HER REVENGE

16.

As Michele drove through the gates of Alessandro's compound, Chiara felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She had to act natural, or everything would be ruined.

She entered the house and immediately felt Alessandro's eyes on her.

"Where the hell have you been?" Alessandro demanded, his voice icy and cold.

"I don't owe you any explanations," Chiara said,

Alessandro turned his gaze to Michele. "And you, where the hell was your phone?"

"I'm sorry, boss," Michele stammered, his voice shaking.

"My eye are on you, Get out of my sight," Alessandro snapped, his eyes blazing with anger.

Michele rushed out of the room, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel Alessandro's eyes boring into his back as he left.

"And you,You had the nerve to walk out on me when I was asking you a question?" Alessandro yelled, his face turning red with anger.

"We signed a contract, but that doesn't mean you have the right to control my life or my personal life," Chiara yelled back, her own anger rising to the surface.

Alessandro's eyes flashed with fury, and for a moment, Chiara thought he might hit her. But he just stood there, breathing heavily, his fists clenched at his sides.

"You don't get to shout at me!" Alessandro said, his voice rising.

"I'm not your wife, remember?" Chiara shot back, her own voice rising to match his.

"It doesn't matter The fact remains that you're a Perez, and I'm a Perez," Alessandro yelled, his face red with anger. "That gives me the right to control you!"

Chiara felt like she was going to explode. She had never been so angry in her life. "You can't control me, I'm not a thing, I'm a person!"

"I don't care what you think," Alessandro said, his voice still hard. "You need to obey my rules, and you're not allowed to go out without my permission unless it's for work." With that, he turned and stormed out of the room.

Chiara stood there, seething with rage. She had never felt so trapped, so controlled. She knew she had to get out of this situation, but she had no idea how.

"Then it's time to start my own" Chiara muttered to herself, slamming the door open in anger.

★★★
After Rosalba had finished taking pictures, she sat down at her desk in her office. "Where are Isa and Chiara?" she asked, looking around the empty room.

"Chiara said she won't be coming in today," Tonia, her assistant, said, typing away at her computer.

"The nerve she has!" Rosalba huffed,

"And as for Isa, she's already resumed work at the Fabrizio company," Tonia said,

Rosalba was so surprised that she accidentally spat out the wine she was drinking. "What?" she asked, wiping her mouth. "When did this happen?"

★★★

"Come in," Alessandro said as Matteo entered his office.

"What do you want?" Alessandro asked

"I will be the new photographer for your company," Matteo said,

Alessandro stared at him, his face impassive. "Are you serious right now?"

Matteo straightened his shoulders and met Alessandro's gaze head-on. "Absolutely,"

"You can't be serious,You're not welcome in my company."