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survival of the fittest
Last Updated:
2024-07-25 00:10:44
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The son of a billionaire in disguise Selfish
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-25The son of a billionaire in disguise Made the first move
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-25The son of a billionaire in disguise Tension
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-25The son of a billionaire in disguise A ghost
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-27The son of a billionaire in disguise Unfair
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-28The son of a billionaire in disguise Rain down hell
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-28The son of a billionaire in disguise Make the call
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-28The son of a billionaire in disguise Such a fool
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
Last Updated : 2024-07-28
Latest chapter
The son of a billionaire in disguise The end approaches
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 son of a billionaire in disguise His truth?
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 son of a billionaire in disguise The question
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
The son of a billionaire in disguise His side of the story
The elevator doors slid shut, sealing Jason inside with his grandmother. The silence settled thick between them, unforgiving, heavy, like a noose tightening with each breath.Madam Rossi turned slowly, her gaze fixed on him with the cold weight of generations behind it."You should be ashamed," she said, her brows snapping together. "You stand there, hands in your pockets, watching your fiancée crumble under scrutiny... and you say nothing? You let her lie to you-to us. Do you think silence makes you honorable?"Jason’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.Madam Rossi’s lips curled into a scowl. "You are a Rossi. You were raised better than this. If Layla is slipping, you are the one who should rein her in. It is your responsibility to keep your woman in check."His nostrils flared. “And what about Maria?” he snapped.Looking away from him for a second, Madam Rossi’s eyes narrowed.“She’s married, isn’t she?” Jason pressed. “To a man who doesn't even act as a Rossi should. But do I see
The son of a billionaire in disguise Guilty
The sharp slam of Juan’s voice still echoed in Madam Rossi’s ears as she sat motionless behind her desk.Her nails tapped against the armrest... an erratic, frustrated rhythm. For a moment, she thought about pouring herself a drink, something dark and bitter to match the aftertaste of that conversation. But even that felt too indulgent.Instead, with a sharp breath, she stood.The air in her office was thick... thicker than it had any right to be. She needed out.Throwing on her tailored black overcoat, she moved to the door, pushing it open with more force than necessary. Her assistant, a young woman named Eloise, perked up from her desk outside, immediately rising.“Ma’am-”“I’m going for a walk,” Madam Rossi snapped without breaking stride.“Should I call for the car? Or-”“No.” The word came like a tense command. “Do not follow me.”Eloise froze, halfway to grabbing her clipboard. “Of course, ma’am,” she said softly, bowing her head.Madam Rossi didn’t bother to respond. She march
The son of a billionaire in disguise A child
The soft clink of silverware and the murmured conversations of other customers barely reached Maria's ears as she followed Rene through the charming little bistro he had chosen.The place was tucked away on a quiet street... one of those trendy new spots where the lighting was warm, the walls were lined with eclectic art, and the staff treated every customer like royalty. It was the kind of place Rene always gravitated toward... intimate, curated, just a little indulgent.“Here we are,” Rene said gently, pulling her chair out with a flourish. “The best seat in the house.”Meeting his gaze for a second, Maria allowed a small smile as she sat, smoothing the hem of her skirt as she settled in.She wasn’t fully relaxed, but she appreciated the gesture. He always knew how to charm. Even now, after the tension that lingered like a fog around them, he knew exactly how to make her feel special.The waitress approached with a practiced smile. “Welcome to Villa di Fiore. May I get you started w
The son of a billionaire in disguise Delusional
As the ticking sound of the clock echoed in the room, Maria sat hunched over her desk, the golden afternoon light casting long shadows across the stacks of documents she’d been ignoring for a while.Now, they were her fortress. Every page she skimmed, every note she scrawled, every report she pretended to analyze, it was all a battle tactic. A desperate attempt to quiet the gnawing ache in her chest. She wouldn’t let herself think of Rene. Not his voice, not his absence, not the way the silence of the morning had stretched like a cruel whisper through her bones. She buried herself in figures and forecasts, anything to dull the truth: she was worried. And even though she dreaded the thought of it, she was scared.As she was about to sign the document, her office phone rang.Maria flinched, her pen freezing mid-word. She swallowed hard and forced herself to answer, her voice calm. “Yes?”“Ma’am?” Cassie’s voice chirped from the other end. “Your husband just walked into the building.”M
The son of a billionaire in disguise A Raising Smoke
Maria didn’t flinch. Not even a blink. Jason’s voice and words were provoking enough, but she was far too seasoned, too calculated, to give him the performance he wanted.“Harassing?” she repeated, her tone light, almost amused. She looked up at him with a faint, pitying smile. “Jason, you really should stop mistaking concern for confrontation. It makes you look… insecure.”Clarisse’s eyes widened slightly, her lips parting in quiet surprise at Maria’s restraint, though Maria caught the small twitch at the corner of her mouth.Still trying to push his narrative, Jason scowled. “You have no business interrogating her like that.”Maria turned to Clarisse, giving her a small, respectful nod. “My apologies, Mrs. Leonti. I let worry get the better of me.”Clarisse placed a gloved hand gently over Maria’s wrist. “No harm done, dear. I understand.” Her gaze flicked briefly to Jason, a flash of something critical behind the practiced warmth.Without another glance in his direction, Maria walk
The son of a billionaire in disguise Harassment
With each passing second, Maria stood in the marble hallway of the building, her heels clicking too fast against the polished floor as she turned another corner. Her eyes scanned every face, every office, every shadow like they might conjure Rene from the ether if she just looked hard enough.Nothing.Still nothing.'Where the hell was he?' The words echoed in her head.She paused, hand on her hip, the other clutching her phone like it might suddenly buzz and fix this spinning feeling in her chest. It didn’t.He hadn’t shown up. No one had seen him. His office was untouched. And her voicemail sat unheard in the void.Her heartbeat was too loud in her ears.'This isn't like him. Not even close.'And just as she turned, eyes narrowing and steps quickening-She stopped dead in her tracks.There, in the lobby near the towering glass windows, stood a woman dressed in pristine cream and pearl. Hair swept elegantly into a twist, a delicate pair of gloves tucked into her clutch. A familiar wa
