He shakes my hand and takes a step back, allowing me into the office. I step forward as he clicks the door closed. He gestures to the chair in front of the desk as he takes the one behind it.
“So you think we can help each other?” He leans forward on the desk, his hands clasped in front of him, and I lean forward, resting the folder on the table. Placing my hand flat against it.
“First, let me introduce myself. I’m Arianna Bianchi. Donna, Arianna Bianchi.”
He gives a curt nod in recognition. Clearly, word has spread about the hostile takeover.
“Are you here to give me the same treatment as Larry?” he questions.
I chuckle. “On the contrary, I’m here to offer you a promotion.” I slide the folder across the table. “I have your files, your men’s files, and I’m impressed. I appreciate the stand you’ve taken on behalf of my father and the frustration you must feel with how it was pushed aside and overlooked. I appreciate you and your team’s work ethic, and where my father was set in his ways. I am not. I give credit where it’s due. I see the moves you’re making, and I, for one, realise what an asset your team will be to my organisation.”
“Well, I’m flattered, Miss Bianchi.”
“I’m not here to flatter you, Deano. I’m here to offer you and your team a significant position within my organisation.”
“You keep saying my organisation.” His brow pinches slightly as he tries to figure out my angle.
I smile at his observance of me, and I nod. “I’m in the process of destroying the outdated regime. The Syndicate thinks it’s a legacy I should bow down to. I refuse to feel less than because I was born with a vagina. So while I systematically take apart the Syndicate and create an organisation that is something I’ll be proud of. Iwant to solidify that and build a unit that shows resoundingly my intent.”
“And what does that look like for us?” I slide the folder across the table. It contains all their background checks, their extensive military achievements. It also shows the achievements that went unnoticed under my father’s rule. The last few pages are a proposal. An in-depth review so far and a projection of what we can achieve together.
Deano takes the folder and starts to flip through the pages, his jaw tenses minutely at the background checks and military information that I shouldn’t have been able to obtain. But a slight smile tugs at the corner of his lips at the achievements that went unnoticed or ignored by my father. Although trying to keep his face stoic, his eyes widen when he reaches the proposal.
When he closes the folder, he slowly leans back in the chair. “What makes you think this proposal is acceptable?”
I smile—actually smile—at him, adding a little chuckle. I stand from the table. I reach out my hand, and he rises to meet me. Shaking it before I turn and stride away. When I get to the door, I open it but turn around.
“Everything’s laid out for you, Deano—the offer, my expectations. Mull it over with your team. I’ll give you a few days to relay it to them, then the offer is off the table and things will stay as they are.” I take a step out of the office, but glance over my shoulder and flick him a smirk. I walk away. Not looking back, I comment, “I’ll look forward to hearing from you. Deano.”
Luca opens the door for me, and I walk through it, followed closely by Matteo, before Luca falls in stride beside us.
He’s definitely an interesting man. I can see why Father overlooked him—younger, ambitious, capable, a born leader, and that’s the issue. That wouldn’t have boded well for Father, a man who can think for himself.
For me, he will be an asset, and when he calls, which he will because I’ve given him and his team an offer they can’t refuse and a budget for expansion, it’s a given. He knew it the minute he read it, but didn’t want to appear rash. I get that. I respect it. I will give him time. He’s no fool. And before we reach the house, my phone rings.
“Deano.”
“We accept your offer, Miss Bianchi.”
“Of course you do. That’s wonderful. I’ll be in touch.” I hang up, knowing that this is the right move to steer myself away from the Syndicate. I need my own army to keep what I take, and Deano will be the one to supply it.
Vittorio
Chapter Seven
I’d been trying to get hold of my guy for days, the one I had tailing Arianna, when I received word that he overdosed in an alley. Overdosed? Something isn’t right.
I put out a call to a guy I have in the morgue. The guy I had tailing Arianna was no junkie. He was good at what he did, discreet, methodical, with no ties to my family.
“Hey, what can you tell me about the OD in the alley?”
“Erm… I can’t really say.” So, he’s being watched.
“Was it an OD?” I whisper, hoping he’s not being listened to as well.
“No, that’s not possible.”
“Can you send me a picture? I wanna check if it’s my guy.”
