Chapter 3 Three

• As Adonis stepped into the grand living room, his footsteps echoed off the polished marble floors, resonating through the luxurious space. The soft glow of table lamps cast warm shadows on the walls, accentuating the opulent furnishings. Despite the luxurious surroundings, an eerie emptiness pervaded the air. It was... Empty.
• He strode across the room, his long strides devouring the distance, and he walked up the grand stairs. Soon, he reached his office. He pushed open the door to his office. His assistant, Giovanni Dante, stood waiting, dressed in a nicely fitting suit.
• Adonis's expression hardened as he asked, "Why are you still here, Dante?" His voice was low and even, devoid of warmth.
• Giovanni's expression lightened, "Good evening, Director Andreas,"
• Adonis ignored the greeting, shedding his suit jacket with a fluid motion. He hung it precisely on the coat hanger behind his desk, the movement graceful and deliberate. As he took his seat, his gaze swept the neatly arranged papers and documents before him. From the decor of the office and the arrangement, one could tell Adonis was a clean and organised person.
• "The men reported Mr. Camillo's whereabouts, sir," Giovanni began. Adonis nodded curtly and Giovanni continued,"He was in Casoretto, sir. He killed a man and was seen conversing with a woman. Unfortunately, they couldn't capture the conversation, but he handed her something before leaving."
• Adonis's gaze narrowed, one of his piercing eye like the dark night. Casoretto? That was quite a distance from Piazza Repubblica. And he met with a woman? Adonis wondered if this was the woman Camillo planned on marrying.
• He nodded, picking up a pen and twirling it between his fingers. "The body?" He asked.
• "Recovered, sir. Stabbed, but the actual cause of death was a gunshot. We believe Mr. Camillo used a silencer." Giovanni's responses were professional and straight to the point, exactly how Adonis liked it.
• "Continue surveillance on Camillo," Adonis ordered, "Identify the woman he met. Also, plant a bug among his men." His plan was to sabotage Camillo's operations while advancing his own. Camillo would never outmaneuver him.
• Giovanni nodded, his fingers flying across the tablet's screen as he typed out instructions. As Adonis dismissed him, Giovanni asked, "Should we expect you at the office tomorrow, sir?" His tone was cautious, as if testing the waters.
• The piercing gaze that met him was enough of a response. Giovanni regretted asking, his eyes darting away from Adonis's cold stare. With a hasty goodnight, Giovanni soon departed. The door clicked shut behind him, plunging the room into silence once more.
• Adonis stood up from his desk and walked towards the coffee machine in the office. The room was fairly bright and the design was simple and at the same time, sophisticated. Bookshelves made with dark wood and two art pieces on the dull grey coated walls.
• After making himself a cup of steaming coffee, Adonis strode towards the windows and drew the dark velvet curtains aside. Behind the curtains was a glass door and opening it, it led to a private balcony. No one would have ever imagined that was there. Adonis settled his lean and muscular frame on one of the comfortable chairs there and sipped his coffee, his face stoic.
• It was a cold night and the stars were barely visible. Adonis wasn't here to admire the stars either. He thought back to what he could do to the situation on ground. There's no way he's letting his brother take everything.
• About a month ago, Petros Andreas, the patriarch of the Andreas family, had made a shocking announcement: the first son to marry and produce a male heir would inherit the entire Andreas conglomerate and wealth. This decree ignited a fiercer competition between his twin sons, Camillo and Adonis, who had been rivals since childhood.
• Petros Andreas was a business magnate with a global empire spanning Italy and beyond. His diverse portfolio included wineries, mines, refineries, and oil companies, cementing his status as a powerhouse in the industry.
• The twin brothers had always been at odds, constantly trying to outdo each other. From always trying to get better grades to trying to manage their father's companies better. When they attained the age of 20, Camillo moved to Japan to manage the industries there while Adonis stayed back in Italy. It's been 8 years now and the rivalry was still as hot.
• When Petros Andreas announced the new condition - that the first son to produce a male heir would inherit the entire fortune - the brothers' rivalry literally reached a boiling point. Adonis knew he faced a daunting task, as he had neither the time nor desire for a wife and children. However, he couldn't let Camillo win against him. With that, he concocted a plan.
• He would find a young woman, pay her to marry him and bear him a son, and then divorce her once his goal was achieved. This strategy would ensure his claim to the family fortune. But Adonis knew Camillo would stop at nothing to thwart him. To protect his own interests, Adonis vowed to sabotage Camillo's plans, whatever they may be.
• He would claim the fortune, leaving Camillo destitute and powerless. He lifted the cup of coffee to his lips, his long fingers curling around the cup handle. Taking a sip, Adonis hummed, his deep voice rumbling in his chest.
• He'll find out what Camillo is up to and ruin it all and while at this, he'll also find a way to get married and have a child as soon as possible.
• ***
• After leaving the hospital with Aria at 2 pm, Serena was called to cover a coworkers shift before she resumed hers in the evening. When she'd tried to refuse, Signor Rossi, the restaurant manager had threatened to fire her. Serena hesitated, knowing she couldn't afford to lose her job, especially with Aria depending on her.
• With a heavy heart, Serena made the difficult decision to put Aria in a taxi, reassuring the tearful child that she'd be fine. She handed the driver extra money for Aria's safety and instructed him to ensure Aria reached home securely. Kissing her goodbye, the taxi drove off.
• As she changed into her uniform, Serena's thoughts strayed to the previous night's events. She had taken a life, and the weight of that secret threatened to suffocate her. At work, however, everything seemed normal. No one mentioned a dead body or seemed aware of the incident.
• But then Serena's relief was short-lived, replaced by confusion and dread. How come no one found the body? It should be there, shouldn't it? Then her eyes widened as fear gripped her. Maybe someone had seen her? Or maybe it was Camillo himself. Before she could start panicking, Signor Rossi's loud orders interrupted her thoughts.
• "You! Focus! We need those orders ready now!"
• Serena pushed aside her thoughts to focus on work, but her mind lingered on the alley and the body. After her shift ended at 7 pm, she made her way to the alley, hoping to confirm the body's presence and maybe retrieve her knife.
• But as she turned into the alley, her face paled. The body was gone, leaving no trace of blood or evidence. Her pocket knife had vanished too. Serena's fear intensified; she stepped back, avoiding eye contact with passersby.
• Millions of thoughts swirled in her head. Had the police found the body? No, that would be all over the news. Who could have taken it? And why? As she turned back to leave before anyone could start wondering why she was shivering, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She brought it out. It had an ugly crack but she was still able to see the screen. Unlocking it, she saw that it was a text message from an unknown number.
• A video popped up and Serena wondered why a stranger would send her a video. She wanted to ignore it but something compelled her to open it.
• When she did, her blood ran cold. Her hands trembled and the phone almost fell. Aria's desperate wails pierced Serena's ears as she watched, tied to a chair and surrounded by three menacing men. Serena's vision blurred with tears.
• Kidnapped. Aria was kidnapped. Was it the taxi driver? Did they want ransom? Were they hurting her? Before she could process her thoughts, another text arrived: "I told you you'll come back begging, didn't I?" The familiar words sent a chill down her spine.
• Camillo.