HER REVENGE

13.

ALESSANDRO SUITE

The next morning, as Alessandro sat down for breakfast, the maid set the table. Chiara was there, but she wasn't eating. She just sat there, picking at her food. Alessandro didn't say a word to her, instead he just read his newspaper and ate his breakfast.

Chiara could feel Alessandro's eyes on her, but she didn't dare look up. She just kept her head down, trying to keep herself calm. But inside, she was a bundle of nerves. She felt like she was a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode.

"Michele is going to take you to the company this morning," Alessandro said,He stood up and left the room, leaving Chiara alone with her thoughts.

Chiara dialed Lucia's number.

📲"Hello?" Lucia answered.

📲"It's me, Chiara," she said, her voice sounding small and shaky.

📲"Hey, what's up, billionaire wife?" Lucia asked, a smile in her voice.

📲"I'm not doing well right now," Chiara said, her voice shaking. "I'm really scared."

📲"What's wrong?" Lucia asked, her voice full of concern. "What happened?"

Chiara took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. 📲"It's Alessandro. He's different. He's not a human He's... he's..." She trailed off, unable to find the words.

📲"Clam down and talk to me " Lucia said, her voice soothing.

📲"Alessandro is a monster," Chiara said, "He killed two men because they refused to follow his ridiculous rules. I'm scared, Lucia."

📲"Jesus," Lucia gasped. "That's horrible. You need to get out of there. It's not safe."

📲"I know," Chiara said, feeling a knot of anxiety in her stomach. "But I signed a contract. I accepted the money. I can't just leave now."

📲"But your safety is more important than any contract," Lucia said, her voice urgent. "You have to get out of there."

📲"I won't leave," Chiara said, her voice firm. "I'll get my revenge. He can't kill me. He wouldn't dare."

📲"Are you coming to the cafe today?" Lucia asked.

📲"About that," Chiara said, her heart sinking. "Alessandro asked me to stop coming to the cafe. He got me a job at Franklin Company.

★★★

"Where do you think you're going, dressed like that?" Maria screamed, her voice shrill.

"Mom, calm down!" Matteo said, his voice strained. "I told you I was going to get a job."

"Are you crazy?" Maria said, "You're a Perez! You don't need to look for a job! Your father owns a lot of companies! You could work for him!"

"I want to make my own way in the world, mom,"

"Matteo, you can't!" Maria said, her voice getting louder. "You need to work for your father and take over from Alessandro!"

"Not Alessandro again!" Matteo said, his voice rising. "I told you I'm done with him. I'm going to bring him down. You've done enough already."

In a fit of rage, Maria slapped Matteo across the face.
"You don't talk to me like that!" she yelled.

Matteo's eyes widened in shock, and then he turned and walked out of the room, his shoulders hunched.

"Matteo, come back here!" Maria yelled, but Matteo was already out the door.She stood there, panting, her hand shaking

★★★