Broken without you

TEN

Vanessa arrives at her family house as quickly as she could. She had received a text from her mom that said there's an urgent family meeting going on and her presence is urgently needed.

Entering the living room, she sees her family sitting down comfortably on the sofa and waiting patiently for her.

"Oh Vanessa, what took you so long to get here?" Amelia, her mother asks her.

Vanessa gulps. "Uhm, I had to go back home to pick something I forgot." she lies.

"Come on, have a seat. Let's talk." her dad offers. "I hope you have eaten dinner?" he asks her.

"Okay please let's just get this done and over with." a manly voice groans, obviously bored.

It was then that Vanessa actually noticed her elder brother and another blonde lady with a lot of red lipstick and heavy make up, probably his girlfriend.

"Caden, you're also here? I thought you were in Italy." Vanessa says to him. Caden chuckles.

"It's a family meeting, dumb brain. I'm supposed to be here." he replies sarcastically, emphasizing on the word 'supposed'. "And this is Alessia De Ville, my girlfriend and soon to be wife from Italy." he introduces the lady while caressing her back.

"Hi Alessia." Vanessa waves slightly.

"Hello, Bellissima."Alessia smiles at her. They stare at each other without blinking.

Donald, Vanessa's father, clears his throat to get back their attention as he spoke.

" I called you all here today, or rather tonight, because I have made an important decision concerning the company. Things have been going well over the years and I have finally decided to hand over my company to one of you."

"Fantastico, papà, that's a very brilliant idea." Caden replied with excitement. "It's about time the company is handed over to me and I promise I will not fail you, papà."

Donald shook his head. "I'm sorry to say but I can't hand over my company to you just like that."

"Ma perché, papà? I am the older child and I should be the one to inherit the company."

"Caden dear, we know how much this company means to you but it's a decision made by the board. Vanessa also contributed a lot to the company's growth --" Amelia tries to explain but is interrupted by Caden.

"No,Mamma. how could you let the board compare Vanessa and I? Why?"his voice quavers a bit.

" The company will be handed down based on your performance. If you want it,you have to earn it." Amelia responds and Donald nods.

"Mom, you're making it sound like it's a competition." Vanessa speaks out but to her surprise, her mother nods in agreement.

"Yes, Vanessa, it is a competition between the two of you."

"Questo è inaccettabile! It's not a competition and it can never be because this company belongs to me and me alone. E nessuno dovrebbe osare ostacolarmi, altrimenti sarai schiacciato." and with that, he walks out of the living room.

"Caden!" Alessia calls out, running after him.

Vanessa and her parents have a look of shock on their faces.

" Anyone have an idea of what he just said." Amelia said, still looking confused.

Both father and daughter shake their heads.

"I have no idea." Vanessa replies.

"Me neither." her father adds.

*****

Caden drank his wine hastily with a look of contempt on his face.

"Caden honey, what is wrong with you?" Alessia said calmly with her strong Italian accent.Caden just shakes his head.

"This is crazy. How can papà make such an irrational decision. It's obvious they want to hand over the company to Vanessa."

"You know that there are other ways you could use to get what you want, right?"Alessia says quietly.

"How? "

Alessia sighs and roll her eyes. "Do I really have to tell you everything, amore mio?"

Caden looks at her with confusion written all over his face. "What do you mean?"

"Since earning the company is through competition, why not manipulate your little sister into quitting and leaving the company for you." she advised.

His face lits up in surprise as he stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to say more.

Alessia continued." If you don't manipulate her, the company will slip from your hands and not just that.... My parents will not approve of our marriage and our relationship will end. So give it a thought."

Caden thinks about it for a while. Indeed, he wanted his father's company for himself in order to gain Alessia's parents approval for marriage because her family was one of the prominent and wealthiest in Italy.

He would be given 25% of their company's shares if he marries Alessia. Her advice was the best shot.

After some minutes of silence, he finally speaks. "Okay, manipulating Vanessa is our best shot. But how are we going to do that? Since she's a strong head."

Alessia smiles cunningly. "Do not worry, amore mio. You have a strong back up and beauty with brains to help you out." she whispers seductively in his ear. Her smile looking devilish.