WHISPERS OF BETRAYAL : THE COLD CEO

The Arrival

Isabella finally arrived in Milan, and after passing through the luggage checkpoints, she headed out into the arrival terminal. The exact moment her eyes landed on her best friend, Fiamma, the two of them rushed toward each other and shared a massive, emotional hug with bright smiles on their faces.

Isabella was completely exhausted and emotionally drained from the nightmare in New York, but she felt a wave of relief leaving those sick bastards behind and finally reuniting with her grandmother and her best friend, whom she had missed so much.

As usual, Fiamma looked absolutely stunning, dressed in a high-fashion outfit that made heads turn across the airport terminal. She squealed with pure excitement. "Oh girl, I have really missed you so much! And what on earth are you wearing? I am going to completely change your fashion style, darling, trust me. You are going to love it here in Milan."

She dragged Isabella's hand excitedly and signaled her chauffeur to put the suitcases in the trunk of the luxury car, and the two of them climbed into the back seat to catch up on everything.

They drove straight to Nonna Sophia's house. Isabella knew her grandmother would be thrilled to see her, since she'd deliberately kept the trip a secret, wanting it to be a perfect surprise.

The moment the car stopped, Isabella rushed inside to give her grandmother a tight hug. She had missed her presence so much. Nonna Sophia was completely shocked and breathless with excitement to see her standing in the living room.

"Oh Isa, why did you not tell me you were coming? I would have prepared your favorite dish right away," she said, tears of joy in her eyes. It had been so long since Isabella had heard anyone use that nickname.

Isabella smiled warmly and told her that any food she cooked was always her absolute favorite, because she had missed her and her sweet, delicious dishes so much. Fiamma walked in right behind her and gave Nonna Sophia a loving hug as well.

Grandma was so excited that she immediately called out to Maya, the house help, telling her they needed to prepare a massive, delicious feast to welcome Isa home. Isabella smiled happily and carried her bags up to her old room, with Fiamma following close behind.

After unpacking, Fiamma complained repeatedly that they needed to go shopping immediately to fix Isabella's entire fashion sense. Isabella just laughed softly, telling her she would eventually, but not yet. When Fiamma asked why she was hesitating, Isabella admitted the truth with a heavy heart: she desperately needed money, because her toxic ex-fiancé had drained almost all her savings on a fake business deal. She had no money for luxury right now, and finding a job was her priority.

Fiamma's eyes went wide and she snapped her fingers, announcing that her brother Leonardo's executive secretary had been fired the day before — he'd apparently decided she was completely incompetent. "With your first-class honors degree in corporate communications from Sterling University, you would be the perfect fit. I am calling my brother right now to force him to interview you tomorrow morning." She walked out excitedly to make the call.

Left alone, Isabella sat on the bed and slipped into a vivid flashback of her old high school crush on Leonardo. He'd been her handsome senior, charming and breathtakingly cute, but he'd never once looked her way — always just his little sister's friend to him. She shook her head to clear the thought, reminding herself it was all in the past. She was completely done with love, because all men were the same sick, manipulative bastards. Her only priority now was getting this job to support herself and her grandmother. Love was no longer on her agenda.

Fiamma returned thirty minutes later with a triumphant smile, announcing that her brother had agreed to an early interview the next morning. She looked at Isabella seriously. "My brother has really changed a lot over the years, Bella. He is a robot now, so you need to do your absolute professional best to get hired."

Isabella nodded confidently. Just then, Fiamma's phone rang loudly; she kissed her quickly on the cheek, wished her luck, and rushed out for an emergency photoshoot, leaving Isabella alone to prepare.

Isabella headed downstairs to help Nonna Sophia with dinner. They sat down at the table, said their prayers, and ate together. "Isa," her grandmother said warmly, trying to serve more food, "eat more, child." Isabella laughed and told her she was already full. Afterward, she helped Maya clear the table and wash the dishes until everything was spotless, then kissed her grandmother goodnight and went to bed.

The next morning, Isabella's alarm rang loudly at six a.m. She dashed into the bathroom to get ready for the high-stakes interview at Moretti Industries, putting on a simple, fitted black skirt, a professional blouse, and sleek black stiletto heels, and carrying a black leather handbag with all her university documents inside.

Downstairs, she realized it was already almost seven thirty-nine. She greeted her grandmother quickly. "Good morning, ma." When Nonna Sophia asked with concern whether she'd have breakfast, Isabella told her no — she'd grab something quick on the way.

She stepped outside and hailed a taxi to Moretti Industries. Within twenty minutes, she reached the front gate of a massive corporate complex. Taxis weren't allowed inside, so she walked the rest of the way. The building was a magnificent skyscraper stretching high into the sky. Inside, the grand lobby gleamed with expensive Italian marble floors.

She approached the reception desk and explained she had an interview appointment with the CEO. The receptionist checked her system and directed her to his private elevator. Isabella rode up, staring through the glass walls at the beautiful design surrounding her.

Within seconds, the elevator doors glided open onto the exclusive executive floor — frameless glass walls, expensive imported rugs, and sleek modern decor. She walked down the quiet hallway until she reached a heavy set of double doors marked: CEO OFFICE.

She felt incredibly nervous and tense, but straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath to gather her confidence, and knocked gently on the wood. A deep, unyielding voice answered from inside: "Come in."

She opened the door and stepped into the room. Her heart dropped instantly into her stomach. Leonardo had grown into an incredibly handsome man, with broad, powerful shoulders and a striking, dangerous look. She offered a polite greeting. "Good morning, sir." She received no response.

He didn't even lift his head from his desk — only extended a hand and muttered a single word. She walked forward and handed him her papers, standing rigidly as he read through the pages. After what felt like an eternity, he looked up with icy grey eyes and spoke sternly.

"Fiamma forced me into this, and after going through your documents, I can see you are technically fit for this job. But let me make one thing clear: I do not tolerate any clumsiness or unprofessional conduct in my company. Your childhood history with my sister is none of my business, so do not dare to bring personal drama into my workplace. Any mistakes or lack of focus from your end will instantly get you fired on the spot. I do not care about your relationship with my sister. Am I clear?" he demanded.

Isabella stood there, completely shocked by the sheer weight of his coldness. He had changed so much from the sweet boy she remembered — Leonardo was never this cruel. She swallowed the lump in her throat and replied immediately, "Yes, sir."

Then he gave a slight nod and told her coldly that she could resume her duties the following morning.