YALL, I GOT THE COVER TODAY AND IM SCREAMING RN

Cover by MuniWilliams I'm greatly thankful for this master piece and the others! Yall can check her other book covers too (they're beautiful)!

Note: I have written this during hiatus, meaning that I was bored af and couldn't care less about reading anymore. I know I'm not worthy of being called the Crowner or my mother's child, but... this is what I thrive for. I live with my imaginations and I look forward to enhancing them.

I do think I'm ruining my future money-making chances, but my unnatural intelligence can get me above average at least.
________
Two weeks later
________

Rosa's POV

Tati doesn't know that I have been present while Marco questioned Eduardo and whatever his son's name was.

What Spainard in their right mind would name their kid 'Harold' if that what his name is.

"What's your name?" I asked, eating the slice of apple I just peeled and cut.

"H-H-Harry." He trembled.

Harry... that's even worse than Harold.

"Tell me, Eduardo, did you keep your marriage a secret?" I chomped on the apple.

"N-No. Only--" He coughed, "Only a few people knew."

"Did you lose your phone after going on your little 'vacation' ?"

"I-I did."

I hummed.

I didn't think my mind was in the right state because all I could think of for the last few days was killing and bloodshed.

I sighed and looked down at the beaten up young man.

"Peccato vedere una tale bellezza ferita..." I looked at his father, "e anche quei cervelli."

[Pity seeing such beauty to be bruised. And those brains, too.]

"I'm curious now. Where did you meet a beautiful woman, huh?" I sat back in the swivel chair and turned around a 360°.

"Look at that guy!" I pointed my fingers at him, "He looks like a crafted piece of artwork!" I scoffed, "You always looked like you had bird poop on your head."

Both had no response to my blabbers. Ofcourse... I would have their heads bashed if they did.

"Cat, got your tongue?" I snickered and picked up another apple slice.

"I met his mother--"

"She wasn't your wife?" I bit the slice of apple.

"No-- I met her when I was sent as a spy to the rival Spanish mafia. She was one of the victims of--"

"Women trafficking!?" I laughed this time, "So she fell in love with her knight in shining armour!?" I laughed again.

"Continue, continue." I chewed down the fruit.

"While we sheltered the women in our bases, a few of them agreed to join, and she was one of them." I could see something on his face.

This bastard is capable of loving someone, too!?

"I warned all of them of how every mafia was bad regardless of whatever good deeds they do. She was with me as a spy." He sighed, trembling.

"Go on. It got interesting."

"She was raped on one of the missions as a rookie spy. She asked me to--" He stuttered, "She asked me to 'remove that feeling' by rewriting it again, exactly how she imagined it would be."

"I thought it would be over, but... I found myself even more attracted towards her as a month passed, and she grew into a stronger woman."

"She found out she was pregnant-- which, in fact, was impossible because I was impotent--"

I sniggered, "Impotent?"

"All the spies were surgically sterilised after their training period to avoid any unnecessary issues." He explained.

"It was from that rookie mission, perhaps. She died giving birth secretly. I took the kid in and named him the last words she uttered."

"I can't believe a woman like her ended her life with the last words being 'Harry'." I sighed and picked up the plate of apple slices.

"Mine would probably be on the lines of-- Fanculo questa merda, sono fuori." I smiled at him, "Recorded, Marco?"

[Fuck this shit, I'm out.]

"Sí, signorina." He said and I went out with the plate.

He signalled one of the guards to lock the room again.

"Tenerli nel seminterrato va bene, signorina?" Marco followed me, "Temo che possano provare a fare qualcosa."

[Is keeping them in the basement okay, miss? I'm worried they might try something.]

"Sure is, as long as I'm not going outside." I kept the plate on the kitchen island and walked to the sofa to lie down.

"Marco," I looked at him as he looked away probably seeing a lady casually laze for the first time, "Do you... think I'm attractive?"

The poor guy almost choked on air. He coughed, all red because of the question.

Geez...

"If I--If I was your brother," he coughed and muttered, "I wouldn't let any man lay their eyes on you."

"Why?" I smirked, knowing all well that he wants me to be casual around him like I'm with Tati.

"I-I just think you're too precious and rare." He was practically a mess by now, looking at his feet and fumbling with his earpiece.

"Precious like a rare pink diamond or a rare flower from a mythology?" I sat up, really curious now.

"Like a... wild cat?" He blinked at me.

I guess I can't really understand what his thought process was.

I sighed and laid down again, "I guess I am no different."

He gave me a look as I gestured for him to sit in the armchair.

"Most wild cats grow up wary of their surroundings, protecting their siblings if they have any because they are left alone." I looked at the ceiling, "But once they grow familiar of something else... they can't let it go..." I trailed off.

"What," He started, "can't you let go, signorina?"

"Hope." I looked at him through my peripheral vision, "The hope that I can just sit back and close my eyes at night without thinking what my parents have left for me except memories and money."

The entire house went into a comfortable silence.

Nobody dared to speak.

I felt bad for being tough with Marco since the first day, though he's about seven years older than me, but at the same time, I wanted to punch him for calling me a wild cat.

I heard footsteps at the stairs and spoke, "Is that you Tati?"

"Sí, sorella." She said coming towards the sofa and sitting beside my feet.

"Rosa, I think we both need to go back to work." She fumbled with her fingers, "I mean it's been half a month since and you're still on guard and I feel stuffed in the house and--"

"Hey!" I yelled and she looked at me, "Fine, we can go to work but only if Marco goes with you."

Marco stood up and tensed, showing his biceps, "I will protect piccola signorina with my life!"

[Little miss]

"Pfft--" I couldn't keep it in.

We both laughed seeing him all ready to break someone's bones.
_________

Eduardo and his good-looking kid were not very comfortably, shifted to one of our old manufacturing units which was out of work.

The next day, I woke up quite later than usual because of the fatigue I was experiencing.

It was probably because my diet changed all of a sudden because of my chef taking a long leave and Tati's unpredictable food seasoning.

I couldn't even imagine a spicy looking fish to taste all sweet and sour-- not that it was bad but oh boy, wouldn't it be a shock to my brain and senses?

I lack in that field. I can clean all day long and I can't handle dirt but cooking seemed like art to me-- barbaric art.

Even with a recipe given, you can go all out with the seasoning and if you're lucky enough it takes great regardless.

I was more of a baking person but I stopped to focus on the other important things.

I thought of going all-white because the last time I went to office it was an all-black.

It was a warm autumn day so I ditched a coat too.

I looked at the time and rushed out.

"Food's ready!" Tati yelled.

"Well, I'm not!!" I yelled back while putting on a strong scent accidentally.

"Merda!" I screamed going wild around my room trying to find my car keys.

Finally after finding it under the bed, I rushed downstairs.

"Take the lunch! Take the lunch!" Tati said while picking up her purse and I did a u-turn.

It practically rushed as much as I could and reached office.

I usually get to office earlier than the others, but I was fifteen minutes late today.

I rushed into the elevator without a word after getting a few files from the reception.

"Well, good morning!"

"Zitto! Sono in ritardo!" I yelled at him without thinking as I was looking at the files.

[Shut up! I'm late!]

The marketing for the new release! Dang, it! I thought while looking at the budgets.

I regretted not coming to office.

"That sounds like you're cursing." He said pressing the last floor, "You're heading to?" He asked.

I gained my composure looked at him, "I believe you've adjusted quite well?"

"I did, thankfully, since the devil herself was on leave." He chuckled, "I heard this is the first time in a long while that she spent her entire vacation offs."

"I would not gossip about the boss if I were you." I looked at the numbers as the floor was soon to be reached.

"Why not?" His confused face lifted my spirits ad the elevator stopped.

I walked out of the elevator and turned around pushing forward the files into his chest, "I want them copied."

His face turned white.

Has he done no research? Well can't blame him I don't show my face often and my only portrait is in my locked office.

Oh, this is going to be fun...

I walked towards the office as he walked behind me.

I felt his gaze on me for too long and I confirmed by stopping in front of my office and calling him, "Mr. Luciano, the copier is in your office, not mine."

"Right." He mumbled, distracted.

Wow... he's head over heels after seeing the back of my neck?

"Mr. Luciano," I turned around with a frown, "I'll need my schedule too."

"Right!" He was startled.

He walked ahead as I looked at him and stopped. He turned around and went back the way we came from, hiding his face with the files, completely embarrassing himself.

I went inside and dialled his office, "I won't tolerate such behaviour again." I said as he picked up and put down the receiver before any answer.

I went back to working with my laptop and planning out on allotment of budgets.

Soon, I heard a knock on the door and mumbled a 'come in'.

Luciano guy had brought me the copies and filed them.

I continued typing as he stood there. I sighed and looked at him, irritated by him already.

"Uh... your schedule, ma'am." He said.

"Go ahead." I started typing in the excel sheet again.

"The first half doesn't have much other than the strategy meeting with the marketing team but the second half has a lunch meeting with Rush&Co. And two other meetings with a client and a supplier." He spoke all in one breath.

"Tati packed me lunch today though." I mumbled to myself.

"Can you postpone the lunch meeting to tomorrow? Or maybe a dinner meet?" I suggested sitting back.

"I'll try my best to."

"Then review the sheet I just sent you for any silly errors, then print them and send them to the marketing department." I stood up and walked towards the door, "Also make sure to prepare the meeting room for the discussion."

"Right." He mumbled.

"I prefer you act professionally Mr. Luciano." I said in a low menacing tone.

"I-I just your back! I-I-- I-It!" He stammered not knowing what to say, "I apologise!" He said loudly as I left.

Incompetent.

The day went by pretty much without a hitch until it was evening.

Luciano entered my office again, "Ma'am, the evening dinner meeting."

I sighed and rubbed my eyes while resting my head back, "Right, you're coming with me."

"B-But--" He tried to speak.

I looked at him without moving my head from the chair.

"Am I supposed to drive?" He asked instead.

"No, I'll have one of my guards drive." I got up and stretched.

Luciano, I noticed, didn't look at my face after I told him off.

He kept looking at his feet-- in the discussion with the marketing team, the meetings with the supplier and the client.

I scrolled through my phone as he sat beside me reading and memorising the details of the deal.

We reached a fancy restaurant and he headed in first as I sat in the car waiting in the parking.

He came back running and I stepped out, telling the guard to come back in half an hour.
_________

"Hello, Miss Cordello!" A cheerful old man stepped towards us at the reserved table.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Keith." I spoke as we shook hands.

He looked at Luciano and I introduced, "My secretary."

"Niccolo Luciano." He shook hands with him.

Two other men came in with a young woman.

"They're practically trying to establish the upper hand by bringing more than two people." Luciano whispered to me.

"This is Catherine Kieth, my daughter and our assistants-- Henry and John." The old man said.

We sat down at the table and talked about miscellaneous things for a while.

"The steak here is famous." Luciano mumbled again in the guise of taking out his notepad.

"I suggest the steak here," I said, "My secretary here had chosen this place after great consideration." I smiled.

"Sure! If you suggest!" Mr. Keith said.

After ordering and eating, about fifteen minutes had gone by.

"We were asked to postpone the meeting from afternoon to evening, had we interrupted anything?" The girl asked.

"Quite the opposite infact, we thought you might be busy with your recent project." I said sipping the water.

"It got quite the fire didn't it, that news?" Mr. Keith laughed, awkwardly.

Their recent projects were all in ruins. They had sabotaged three of their distributing clients and partners with unnecessary allergy-friendly claims with their new rane of cosmetics which weren't actually what they claimed it to be.

"I believe that Ms. Cordello is interested in investing with us?" The old man asked.

Luciano and the other two hunks of assistants kept taking notes.

"I would like to take over your manufacturing and product development units." I kept the fork and knife aside.

"We can't do that, unfortunately. How about becoming a stock investor?" The girl said.

"I can't, unfortunately, invest otherwise." I put my hand out towards Luciano and he handed me a file, "This file shows the development and profit of your company since its founding."

The old man was sweating and the girl gulped as I handed them the file.

"I believe it was Mr. Keith's assistant who requested an audience to discuss investment details?" I asked.

"It was my assistant, yes." He said.

"There were no new concepts in the last two launches." I sat back, "I believe if we take over your company and yourselves focus on the iron companies, it would be better."

Buying one of the top three cosmetic brands... True hassle when they are not ready to give up.

"We will keep Ms. Keith appointed as the CEO since her performance is notable and twenty percent profit of the entire profit or loss would be yours." I explained as Luciano put forward a copy of the contract. "The rest is explained in this."

"We... would like to have another meeting to finalise this." Mr. Keith said giving up.

Finally.

"How about we sign before tomorrow evening?" I said going back to slicing the meat.

"Sure." The girl said looking at her father.
_________

"Wow." Luciano said as we were heading back to the parking, "I don't think I'll be able to digest this meat with all that tension that had build up."

I chuckled, " 'Destroy them from the start.', they must've thought when they came there with hunks."

"I love how crushed they looked when we put forward their profit margin." Luciano opened the door for me.

"Quite the sadist."

We got in the car and this time we had small conversations.

He insisted to use his name since we were off work now.

I figured that Niccolo was his name, not Luciano. Not that I cared but I think I might have seen those eyes somewhere.

"Do you, perhaps, read?" I asked.

"I used to but I'm not as regular as I used to be till college."

"What is your favourite?"

"Romance and mystery." He smiled looking in front of him.

"Ah, reminds you of some girl I suppose?" I chuckled.

"It does. But more than that I used to read e-books written by people."

The conversation was deserted after that.

Writing... was my safe place... but I can't let anyone know.

The next stop was at the company to take all of our stuff.

It was pretty dark and all the employees were gone. The building looked like a scene from a horror movie.

"M-Ma'am do we need to go up?"

I hummed in a question.

"I mean," He audibly gulped, "It's quite dark."

I stopped and turned around, "You do great work as my assistant and secretary. What will happen of you if you won't be able to do on field tasks?"

"I--"

I turned around again and started walking to the glass doors of the main entrance.

After opening the door with the keys, I entered the pitch dark world of my own corporate.

"Ma'am, I have a bad feeling a-about this. What if we lose each other in the dark?"

I hummed back. I walked to the elevator with the memory of doing the same every day.

Niccolo got in immediately after me, and I pressed our floor.

Upon reaching, I realised he wasn't wrong and that we might lose each other in the dark.

I could make my way down alone, but that guy was too much of a coward.

"Tch..." I turned around and took a few steps to be in front of his office.

"Hurry or I'm leaving!" I yelled.

"I-I can't find my charger--" I barged in hearing him.

He had turned on all possible lights in his office, and I was practically blinded because I hadn't done that.

When I opened my eyes, all I could see was a buff man.

I didn't realise I was staring, and he grinned, "You like what you're seeing?"

I blinked a few times and clicked my tongue before walking to the bookshelf with files. Getting to the top was impossible, so I settled with checking the bottom-most, and he agreed to look on the top.

After ages of searching, we found it in his bag, and I was fuming.

"Wasted my time." I said as I got into the elevator while he tried keeping up.

"I think you had a good time looking at me." He mumbled, and-- Is he seriously pouting? Because I didn't acknowledge his body?

This is going to be a long night.

"Every man is handsome." I replied, "If he wears tight clothes." I smirked, and he shivered.
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