange for somet
Gunnar arrived at the conference flanked by members of his gang, all dressed in immaculate black suits. They moved with a sense of purpose, their presence imposing. As they entered the conference hall, the swarm of reporters, TV crews, paparazzi, and journalists created a flurry of activity. Cameras flashed, and microphones were thrust forward as Gunnar made his way to the podium.“Mr. Gunnar, can you tell us more about your new project with Apex Corporation?” one journalist asked, her voice barely audible over the din.Gunnar smiled confidently, taking a moment to adjust his tie. “Now that we’ve secured the contract with Apex Corporation, we’ll be focusing on meeting with potential incorporations to form strategic partnerships. This is a significant step forward, and we’re excited about the opportunities ahead.”“Can you elaborate on what these partnerships will entail?” another reporter called out.“We’re looking to leverage the strengths of both Apex Corporation and our company,” Gu
The dining room of the Rossi mansion was quiet, and yet the atmosphere carried tension as the rest of the family watched Maria serve Rene and herself the food that she prepared, ignoring the one the maids prepared for the entire family."Are you going to buy new silverware and dishes for him too?" Bianca mocked with a scoff.But Maria said nothing and calmly pulled out her chair, sat down, and started to eat. Her silence annoyed Bianca to the core and she clutched her fork."Okay. That's enough. There's no need to ruin this morning more than it already is." Mr. Rossi said, eyeing Rene.Then he cleared his throat and reached for his glass, tapping it with his fork, drawing everyone's attention to him."As we saw in the news yesterday, we have a new competition in town... ReF Networks Incorporation has landed the biggest deal in the country right now. Even though it's just two months old, it has climbed to the rank of a major player in the industry. One of its biggest successes is gett
Straightening himself in his seat, Gunnar frowned as he stared ahead and said, "No one hates that bastard, Jason, more than I do."A look of shock Rene's eyes widened in disbelief. He took a moment to process Gunnar's words, trying to understand the implication. Gunnar’s vehement hatred for Jason Rossi was evident in his tone and expression."You... hate him?" Rene said slowly, his voice betraying a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Then why didn’t you tell me about your connection with him earlier?"Gunnar sighed, his frustration palpable. “It’s not a simple matter. My issues with Jason go way beyond mere rivalry. There’s history there—personal grievances that make the professional animosity look trivial." A pained expression appeared on his face as he continued. "My gang and I once turned down a job with him because he requested us to beat a young college student to the point of death. His ego got bruised after I turned him away and told him I don't hurt innocent people. So he paid o
The phone buzzed and Gunnar stared at his office phone and then reached for it, resting it against his ear, "Hello, Rebecca.""Mr. Gunnar, Mr. Jason Rossi is here, in the lobby to see you, should I send him up?" Gunnar looked up curiously; a slight frown gracing his features and then he answered, "No.""Pardon?""I will come down to meet him."With that said, he ended the call and then stared at Rene sitting on the couch, drinking a glass of Chateau Lafite 1869 wine."He's here," Gunnar said, watching a faint smirk appear on his lips. "You know what to do," Rene spoke softly without glancing in his direction.Gunnar paused a moment before nodding firmly. "Yes."With that, Gunnar grabbed his phone and then left from his desk, leaving the office.Moments later, when he got down to the lobby, Jason was standing there, and the moment their eyes locked, a cold smile played on his lips."Gunnar, my man! How have you been?" Jason said cheerily, stepping forward and placing his arm around h
Butler Thomas walked with a purposeful stride through the halls of the Rossi mansion, carrying black envelopes with a gold dust outline on them in his hand. The family was having their usual breakfast when he walked in, approached Mr. Rossi, and whispered in his ear, "Master, these were delivered a moment ago."With that, he handed the envelopes to his master, who nodded at him, took the envelopes into his hands, and then Butler Thomas walked out of the dining room as quickly as he could.Looking at her husband, Isabella's curiosity filled her, "What is it, my dear?" she asked. A smile spread on her husband's face as he opened it and saw that it was an invitation from Gunnar."Jason, my boy! You actually did it." The old man cried out, tears filling his eyes.The others looked at him confusingly, but he patted Jason on the back, saying, "You know when you told me that you got Mr. Gunnar to agree to a partnership with Rossi enterprise, I was skeptical, especially when two weeks passe
One hour to the party.Staring at her closet, Maria kept chewing on her nails, thinking of the possibilities of how she should look tonight.Suddenly, Rene stepped in front of her, and she stopped biting her nails and gazed up at him.Smiling, he said, "Let me be your stylish?""Huh? You?" Maria chuckled, raising her eyebrows."Are you accusing your husband of not having any fashion sense, Mrs. FLores?" Rene retorted.The was something about him calling her by his last name that made Maria bite her lip subconsciously, waking up feeling in Rene that he was struggling to control himself.His eyes darted away from hers, and then he walked over to the closet, opened the door, and rummaged around inside.Unable to hold it in, Maria burst into laughter, causing Rene to turn around to see her smiling broadly at him.He furrowed his brows before returning to searching through his closet. Eventually, his eyes lit up upon finding what he was looking for and he pulled it out.It was a stunning e
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
The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as Juan paced back and forth in his study, his hands clasped behind his back. His children... Princess, Alejandro, José, Luis, and Luca sat in various states of boredom or concern around the long table. The dim lighting cast shadows across the study, making the atmosphere feel heavier than usual.Suddenly, Juan stopped, turning to face them. "You all understand what happened last night, right?"Princess, leaning lazily against the armrest of her chair, rolled her eyes as she let out, "Yeah, Dad, we get it. Kia embarrassed the Lelands, and now everyone’s acting like he’s some kind of genius.""Exactly," Juan replied, his voice carrying a tinge of frustration. "And if Father can take Alejandro’s position in the family and just hand it over to someone like Kia, what does that mean for the rest of us?"Alejandro, who had been sitting quietly in the corner with his arms crossed, looked up sharply. His jaw was tight, and his eyes glinted
In the dimly lit study of the Rossi mansion, Jason, Antonio, Layla, and Bianca sat in tense silence, each of them processing the events of the previous night. The air felt tense with the weight of their unspoken thoughts, their faces betraying a mix of shock and uncertainty.Antonio sat at his desk, fingers drumming against the wood, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the next step. Across from him, Jason leaned casually in his chair, his eyes sharp and calculating, while Layla sat beside him, her expression unreadable. Bianca, meanwhile, slouched in an armchair near the window, her brows furrowed in frustration.Finally, it was Bianca who broke the silence, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Well, now that Kia doesn’t have Mr. Gunnar’s protection, he’s no threat anymore. We don’t have to worry about him.”Her words were met with a sharp glare from both Jason and Antonio. Jason shifted in his seat, his gaze hardening as he turned toward his sister.“Bianca,” he said, his to
The morning sun filtered through the soft curtains of the Rossi mansion, casting a warm glow across the master bedroom. Mr. Rossi sat on the edge of the bed, his brow furrowed, fingers tapping restlessly against his knee. He hadn’t slept much after the events of the previous night. Madam Rossi, still in her silk robe, sat at the vanity, brushing her hair. She glanced at her husband, noticing the tension in his posture, the way he seemed lost in thought.“They’re not home yet, are they... Maria and Kia?” Mr. Rossi asked, his voice low, though it held an edge of concern.His wife paused for a moment, setting down her brush before turning to face him. “No, they’re not,” she replied calmly, though there was a hint of curiosity in her voice. She noticed the way his shoulders were stiff, the way his fingers had stilled their tapping and now pressed into his palms.She frowned slightly, studying him. “What’s on your mind?” she asked, her tone soft.Mr. Rossi sighed deeply, running a hand