ROSE"What’s with the face?” Renata turned to the passenger side to look at me.“Marco said to come in now,” she said as I sighed, nervously tucking my fingernails into my mouth.“How will he react when he sees me?” I turned to look at her; she smiled. “I mean, I just left like that without a real goodbye, like a selfish….” The words hung in my mouth as she placed a hand on mine.“Don’t… this is for your happiness. These past few days have been hell for you. I won’t let you leave here without meeting him at least once,” she said. When I still seemed hesitant, she continued.“I heard he has been combing the whole world trying to find you. Imagine how he is going to feel,” she said with a reassuring smile, and I gave her a tight smile.I would fool myself if I said that served as any comfort. “Well… I guess I have to go now,” I said as Renata nodded.“Yeah… Go on, don’t keep your man waiting,” she teased, and I returned a tight smile.Now in front of Valentino’s office, the door suddenl
Rose’s POV"Hi, Marie," I greeted immediately as I walked into the single room that my best friend and I shared. As I walked to the wardrobe and began packing my clothes, Marie stared at me in surprise."What are you doing?" Marie asked as she stood up from the bed where she had been lying, watching me with a worried look."Some people are after me, and I need to leave," I said as I zipped up my suitcase and turned my attention to Marie."Oh no," she shook her head. "Who did you scam this time?""Some person," I shrugged as I picked up the bag."I can't believe this. How long are you going to keep conning people and running away, ugh? Why can't you just find a legitimate business, Rose.""I am not doing this with you, Marie. I need to leave right now. They know I stay here. If they come for me, you will be in trouble," I said to her as she watched me with a worried expression.I sighed and started again. "Come on," I said calmly. "It's fine, Marie. I'll be fine.""Just return their mo
Rose’s POV"What?! The Sabatini brothers who are known not to stand each other?" I asked in shock as Marco nodded slowly, as if scared that I would change my mind. I sighed deeply and studied the man for a while. What the hell am I getting into?"What exactly is my job?" I asked."To teach them how to love each other," another voice interrupted as a man in an electric wheelchair rolled in from an adjoining room. Though he looked sickly, an aura of authority was visible around him."Mr. Giovanni Sabatini," I said almost in a whisper as I stared at the old man. The owner of the largest conglomerates in the country. Everyone in the county knew him."Nice to meet you, Miss Renata Arturo," he said with a smile on his frail face. Although this man was retired due to his rumored illness and now has one of his grandsons running the company, he still exudes that charm of authority."Hi—" I said quickly as I realized I was beginning to stammer. I must not give them the idea that I wasn't Renata
Rose’s POVValerio chuckled, obviously pissed by Valentino’s statement, while Vicente scoffed. “I can’t believe you gathered all of us here, Marco.” He glared at the secretary whom he was supposed to scare, but he didn’t budge. “I am just following Mr. Giovanni’s orders. He asked me to gather you all here to make an important announcement,” he said as he looked from one brother to another. “What is it now?” Valerio rolled his eyes at Marco, who pressed his lips in frustration at being cut short, while Vicente narrowed his eyes at me with a seductive smile. “Does it concern our pretty doll here?”“Can you both shut up?” Valentino glared at them. “You don’t get to call the shots… brother,” Vicente said in a degrading manner as Valentino stared fiercely at him as if he could kill him.Are these people even related at all? The news didn’t elaborate on how much hatred presides among them, I thought, as I felt my palm become sweaty with someone's hand wrapped around my shoulder. I shudder
Rose’s POVVicente’s lips curved into a smile as he stared at me cunningly."What?" I asked with a chuckle, slowly finding myself getting used to this man, though I often told myself it was a bad idea."What do I get in return?" He raised a brow with folded arms.I chuckled. "Ask away.""Sure? I don't like being told no for an answer. You should rethink it." He stared at me carefully as I studied his expression. He was flirting, and what's worse, I was falling for it."Never mind. I'll just go for it later. Nothing's coming to my mind. Uhm, about those brats, just use their favorite food to entice them," he said as I nodded slowly."Do you think it will work?" I asked, not sure if mere food would get them to eat together."Just a guess. I don't know," Vicente shrugged."I guess you're right," I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. Having meals together would allow the brothers to form some kind of bond."Mr. Valerio can't resist barbecued beef and tomato," the housekeeper chimed in. She stood
"Miss Rose? Miss Rose?" I snapped out of my reverie when I realized Ms. Carla had been calling me."Ugh?" I replied quickly."You don't need to do this. It's the job of the maids to help me out in the kitchen," she said with a smile as I looked down at the towel in my hand."Besides, you are doing a bad job," she added with a nervous chuckle as I smiled.It was obvious my mind wasn't on cleaning; I was thinking about yesterday with Valerio. If I don't do anything, I will be thrown out. No money. Nothing!I had come downstairs to help her take care of the kitchen so I could clear my mind, but I was just snapping every now and then.And the thought of losing such a huge amount."How was dinner yesterday?" Ma Carla asked with a careful gaze."With the young master Valerio?" She added as I sighed heavily and shook my head."It ended up in ways I didn't imagine, Ms. Carla. Valerio is quite hot-tempered," I said in frustration."Ah…" She chuckled. "If you see Valerio as hot-tempered, how wo
"Shit! Damn wall!" I cursed angrily as I stared at the hard wall."Rose?" Vicente's calm voice called me as I turned to see him staring at me, like some father trying to figure out what was wrong with his little precious daughter.He rushed towards me with a frightened look and stared at my forehead. "Blood," he breathed, watching me intently."Blo-Blood!" I cried out as if he was spilling nonsense."Why weren't you watching where you were going? What the hell were you thinking about?" He asked, a frown spreading across his face as I took note of his worried expression. My heart skipped a beat as I watched the disgruntled look on his face turn into a frown.No one had gotten worried for her since she parted with her father when she was a kid. At the orphanage, she was always on her own, and when she finally left there and started living on the streets, it was Marie. But she found Marie to nag more than worry.But the look on Vicente's face right now was one that made her stomach flutt
ROSEI opened one eye and then the other slowly to realize I was lying on my bed."You're awake," a familiar voice said. I sat up to see Marco staring down at me."What am I—" I began to ask when realization dawned on me. "The brothers, they—" I quickly shot up from the bed and made my way toward the door when Marco stopped me."They didn't kill each other," he said with a calm smile, as if he knew what I was getting at."You mean?"He nodded with a smile and allowed me to sit down."They told me what happened," he started as I looked up at him.I sighed and clicked my tongue. "They are a bunch of troublemakers," I complained."Giving up already?" he asked as I narrowed my eyes at him. "Not a chance," I said."That's the spirit," Marco exclaimed."They made me faint, and none of them could come see how I am doing. Instead, they called you?" I asked in bewilderment."Not at all. When you fainted, Vicente called the family doctor. The family doctor reports every detail about the brother