The Phoenix's Rebirth and Revenge のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

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." Rafa

Natalie kicked off her heels the moment she stepped into her apartment. The day had been a rollercoaster of emotions, but overall, she felt victorious. She walked straight to her kitchen and pulled out a bottle of red wine from the cabinet.The cork popped with a satisfying sound as she opened it. She poured herself a generous glass, the deep red liquid catching the light from her kitchen window. This called for a celebration."To progress," she whispered to herself, raising the glass.She took a long sip, savoring the rich taste. Everything was falling into place better than she had hoped. Rafael was choosing her over Isabella for important business deals. Isabella was clearly rattled and losing her grip on Rafael's attention. And most importantly, she had planted the first seed of doubt in Rafael's mind about her true identity.The slip about the Amalfi Coast penthouse had been risky, but it was worth it. She could still see the shock in Rafael's eyes, the way his face had gone pale

The package arrived at Natalie's apartment at precisely six-thirty in the evening, delivered by a courier who disappeared into the Milan streets before she could ask any questions. No return address, no identifying marks—just her name written in elegant script across cream-colored paper.Inside the unmarked envelope, she found a collection of architectural blueprints, yellowed with age and folded with the careful precision of someone who understood their value. Her hands trembled as she unfolded the first sheet, recognizing immediately the delicate lines and precise measurements that could only belong to one person.Alina's handwriting filled the margins—notes about load-bearing walls, sketches of decorative elements, calculations for natural light optimization. The residential complex she'd designed for the outskirts of Milan, a project that had been her passion before everything fell apart.Before Rafael.Natalie sank into her living room chair, the blueprints spread across her coff

The storm hit Milan like a predator stalking its prey—slow, inevitable, and with devastating precision. Dark clouds had been gathering all afternoon, casting shadows across the city's gleaming towers and turning the sky the color of old pewter. By evening, the first drops began to fall, heavy and insistent against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Moretti building.Natalia stood in the conference room, watching the rain streak down the glass as she reviewed the final presentations for tomorrow's board meeting. The building was nearly empty now, most employees having fled at the first rumble of thunder. She preferred it this way—the silence gave her space to think, to plan, to remember why she was here.The door opened behind her, and she didn't need to turn around to know it was Rafael. His presence filled the room like electricity before a lightning strike, making the air itself seem to vibrate with tension."You should go home," he said, his voice carrying that low, authoritative

The Palazzo Reale had been transformed into a glittering wonderland for the diplomatic gala, its baroque halls filled with Milan's elite and international dignitaries. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over silk gowns and perfectly tailored tuxedos, while waiters glided between guests carrying champagne and delicate hors d'oeuvres.Natalia stood near the grand staircase, a vision in deep emerald silk that hugged her curves and made her honey-brown eyes shimmer like liquid gold. She'd chosen the dress deliberately—it was the exact shade of green that Alina had worn to their first charity gala together, the night they'd met. A test, perhaps, or a torment. She wasn't sure which."You look stunning tonight," came a familiar voice behind her.She turned to find Rafael approaching, devastatingly handsome in a midnight blue tuxedo that emphasized his broad shoulders and the sharp line of his jaw. His dark hair was perfectly styled, but she noticed the way his fingers kept running through