CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Rafael sat behind his desk, staring at the contract spread before him. The G and O business deal had been sitting there for weeks, waiting for the right moment to move forward. Numbers and projections filled the pages, but his mind kept drifting to yesterday's board meeting.

A knock on the door broke his thoughts.

"Come in."

Matteo stepped inside, clipboard in hand and his usual professional smile. "Good morning, Mr. Volkov. I wanted to discuss the G and O deal with you."

Rafael leaned back in his chair. "What about it?"

"The client is pushing for a response. They want to finalize everything by next week." Matteo flipped through his notes. "I was thinking we should call Isabella. She's been handling most of the major contracts, and she knows the details inside out."

Rafael's jaw tightened slightly. "No."

Matteo paused, pen hovering over his clipboard. "Sir?"

"I said no. I don't want Isabella on this deal."

"But she's been working on it for—"

"I want Natalie to handle it instead." Rafael's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Matteo's expression shifted. His smile faltered, and something cold flickered in his eyes. "Natalie De Luca?"

"Yes."

Matteo scratched his head.

"Sir, with all due respect, Isabella has more experience with these types of contracts. She's been with the company longer and understands our procedures better." Matteo's voice was carefully controlled, but Rafael caught the edge in it.

"Are you questioning my decision?" Rafael asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course not, sir. It's just..." Matteo hesitated. "Isabella has proven herself time and again. Ms. De Luca is still relatively new to our operations."

Rafael stood up slowly, his eyes fixed on Matteo. "Natalie has shown more competence in the past few weeks than some people have in years. She's sharp, she's dedicated, and she gets results."

Matteo's grip on his clipboard tightened. "If that's what you want, Mr. Volkov."

"It is exactly what I want. And I want to make that very clear."

"Understood, sir." Matteo's voice was strained. "Should I arrange a meeting with Ms. De Luca?"

"No need. I'll handle it myself." Rafael picked up his phone. "You can go now."

Matteo nodded stiffly and headed for the door. Just before leaving, he turned back. "Sir, what should I tell Isabella about this?"

Rafael looked up from dialing. "Tell her nothing. This doesn't concern her anymore."

The door closed with a soft click, leaving Rafael alone. He finished dialing Natalie's number and waited as it rang.

"Hello?"

"Natalie, it's Rafael. Are you busy right now?"

There was a slight pause. "I'm in the middle of reviewing some reports, but I can make time. What do you need?"

"I want to discuss a business opportunity with you. The G and O deal. Can you come to my office?"

Her voice brightened noticeably. "Of course! I'd be happy to discuss it with you. When would be good?"

"Now, if possible."

"I'll be right there. Give me about forty minutes to wrap up what I'm doing."

"Perfect. I'll see you soon."

Rafael hung up and set the phone down. He didn't notice the excitement that had crept into Natalie's voice, too focused on the contract details he needed to review before she arrived. He walked back to his desk, and pulled out the documents. He wanted to at least, start working on something before she arrived. A part of him could not wait for her to finally step through the door, and he hooped that whatever it was, it was just business today and nothing more.

He found himself, unable to concentrate on the work in front of him.

Twenty minutes later, the office door opened quietly. A young woman in a crisp white apron entered, carrying a silver tray with a steaming cup of coffee. She placed it carefully on Rafael's desk without a word.

"Thank you," he said without looking up from his papers.

She nodded and left as silently as she had come. Rafael reached for the cup and took a slow sip, letting the rich flavor clear his thoughts. The coffee was perfect— strong and bitter, exactly how he needed it today.

He was reviewing the financial projections when another knock came at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Natalie walked in with confident strides. She wore a navy blue blazer that complemented her professional appearance, and her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail. Her eyes scanned the office briefly before settling on Rafael.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said, closing the door behind her.

"Not at all. Please, have a seat." Rafael gestured to the chair across from his desk.

Natalie settled into the chair, crossing her legs and placing her hands neatly in her lap. "So, what's this G and O deal about? I've heard the name mentioned around the office, but I haven't seen the details."

Rafael pushed the contract folder across the desk toward her. "It's a major infrastructure project. They're looking for a strategic partner to handle the technology integration for their new facilities across three cities."

Natalie opened the folder and began scanning the first page. Her eyebrows raised slightly as she read. "This is significant. The revenue potential alone..."

"Exactly. It's one of the biggest opportunities we've had this quarter." Rafael leaned forward. "But it requires someone who can think on their feet and adapt quickly. The client has specific requirements that keep changing."

"What kind of changes?"

"They initially wanted a standard system setup, but now they're talking about custom software development and ongoing maintenance contracts. The scope keeps expanding."

Natalie flipped through more pages, her expression growing more interested. "Have we given them a preliminary proposal?"

"Not yet. That's where you come in." Rafael picked up his coffee again. "I want you to lead this project from start to finish. Handle the client meetings, negotiate the terms, oversee the implementation."

While Rafael spoke, Natalie could hear her heart drumming in her chest.