Chapter 168 A PSYCHO.
\~~~TALIA.
I stepped into the office, the door clicking shut behind me with a finality that made my lips curl in satisfaction. The air smelled stale, like old coffee and Raina's scent all over it, weak and pathetic.
My eyes scanned the room, disgust twisting in my gut right away. The desk was a mess of papers and a shiny nameplate screaming 'Raina Moretti, COO’ in bold letters. As if she deserved it.
My blood boiled at the sight. That spot was mine, stolen by her fake smiles and depressive moods. I marched over, snatched the nameplate off the desk, its cold metal biting into my palm. Without a second thought, I carried it to the trash can in the corner and dumped it in, the clatter echoing like a victory bell.
Good riddance. Now, the desk looked cleaner and ready for the real boss.
I walked back to the chair, and sank into it, crossing my legs with a slow, deliberate motion. The leather creaked under me, and I swirled the chair around in a full circle, taking in the office. Beige walls, a few fake plants gathering dust, a couch that looked like it had seen better days. What a poor taste she's got, I thought, smirking to myself.
Raina always played it safe, nothing bold or sharp. No wonder she let everyone walk over her.
This place needed my touch of dark reds, sharp edges, and something that matched the fire in my veins.
Not long after, the door opened again, and a lady poked her head in. She had neat hair in a bun, glasses perched on her nose, carrying a stack of files like they were her lifeline. The secretary, I guessed. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, like she was seeing a ghost or something better.
“Yes?” I said, my voice flat, not in the mood for chit-chat.
“Good morning, ma'am,” she replied, stepping in fully and closing the door. She smiled widely, setting the files down on the desk with a soft thud. “You're glowing differently this morning. What is the good news?”
I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. Glowing? As if Raina ever did anything to light up a room. I sat up straight, leaning forward a bit.
“ Of course, I'm not my depressed twin sister.”
Her smile faltered, confusion creasing her forehead. “Ma'am?”
I ignored her, flipping open the top file without a care. “What do we have here?”
She blinked, recovering quickly, and pointed to the stack. “Here are the files that need your review. And again, I received the call that you didn't appear at the site for inspection yesterday. Is everything okay?”
Oh... My pathetic sister takes orders from subordinates too? Sweet!
A grin tugged at my lips inside. Raina, always the good girl, jumping at every little demand. No wonder she was so easy to replace. I leaned back, tapping a pen on the desk.
“Why should I go through that hassle when I have you? You should fix that. I will check this. What is on my schedule?'
She opened her mouth to answer, but the door swung open again, cutting her off. In walked a woman I knew all too well, Alessia Moretti. Tall, and sharp-featured, with that confident strut that said she owned the world.
Her dark hair was pulled back, and she wore a red blouse that hugged her curves just right. I wouldn't forget that face, she'd been glued to Raina's side in all those photos I'd spied on. The secretary glanced between us, murmured an excuse, and slipped out, leaving the room to just us two.
Alessia didn't waste time. She threw her purse on the couch and flopped down with a dramatic sigh.
“I think he is ignoring me now!”
I raised an eyebrow, playing along for a second. “Who?”
“Who else? Viktor, of course!” She crossed her arms, pouting like a kid. “We were supposed to talk over dinner last night. He wouldn't even return my calls.”
“Viktor? You mean…” I trailed off, pretending to think. Viktor, that big, loyal guard dog of Luciano.
What did I care about their little lovers' quarrel? Petty drama was Raina's world, not mine.
Alessia kept going, oblivious. “Yeah, that Viktor. He's been so distant lately. Like, over that little argument?”
I felt my patience snap. “Is it not too early for this ridiculous chit-chat?”
She sat up straight, turning to face me fully, her eyes narrowing. “What?”
I leaned forward, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “You are the freaking CEO, but you have enough time on your hands to fucking gossip. Should you not renounce your position?”
Alessia's brows snapped together, and she shot to her feet, fire in her eyes. “Raina?
Bingo. I smiled, slow and wicked. “Well, let's just say I'm tired of pretending around you. You're so boring, geez.”
She opened her mouth, words forming, but then shut it again, staring at me like I'd grown a second head. Slowly, she started walking toward the desk, her heels clicking on the floor. Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and pressed it to her ear.
I watched her face and how it went from confused to shocked in seconds, color draining a bit.
Someone had spilled the beans. Probably one of Luciano's guys, or maybe Luciano himself.
Oh, I actually intended on messing with the woman more, drawing it out, but this worked too.
“I think I've got this,” she said into the phone, her voice steady but tight. She hung up, shoving it back in her pocket.
I stood up, stretching my arms with a smile that didn't reach my eyes. “Your expression tells me you've caught on too.”
Alessia chuckled, low and dangerous, closing the space between us.
“I love your gut, girl,” She extended her hand, like we were sealing some deal.
But what did she do next?
Unexpected as hell.
Her hand whipped across my face in a sharp slap, the sting blooming hot on my cheek. My eyes widened, shock freezing me for a beat.
“I love bitches,” she said, voice like ice, “but not the messy, twisted ones. I can't even stand one that is more rotten than I am.”
“Excuse you?!” I yelled, my hand flying to my cheek, pressing against the burning skin.
Who did she think she was?
“Well, that was only for pretending to be my darling sister-in-law, just for a bit,” She raised her hand again, her eyes gleaming with that wild Moretti temper.
“If you touch me one more time, your darling sister-in-law will pay for it!” I yelled, stepping back, my heart pounding.
She paused, hand in the air, then nodded like she was considering it. “Ah…”
Just as I straightened up, thinking I'd won that round, the slap landed again, harder this time, snapping my head to the side.
Pain exploded, tears pricking my eyes. “Bitch!’' I screamed, fury boiling over.
“You can only use those words with Luciano, not me,” she shot back, not even flinching.
I rubbed my cheek, glaring daggers. “You don't care what I do to her?”
“I do,” Alessia said, stepping closer, her breath steady. “What I don't care about is what I do to you. I am not Luciano. That leverage won't work on me.”
I swallowed hard, my fists curling into tight balls at my sides. I had heard the rumors about Alessia, of how she was as ruthless as her brother, maybe more.
A psycho, actually.
No man could stand her, and no man in his right senses would even want to settle with her.