Silence filled the room as Isabella sat at her desk, working on a document. The desk was filled with a pile of paperwork, and she had been sitting there for hours.
A knock echoed in the silent room, gaining her attention. Isabella didn't peel her eyes from the file and permitted the person to come inside. Elena walked inside the cabin and stood in front of the desk.
She placed a cup of coffee on the desk, and Isabella looked at her. Elena placed a file on the desk and extended it toward her before saying professionally,
"Miss Isabella, this is the list of the companies that are suitable for the project and hold the most power in Italy."
Isabella took the file as Elena continued,
"There are only two companies. One is the Costa Organization, and another is the Valentino Group. The Costa Organization holds the most power here. It's more like they rule the country and everything here."
The Costa Organization. This name weirdly twisted Isabella's heart, and she felt as if she had heard this company name before. As if she knew it and there was something she shouldn't forget, but she didn't recall anything. It was as if the memory was right before her eyes, but something was hiding it from her.
"For the project, it would be best if we could get investment from them. I have already sent the pitch deck to the two companies, and the Costa Organization has reached out and has agreed to invest in the project." Elena added, regaining her attention.
Isabella looked at Elena, surprised, and asked, bewildered,
"They agreed so easily? When did you send the details?"
"Yesterday, miss," Elena replied, shocking her.
The Costa Organization, which holds the power here, agreed to invest in the project in one day. The fact that they agreed to invest in the project so easily and soon shocked Isabella more than it should have.
It was because she didn't expect that. She had never gotten an investor so quickly. On top of from this kind of company. No matter how good the project was, agreeing to it so soon made Isabella feel weird.
Maybe she was overthinking because she got it too easily for the first time in her business life. Or maybe they were really impressed with the project.
She decided to study the Costa Organization from the file Elena gave her before going into any conclusions. Isabella opened the file and slowly started reading the information about them.
The moment her eyes fell on the name of the CEO, her heart stilled and her eyes widened. Her mind went blank as she stared at the name and read it over and over again.
"Nicholas Costa," Isabella whispered, shocked, her mind finally processing the fact.
The Costa Organization belonged to him. Of course, it did. The thing that was hiding her memory faded, and she finally realized why she found this name familiar.
How could she forget that? How could she forget such an important thing? She should have known whose company it was the moment she heard the Costa name. She always remembered it, so how did she forget it now?
All the memories of Nicholas rushed into her mind, making her breathless. Five years had passed, but she still remembered all the events that had occurred with him. And the memories of that erotic night were still vivid in her mind.
Isabella thought that she would forget about him like she did before, but compared to her thought, she didn't at all. On top of everything, her beautiful children, who looked just like their father, made it impossible to forget him.
The fear Isabella had for Nicholas disappeared over the years. Now she didn't feel anything towards him. But she was thankful to him for giving her such beautiful children.
But she still didn't have any desire to meet him. She didn't want him to know about the twins. She thought it was better if they stayed away from him.
She didn't know why, but something in her just warned her to stay away from him. And she had no desire to ignore the warning of her gut feeling once again.
The memories of the note crashed into her mind as she slowly remembered each word of the note. He said he would shackle her with him. No, he didn't say; he promised. But he might have forgotten her, right? But what if he didn't and was looking for her?
What if he agreed to invest in the project because of her? What if he knew that it was her? Did he know that she was the CEO of the Russo Group? Did he remember her?
No, how was that possible? It had been five years. There was no way he still remembered her. Moreover, no one had seen her face yet to know that she was the president of the Russo Group.
Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe he liked the project and decided to invest in it. Yeah, it had to be like that.
Isabella wondered whether she should take the investment. As Elena said, it would be best if she got the Costa Organization investment. Their investment would be able to help the project run smoothly. So, should she accept it?
The lines of the note again struck her, making her mind a mess. She couldn't decide what she should do. No, she couldn't accept the investment. She couldn't take any chances. She couldn't be with the danger. But she also needed the investment.
She suddenly remembered that there was another company. The Valentino Group. It was also a powerful company. So, it would be fine as long as she got the investment from them. She would make sure she got them as her investors.
"What about the Valentino Group? Did they say anything?" Isabella asked, trying to be calm.
"No, miss. They hadn't sent any response yet." Elena said.
Isabella sighed and instructed,
"Reject the Costa Organization investment and make sure that the Valentino Group agrees to invest in the project."
Isabella's words made Elena confused, and she asked, frowning,
"But why, miss? Costa Organization is the best, and they already agreed. Then why?"
"Don't ask me why, Elena. I have a reason. Do as I said." Isabella said it firmly.
Isabella didn't want to explain to Elena. It was a mess. Elena wanted to say more, but the tone of Isabella stopped her, and she uttered okay before leaving to do as she was instructed.
Isabella sighed and leaned on the chair before closing her eyes. Nicholas was a danger. It would be best if she and the twins stayed away from him.
The time she spent with him years ago was enough. Now she was sure that there was no way they would meet again. And that only made Destiny smile at her naivety.
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Nicholas was swinging the glass of whiskey and staring at nothingness as thoughts of Isabella ran through his mind. He was at Star Club, sitting in the private room with Luca and Lorenzo.
"Pffft."
The sound of holding back laughter echoed in the room, annoying Nicholas. He looked at Luca, who was trying his best not to burst into laughter, and glared at him. The reaction from Nicholas made Luca laugh like a crazy man.
"Men, she rejected you three times," Luca said between his laughter, making Nicholas give him a death glare, but it was no use on him.
Apparently, Nicholas's offer to invest in the Phoenix project got rejected. He first thought maybe they had made a mistake, so he sent them again but got rejected again. He had sent the offer three times but got rejected every time.
In the end, Nicholas realized that it was never a mistake. His little moon rejected him three times in a row, on purpose. He wondered about the reason for the rejection.
Did his little moon reject him because it was him? Was it his little moon's attempt to stay away from him? If it was, then the attempts were really futile. Because nothing could keep her away from him.
Luca's laughter pulled Nicholas out of his thoughts, making him sigh in clear annoyance. Of course, Luca was the one who informed him about the rejections. And he was having too much fun at it.
They went to the Star Club to find a solution to it, but instead of giving him a solution, he was laughing, and Lorenzo was clearly amused. Nicholas released another sigh as his patience finally snapped, and he spoke coldly.
"Shut up before I kill you."
"I'm trying, man. But the fact that you got rejected three times was shocking and hilarious. No one has ever dared to reject you, but she did three times. She really is the queen." Luca uttered while controlling his laughter.
Luca's words made Nicholas irritated, but he also smirked. From the beginning, his little moon had been doing the thing that no one dared to do. And that made him more enchanted by her. She was his queen.
"What are you going to do now?" Lorenzo asked calmly.
Nicholas pondered about something for a few minutes before asking seriously,
"Did you say she wanted to collaborate with the Valentino Group?"
Luca stopped laughing and nodded before saying,
"Yes, she wanted their investment in the project. More like she must get an investment from them. But they hadn't replied to her yet."
Nicholas smirked darkly, completely knowing what he needed to do. His little moon was trying to run away from him, and he just needed to make sure that whatever path she took to run away from him, eventually, it would only lead to him.
"Your smirk is telling me you already know what to do," Lorenzo said, making Nicholas grin.
"You are right. I know what to do."
"Buy the Valentino Group and approve the project." Nicholas instructed, making Luca and Lorenzo shocked.
"What did you say?" Luca exclaimed in shock.
Nicholas rolled his eyes and stated, boringly,
"Buy the Valentino Group."
"Woah, our Nicholas has finally gone crazy. Oh, no, my mistake. You are crazy. Do you even know what you are even saying?" Luca stated.
"Are you serious?" Lorenzo asked, making Nicholas nod.
"I fucking am," Nicholas said seriously.
Luca and Lorenzo sighed at Nicholas's words, and Luca muttered,
"They hold power. Of course, not even near the power we hold, but they still do. It would be hard."
"It's hard, not impossible. And nothing is impossible for me. Moreover, I—we can make it happen, right?" Nicholas said in a challenging tone.
The tone of Nicholas made them realize that he had already decided and nothing would change his decision.
"Okay, we will have busy days ahead." Lorenzo and Luca murmured in unison, their tone already tired.
Luca sighed deeply and whispered,
"Yes, let's buy a company. Goodbye, my dear bed."
Nicholas smiled at Luca's already exhausted face. His little moon could run as much as she wanted, but all the paths would only lead to him.
She might think that she could escape from him or stay away from him. But he would prove her wrong by dragging her right back to him over and over again. He would make her realize that she belonged to him. Only him.