chapter 2
1238 Words
In the conference room,
“The situation is critical.” Mr. Cray said, adjusting his glasses. “We could attempt to buy back the shares, but it will be difficult. He will detect our move almost immediately.”
Mr. Cray, one of Bellanti's oldest allies and largest shareholder outside the family. He was the man of business, smart, calculative and honest.
Sofia slammed the binded papers on the table so hard, the noise echoed across the conference room.
She cursed under her breath, “shoot!” running her fingers through her hair.
“Is there nothing we can do?” She asked curiously, “So what? He comes in and buy our company?”
Her words hung in the air, furious and rhetorical.
Around the tables sat with her, her brother, Mr Cray, a business partner, Bellanti's lawyer, Raymond, Cherry, the data analyst and few other business shareholders. They had been stuck in that room for almost an hour, roaming on how to toss their possible threat to favour them.
The silence was loud and deep.
Sofia dismissed the silence with a wave of her hand. “No!” She continued, “I'm not gonna allow some hostile player crawl into the game, that I own, and take everything that my whole family worked their life for.”
“well…” Raymond cleared his throat, interrupting. “ He can still tighten his security and control, even with a court injunction. If he has somewhere, a shell company. He's smart.”
“And tactiful” Cherry added, watching the screen of her tablet. “He is moving faster than we expected.” she said and looked up, her glance crossing everyone in the conference room and back to Sofia.
Marco, who had been usually quiet and distracted, for the first time chewed the cap of his pen and said something reasonable. “ Maybe not. The way I see it…there can only be one way.”
Everyone leaned forward, eyes focusing on Marco.
Sofia raised a brow, knowing how foolish Marco can be.
“You got something?” Sofia asked tapping her pen constantly on the table.
For a brief moment, Sofia saw herself paying attention. All the anger and frustration she felt slowly faded. She’d never seen Marco say something so brilliant before. She wondered if a miracle happened overnight or … it could be the slap she gave him last night.
….
Sofia rushed into Dom’s office, unannounced. The guards tried to stop her, but she was faster. “Domenico!” she shouted. Her anger weighed her shoulder down as she clenched her fist.
Domenico sat with his back to her, spinning his chair slowly to face her. His expression was calm and unreadable, like a man who's been through too much to get upset by a rattling woman. “Mr. Capo” he corrected, his voice low and calm. “ This is my office, not your courtroom.” His gaze narrowed.
Sofia didn't flinch. “Oh! Snap out of your little Fantasy, Dom. You know exactly why I am here” she said squeezing her face enough, she felt the pain in her cheeks.
Dom gave a soft chuckle and looked down, he then rose to his feet. His voice dropped low and controlled, his arms folded. “First, you barge in like you own the office. Secondly, you address me informally, as if we're related, we're not!” He leaned in a little more, his eyes locked straight into hers. “ Lastly, you're in my territory so you play by my rules.”
Sofia could feel her heart racing, a mix of rage and something she couldn't quite explain. But it pounded anyways.
She stepped back a little.
“How dare you Dom? Who do you think you are?”
“You're asking the wrong questions.” Dom’s voice was low and steady as he leaned back on his chair, relaxed. “ The question you should be asking is, ’why are you doing all this?’”
“I don't care to know your reasons…”
“And that's where you are wrong” his eyes fixed into hers, sharp and unreadable, “ Assuming ignorance is better than the truth.”
Sofia couldn't explain if she felt uncomfortable with his look, or it was just because she was furious. It was bizarre. Strangely satisfying, piercing and odd. It made her anger disappear for a split second. It hooked her so bad she became speechless.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
“ We are supposed to be partners, Dom.” her voice a little too relaxed.
“Mr. Capo” he said without looking at her, slightly clearing his throat.
She sniffed. “ Fine. Mr. Capo…” she sounded insincere. “ You act like we are partners and then stab me in the back. You want control, not collaboration.”
Dom tilted his head slightly and gave a cocky smile. “ Control is earned, Sofie. And you sure did hand it over.”
Sofia could feel her legs aching, even more than his words. The heels clenched tight to her toes. She grabbed the chair across him and sat on it.
“I didn't ask you to sit” he faced her, his expression even more serious. Intersecting his fingers .
“ I didn't ask you to take control, neither did I ask to be stabbed” she retaliated. “ but here we are, doing what we both want.” she said and relaxed on the chair, straightening her legs as she crossed it.
Dom exhaled, his breath brushing the hairs on her skin, as far as he sat. Leaning forward, resting his elbows on the desk to support his chin. “You are in my territory. Courtesy demands …”
Sofia scoffed. “Who are you to speak about courtesy?” she leaned forward to match his posture. And energy. “ You dare to speak about courtesy, after manipulating… sorry.” She paused and hit her forehead slightly, “ taking control…” she said with sarcasm “... over contracts you play like games, and… I can sue you.” her voice daring, her face factual.
silence invaded.
Dom gave a smooth but faint smile.”you have a full proved plan?” He raised an eye brow and waited for her to respond. Sofia uttered nothing. “None? So you come in here, without a plan. That's brave. Sorry, foolish. Haven't really decided.”
Sofia gave a big sigh. Her voice lowered, betraying the anger she walked in with. “You don't scare me, Dom. Mr. Capo.”
“You should be scared” he leaned against his chair. Spinning it a little to the right and to the left. “Because if you're not …I'm sorry you are wrong. You need to pay attention, and to do so, you need to be scared.” His voice sounding a little kind than dangerous.
There was silence roaming in the room, the kind that makes one anxious and terrified.
Sofia adjusted her posture to suit her. “I’m not here to play games, I'm here to burn this whole contract to the ground if I have to.”
“You should be careful with flames, Sofie. You don't play with them. You may get burnt”
“I don't care. Even if it means I get burnt, I'm in.”
“Mmmm?” he said and smirked.
- Writer
