One week

**Damien Ashford, a man in a flawless suit and a nervous expression on his face, arrived at the imposing headquarters of Towsand, the investment company where he worked. It was a sunny day, but the atmosphere awaiting him inside the building was far from warm. He had a feeling that something bad was about to happen, but he had no idea how terrible it would be.

As he walked through the well-lit corridors, Damien exchanged worried glances with some of his colleagues who already knew that something was amiss. When he reached the office of Louis Specter and Leonard Towsand, the majority partners of the company and his direct bosses, Damien's stomach churned. There was no escaping the impending confrontation.

He knocked on the door of the conference room and entered when he heard Louis call him to do so. The two partners sat on opposite sides of the large wooden table, their expressions serious and suspicious, both fixed on Damien.

Damien tried to hide his apprehension as he asked, "What's going on, gentlemen?"

Leonard Towsand, the elder of the two partners, with graying hair and gold-rimmed glasses, was the first to speak. "Damien, we've noticed something very concerning in your clients' investment portfolios."

Damien paled a bit, fearing the worst, but asked with a trembling voice, "What do you mean?"

Louis Specter, a man with graying hair, piercing eyes, and a stern countenance, replied, "Your clients' investment portfolios are experiencing a consistent and significant decline, Damien. And to make matters worse, there's a twenty-million-dollar shortfall."

The news hit Damien like a punch to the gut, and his mind began to race frantically in search of a plausible explanation. "You don't understand, something went wrong. I had some recent losses in risky investments. That's why the portfolios are suffering."

Leonard Towsand shook his head, with a skeptical expression. "We've checked that, Damien. We reviewed all the records and found that you haven't made any investments in the last six months."

Panic overtook Damien. He felt cornered, unable to provide a convincing explanation. "You don't understand. I was sabotaged. Someone set this all up to incriminate me."

Louis Specter sighed, seeming more tired than surprised by Damien's explanation. "Damien, we want to avoid a scandal for Towsand. We know everyone makes mistakes, but we need to resolve this as soon as possible."

Leonard added with seriousness, "We'll give you a week, Damien. By the end of the week, we want that twenty-million-dollar shortfall to be recovered and the situation to be rectified. If not, we'll have to take drastic measures."

Damien felt the overwhelming pressure of the ultimatum. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized he was entangled in a web of troubles of his own making. He had one week to find a solution, recover the lost money, and somehow save his job and reputation at Towsand.

He left the room of the majority partners, feeling that his life had drastically changed in a matter of minutes. The shadow of his mistake loomed over him, and the struggle to find a way out seemed almost impossible. As his footsteps echoed through the company's corridors, Damien knew that his mission would not only be financial but also personal, and that he would face considerable obstacles to save his career and integrity.

***

The dinner with Stefano Graviano had left a bitter taste in Melissa White's mouth, the false identity that Victoria Ashford had assumed to infiltrate her husband Damien's scheme. Stefano had proven to be a ruthless businessman, and the negotiations with him were dangerously dark. When her phone rang, and Damien's name flashed on the screen, Victoria was momentarily stunned but quickly gathered her determination to answer the call.

"Hello, Damien," she began, trying to maintain naturalness in her voice.

"Hello, my dear. How are you?" Damien asked, his voice filled with affection.

Victoria took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face that Damien obviously couldn't see. "I'm fine, thank you. And you? How have you been?"

Damien didn't hesitate to express his longing. "I'm well, but I miss you. Fashion week isn't the same without my lovely company."

Victoria responded with a soft, considerate tone. "I miss you too, Damien. I look forward to seeing you soon."

Damien then suggested something that took her by surprise. "How about I come to Milan, and we spend some time together? Fashion week is happening, and even though I don't particularly like it, I'd love to be by your side."

Internally, Victoria felt her heart squeeze because having Damien in Milan was the last thing she wanted. However, she couldn't show it and instead agreed, maintaining her composure. "Of course, Damien. I'd be happy to have you here. Even if you don't like fashion week, your company is what matters."

Damien smiled, even though Victoria couldn't see it. "Great! I'll arrange my flight, and we'll see each other soon, my dear."

"I can't wait," replied Victoria, her voice sounding eager, though her heart was laden with concern. Damien had made a decision that could put her entire disguise at risk.

They talked a little more, with Damien sharing details about his trip and how he looked forward to being with his wife. Victoria responded gracefully and affectionately, but she couldn't help but feel the tension mounting as the call came to an end.

When they hung up, Victoria looked at her phone, pondering how this unexpected situation would affect her plans. Damien was coming to Milan, and she would have to find a way to balance her disguise as Melissa White and her true identity as Victoria Ashford. Having her husband in the city was a new risk factor she had to consider as she continued her quest for answers in Damien's shadowy business world. She couldn't afford for Damien to discover the truth.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Victoria picked up her phone and sent a quick message to Stefano Graviano, the banker she had met earlier. He had shown willingness to help, and she hoped he had valuable information. The message read, "We need to meet. Something urgent has come up. The sooner, the better."

While waiting for Stefano's response, Victoria began to formulate a plan. It was crucial to prevent Damien from coming to Milan and revealing her infiltration activities. She knew her life was in danger if Damien found out the truth. However, confronting her own husband would be an extremely delicate task.

Soon, her phone vibrated, indicating a new message had arrived. It was from Stefano, agreeing to meet with her. Victoria breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began to plan her strategy.