"Give me a minute and have a seat," Andrea said as they walked into his office. He immediately walked over to his desk and accessed the file on Rocco on his laptop.
And there he found the brief reference to Elena as Elena Mario, Rocco's only child who was just twenty-two years old. She must have been so precious to him for him to keep her out of the limelight.But he didn't blame Rocco at all. A girl so beautiful deserved to be hidden from the world. She was far too precious to be let out.He took a quick glance at her and inhaled. Her blonde hair which fell carefully across her face highlighted her beautiful features. Her lips were full and he wondered if anyone had tasted them.Snapping himself out of his thoughts, he decided it was time to hear what she had to say about her father."Miss Elena," he drawled, casually leaning back in his chair. "Why have you come?""I told you earlier." She replied quickly. "I want to talk about my father.""I'm surprised you think I would be interested in whatever you have to say."Elena stiffened in her seat. "My father is innocent. He is a businessman who doesn't need your money to—""You mean, he doesn't need my money because he embezzled it? Your father stripped my business of its premium capital.""Do you have proof that he did?"Andrea chuckled. "Your father confessed to his crimes already. I would have him tortured before sending him off to jail. A man with no dignity and self-respect should be treated the way he upholds himself. With no dignity."Elena jumped to her feet. "No," she said, tears pooling in her eyes. "My father doesn't deserve that. He is a good man.""To you, yes. He may have been the perfect father." Andrea replied, leaning out of his chair. "But I don't need the goodness of his fatherhood. I need my money and your father will have to pay for his crimes."Elena couldn't believe that her father was actually guilty of embezzling money. He had been living such a dishonest life. She had only made a fool out of herself defending him for the past few hours.The anger that Andrea should have felt as he spoke about Rocco was replaced by curiosity and satisfaction. Rocco's daughter was standing before him. He now had two people to play with and she was very beautiful.Fortunately, she believed her father was innocent. Her naiveness to the entire situation was going to make it quite easy to play with her. He would take her for himself, crush her heart and that would destroy Rocco."Can the money be repaid?" Elena asked in desperation. "My father has properties that can be sold and put towards repayment."Andrea's eyes scanned her with renewed intensity. She evaded his gaze as she became aware that he was scrutinizing her again.Her throat was dry and tight. Her palms were perspiring and her heart was hammering in her chest. How could she be so terrified of him? How could he make her react in such a way?"I understand that you want to save your father," Andrea began. "Please have a seat." He waited for her to sit back before he continued. "But if any of those properties were bought with the embezzled funds, it cannot be sold to provide compensation. They are simply mine and will be confiscated by the court."He saw the hope in her eyes fade away immediately. She was so oblivious to the crimes her father committed and even worse, she had no idea how to save him."My father can work toward getting some business deals or taking a loan to pay off the debt. Please, he just needs time."Andrea shook his head slightly. "He is not a debtor. Rocco is a thief. However, I won't hurt him anymore because of you. But he would have to go to jail.""Thank you," Elena nodded eagerly, happy with any prospect of agreement. She was becoming confident that she could after all save her father from Andrea.She tore her attention from him and tried to focus her mind on things that a rich billionaire could possibly want. She could not help but feel the effect he had on her.Although he was a complete stranger to her, he roused her physical consciousness that was usually buried and dormant. But she didn't need to let him know that. She was there to talk about her father and not her sudden attraction to a man who was holding him captive."Can I do anything to keep him out of jail?"A cold smile crept to Andrea's lips. She was finally approaching the topic he had been waiting to discuss.He watched her brush a strand of her blonde hair back. The more he stared at her, the more he realized that she was beautiful. His usually disciplined body was responding to the sexual charge of her presence.Barely any woman made him feel that way and he had an overwhelming desire to see her hair falling loose as he made love to her. She was every man's dream and he didn't even know that.He had definitely not expected to find Rocco's daughter in his company after her father was arrested. When he had seen her earlier, he had tried to get angry but couldn't.His attraction to her doused every feeling that he had. Even his mind was warning him that he was making a mistake but for a woman like Elena, he didn't care about mistakes.She was the sort of woman that could make a man go weak on his knees. She commanded so much authority and she didn't even know it. He didn't think women like her still existed and he was certain her father kept her hidden for the same reasons."You cannot keep him out of jail," Andrea replied. "Business is all about the passion and repercussions of our actions. Your father is facing his and I suggest you go home and take care of your mother." But his eyes were saying a different thing.Elena genuinely did not know how to appeal to such a man. His eyes were cold and lacked every bit of empathy. But she knew that everyone had a price. She just had to know what it was and if she could offer it.Rising to her feet, she leaned closer to him. "What would it take to tempt you? What would it take to pay for my father's sins?" Elena asked, feeling intimated.Andrea studied her with a smile on his face. "You."Elena staggered back with shock. "What?""Yes, you." He replied calmly. "I want you."It was a beautiful afternoon, and Elena and Syria were sitting in their favorite corner of the local coffee shop, sipping on their lattes. The atmosphere was cozy, with soft music playing in the background and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. As they chatted about life, love, and dreams, Elena hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage to share her big news."Syria," Elena began with a smile, her eyes shining with excitement, "I have something important to ask you." She paused, taking a deep breath, and then continued, "Will you be my maid of honor at my wedding?"Syria's eyes widened in surprise, and then a wide grin spread across her face. "Oh my goodness, Elena! Are you serious? Of course, I will!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her joy. She leaned forward and hugged her best friend tightly. "I'm so honored and thrilled to be a part of your special day!"Elena felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over her as Syria's response was exactly what she ha
On a sunny afternoon, Elena picked up her phone with excitement bubbling in her heart. She dialed Syria's number, eager to share the incredible news. As the phone rang, Elena's nerves mixed with happiness, and she couldn't wait to hear her friend's voice on the other end."Hello?" Syria's voice came through the line, filled with warmth and familiarity."Hey, girl, it's me, Elena!" she said, trying to contain her enthusiasm."Elena! Oh my goodness, it's been too long since we last spoke. How have you been?" Syria replied, equally delighted to hear from her.With the announcement of her babies, Elena had been too busy and she hadn't called Syria in a long time."I've been doing great, but I have some amazing news to share with you!" Elena said, her voice trembling with joy. "I'm expecting a set of twins!"There was a moment of silence on the other end, and then Syria's voice erupted with excitement. "Oh my goodness, Elena, that's incredible! I'm so happy for you! Twins, wow! You're goin
Finally, Elena and Andrea, arrived at the prestigious medical center for the eagerly awaited scan to determine the sex of their baby. The anticipation had been building for weeks, and they couldn't contain their excitement."What do you think it's going to be?" Elena asked as Andrea helped her out of the car."Hmm… I don't really care about the sex of the child because no matter the outcome, I'll love the child with all my heart." he smiled.Elena gave his hands a gentle squeeze, silently telling him that she loved what he said. He had always been a mature person and she loved that he saw things that even her couldn't see."But in your deepest hearts… what do you want?" she asked."Baby, I see what you are doing and it's not going to work," he laughed."But I'm not doing anything," Elena said pretentiously."You know what… let's just wait for the doctor," Andrea laughed.As they sat together in the beautifully decorated waiting room, Elena couldn't help but feel a mixture of nerves an
In the dimly lit underground headquarters where they had camped, Andrea who was the mastermind of the operation, stood before his loyal team of highly skilled mercenaries. The room echoed with hushed murmurs and tense anticipation as he prepared to reveal the breakthrough they had all been waiting for."Listen up, everyone," Andrea 's voice boomed with authority, cutting through the silence. "After days of pursuit, I can finally say that we have discovered the location of those bastards we've been after. They're holed up in an abandoned industrial complex on the outskirts of the city."Excitement and determination filled the room as Andrea 's men exchanged glances, ready to embark on their final mission to bring their enemies down but little did they know that the forces they were up against had not given up the fight just yet.As Andrea continued to detail their plan of attack, a sudden loud crack echoed through the room. A gunshot! Time seemed to slow as everyone's eyes darted tow
In the dimly lit room, Andrea stood tall, his face grim and determined. He looked into the eyes of each of his men, a mix of trust and intensity reflected in his gaze. Elena stood at a distance, her hands trembling, and fear etched across her face as she stared at each of the die-hard men."My brothers," Andrea began, his voice low yet commanding. "Today, we stand united against those who have committed the gravest of sins. They thought they could take away the ones we love and go unpunished but we will show them the consequences of their actions."His words carried weight, and a solemn silence enveloped the room. The flickering candlelight danced upon the walls as Andrea continued, "We're going in with a total clampdown. Every move calculated, every step precise. Our enemies won't see us coming, and they won't know what hit them but know this, my brothers, we are not just seeking vengeance; we are seeking justice."Elena's heart pounded in her chest as she listened to Andrea's plan u
In the opulent penthouse office of Andrea's skyscraper, high above the bustling city, the billionaire sat at a grand mahogany desk, waiting with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Today was the day he would finally have a meeting with Ethan, to settle their long-standing fight and mend the rift that had torn their family apart."I hope this turns out well." he murmured.As the clock struck the appointed hour, the door to the office swung open, and in walked Ethan, an air of intensity surrounding him. His stern expression softened a little as he took in the luxurious surroundings, but the tension between the two was still palpable."Andrea," Ethan began, his voice guarded, "I must admit I didn't expect this meeting to happen. After all the fights and disagreements, what's the real reason you called for this?"Andrea, looking peaceful, stood up and walked around the desk to face Ethan directly. "Ethan, you're right. We've had our differences, and I'll take my share of the blame for