Dante

Knocking on her office door he waited for her response. Upon returning from a business trip Dante knew he had to tell her how he felt. He only prayed for a favorable answer from her.

"Come in," he heard her say in her sweet voice.
"Hi Belle," he said in a deep voice seeing her face him from her papers.
The next thing he knew she was wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
"I really missed you Dante," she said with a shy smile slowly letting him go.
He stopped her from moving away from him by holding onto her waist.
"Not as much as I did you," he whispered into her ear seeing her face turn pink as he chuckled releasing her.

"How are you holding up?" He asked still not letting her go when she made a move to step away.
"Umm. Everything is good she said placing her palms on his chest before sliding them to his forearms as her expression changed.
Slowly releasing her he watched as she went to take her seat.
"Are you alright tigrotto?" He asked sitting down across from her.
"They hate me," Belle said as she burst into tears. My brothers and sister hate me for taking over the company. No one listens to me because they have poisoned the minds of most of the employees. The last meeting the board members didn't even care for my suggestions," she cried as Dante moved from his seat gathering her into her arms as she started to cry some more. "I miss my old job Dante, at least then I only had to worry about my boss."
"Forgive me for leaving you so early if I had been around you wouldn't be experiencing such. Hush now my little tiger," he said wiping away her tears before tilting her face further up to look directly into her eyes. "Your father wanted you to run this empire because he believed you to be the only one capable of doing so. Besides these idiots are just mesmerized by your beautiful coat, it's time you show them your claws cuore mio. Make them remember who pays them at the end of each month," he said as she shook her head yes in agreement a look of determination on her face.

"Now tell me any more meetings today?"
"One more in an hours time," she said softly.
"I will join you and you will deal with anyone who gives you problems. Deal?" He said.
"Deal," she said with a glow in her eyes as he let her go allowing her to take her seat.

"Have you had anything to eat? He asked as she shook her head no. "Unacceptable at all Belle," he said pulling her out of her chair and office.
"Dante," she whispered as they entered the elevator before becoming silent when several employees walked in.
"You will have lunch then start firing everyone who has been giving you problems. I have a team on standby ready to take over the vacant positions until you hire new respectful employees," he said in a not so hush tone as the employees turned to them making her shrink back, her back hitting his chest.

Once the elevator stopped the employees scrambled out of the elevator obviously to tell the others of what they had just heard.
"Why did you say that?" She asked angrily. "Now they are going to think I am a mean boss."
"Belle," he said softly as she ranted on about how people were going to hate her."
He did the only thing he could think of to shut her up and get her to calm down.

Connecting his lips with hers he felt her struggle to free herself before slowly giving up as her arms went around his neck as she stood on her toes. They didn't heard the elevator doors open as the group before them stood rotted in place. Sucking on her lower lip he smiled when she gasped allowing him entrance into her mouth. The sound of her heartbeat pounded in her ears deafening any other sound as their tongues collided allowing them to taste each other over and over again. Meanwhile the elevator doors had closed leaving the female employees green with envy.
He was surprised when she pushed him against the wall catching her breath as he looked at her taking in some oxygen himself. Well whatever was left in the elevator, that is.
"They will not hate you. Just respect you for the power you hold," he said as she took a step away from him, running a shaky hand through her hair. Trying to tie her hair up she let out a frustrated cry as he stepped closer to her saying, "Here let me."

Taking the hair band he gently pulled her hair back tying her hair up into a ponytail. She stepped away from him when she saw his hand about to touch her cheek.
"We should eat," she said in a clipped tone.
Through out their meal she kept her gaze on her plate as he looked at her playing with his food.
"Are you not hungry?" She finally asked snapping him out of his daze.
He shook his head no.
"I apologize for what happened in the elevator. I shouldn't have kissed you back," she said looking away from him.
"Belle I am going to be honest with you. I don't understand why you are apologizing when I am the one who overstepped our friendship. However what happened back there was not a mistake and I will never apologize for doing what I have wanted to do since I walked into your office this afternoon," he said leaving her speechless. 
She opened her mouth to speak but he silenced her with a finger to her lip.
"Please let me finish. I really like you Belle. Why else would I help you to this extent. Being away from you is enough torture already, but keeping my feelings inside is like holding a grenade in my hands just waiting for myself to let it go and be blown away. I want us to be friends yes, but I also want more," he said as she looked at him blankly.

Their waiter came and he paid the bill as she sat lost in thought.
"Shall we," he said holding his hand out to her as she slowly took it.
Leading the way out like nothing had happened they headed back to the office. She didn't say anything even as he followed her other meeting.

-----

"No, we cannot stop any purchases at the moment," one of the managers said.
"Over the past week I have left you to run your mouth and I must say I am tired of your yelling. I believe I am the owner of this company and what I just suggested will be implemented in the next hour or some of you will find yourselves seeking employment elsewhere which will be very very difficult if I must say so myself.
You will stop whatever purchase transactions you had started because money has been poured into buying useless material. My auditor has informed me of some of you gentle men's lavish lifestyles on company expense," she said as they looked at her in surprise.
"I shall be calling each one of you into my office for a little discussion concerning your stay here," she said closing her folder and getting up to leave looking at Dante once, who had a smile of approval on his face.

Once back in her office the tense atmosphere was broken by the arrival of Silas Right. As he walked into he office he eyed Dante ignoring him as he went and placed his lips on Belle's cheek making Dante become tense.
"I'm going to leave you now. I think we should just... give each other some space," he said shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Dante," Belle called out.

In less than a week she had fallen for the charms of Silas. Everyone knew the man was a womanizer. But what concerned him the most was his temper. The man was know to lash out not caring if it was a woman.

------

His phone vibrated and looking at the screen he read her text.

Dante please pick up your phone.

This is how it had been the past two days. She didn't know his penthouse location hence didn't know where to go looking for him.
Sitting behind his laptop he responded to several emails ignoring his phone once more as it started to ring.
Sighing in frustration he picked it up.

"Just give me some space," he said softly into the receiver.
"Well since you asked so kindly I will do so," Draco chuckled into the phone.
"Oh brother, how are you?" He said.
"Fine bro, just helping Ela set up her nursery," he said just as Ela yelled hello.
"Hi Ela. I am glad to I hear you are putting my brother to some good use. He is quiet the handyman," he chuckled.
"He is useless. I am doing most of the work here," she huffed as Draco looked at her appalled.

"Okay okay, you are doing most of the work," Ela laughed asking him to stop tickling her. Dante laughed at this glad his brother was actually having more fun than he was. "I'll be back shortly tesoro."

"You don't sound so good. Is everything alright," Draco asked.
"Yes all is well. Just going through some accounts. How is everything going on your end?"
"All is good. I need us to swap though. I have to oversee something in Italy for just a day."
"So sure. I will come down there this evening so you give me a rundown of what I missed out on rethink else should be fine," he said glad to be leaving.
He needed a good distraction to eliminate the picture of Belle in Silas's arms.

Hope you enjoyed

Translations

Tigrotto - little tiger
Cuore mio - my heart
Tesoro - treasure

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