Alessandro Romano
Rain poured over the city like a silver curtain.
Thunder rolled across the dark sky as lightning flashed between skyscrapers.
At the top floor of a towering glass building, a man stood alone near the massive window, watching the storm.
His reflection in the glass looked calm.
Too calm.
He wore a charcoal-gray suit that fit perfectly, the kind only the wealthy could afford. His hair was dark and neatly combed back, revealing sharp features and cold, calculating eyes.
This was Victor Hale.
The man the Romano family feared.
He held a glass of whiskey in one hand, slowly swirling the amber liquid as if he had all the time in the world.
Behind him, the room was dimly lit. Several large monitors displayed financial charts, shipping routes, and corporate acquisitions.
A quiet knock came from the door.
Victor didn't turn.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a man in a black suit stepped inside nervously.
"Mr. Hale."
Victor took a small sip of whiskey.
"Report."
The man hesitated for half a second.
Then he spoke.
"We successfully purchased the remaining shares through the Singapore shell companies. Romano Shipping's western route is now partially under our influence."
Victor's lips curved slightly.
"Good."
The man continued.
"But…"
Victor's eyes shifted to the reflection in the glass.
"But what?"
"Alessandro Romano noticed."
Victor finally turned around.
His expression didn't change.
But the atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy.
"Of course he did."
He walked slowly toward the desk and placed the whiskey glass down.
"Alessandro Romano was always… annoyingly perceptive."
The assistant swallowed nervously.
"What are your next orders, sir?"
Victor leaned against the desk casually.
"Nothing."
The assistant blinked.
"Nothing?"
Victor smiled faintly.
"Patience is the key to destroying powerful men."
He tapped the desk once.
"We're not attacking the Romano empire."
The assistant looked confused.
"Then what are we doing?"
Victor's eyes darkened slightly.
"We're shaking its foundation."
He pressed a button on the desk.
One of the monitors changed.
A photo appeared on the screen.
A beautiful woman with sharp eyes and confident posture.
Elena.
Victor studied the image carefully.
"So…"
He murmured.
"This is the woman Alessandro married."
The assistant nodded.
"Yes. Her name is Elena Hart."
Victor tilted his head slightly.
"Interesting."
He studied the photo for several seconds.
Then asked calmly:
"Do you know Alessandro Romano's greatest weakness?"
The assistant shook his head.
Victor smiled slowly.
"He doesn't trust anyone."
He picked up the whiskey again.
"And yet…"
His eyes gleamed.
"He married her."
The assistant shifted uncomfortably.
"What do you want us to do about her?"
Victor didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked back to the window and watched the storm again.
Rain streaked down the glass like tears.
Finally he said softly:
"Watch her."
"Watch her?"
"Yes."
His voice was almost amused now.
"If she's important enough for Alessandro to marry…"
He took another sip of whiskey.
"Then she's important enough for me to understand."
The assistant nodded quickly.
"Understood."
Victor turned slightly.
"And send someone to verify her past."
"We already started."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Yes. Preliminary reports say she's clean. No criminal connections, no political background, no corporate influence."
Victor chuckled softly.
"Then she's either extremely lucky…"
He paused.
"Or extremely dangerous."
The assistant didn't know how to respond.
Victor waved his hand dismissively.
"You can go."
The man left quickly, relieved.
The office returned to silence.
Victor stared at Elena's picture again.
Then he whispered:
"Alessandro Romano."
His voice carried years of cold hatred.
"You took something from me once."
Lightning flashed outside the window.
"And now…"
His lips curled into a faint smile.
"I'll take everything from you."
Meanwhile…
Across the city.
Inside the Romano penthouse.
Elena stood in the kitchen staring at the coffee machine like it had personally betrayed her.
She pressed the button again.
Nothing happened.
"Seriously?"
She sighed.
"Technology hates me."
A voice behind her spoke calmly.
"You didn't plug it in."
Elena froze.
Then slowly turned around.
Alessandro stood in the doorway, watching her with mild amusement.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"I knew that."
He walked past her and plugged the machine into the outlet.
The coffee machine immediately started humming.
Elena crossed her arms.
"Traitor."
Alessandro raised an eyebrow.
"You're arguing with a coffee machine."
She ignored him.
A moment later, he handed her a cup.
Their fingers brushed briefly.
The contact lasted less than a second.
But Elena noticed.
And apparently, so did he.
They both looked away.
The silence felt… strange.
Finally Elena spoke.
"So."
Alessandro sipped his coffee.
"So?"
"Are enemies attacking us today?"
He glanced at her calmly.
"Not yet."
She nodded.
"Good. I'd like at least one peaceful day in this marriage."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Before he could reply, his phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed slightly.
"What happened?"
Alessandro lowered the phone slowly.
"Victor Hale."
Elena stiffened.
"What about him?"
"He's watching you."
The words sent a small chill down her spine.
"How do you know?"
Alessandro walked toward the window, his voice calm but colder now.
"Because he just hacked into a Romano surveillance satellite."
Elena blinked.
"You have surveillance satellites?"
"Yes."
"Should I be concerned about that?"
"Probably."
She stared at him.
"You say that very casually."
He turned to face her.
"Victor Hale only does things for a reason."
Elena frowned.
"So what's the reason this time?"
Alessandro looked directly at her.
His eyes were darker now.
"He's curious about you."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Should I feel flattered?"
"No."
His answer came instantly.
"You should feel careful."
Elena leaned against the counter.
"You make this man sound like a supervillain."
Alessandro didn't smile.
"Because he almost is."
Silence settled again.
Then Elena asked quietly:
"Did you really humiliate him once?"
Alessandro's gaze shifted slightly.
"Yes."
"What happened?"
For a moment, it looked like he wouldn't answer.
Then he said simply:
"I destroyed his company."
Elena blinked.
"Oh."
"That was the short version."
"I'm afraid to hear the long version."
Alessandro looked at her again.
"And you should be."
Outside, the rain continued falling over the city.
And somewhere in another tower…
Victor Hale was smiling.
The game had begun.
And Elena Hart had just become a piece on the board.