63

63
Adriano
I could never get tired of teasing Azalea. She is so cute whenever she blushes.
“There’s something important I need to tell you,” I said, becoming more serious. “About Amira’s school.”
She looked surprised. “What about it?”
“I’m going to find the best school in the city for her today. I’ll take care of all the paperwork and arrangements. She can start tomorrow if everything goes well.”
Her eyes went wide with shock. “You’re going to find a school for her? Yourself?”
“Yes. Why do you look so surprised?”
She got out of bed and threw her arms around me in a tight hug. I could feel her trembling slightly. “Thank you so much, Adriano. You have no idea what this means to us.”
I gently pulled her back so I could look into her eyes. There were tears there, but they were happy tears. “Stop thanking me for everything, Azalea. Amira is family now. My family. Caring for her is not a favor—it’s my responsibility.”
I kissed her forehead again. “I have to go now. The maids will take good care of both of you while I’m gone.”
“Okay. Be safe,” she whispered.
After bidding goodbye, I left her, heading downstairs.
“Good morning, Master,” the house servants said respectfully as I walked through the front hall.
“Good morning,” I replied, taking my usual seat at the breakfast table. They served me perfectly prepared eggs, fresh fruit, and strong black coffee.
I was halfway through eating when Matteo arrived, looking as professional as always in his dark suit.
“Good morning, sir,” he said with a respectful bow.
“Good morning, Matteo. I’ll be ready in five minutes.”
After finishing breakfast, Matteo and I left the mansion and headed toward my company. The drive through the city was quiet, but my mind was anything but peaceful. Matteo’s words from last night kept playing over and over in my head.
Did I really love Azalea? Was I doing all of this because I loved her?
“Matteo,” I said, breaking the silence.
“Yes, sir?”
“I want you to research the best private schools in the city for Amira. Money is no object. I want the best education, the best teachers, and the best security.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll have a list for you by this afternoon.”
“And I need you to hire a new driver.”
Matteo looked confused. “A new driver, sir? Have I done something wrong?”
“Not for me,” I explained. “For Azalea and Amira. I need someone I can trust completely to drive them places safely. Someone loyal who understands how precious they are.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll find the perfect person.”
“What did you find out about yesterday? Why was that man really at my house?”
Matteo’s expression grew serious. “Your stepmother sent him, sir. She wants her son to get a high-level position in your company. She somehow convinced your father to come and ask you personally.”
My hands curled into fists. “He’s not my father,” I said through gritted teeth. “How dare they think they can waltz into my home and make demands? I know exactly what they’re really after—my company, my money, and my life.”
“What are you going to do about them, sir?”
My face grew dark with rage. “What I should have done years ago. I’m going to eliminate them. All of them.”
“Even your father?”
“Especially him,” I replied coldly. “I haven’t forgotten what that woman and her son tried to do to me. They planted a spy in my company. They stole my confidential files. They tried to destroy everything I built.”
Matteo was quiet for a moment, then said, “But sir, if it wasn’t for their betrayal. You never would have married her.”
I glared at him. “Shut up and watch the road.”
But deep down, I knew he was right. In their attempt to destroy me, my enemies had accidentally brought me the greatest gift of my life.
As we drove through the busy morning traffic, my mind raced with dark thoughts. I should have killed them all years ago when I first discovered their plan.
I thought it would be more fun to play games with them, to watch them squirm as their plans failed. But I was wrong. Killing them quickly would have been smarter.
Now they had seen Azalea and Amira. Now they knew about the two people who mattered most to me in the world. And that made them more dangerous than any business rival I had ever faced.
“We’re here, sir,” Matteo announced as we pulled up to the towering glass building.
The security guards immediately opened my door, and I stepped out of the car. “Good morning, sir,” they greeted me.
“Morning,” I answered, turning my attention back to Matteo.
“Go park the car and meet me in my office.”
“Yes, sir.”
As I walked through the marble lobby of my building, employees stopped their conversations to bow respectfully. Some looked nervous, probably wondering why I had been away for so long. Others seemed relieved to see me back.
I took the private elevator to the top floor, my mind still focused on the threats against my family. By the time the doors opened to reveal my secretary’s desk, I had already started planning my father’s destruction.
“Good morning, Mr. Giordani,” my personal secretary greeted me with a bright smile. I liked her because she knew better than to ask unnecessary questions.
“Good morning,” I replied, walking past her desk toward my office door.
Once inside my private office, I sat behind my massive desk and tried to focus on the stack of documents waiting for my attention.
A few minutes later, someone knocked on my door.
“Come in,” I called, expecting to see Matteo with updates about schools and drivers.
But when the door opened, my blood turned to ice.
Standing in my doorway was the last person I ever wanted to see. The person who had tried to destroy my life more than once. The person who should have known better than to show their face in my building ever again.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, my voice deadly calm as I stared into the eyes of my greatest enemy.