Matteo, Leonardo, and Alessandro, the powerful owners of De Angeli Enterprises, are in their early thirties and have built a fearsome reputation worldwide. Known for their ruthlessness and ambition, these men have amassed wealth and influence by tak...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Matteo opened the door for her with the same grace Leonardo had shown, and Yulia slid into the car, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the luxurious interior. The soft leather seats cradled her, and the polished, spacious cabin felt far too pristine for her to be sitting in. Instinctively, she patted herself down, ensuring there wasn't a speck of dirt on her clothing. The last thing she wanted was to leave any kind of mark on something this expensive.
"Different than Leo," Matteo said as he buckled himself in, a grin playing at his lips, "who loves his BMWs. I prefer a Chevy." His tone was casual, but Yulia could sense the pride behind it.
She nodded politely, a small smile on her face, though she had no idea what distinguished a Chevy from a BMW, aside from the names. Cars were never her area of expertise, but she made a mental note. Perhaps she'd take the time to learn more if anyone ever had the patience to teach her. Being around them, after all, she imagined that knowledge might come in handy.
The car purred to life, and as they drove through the sun-dappled streets, conversation flowed easily between them. Matteo asked her about her favorite dishes to cook, and Yulia shyly told him about her love for baking, especially when she was feeling overwhelmed. He listened intently, making her feel heard in a way that very few people did.
"Once you're settled in," Matteo mentioned casually, glancing over at her as they stopped at a light, "you'll have two sous chefs under your supervision. They'll help with prep work, assisting wherever you need them in the kitchen."
Yulia blinked, the weight of the responsibility sinking in. "They'll be...under me?" she asked, her voice soft, though her heart was thudding. She wasn't sure if she was ready to manage anyone, let alone two people. But she trusted Matteo, and if he believed she could do it, maybe she could too.
"Yes, they'll be your responsibility," Matteo confirmed. His voice was steady, reassuring, but before she could voice her thoughts, his phone rang, interrupting the moment.
Matteo glanced at the dashboard, then tapped the screen to answer through the car's Bluetooth. Alessandro's voice boomed through the speakers, speaking rapid Italian, the words sharp and pointed. Yulia couldn't catch most of it—her Italian was still a work in progress—but she could sense the tension in Alessandro's tone. Whatever he was saying, he didn't sound pleased.
Matteo's eyes widened slightly, though instead of concern, amusement flickered in his expression. He chuckled lowly, completely unbothered by Alessandro's apparent frustration. "Relax, Ale," he responded in Italian, his voice smooth as ever, a stark contrast to Alessandro's. Yulia could only pick up snippets, words she had heard here and there in the few conversations she'd witnessed between them. Still, the tone was unmistakable. Alessandro was upset, but Matteo remained unfazed, clearly used to his brother's temperament.
Yulia's hands twisted in her lap, her fingers nervously picking at the fabric of her skirt. She wasn't sure what was happening, and while Matteo's calm demeanor was somewhat reassuring, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern. What could Alessandro be so upset about?
