"What the hell—" Ravenna picked up her bag from the table and started to leave when her father held her hand."Let go," she said, trying to steady her shaky voice, her face turned away from him."Why are you doing this?" Lucian asked."Did you bloody set me up?" Ravenna turned to the bank manager, who just cleared his throat, pretending he wasn't being talked to."Leave him out of this," Lucia said as he nodded to the older man, who quickly left the room, as if not scared to be caught in the middle of what he wasn't sure of."What do you want? Why the hell are you on my neck?" Ravenna asked with spite as Lucian let go of her hand slowly."Your cooperation.""I—""I know you're pretending not to know me," Lucian chimed in coolly. "For reasons I am not sure of," he added."What are you up to, Ravenna?" He asked again as Ravenna watched him, her heart pounding against her chest as she searched for answers on his face.She walked back to the seat she was occupying earlier, sat down, cross
Ravenna. That was the pawn."You look stressed. Everything’s fine?" Ravenna asked as she dropped her cutlery and picked up a cup of water, staring at Damian, who sat across from her at the dining table."Yeah. Good," Damian replied as he dropped his cutlery and placed his elbow on the table, entwining his fingers as he stared at her intently."Thinking of going back to your father?" Damian asked."My father?" Ravenna asked, feigning a confused look."Don’t give me the crap about not remembering him, Ravenna," Damian watched her over the hall candle in the middle of the table.He started with a smile. "You do remember him," he said.Ravenna stared at him for a while without replying, then chuckled."I might understand that you want to stay as far as possible from him since you both had a clash before your accident," Damian said, as the smile on Ravenna’s face faded."But then I need to know your stance. You said you want us to start afresh. As a couple, like before," Damian continued.
Ravenna and Lucian exchanged looks when they heard what was going on with Antonio, both feeling a certain sense of fear."You incompetent bastards! If I lose this deal, consider your whole careers ruined!" He said angrily and hung up, fuming, brushing his hands through his hair."What is it?" Ravenna asked as Antonio stared at her for a moment."Mr. Domenico Santoro, who has no business in hospitality, is now set on acquiring the SU resort I've had my eyes on for the past three years," Antonio said calmly, but one could feel his pain."The same SU resort you're on the verge of obtaining?" Giuseppe asked as Antonio just scoffed, as if all of it was still unbelievable to him."And guess whose fault it is." His gaze shifted to Lucian."Why are we here, Ravenna?" Leonardo spoke up for the first time. "Your dad called this meeting, but it seems like you're the one in charge." He narrowed his eyes at Lucian, who was now sitting down."Sit, Antonio. Let's hear the lady," Leonardo said as Ant
Ravenna's lips curved into a smile, and she nodded, shifting her gaze away from the man. However, there was this nagging thought that lingered within her."Now, we will start the auction," the auctioneer announced after giving his soulful speech about the resort."The bidding starts from $10 million," the auctioneer announced."$20 million," Antonio raised his hand with a gleeful smile as Ravenna's lips curved into a smile. Literally, everyone in the room was under their charm. Everyone had been bribed to just come and be a figurehead. The resort belonged to the kings...and the kings had decided to give it to Antonio, their man."A $50 million!" the auctioneer shouted."$150 million," the man sitting beside Ravenna raised his paddle."We have a whopping $150 million over there!" the auctioneer shouted in awe as Ravenna turned to look at him. The man narrowed his eyes at her, and she looked away quickly, as if staring too much would get her burnt.She turned forward to see Antonio, who
"What do you mean? I know the money I bid is huge and would cause a significant impact on us, but...""There are no 'buts.' How the hell do you think we settled the issue with Kings Airline? The charges and everything? Who made everything cool down just like that?" Lucian asked as Ravenna stared at him, realization dawning on her."Bribery," she said calmly as Lucian nodded. "That's right. I paid a lot to keep us out of jail," Lucian spat angrily."You're talking about 'us' as if I started an illegal business with you involving Kings Airline," Ravenna retorted as Lucian chuckled incredulously."Is that even important?" He asked with a smile that looked more like he was in pain. "We are done for. That's it." He turned around in frustration and brushed his hand through his hair. "How the hell did we get into this?!" He screamed angrily as he hit the table."Damian," Ravenna breathed as she stood up slowly, hoping that more ideas would come."What does that guy have to do with the mess w
"What's with that look?" Damian asked with a chuckle. "You look like you've just seen a ghost." He laughed out loud as Ravenna swallowed, trying to steady her voice before speaking again."Ugh?" She blinked as she stared at Damian."I meant to say if you wanted to help out, but you looked pale at a point. You okay?" Damian had stopped laughing as Ravenna gave a stiff chuckle."Oh... that. Nah, I mean I'm good. You just look tired and all, so," she stuttered as Damian nodded slowly."It's an issue at the headquarters with some international investors and stuff. I don't think you'd be able to help much," Damian said with a shrug."And thanks for the coffee." Damian picked up the cup slowly and took a sip while watching Ravenna. She must have had a long day, and he thought about playing with her a little bit."You looked tired when you walked in earlier, Ravenna. How was your day? Sorry for my manners; I don't take time to have small chats with you anymore and stuff," Damian said."It's
"Ravenna, come on, take a look at this," Damian said when he saw Ravenna descending the stairs the next morning, and he handed over a tablet to her."I was going through the morning news and saw how much mess your father is in," he said sarcastically with a slight frown. "At this rate, dealing with him would be hard, as he keeps getting himself into trouble. I would feel bad," he added with a smile as Ravenna slowly accepted the device and read the headline."The Kings' embezzlement issue was covered up in the past by a corrupt judge. The police have now reopened the case as new evidence has come up," the headline read. Ravenna's heartbeat quickened, her face paled, and it felt like her breathing was suddenly restricted.She looked up slowly to Damian, who was smiling. "Poor thing," he clicked his tongue. "Now he's going to pay loads of cash to get out of this like he always does or go to jail," he stressed the last statement as Ravenna watched him."He's paying for what he did to you
"Zayd al-Malik, His Serene Highness, the Sovereign Sheikh of the Desert Jewel," Ravenna said as she dropped a file on the table in her father's office. "We should try to get him to visit our hotel this summer.""The selection for the Hotel of the Year will soon be concluded, and the winner will be announced next month. Coincidentally, Zayd, the Arab prince, will be visiting the country for an official visit. Naturally, he'll need a place to stay for his brief visit. If we can persuade him to stay in our hotel, it's a game-changer," Ravenna continued, her lips curving into a cunning smile as Lucian watched her."We haven't had much success at Kings Hotel for a while and might not have a chance at winning that title. But if Zayd stays at our hotel, the money he'll spend during his visit will more than make up for it!" Lucian's eyes sparkled with hope as he looked at his daughter.While Ravenna wore a disgusted expression and clicked her tongue, she continued, "Having the title of Hotel