THE DEVIL'S ANGEL

chapter 27

### Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Fall of Valeria

Alessandro Falconi stood behind his massive mahogany desk, the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office offering a stunning view of Rome's skyline. The late afternoon sun bathed the room in a golden glow, but the atmosphere inside was anything but warm. His jaw clenched as he stared across the desk at Valeria, who stood in front of him, her expression a careful mask of composure.

The office of Falconi Enterprises, the most luxurious and influential oil company in Italy, was a reflection of its owner—elegant, powerful, and impenetrable. The walls were adorned with artwork that screamed wealth, while the polished marble floors gleamed under the light of custom chandeliers. It was a place of opulence and control, where Alessandro ruled like a king.

And today, that reign was about to bring an end to one of his subjects.

Valeria's calm exterior was deceiving. Beneath her perfect posture and impeccable appearance, she could feel the weight of Alessandro's anger. It radiated from him like a tangible force, and for the first time in her career, she felt fear. She had always been confident—too confident—that her intelligence and beauty would keep her protected, but that confidence was wavering now.

"Do you know why you're here?" Alessandro's voice was low, controlled, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. He didn't bother sitting down, his towering presence enough to remind Valeria who held the power in this room.

Valeria swallowed, her mind racing for an excuse, a way out. "Alessandro, I—"

"Don't," Alessandro cut her off sharply, his eyes darkening. "Don't waste my time with lies."

Valeria's mouth snapped shut, her heart hammering in her chest. She had spent years by his side, learning his moods, his mannerisms, but she had never seen him like this. The usual coldness in his eyes had been replaced by something darker, something dangerous.

"You've served this company for years, Valeria," Alessandro began, his voice hard. "I've tolerated your arrogance because of your intelligence, because you knew how to navigate this world. But you crossed a line."

Valeria flinched inwardly. She had known the kiss would come back to haunt her, but she hadn't anticipated it happening so soon. She had miscalculated, believing Alessandro's drunken state would blur the memory. But the way he looked at her now—there was no doubt in his mind about what had happened.

"I didn't—" she started, her voice faltering.

"Shut up." Alessandro's voice was a whip-crack of authority. "I know everything, Valeria. Everything. The kiss was just the beginning, wasn't it? You wanted more. You thought you could manipulate me, use my moment of weakness to get closer, to rise higher."

Valeria's face paled. She had prided herself on being one step ahead, always maneuvering, always scheming. But now, standing in front of Alessandro, she realized she had underestimated him. Gravely.

"I... I didn't mean—" she stammered, struggling to maintain her composure. "Alessandro, I was only trying to—"

"To what?" he interrupted again, his voice venomous. "To steal what's mine? To undermine my wife, the one person I trust more than anyone else in this world?"

The word "trust" echoed in Valeria's mind, and she could feel the walls closing in. Isabella. Of course, it always came back to Isabella. No matter what she had tried, Valeria could never break through that barrier, that invisible wall that separated her from Alessandro. He might have kissed her, but his heart had always belonged to his wife.

"You're pathetic," Alessandro said coldly, his eyes narrowing. "Did you really think I would choose you over her? That a moment of drunken stupidity would erase everything I've built with Isabella?"