Allesandro entered the conference room, his presence commanding despite the storm brewing in his chest. The heavy oak door slammed shut behind him, silencing the low murmur of voices. His jaw clenched, and his piercing gaze scanned the table, freezing the assembled board members in their seats.
"Is this what we've become?" He began, his voice low but razor-sharp. "A company that bends at the slightest breeze of controversy?"
His words hung in the air, as cutting as the accusations splashed across the tabloids. He stepped forward, his hands gripping the back of a chair, knuckles whitening.
"I built this empire with my own hands and fought tooth and nail to stand where we are today. Yet here you sit, allowing outsiders to rule around how we run this business. Where was the pillar support when our reputation was attacked? Where was the strategy?" His voice rose, but his tone remained dangerously calm, like a predator circling its prey.
One of the younger executives, fidgeting nervously, attempted to speak. "Sir, we've been"
"Silence," Allesandro snapped, cutting him off with a glare. "Excuses won't save this company. Action will. Strength will."
He straightened, buttoning his jacket as if to signal the end of the discussion. "I want solutions. Not apologies, not damage control. Find out who's behind this smear campaign and end it. Today."
As he turned to leave, his final words echoed like a decree: "And let this be the last time anyone questions my integrity or the integrity of Wales Enterprises. Dismissed."
Back in his office, Allesandro's mood had not improved. The walls seemed to close in around him. His assistant, Matteo, stood by the desk, flipping through the agenda with shaky hands.
"Sir, the next meeting is scheduled for..."
Alessandro's chair moved back violently as he rose, cutting Matteo off mid-sentence. His eyes burned with frustration as he pointed a finger at him.
"You knew I was coming to the office, didn't you?" He snapped, his voice thunderous and sharp. "But now you tell me about other meetings? When exactly were you planning to inform me? After I walked into them blind?"
Matthew stammered, "I... I thought..."
"Don't you dare 'teach' me!" Alessandro roared, the veins in his neck taut. "You won't get your salary this month. If you're dissatisfied with your job, you're free to leave! Consider this your warning."
The harshness of his words hung in the air, echoing through the open door of his office. The staff outside froze mid-task, their eyes darting nervously toward the source of the commotion. The tension was palpable, like a thunderstorm waiting to erupt.
Matteo's face flushed with humiliation as he nodded quickly, gathering his papers. "Understood, sir," he muttered before retreating.
Alessandro slumped back into his chair, running a hand through his hair. He didn't miss the whispers from the hallway but chose to ignore them. His anger wasn't just at Matteo; it was at the entire situation spiraling out of control. But in his rage, he knew he might have gone too far.
Natalia hummed softly to herself as she adjusted the fresh flowers she'd placed in the vase on the dining table. She was excited to share the news with Allesandro. After weeks of searching, she had finally found the perfect venue for their wedding, a place she was certain he would love.
When she heard the door open, she rushed to greet him, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Alessandro, you're home! I have the most exciting news…"
But before she could finish, his stormy expression stopped her in her tracks. He took off his jacket, tossing it carelessly onto the couch, his frustration visible.
"Natalia," he snapped, his voice sharp, "who do you think you are?"
Her smile broke, confusion crawling into her eyes. "What… what do you mean?"
"You're always thinking about the wedding," he continued, his tone cutting. "But you have nothing to be proud of.
Your age mates are business owners, teachers, people who've actually accomplished something.
And you? You're just clinging to your father's money, living in a fantasy world."
His words were like a slap to her face. Natalia blinked, trying to process what she was hearing.
"Alessandro, I…" she began, her voice trembling.
"And talk about being beautiful," he interrupted, his words laced with anger. "You don't even know how to charm anyone. You think you're captivating, but you're nothing special."
Tears overflowed her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She composed herself, her voice barely audible. "What happened in Milan? Why are you saying this? I've done nothing but support you".
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room like a madman.
"Support me? You call picking out a wedding venue support? While I'm out there fighting to keep this company afloat, you're busy fantasizing about flowers and table settings. Do you even understand what being accountable looks like?"
Natalia spun back toward Allesandro, her face thrilled with a mix of anger and heartbreak. Her voice trembled as she spoke, but her words were sharp and cutting.
"Wow, Allesandro. So this is it, huh?" She laughed sarcastically, her arms crossing defensively. "This sudden outburst, this disgust you think I'm blind? Is this all because of her?"
His brows grimaced, but before he could say anything, she continued, her voice rising.
"Don't you dare act like this has nothing to do with Ever. Were you with her the past two days?" Her voice broke, but she didn't care. "Did you finally get what you wanted? You crawled into her bed and fucked her, didn't you? And now you come home and treat me like I'm trash?"
"Natalia, fuck," Allesandro said coldly, his tone meant to end the conversation, but she wasn't done.
"No, you stop!" She shot back, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. "You think I didn't see it? The way you look at her at our engagement?"
Alessandro's jaw tightened. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, don't I?" Natalia moved in closer, quaking finger pointed at him. "I've watched the way that girl affects you. How she makes you question everything,even us."
He did not respond, which made her even angrier..