ALESSANDRE
The boardroom was filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the unmistakable scent of acquired wealth — two fragrances that had gradually become unpalatable to me over the years.
This was the second time I had to be here in less than two weeks, and I didn't like it. I was already familiar with the performance: the forced smiles, the probing questions, an unwritten script we all followed.
Ophelia was seated at the polished mahogany table when I walked in. She was dressed in her trademark pearl blazer, her hair gleaming like polished obsidian under the soft glow of the overhead lights, and her features were chiselled and striking, sharp enough to bring up emotions I thought I'd long buried. She didn’t glance in my direction, yet I could feel the rhythmic tappin
