Chapter Ten: Ricci’s Hotel

Sofia’s POV

I hated mornings. Not because of the early hour, but because every sunrise reminded me of the years I’d lost, the faces I’d buried. Still, I walked into Moretti Global with steady heels and a folder tucked beneath my arm, ready to play the role I’d perfected. Secretary. Assistant. Their nemesis, All while standing in front of the one man between me and everything—Leonardo Moretti. I was the first to arrive at the office, I wanted to be early to know and see this company for myself, look around.

 Maria told me the other the she was showing me and around and introducing me to the office that Leonardo doesn't take anything in the morning which was weird, quite challenging and so unlike other CEOs worked with, although I have never had the need to go through my targets’ heir to get the the company to ruins. All I need to do was a cup of coffee or tea or whatever they are drinking to know who and what I'm dealing with. Well, apparently Mr Difficult is indeed different.

But the little time in the boardroom the other day, I've picked some clues about him. Smart. Efficient. Professional. I can work with that. Matter of fact. I trained for that. I arranged the files that needed signatures on his desk, arranged his pen and other necessary things in his drawer, but the last drawer was specially locked with a different key, just as I bent down to see if the key was among the other drawer keys…

“Ms Martin?” My heart skipped a beat, I raised up my head only to be met with questioning storm-gray eyes.

“Good morning sir” I moved my hands away from the last drawer to the the opened ones to bring out a pen, why? I don't know, I had to improvise “You're early sir” I continued, standing up to leave the office

“Well…” he glanced at his watch before looking up at me. “You’re early,” he said, his voice even but carrying that familiar edge of authority, as though the fact alone needed an explanation. “ I thought the office doesn't resume activities until 8:30am?

“Yes,” I admitted with a small nod, keeping my tone even. “I wanted to make sure everything on your schedule is covered before the day starts, i was having issues with some emails but theyre all sorted out ” My words were curt, efficient, the way a professional should sound, but beneath them was my own silent vow: if I was going to be here, if I was going to stand this close to him, then I couldn’t afford mistakes, no slips whatsoever. 

He gave a curt nod. “Okay. Later today, when everyone’s here, we’ll be having a meeting about the acquisition of a hotel in Palermo. Ricci’s hotel. You can do your research about them so you know them if you dont”  

The name hit me like a blade sliding under the skin. Of course i know Ricci’s hotel. Carlos Ricci. The last man I killed about a week ago. My pen hovered over the notepad, and for the briefest second my hand stilled before I forced it back into motion, my expression carefully neutral.

“Understood sir” I replied evenly, as though the name meant nothing, as though the memories of that night weren’t clawing at the edges of my composure.

Ricci’s hotel. The moment the name rolled off Leonardo’s lips, my mind began to spin. Of course, the Morettis wouldn’t bother with a mere hotel unless it served a greater purpose. If Roberto wanted it, then it wasn’t just real estate, it was leverage, a passageway, a fortress disguised in glass and marble.

Acquiring it would look clean on the surface, a respectable business expansion. But I knew better. The real work would be in the shadows, the threats whispered in back rooms, the deals brokered with blood, the killings that followed when words failed. That hotel must be crucial to Roberto, otherwise, it wouldn’t even be on the table.

And maybe… this was my way in. My ticket closer to him. The Riccis weren’t weak and probably wont go diwn without a fight, but they were nothing compared to the Morettis. If I played this right, I could position myself where Roberto would have no choice but to notice me.

Leonardo’s voice jolted me back to reality. “What’s my schedule looking like today?”

I straightened, schooling my features into calm professionalism. “Yes, sir. You have a board briefing at ten, followed by a sit-down with the legal team over Access Gate although they were supposed to have contacted us since a week ago, then Lunch with Mr. Bianchi at one, you also have a call with the Valdermore branch office in the afternoon.” I paused, letting the words hang as though they were ordinary, though the next item mattered most to me. “And, importantly, the security detail for the archive room needs updating. Apparently the currently clearance list hasn’t been refreshed in a month.”

I let my tone linger just slightly on the word security. Nothing suspicious, nothing that might make him question me, but deliberate enough. Access to that room was essential if I wanted to get closer to Roberto, to know how to slip in.