Immediately, Leonardo's face fell as he watched Rene approach him, his face blank and indifferent. "You shouldn't be here," Leonardo spoke quietly, his voice laced with distaste, causing Rene to stop in front of him."Who are you?" Rene asked with a raised brow.A look of annoyance crossed Leonardo's features as he looked at Rene through narrowed eyes."How dare you look down on Mr. Varga?!" Ron, Leonardo's head of security shouted.But Varga raised his arm, silencing Ron. He met Rene's cold gaze once more before replying, "Ah-ah... Why get offended? You don't expect such a thing to beware of my image?"A smirk played on his lips at Rene's silence, and then he leaned forward, speaking quietly. "What if I told you that I'm the one interested in your wife?"His smirk faded when Rene continued to glare at him silently. "I know your dumb brain can not comprehend a single word of what I have just said," he said cooly. "But believe me when I tell you that I mean every word."His bodyguards
“Kia,” Maria began, her voice barely above a whisper. “What are you doing here? You weren’t invited.”Rene met her eyes, his gaze unwavering. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, elegant envelope. The golden seal glinted under the chandelier's light, and he handed it to her with a soft smile.“Mr. Gunnar didn't see me as useless after all,” he said quietly, but with a hint of pride. “He sent my invitation later than the rest of the family, and I kept it a secret because I wanted to surprise you. I wanted to make you proud of me.”Tears prickled at the corners of Maria’s eyes as she took the envelope. She could feel the weight of the moment, the tension in the room, the stares from her family and the guests. But all that mattered was the man standing in front of her, the man who had always been by her side despite everything.“Are you proud of me now, Maria?” Rene asked, his voice gentle as he brushed a tear from her cheek. “I know I may not be up to their standar
The smirk on Ron's face widened as he lifted his shoe slightly, raising a brow at Rene, and mumbled, "Go ahead and amend for your mistake. Lick it."The room was cold with silence and some guest anxiously waited with a mocking smile, their eyes glinting with a cruel interest. Within the blink of an eye, the tip of Rene's shoe slammed into his neck, bringing Ron to his knees with a choked gurgle.Before he could catch his breath, Rene grabbed him by the neck, snatching the smashed Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs off the floor, squeezing his neck till his mouth opened wide enough, and then he shoved the egg into his mouth.When Rene let go, Ron dropped to the floor, choking for air, his eyes widening in horror, unable to speak as he desperately tried to take another breath.The look of horror on the guests' faces deepened, and no one dared move for a while as they watched.A frown finally crossed Leonardo's face, and a bloodthirsty look settled there. He was about to take a step when his fat
As the initial shock of the confrontation began to wear off, the murmurs in the room grew louder, each guest grappling with the unexpected turn of events. The members of the Rossi family exchanged bewildered glances, their faces reflecting a mix of shock and concern.“Did you see that? Mr. Gunnar just sided with that... that son-in-law of ours against the Varga family. This is a disaster!” Vittoria's eyes were wide as she whispered to her husband, her voice trembling with disbelief. Josh’s face was pale as he looked around, trying to make sense of the situation. “How could he? This will only anger the Varga family more. They won’t forget this. We’re in serious trouble.”Staring at her parents, Layla couldn’t contain her disbelief. “Did Mr. Gunnar really just back him up?""He's new in the business circle and he dares make enemies with the Vargas. How foolish... He is in for a rude awakening. A lot of people may not want to work with him now." Mr. Abett mumbled with a sigh.Mr. Rossi,
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
The heavy oak doors of the Rossi mansion burst open with a loud crack against the marble walls. Mr. and Mrs. Leontis stormed inside, their fury like a sudden winter chill that raced through the halls, causing the maids nearest the foyer to freeze where they stood.“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Leontis,” one of the braver maids greeted, dipping her head respectfully despite the obvious tension. “May I help you?”Mrs. Leontis didn't even spare her a glance. Mr. Leontis’s stride was thunderous, his cane clicking sharply against the polished floor, while his wife’s heels snapped with every furious step. They moved like a singular force, their anger pushing the staff aside with invisible hands.“We are here for Mr. Rossi," Mrs. Leontis barked, her voice traveling towards the end of the corridor. "Tell him to come down immediately.”“But ma’am, it’s quite early... breakfast isn’t yet—" the head maid began timidly."DO IT!" Mrs. Leontis snapped, her voice echoing up the grand staircase.Before
As his thought ran wild, Alejandro sat behind his desk, thumbing absently through a stack of reports he had no real interest in. The faint click of heels echoed outside his office door, and a second later, a bright, overly familiar voice called out."Alejandro! Surprise!"He looked up sharply, jaw already clenching. Vanessa... perfect hair... perfect smile, stood in the doorway holding a dozen shopping bags like trophies. She swept into the room before he could even tell her no."Miss me?" she cooed, setting her bags down with a theatrical sigh and brushing invisible dust from her fitted dress.Dropping his pen, Alejandro offered a tight, strained smile. "Vanessa," he said flatly. "What are you doing here?"She pouted... a practiced, pretty thing... and sauntered around his desk to perch on the edge of it, raising her hand on his thigh as she stroked it."I thought we could have lunch," she said sweetly. "And maybe... You could carry these for me?" She gestured at the bags. "And maybe
As the second tick by, Mr. Rossi stared at him in stony silence, the air between them growing thick and suffocating. The old man’s jaw worked, grinding slowly back and forth as he weighed the consequences laid so brazenly at his feet.Finally, he tilted his head ever so slightly, an almost imperceptible nod... like a viper sizing up its prey before striking."You overestimate your importance," Mr. Rossi said, his voice so calm it was almost a whisper. "Men like you are always so sure that the world will fall without them." He paused, then leaned in, close enough that Leonardo could smell the faint bite of expensive tobacco clinging to his breath. "It doesn’t."Leonardo’s expression didn’t flinch, but his hands curled into fists so tight that his knuckles blanched white."You’ve been useful, Mr. Varga," Mr. Rossi continued. "Valuable. I won’t deny that. But you're mistaking usefulness for irreplaceability." His lips twitched into a razor-thin smile. "And no man is irreplaceable."Leona
With the speed of 60mph, Leonardo’s car screeched into the underground lot of the Rossi Enterprise tower, the tires shrieking against the concrete. He barely threw it into park before he slammed the door and stormed across the lot, his boots pounding like war drums. His vision tunneled. His fists ached to hit something... someone.Moments later, Leonardo burst through the revolving doors of the Rossi Enterprise building like a storm tearing through glass. The receptionist at the front desk barely managed to look up before he blew past her, a blur of black leather and fury.“Sir! Sir, you need to-!” she called after him, but Leonardo didn’t even glance back.An unlucky employee, arms full of files, crossed his path just as he reached the elevators. Leonardo shoved her aside with a brutal swipe of his arm. She cried out, the papers flying from her hands as she stumbled to the floor. He didn’t stop. Didn’t apologize. His boots thundered against the marble floors as he stabbed the elevato
The bar was dimly lit, smoke curling lazily toward the cracked ceiling fans, and the low murmur of conversations filled the air like static. Leonardo pushed the door open with a grunt, the heavy wood creaking in protest. He paused for a beat, letting his eyes adjust. It smelled like old whiskey and regret... fitting, really.He hated places like this. Hated the desperation that clung to the customer like a second skin.He scanned the room once, twice, his patience already running thin. Then he spotted a familiar, irritatingly eager wave from a booth tucked near the back.Benjamin. Grinning like a rat who just found a hole in the pantry, waving him in.Leonardo sighed hard through his nose, squared his shoulders, and stalked toward him, his boots thudding against the sticky floor. His leather jacket creaked when he slid into the booth opposite Benjamin.“Why did you call me to this shit hole? What do you want?” Leonardo demanded, voice low, sharp.Already drunk, Benjamin didn’t flinch.
The morning sunlight spilled across the marble floor, golden and warm but not quite enough to soften the tension thickening inside the Rossi estate. Even though it has been two weeks, the walls in the mansion still whisper about the day Jason was slapped and every soul knew about it now.Madam Rossi stood in the hallway, quiet and still, her silk robe brushing softly against her ankles as she listened to the muffled voice of her husband behind the half-open door to his study.He had been up since before dawn, pacing, commanding, orchestrating this celebration as if the fate of the family hung on the thread of imported seafood and ambient lighting.She took a sip of her coffee. Bitter. She didn’t flinch.Inside the study, Mr. Rossi was in full control mode.“I don’t care how rare they are, Alberto,” he snapped into the phone. “You find the scallops. Pay triple if you must. I won’t serve frozen shrimp like some sad cruise buffet.”A pause, then he waved his hand as if dismissing a perso
As his gaze darted across the room, Rene kept the phone pressed tightly to his ear, Gunnar's voice echoing again on the other end."Hello, boss."The words rang in Rene's ear, but he stood motionless, letting the sound linger for a moment longer than necessary. He could feel the stares digging into his skin, hot and prickling, as if the entire room was holding its breath... waiting.After another moment of silent, Jason's frustration burst first."We can’t hear a damn thing from over there!" he snapped. "Put it on speaker, Kia. Now. Let us hear it ring so we can know when he answer.""Yeah, come on," Juan added, arms crossed, leaning forward. "Let’s all hear what he has to say.""If it’s the truth," Luis said, with a crooked smile, "you shouldn’t mind sharing it.""He’s right," Bianca chimed in, her voice cool. "Let Mr. Gunnar confirm that you weren’t with Layla. Or should we be calling her instead?"Even Vittoria, usually more reserved, nodded. "If you want to proof your inocence, It
The silence stretched, taut and expectant. The question lingered in the air like smoke... where was he this morning?Rene’s gaze swept the room, pausing momentarily on each face. They were waiting. Wanting. Ready to pounce.He could feel Maria beside him, her stillness louder than any words she could speak. And that silence... her silence, was what cut the deepest.He inhaled slowly, deliberately. “I wasn’t with Layla.”“Then who?” Madam Rossi’s voice cracked through the air like a whip.Staring at the stone-cold faces in the room, Rene hesitated, knowing full well the weight of the name he was about to speak. “Mr. Gunnar.”The room went still. Like a spell had been cast. Even the distant ticking of the grandfather clock seemed to pause.Mr. Rossi’s expression barely shifted, but Rene saw it. A flicker. Not a surprise. Not suspicion. Fear.It was enough.Rene locked eyes with the family patriarch and took a step forward, voice steady. “Yes. I was with Mr. Gunnar this morning. He reque
The sun dipped low over the horizon as Rene guided the car along the winding road back to the Rossi estate. Shadows stretched long across the dashboard, golden light dancing on Maria’s face. She hadn’t said much since they left the restaurant.Instead, she kept her gaze fixed on her phone, screen dimmed but not turned off. Her thumb hovered near the edge, as if deciding whether to press the number or not.Rene glanced at her, his fingers lightly drumming on the steering wheel. "You’ve been quiet."Maria didn’t look up."Everything okay?" he asked."Mmm.""That the same 'mmm' you give when you’re lying to me or the one when you’re annoyed at me?"She finally looked at him, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Neither. Just thinking."Rene tilted his head, eyebrows raised. "About?"Maria took one last look at the number glowing faintly on her screen. Then slowly, deliberately, she pressed the side button. The screen went black."Nothing," she said.Rene didn’t believe her. He didn’t pu