CHAPTER TWO: CLAIMING MARINA
636 Words
(Giovanni)
“Please…”
Her voice lingered in my mind like a melody I couldn’t silence.
Every attempt to bury the memory only sharpened it.
Her eyes.
Her trembling breath.
The way she’d looked at me.
It replayed over and over, refusing to let me go.
No matter how many billion-dollar meetings I attended or contracts I signed, one woman had managed to occupy every corner of my mind.
Marina Bianchi.
An obsession.
A temptation.
A beautiful distraction I had no intention of resisting.
“Giovanni.”
I ignored it.
“Giovanni.”
Still nothing.
“Giovanni!”
Lorenzo’s voice finally shattered my thoughts.
I looked up, annoyance flickering across my face.
“What?”
He studied me for a long moment, the corners of his mouth tightening.
“Marina Bianchi.”
A pause.
“Damiano Moretti.”
I already knew where this was going.
With a dismissive shrug, I lifted my wineglass and strolled toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Milan.
The city glittered beneath me.
Everything I could see belonged to me.
Soon…
So would she.
Lorenzo stopped beside me.
“I know you had something to do with their breakup.”
Silence.
“I know how long you’ve wanted Marina, but this—”
“But what?”
My voice was calm.
Cold.
Deadly.
“They were engaged, Giovanni.”
I let out a quiet laugh.
“Engaged?”
I swirled the wine in my glass.
“That was never going to happen.”
He frowned.
“He loved her.”
“No.”
I met his eyes through the reflection in the glass.
“He loved the idea of having her.”
I took another sip.
“If he truly valued her, another woman would’ve never been able to tempt him.”
I shrugged.
“His weakness cost him everything.”
Lorenzo rubbed a hand over his face.
“You always justify whatever you do.”
“I don’t justify it.”
I smiled.
“I simply don’t regret it.”
The office fell silent.
After a moment, Lorenzo spoke again.
“Even if Damiano didn’t deserve her…”
He hesitated.
“…you’re older than Marina.”
I chuckled.
Age.
Such a meaningless argument.
“I’ll let Marina decide whether that matters.”
He stared at me, searching my face for doubt.
He found none.
Because there wasn’t any.
My gaze drifted back to the skyline.
Some men chased opportunities.
Others waited for fate.
I created both.
Enough waiting.
It was time to bring Marina into my world.
I reached for my phone.
Lorenzo sighed.
“What are you planning now?”
Without looking at him, I unlocked the screen.
“Curiosity has always been your greatest flaw.”
My thumb hovered over a familiar contact.
“But since you’ve earned the privilege…”
I pressed Call.
“…I’ll satisfy it.”
The line connected after two rings.
“Good morning, Mr. Ricci.”
Mr. Bianchi’s voice was polite.
Respectful.
Nervous.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”
I leaned back in my chair.
“I have a business proposal.”
“Of course, Mr. Ricci.”
He cleared his throat.
“I’m listening.”
A slow smile spread across my face.
“I’d like your daughter to resume work tomorrow.”
Silence.
“As my personal assistant.”
The words settled like thunder.
Not a single sound came from the other end.
Beside me, Lorenzo froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He knew exactly what this meant.
This wasn’t recruitment.
It was strategy.
The first move in a game only I intended to win.
I looked out over the city once more.
Marina Bianchi had no idea her life was about to change.
But it would.
This was never about employment .
It was about possession .
- Writer
