I'm in my office at the top of Marcello Tower, the city of Velancia sprawling below through floor-to-ceiling windows. My desk is covered with the Alverez dossier, reports, financials, and photos. Sienna Alverez's face stares up at me from a glossy print, her hazel eyes sharp and steady. She's the key to dismantling Ricardo Alverez, the man who ruined my family. But every time I look at her, something twists in my chest, like a warning I can't ignore.
I push the photo aside and flip through the dossier. Bank accounts, boardroom deals, Sienna's acquisition plan for Velancia Tech. She's good, better than Ricardo deserves. I lean back in my chair, my fingers tapping the desk. Taking down Alverez Corp is my endgame, but Sienna's not just a pawn. She's a challenge, and I'm not sure if I want to crush her or… something else.
My phone buzzes with a text from Julian: Finance meeting in 10. You ready? I type back: Always. I grab the dossier, lock it in my safe, and head for the elevator. Sienna's wedding is tomorrow, and I need to move fast.
The memory hits as I step into the elevator, sharp and uninvited. I'm twelve, standing in the ruins of our family home in southern Italy. The air smells of smoke, the walls blackened from the fire. My mother's gone, vanished in the blaze, they say. I clutch a scorched photo of her, my hands shaking. Ricardo Alverez did this. His name burns in my mind, whispered by the men who came for us. I kneel in the ashes, my voice hoarse. "I'll make him pay, Mama. I swear it."
The elevator dings, pulling me back. I'm not that kid anymore. I'm Damien Marcello, CEO of Marcello International, and vengeance is closer than ever. I step into the conference room, my face a mask of control.
The finance team is already seated, their laptops open, charts glowing on the screen. Julian's at my side, his dark eyes scanning the room. He's my right-hand man, my brother in all but blood. The CFO, Maria, stands to present, her voice crisp. "Our bid for Velancia Tech is ready. If we move now, we can block Alverez Corp's acquisition."
I nod, my arms crossed. "What's the cost?"
"$4 billion, minimum," she says, clicking to a slide. "But it'll cripple their AI division. They won't recover for years."
The room murmurs, heads nodding. I glance at Julian, his jaw tight. He knows this isn't just business, it's personal. "Do it," I say, my voice cold. "File the bid today. I want Alverez scrambling by morning."
Maria hesitates. "There's a risk. If they counter, we could overextend."
"Then we crush them," I say, leaning forward. "No mercy." The room goes quiet, and Maria nods, typing notes. I turn to Julian, lowering my voice so only he hears. "Make sure Ricardo knows it's me. I want him to feel this."
Julian's eyes narrow, but he nods. "Got it. But Damien, Sienna's in the crossfire. You sure about this?"
I clench my jaw. Sienna's face flashes in my mind, her poise, her vulnerability. I shove the thought down. "She's an Alverez. She's part of it." But the words feel hollow, and Julian's look says he knows it.
After the meeting, I head to the private lounge for a drink with Julian. The bar's sleek, all dark wood and dim lights. I pour two glasses of whiskey and hand one to him. "What's on your mind?" I ask, sitting across from him. "You've been quiet."
He swirls his glass, his brow furrowed. "This Alverez plan, it's tight, but it's messy. Sienna's not Ricardo. You saw her file. She's clean, maybe even clueless about his deals."
I take a sip, the whiskey burning my throat. "Doesn't matter. She's his heir. She benefits from his sins."
Julian leans forward, his voice low. "And if she doesn't? If she's just caught in his web? You're not just hitting Ricardo, you're hitting her. Her wedding's tomorrow, man. You sure you want to start a war now?"
I set my glass down, harder than I mean to. "I've waited twenty years for this. Ricardo took everything, my mother, my home. I'm not stopping because his daughter's got a ring on her finger."
Julian sighs, running a hand over his face. "Just don't lose yourself in this, Damien. Revenge doesn't bring her back."
His words sting, but I don't flinch. "Get the bid filed," I say, standing. "And keep tabs on Sienna tomorrow. I want to know every move she makes." I walk out, my chest tight. Julian's right about one thing, Sienna's stirring something in me, and I don't like it.
I'm back in my office, reviewing the bid documents, when my assistant, Claire, knocks. "Mr. Marcello, you've got a call. It's Marcus Vellani."
I frown. Marcus, the snake from Vellani Holdings, always sniffing around my deals. "Put him through," I say, leaning back. The phone clicks, and his smooth voice comes on.
"Damien, good to catch you," Marcus says, too friendly. "Heard you're making a play for Velancia Tech. Bold move."
"Get to the point, Marcus," I say, my patience thin.
He chuckles. "Just a friendly warning. Ricardo's not the only one watching that deal. You might have competition you didn't expect."
My grip tightens on the phone. "If you're throwing in, you'll lose. Stay out of my way."
"Oh, I'm not in the game… yet," he says. "But I'll be at the Alverez wedding tomorrow. Maybe we'll chat then. Enjoy your evening, Damien." The line goes dead, and I slam the phone down. Marcus is playing games, and I don't trust him. I text Julian: Check Marcus Vellani's moves. He's up to something.
I head to the gym in the tower's lower floors, needing to burn off the tension. The space is empty, just punching bags and weights. I wrap my hands and start hitting the bag, each punch harder than the last. Sienna's photo keeps flashing in my mind, her smile, her strength. She's not like Ricardo, but she's still his weapon. I hit harder, sweat dripping down my face. Every victory I've clawed for, every deal, every dollar, has been for this moment. To make Ricardo pay. But Sienna's vulnerability, her eyes in that photo… it's messing with my focus.
I'm mid-punch when Julian walks in, holding a folder. "You're gonna break that bag," he says, tossing the folder on a bench. "Got something for you."
I catch my breath, wiping my face with a towel. "What is it?"
He opens the folder, pulling out a seating chart for Sienna's wedding. "Got this from a contact at the venue. Look at the head table." I scan it, Sienna, Ethan, Ricardo, Valentina. Ethan's name is marked "reserved," but next to Valentina's, someone's scrawled "Usurper" in red ink.
I stare at the word, my pulse quickening. "Who wrote this?" I ask, my voice low.
Julian shrugs. "Don't know. Contact said it was on the planner's copy. Could be a prank, could be trouble. Either way, that wedding's gonna be a circus."
I hand the chart back, my mind racing. Valentina, the sister who's always in Sienna's shadow. Is she planning something? Or is someone setting her up? I look at Julian. "Get someone inside that wedding. I want eyes on Valentina and Sienna. Every second."
He nods, but his eyes search mine. "You're playing with fire, Damien. Hope you know what you're doing."
I turn back to the bag, my fists clenched. "I always do." But as I throw the next punch, Sienna's face lingers, and for the first time, I'm not sure.