Chapter 1
The black Porsche 911 Targa 4S stopped with a sudden brake in an underground parking lot, and the person who was driving it opened the door a little too harshly. A 17cm platform heel stepped onto the ground, and a breathless woman hopped out. She went too wild last night at the club, all because of that lousy man she called boyfriend—ex-boyfriend now. Glad she called it off, that pathetic actor had the guts to embarrass her in front of the public by kissing another woman.
She was made into a sad and miserable girlfriend. So, she showed him how it felt to be embarrassed in public—his filming site, where all his fans were watching. She broke up with him and cursed the hell out of him, calling him all those names embedded as a cheater.
“Signora Chelsea, you’re late!” Nina approached her in a hurry and panic. She stood by the open door and watched her boss with wide eyes. One, because she was panicking, and two, her dress! The unusually short dress she wore. Nina’s eyes drifted down and found that she was wearing ridiculously high heels. A loud gasp came out of her mouth. “Miss. Chels!”
“What? What?” The woman, Chelsea, replied tiredly. She slammed the car door and looked at her secretary.
“Today is the big meeting day, Signora. The CEO is supposed to come today, and all the board members are already present in the conference room,” Nina reminded her boss, still panicking. Her heart felt uneasy for Chelsea and herself.
First, her direct boss, Chelsea, she was never late, and she never dressed like this in the office. She always put manners first above everything. But what she saw right now was the opposite of the Chelsea she knew.
“Meeting?!” Chelsea’s eyes widened, and she immediately jogged inside, taking the elevator straight to the conference room. “He’s coming today?” she questioned as her hand rummaged inside her handbag to find her reading glasses. Yes, she had bad eyesight. So, she wore it when she worked.
When the elevator doors opened, both women hurriedly walked towards the conference room. The platform heels clicked onto the porcelain floor like an alarm throughout the whole floor. The whole 4th floor was under her jurisdiction, and she controlled everything on this floor, including her staff.
“Miss Chels!” Nina stopped her abruptly when Chelsea was about to walk in. Chelsea turned and waited for her to continue. “Your bag.” Nina pointed at the handbag; she didn’t need it inside the conference room.
“Thank you.” Chelsea handed her bag to Nina and grabbed the door handle. She adjusted her loose hair and put her glasses on before pushing the door open. Her expression changed, the hurriedness turned calm and professional as she made eye contact with the board members and the head of every division in this office. They were all standing up, but not because of her arrival. They had stood up in discipline because the CEO had occupied his place.
The room turned colder than it already was. The chilly temperature made their necks shiver, especially when the COO and CEO finally made eye contact. It looked like they turned the office into a silent ice war.
The CEO’s eyes examined her unusual appearance, which everyone wondered about but kept it in their mind. His eyes hardened, shifting slightly upon seeing the dress she wore. But that expression was caught by her, her precise eagle eyes, even through the glasses.
“Miss Sanna, is this the example you’re putting for your employees?” The question breathed coldness, but the eyes shot familiarity.
“It’s 8.59, Mr. Ricci. The office starts at 9 sharp. Are you trying to corrupt their time?” Without having to see the time, Chelsea said it correctly. She held his gaze steady, not shrinking as everyone would.
“It’s Mr. De Ricci,” a voice spoke so quietly, correcting her. The voice came from behind him. Everyone held their breath, hearing the interruption. How dare he?
Chelsea narrowed her eyes back at the person who had just spoken. She tilted her head to the side, looking at the familiar face; not once had she ever seen that face in this Milano Palazzo. “You are?” Chelsea asked. They could hear the crack sound in their ears when the question was voiced. Nothing was breaking visibly; it was just an allusion.
“Gerald, Miss Sanna,” he replied, even though his throat was tightening up and his voice almost couldn’t come out. He could feel the high-rise tension shift when Chelsea turned to him.
“Excuse my assistant, Chelsea. He’s adjusting.” Mr. De Ricci took over their encounter to protect his assistant’s face. He knew Chelsea would be too hard on new faces and would step on their confidence easily.
“Okay,” Chelsea gave in, didn’t feel like pushing the problem further. “Are there more people you bring into this office, Mr. Ricci? Thought that we should know now we’re gathering here to welcome you in this office.” The door behind Chelsea was closed, indicating the meeting was about to start. All the executives sat down on their chairs and now focused on their bosses.
“No, this will be all,” Mr. De Ricci replied, gesturing with his hand to Gerald, his assistant.
Chelsea sat on the right side as the head seat was occupied by Mr. De Ricci. After all, he was the CEO of this company; it was his rightful place.
“Okay. Anything we need to know about you before we move on?” Chelsea asked, keeping her tone professional even though she realized he had called her by her first name earlier. But she didn’t let it get into her personal space. They were in a conference room where all the executives involved were waiting to get to know their new CEO, the new face of their company.
Mr. De Ricci turned his head, slowly but surely, to her. There was a few seconds pause, where his mind rolled, thinking of what she expected him to say. Did he introduce himself? But why? Or, did he have to please the board members and the head divisions? They probably already know who he was.
Who didn’t know him? The empire titan who owned them, Kenzo Cesare De Ricci.
Knock. Knock.
The conference room door pushed open, and Nina walked straight in and toward Chelsea. She bent down to her ear and whispered the urgency that she had to cut in on their meeting session. Those movements were watched by Kenzo, but he kept still and quiet because he was just a watcher.
He watched her face when Nina whispered something in her ear. But no change in facial expression was shown. Her face stayed straight as what Nina whispered didn’t bother her externally, but it did internally.
Chelsea suddenly stood up, and the heavy cushioned chair was pushed back by the impact. The head divisions didn’t dare to look up; only the higher-ups did: the board members and the one and only, Kenzo Cesare.
“Forgive my rudeness. Something has come up that needs my immediate attention. Take your time to get to know our executives, Mr. Ricci.” Chelsea turned around without a second glance. She exited the conference room in those massive platform heels, walking confidently and mightily.
“Let’s wrap up. Good day, everyone.” Kenzo also stood up right after Chelsea left. He didn’t waste a second before leaving the room. His action, of course, was questioned and murmured about among the executives. Rude, arrogant, and acquisitive.
