Chapter 3. The Ruthless CEO
642 Words
The entire company fell silent the moment Adrian De Luca stepped into the building.
Employees immediately lowered their heads respectfully as the sound of his expensive black shoes echoed across the polished floor.
“Good morning, Mr. De Luca.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Welcome back, CEO.”
But Adrian ignored every single greeting like they didn’t exist.
His expression remained cold and unreadable as he walked straight toward the private elevator with one hand inside his pocket.
Behind him followed his personal assistant, Matteo Ricci, carrying several files and an iPad.
“Your meeting with the investors begins in thirty minutes,” Matteo informed professionally. “And the board members are waiting for confirmation about the marriage announcement.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened instantly.
“I’m not interested.”
Matteo sighed inwardly.
Everyone knew Adrian hated the idea of marriage.
After waking from his five-year coma years ago, Adrian became emotionally detached from everyone around him. Love, relationships, and emotions meant absolutely nothing to him now.
But the De Luca family empire needed stability.
And his business partners demanded a public marriage alliance to strengthen the company’s reputation.
That was the only reason he agreed.
Not for love.
Never for love.
The elevator doors opened directly into the top floor of De Luca Holdings — the largest luxury fashion and investment company in Italy.
The moment Adrian entered his office floor, whispers immediately spread among the female employees.
“He’s so handsome…”
“Did you see his eyes?”
“I heard he’s getting married.”
“I would literally die to date him.”
Adrian suddenly stopped walking.
The entire hallway became silent immediately.
Slowly, he turned around.
His sharp icy gaze landed on one of the girls smiling boldly at him.
“You.”
The woman froze instantly.
“M-me, sir?”
“You’re fired.”
Everyone gasped.
The woman’s face turned pale.
“S-Sir, what did I do?”
Adrian’s expression remained emotionless.
“I pay employees to work. Not to flirt.”
“B-but—”
“Security.”
Within seconds, two guards appeared.
The girl was dragged away while the other female workers immediately lowered their heads in fear.
Matteo adjusted his glasses calmly.
Another one.
Adrian entered his massive office without a second glance.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the beautiful city of Milan while dark modern furniture filled the luxurious space. Everything about the office screamed power, wealth, and control.
Yet the atmosphere felt cold.
Lifeless.
Matteo placed the files on the desk.
“These are today’s contracts.”
Adrian sat down silently.
“Also,” Matteo added carefully, “your mother called again about the engagement dinner.”
“I already said yes to the marriage.”
“But she wants you to spend more time with Miss Sofia before the wedding.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened slightly in irritation.
Sofia annoyed him.
Her voice.
Her fake laughter.
Her desperate attempts to impress him.
Everything about her felt forced.
And strangely…
Every time he looked at her, something felt wrong.
Like he was choosing the wrong person.
His fingers paused suddenly against the desk.
A blurry image flashed inside his mind.
A girl smiling while singing softly beneath the rain.
Adrian frowned immediately.
Again.
That strange unknown girl.
For the past two nights, she kept appearing in his dreams.
He couldn’t see her face clearly.
But her voice felt painfully familiar.
“Sir?”
Matteo’s voice pulled him back.
Adrian rubbed his temple coldly.
“Cancel tonight’s dinner.”
“Your mother will be upset.”
“I don’t care.”
Matteo nodded silently.
As Adrian looked out the glass windows, his expression remained unreadable.
Unknown to him…
The girl haunting his dreams was currently scrubbing floors in her father’s mansion while trying not to cry over the man who no longer remembered her.
- Writer
