Chapter 47 XLVII.
“This will be your new office from now on, sir. I will be the secretary in charge of all your activities,” the black-haired man in the sharp suit explained.
ALESSANDRO'S POV.
I looked around the sophisticated space, the cold elegance of the mahogany desk and floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting my new reality. Grandfather had wasted no time in assigning me here. He had even organized an extravagant party for tonight to celebrate my promotion to the presidency. Personally, I wasn't one for such hollow gatherings, but I knew better than to refuse the old man’s bidding—especially since I was finally getting what I wanted.
But even with the title and the office, I felt a hollow ache. I missed Rowan terribly. We used to be inseparable during my training; he had prepared me for every hurdle this position could throw at me. Now, because of our new roles, we were relegated to separate offices, and the distance felt like a physical weight.
I hadn't spoken to him since yesterday, when he had gone to meet with my family. I had no idea how that conversation had ended. When I had returned home the previous night, the house was silent, my family seemingly already asleep.
Unable to stand the silence of my new office any longer, I decided I had waited long enough. I headed toward his desk. I didn't bother knocking; I simply pushed the door open.
Inside, Rowan was deep in conversation with his secretary, Tina. They both paused, looking up in surprise as I entered.
“Hi, guys,” I said, offering a small smile. Rowan looked as handsome as ever in his pristine, dark-blue suit, but as I got closer, I noticed the tension in his shoulders.
“Hi, sir,” Tina smirked, her eyes dancing with mischief. “How’s the new office?”
I sighed. “It’s fine. Just... fine.”
“Just fine?” she teased. “You must really be missing this side of the building.”
I looked directly at Rowan. “You have no idea.”
Rowan cleared his throat, sensing the shift in the room. “Tina, please give us a minute. I need to speak with Alessandro privately.”
As soon as the door clicked shut, I stepped into his space. “I missed you yesterday. I really did.”
He stood up, meeting me halfway. “I’m sorry, Sandra. You were busy with your training, and I didn't want to be a distraction.”
I looked into his brown eyes and felt a pang of worry. The usual light was missing; he looked utterly exhausted. I reached up, cupping his face in my hands. “Are you okay, love? You don’t look well.”
He leaned into my touch, a weary sigh escaping his lips. “I told Alessandro and Mr. Biagi the truth yesterday. They didn't take it well.”
I kissed his temple, trying to smooth the creases of worry on his brow. “That was to be expected, Rowan. We have to give them time.”
“I feel so guilty,” he whispered. “What if they never forgive us? What if your sister never accepts this?”
“I know my sister,” I said firmly, though I felt a flicker of doubt myself. “She isn’t selfish. Eventually, she’ll understand that we didn't choose this to hurt her. You didn't commit a crime by falling in love with me.”
He heaved a heavy sigh. “I hope you’re right.”
“Let’s do this,” I suggested, trying to brighten his mood. “Let me take you on a date tomorrow. A real one. Dinner at a fancy restaurant, a movie—whatever you want.”
He offered a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. “Alright. I’ll go on a date with you.”
I grinned and pulled him into a kiss, a brief moment of heat in the middle of a cold day. I would do anything to make him happy, even if it meant facing the storm that was brewing at home.
The storm broke sooner than I expected.
I arrived home early to prepare for the party, only to find my sister, Sandra, waiting for me in the living room. We hadn't spoken since Rowan told her the truth. The moment she saw me, she marched forward. Before I could say a word, she swung her hand and slapped me across the face.
The force of it snapped my head to the side. I stayed still, my jaw clenched, refusing to let the pain show.
“How could you, brother?!” she cried, her voice cracking with betrayal. “How could you do this to me? You knew how I felt about Rowan, yet you went ahead and stole him. You were supposed to be my brother!”
I straightened my spine, looking down at her. “He doesn't love you, Sandra. He never did. Don’t be selfish just because he finally found the courage to be honest.”
“Selfish?” She gasped, her eyes wide. “Who the fuck do you think you are? He would have loved me if you hadn't seduced him! I was fine with you being gay, but I never thought you’d steal my fiancé!”
“That’s what you think, isn't it?” I countered. “You think I bought him? That I forced him into this in exchange for the company?”
“You’ve always been that way!” she yelled, wiping tears from her face. “I’ll never forgive either of you. Never!”
She turned and stomped away, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.
“Is that true?”
I turned to see my grandfather standing in the doorway, his eyes stern and unreadable. “Did you really make a bargain with him?”
I rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to waste my breath explaining the complexities of love to a man who only understood ledgers. “Does it matter? I’m doing what you wanted. I’m taking over your company. Isn't that the only thing you care about?”
Without waiting for an answer, I walked past him and went upstairs to dress for the night I had been waiting for my entire life—even if the price was my family’s hatred.