"You're a fool if you think anyone's coming for you," His voice cut through the darkness, as cold and unforgiving as the man himself. I looked up, defiance still burning in my eyes despite the fear that gnawed at her insides. "You don't know my family. I won't-" "Your family?" His laugh was harsh, devoid of any real humor. "The one who handed you over to me. The family who gave you to me like you were nothing more than a bargaining chip. And now, you're alone." The words hit me like a physical blow. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "You're mine now, princess. And the sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for you."
Chapter 1 I
Chapter 1
Sabrina Moretti p.o.v
I walk through the corridor of my family estate as I thought about my life since my father's death.
First my mother passed away during my 12th birthday party, then my father.
Now, I try my possible best to keep the family together while my elder brother just sits at the head of the table claiming he is the one taking care of the family!
Lucas, My one and only elder brother has been making decisions lately without me, and it's putting everything we have built together as a family at risk.
I pushed the hall door open and step inside.
The room was filled with our business partners.
All of them were men who have served the moretti's name for decades.
Lucas sat at the head of the table, as always.
His expression was hard and unreadable.
He barely acknowledges me as I take my seat beside him, but I can feel his eyes on me, watching and calculating.
It was as if he was waiting for me to say something to him.
"Massimo Morano has started hitting our businesses again," Lucas says with his voice low and steady.
"We lost two shipments again this week." he informed.
Massimo Morano.
The thorn in the Moretti's flesh.
He is always pushing....
Always testing our limits.
And now, it seems, he has decided to take the fight to us directly.
How shameless!
Morano is a ruthless man, who won't stop until he has crushed us completely.
"We need to fight back," I say, cutting through Lucas's briefing.
"And we need to do it fast. Morano won't stop until we are wiped off the market board."
"I'm handling it, Sabrina," he says with a dismissive tone.
I see what he did there.
"We have a plan in place."
I don't like the way he says "we."
Who is this "we" he is talking about?
I'm sure the "we" doesn't include me.
I'm supposed to be part of every decision, every move we make.
But lately, Lucas has been secretive.
He has been making decisions without consulting me.
It's unlike him, and it makes me feel awkward.
Now what is this plan?
My suspicions increased, and I decided to press him for more information.
"What plan?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm, even though I was so anxious inside of me.
"It's nothing for you to worry about. I got it covered." He says.
"You have been keeping things from me, Lucas. I need to know what you are planning Lucas. Remember the saying, two heads are better than one."
Lucas leans back in his chair.
"You worry too much, Sabrina. Trust me, everything is under control."
But I don't trust him.
I can't.
Not when everything feels so wrong.
Lucas has never been this hideous before, and it's setting off all sorts of alarms in my head.
I'm sure he is up to something that isn't good.
I won't let him jeopardize our family's business.
"You are asking me to trust you, Lucas, but you are not giving me a reason to," I say with a low but firm voice.
"I have always been part of the planning, part of the decisions. Why am I being left out now?"
Lucas smile fades and was replaced by a look of irritation.
"Because, Sabrina," he says with his voice tight.
"Sometimes things are better handled by men. You don't need to be involved in every little detail."
I could feel my temper rising, but I force myself to stay calm.
Lucas is trying to push me out.
He is keeping me away from this secret plan of his, and I need to know what this plan of his is.
"This isn't a little detail, Lucas," I say, leaning forward slightly.
"This is our family's business survival we are talking about here. You can't make decisions like this without me."
He meets my gaze, his eyes hardening.
"I'm doing what is best for the family, Sabrina. You need to trust that I know what I'm doing."
His words hit me like a slap in the face.
"And what exactly are you doing, Lucas? What aren't you telling me?"
The room falls into a tense silence, the other men around the table started shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
Lucas sighs and rubs a hand over his face as if he is tired of the whole conversation.
"Sabrina, this isn't the time or place for this discussion. We can talk about it later."
But I would rather not wait.
I can't wait.
I need to know what is going on, and I need to know now.
"No, Lucas, we will talk about it now," I say with a firm tone.
"You are hiding something from me, and I'm not going to let it go away. What is this plan you say you have?"
Lucas jaw tightens, and I could see the frustration in his eyes.
He doesn't like being challenged, especially not in front of the others.
But right now, I don't care.
This is too important.
"Sab," he says with a strained voice.
"I'm handling it. I'm not hiding anything from you. But you need to let me do my job."
"And what is your job, exactly?" I shoot back.
My patience was wearing off.
"Because it seems like you are making deals behind my back. Are you cutting me out of the family business, Lucas? Is that what this is?"
His eyes flash with anger, and he leans forward.
"Watch your tone, Sabrina. I'm still the head of this family." His voice was low and dangerous.
"Only because I let you be," I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
There were some inaudible words from one of our business partners, and I realize too late that I have crossed a line.
But it's the truth.
Lucas might have the title, but everyone knows I'm the one who keeps this business together.
Lucas barely goes to the company, but I do every single day.
Each department in the company report every matter to me.
When there is an issue in the company, I alone come up with ideas to solve it.
But for the past three weeks, for unknown reasons, the staffs stop reporting to me.
Lucas had instructed them to stop.
Even at that, he still didn't even check their reports.
So tell me why the company won't have an issue!
Lucas stares at me with a cold and unforgiving stare.
"You think you can run this business better than me?" he asks with a soft tone, but it was filled with intimidation.
I meet his gaze.
I refuse to back down.
"I know I can."
The other men were silent as their eyes dart between Lucas and me, waiting to see what will happen next.
For a moment, I think Lucas is going to explode.
He might lash out at me in anger.
But then, he does something I don't expect.
He smiles.
It's a cold smile.....
A calculating smile....
And it sends a chill down my spine.
"You were always a stubborn one, Sab," he says, his voice smooth.
"But you need to understand something. This business doesn't belong to you. It belongs to all of us. And as much as you might think you can do this alone, you can't. You need me, just like I need you."
I wasn't expecting such a statement from him.
"If I hear you correctly, you say we need each other but you are not acting like it," I say with a calm and softer but still firm voice.
"If we are in this together, Lucas, then you need to start acting like it. No more secrets."
He looks at me for a long time before he finally nods.
"Alright," he says.
"No more secrets. But you have to trust me, Sab. You have to trust that I'm doing what is best for the business."
I want to believe him, I really do.
But something still feels off.
Something about the way he has been acting, the way he has been shutting me out, doesn't add up.
However I nod anyway, knowing that pushing him too far right now won't do any good.
"Okay," I say with a calm voice.
"I will trust you. But don't make me regret it."
Lucas nods again with a serious expression.
"You won't. I promise."
The meeting continues as they talk about a new product we will be launching the following month, but my mind was not here.
It was elsewhere.
I listen as they talk about the product and their expectations, but I didn't really pay attention to it.
Instead, I was thinking about what I am going to do next.
I need to find out what Lucas is hiding, and I need to do it as soon as possible.
To be continued
Chapter 1 I
20/08/2024
Chapter 2 II
20/08/2024
Chapter 3 III
20/08/2024
Chapter 4 IV
20/08/2024
Chapter 5 V
20/08/2024
Chapter 6 VI
20/08/2024
Chapter 7 VII
20/08/2024
Chapter 8 VIII
20/08/2024
Chapter 9 IX
20/08/2024
Chapter 10 X
20/08/2024
Chapter 11 XI
18/10/2024
Chapter 12 XII
24/10/2024
Chapter 13 XIII
26/10/2024
Chapter 14 XIV
29/10/2024
Chapter 15 XV
31/10/2024
Chapter 16 XVI
31/10/2024
Chapter 17 XVII
31/10/2024
Chapter 18 XVIII
31/10/2024
Chapter 19 XIX
31/10/2024
Chapter 20 XX
31/10/2024
Chapter 21 XXI
31/10/2024
Chapter 22 XXII
31/10/2024
Chapter 23 XXIII
31/10/2024
Chapter 24 XXIV
31/10/2024
Chapter 25 XXV
01/11/2024
Chapter 26 XXVI
04/11/2024
Chapter 27 XXVII
04/11/2024
Chapter 28 XXVIII
06/11/2024
Chapter 29 XXIX
07/11/2024
Chapter 30 XXX
12/11/2024
Chapter 31 XXXI
12/11/2024
Chapter 32 XXXII
14/11/2024
Chapter 33 XXXIII
15/11/2024
Chapter 34 XXXIV
17/11/2024
Chapter 35 XXXV [Matured Scene 18+]
17/11/2024
Chapter 36 XXXVI [Matured Scene 18+]
17/11/2024
Chapter 37 XXXVII
17/11/2024
Chapter 38 XXXVIII
18/11/2024
Chapter 39 XXXIX
18/11/2024
Chapter 40 XL
18/11/2024
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