CHAPTER 2

Rafael’s POV

I could hear my uncle's voice long before he neared my study. He was ranting about something, a usual occurrence especially since Mom traveled and left him in charge.

“Do you know how much we’ve lost in the last quarter alone?” My uncle barks, barging in like he owns the place. He doesn’t even wait for a response. 

“Fifteen percent down. Fifteen!”

I don’t flinch. I just stare at him expressionless while sipping my scotch.

“The investors are complaining. Stocks are dipping. Sales are down across our Asian market and our PR team just keep doing sh-”

“The next time you barge in my study,” I interrupt him. “I’ll start charging you rent.”

He growls under his breath. “This isn’t the time to joke Rafael.”

“Well then you should have thought of that before barging in here and screaming my walls down.” 

He throws a folder on the wooden desk in front of me. The contents slide out- charts, press clippings, numbers dipped in red ink.

“This is what happens when people think the D’Angelos are slipping.” He snaps at me. “We need a statement. Something bold. Something unshakeable.”

I arch a brow. “Isn’t that why we’re having dinner tonight ?”

He straightens up, smoothening his tie. “Lucia Voss is a powerful woman with a legacy. The owner of Voss elixirs , the most successful skincare brand here in Italy. Word has been going around that she wants to revive her family’s influence. We need a distraction . An alliance that gets people talking till we can fix this.”

“Hmm.” I say, swirling the scotch. “So wine and dine her. Talk about brands and contracts. What does this have to do with me though? You want me to charm her into giving us her stocks? From what you have said, she doesn’t seem like the type to just hand them out like party favors.” I say, slightly amused.

He gives me a sharp look that says he is irritated by my antics. “You’ll charm her granddaughter.”

I pause.

“You’re kidding?”

He doesn’t respond. Typical.

“Is my mom aware of this?” I ask him. 

“Your mother is open to doing anything to keep the legacy of her late husband alive.”

I sigh and finally get up on my feet. “So that’s what this is about, you want me to charm the Voss girl, make the front page of every media tabloid and look like one big happy luxury empire.”

“It’s mutually beneficial”, he says stiffly. “They need us as much as we need them. Besides, you don’t even have to do anything with the girl.” He says calmly.

“You’ve really planned this thoroughly huh?”

“Yes,” he replies stiffly.

I understood that our stocks have truly been plummeting slowly and we are on the verge of releasing our new scent ‘Noir classique’. I guess that’s why my uncle seems to be so bothered about the sales. 

We’ve also had some problems with the press recently, anonymous people have been sending complaints to the media that our perfumes are causing skin reactions. It’s currently being investigated, but it has really put us in a tight spot. 

Despite how popular the Voss brand is, I’ve never heard of her granddaughter, not to talk of seeing her. 

“Mmmm, is she pretty?” I asked with a smirk.

“What she looks like is none of your concern. This is business, remember that and stay focused.” He retorts.

I barely resist an eye roll. This man can be so dramatic.

I can already guess what she looks like anyways. I mean, granddaughter and heiress to the biggest skincare brand here in Italy. I can already tell she’s spoilt, bratty and entitled.

I set my glass down. “Well then, I better get dressed, so we can get this over with.”

Forty-five minutes later, I’m stepping out of the car with my uncle Renald. I adjust my cufflinks while staring up at the mansion. 

It looks eerie and quite lonely, despite the different workers moving about.

The butler let us in without a word, leading us through the grand hallway lit up by a ridiculously big chandelier that probably costs more than some people’s houses.

“Renald,” a mature feminine voice says.

“Lucia”, my uncle responds.

I look at the source of the voice and see a woman who doesn’t look a day older than forty. That’s her grandmother? That’s Lucia? She looks ridiculously young. Damn.

“And I assume this must be the young Rafael,” she says while examining me like I’m an errant child.

Something about her eyes make me feel self conscious.

“Yes ma’am,” I respond.

“You will call me Lucia”, she says in a matter of fact manner.

We all move towards what I assume is a dining area. 

Then I hear it. Heels.

Clicking softly from above.

And then I see her. She appears at the top of the stairs adjacent to the dining room.

Her red dress clings to her body in a way that makes it impossible not to look. High slit, bare shoulders and a neckline that’s deep enough to cause distractions. Her hair is swept back in a sleek bun, accentuating her neck and the gorgeous jewelry that sat pretty on it.

She doesn’t notice me at first. I watch as her eyes slowly scan over the dining room, from Lucia’s face, till her gaze finally lands on mine.

She stops just for a second.

Just enough to make my chest tighten .

That’s her? That’s the girl I’m supposed to charm?

I expected some plainly dressed stuck up Clara.

This girl however, looks like she stepped out of a magazine cover. Her beauty was the kind that was captivating with an undertone of confidence and control.

I could definitely imagine my hands unraveling that perfect bun and my lips grazing her neck and her-”

“There you are,” Lucia interrupts my thoughts. 

“Meet the D’Angelos. That’s Renald and his nephew Rafael. Meet my granddaughter, Alana.”

Mmm, Alana, so that’s her name.

This night would be more fun than I thought.