Chapter two
Alessia gently kissed her sleepy six-year-old son, Leo, on the forehead, careful not to wake him. She whispered, "Mommy will be back soon, baby. Sleep tight." She grabbed her bag and headed out the door, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as she started her new chapter as CEO of her own company, Azure Enterprises.
As she walked into the sleek, modern office, her team greeted her with warm smiles and congratulations. Alessia beamed with pride, feeling a sense of accomplishment and freedom. She was finally her own boss, making her own rules.
Just as she settled into her office, her assistant announced a surprise visitor - Alex, her old friend from her previous company. Alessia's heart skipped a beat as Alex walked in with a bouquet of sunflowers, her favorite.
"Congratulations, Alessia! I heard the amazing news through the grapevine... or rather, your friends, Sofia and Giada ," Alex said with a sly grin. "I had to come celebrate with my favorite CEO!"
Alessia eyes narrowed slightly, her mind racing. How did Alex know about her company? And what did he want? She forced a smile, playing it cool, but her instincts screamed warning. Little did she know, Alex had uncovered more than just her company's launch... he had discovered her secret, and she was about to find out just how much he knew.
Alessia's eyes locked onto Alex, her voice firm but polite. "Alex, congratulations are appreciated, but what brings you here today? You didn't just drop by to deliver flowers, did you?"
Alex chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "Well, I do have a proposal for you, Alessia. A business opportunity that could benefit both our companies."
He pulled out a folder, sliding it across her desk. "I've been following your work, and I must say, I'm impressed. Azure Enterprises has tremendous potential. I'd like to discuss a potential partnership between our companies."
Alessia's instincts remained on high alert, but her curiosity was piqued. She opened the folder, scanning the documents. The proposal seemed legitimate, but she knew Alex well enough to recognize that there was always more to his offers than met the eye.
"What's the catch, Alex?" she asked, her eyes locked onto his.
Alex smiled, his expression innocent. "No catch, Alessia. Just a mutually beneficial business deal. But I must admit, I'm curious about your... personal life. How's your family?"
Alessia's grip on the folder tightened. How much did Alex know? And what did he want from her?
As they strolled to the nearby bistro for lunch, Alessia couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. It had been seven years since she last saw Alex, and yet, the familiarity and camaraderie still lingered. She had confided in him about her desire to keep her CEO position private, at least for now, and he had promised to respect her wishes.
Over lunch, they caught up on each other's lives, sharing stories and laughter. Alessia found herself relaxing in Alex's presence, feeling a sense of comfort she hadn't experienced in a long time.
As they sipped their coffee, Alex turned serious, his eyes locking onto hers. "Alessia, I want you to know that I'm honored you trust me with your secret. I promise to keep it confidential until you're ready to share it with the world."
Alessia smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Alex. That means a lot to me."
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, like no time had passed at all. But beneath the surface, Alessandria's mind raced with questions. What did Alex really want from her? Was he genuinely interested in a business partnership, or was there more to his intentions?
As they finished lunch and prepared to part ways, Alex handed her a small gift box. "A little something to celebrate your new venture," he said with a smile.
Alessia opened the box to find a beautiful silver bracelet with a subtle azure stone, matching the color of her company's logo. A small note attached read: "To the CEO with a bright future. -A"