Chapter 1

"Our hands are tied. The Pilsario Company gives much more profitable offers. It will be their third time they're taking our clients right from under our nose in the last six months. Manager, we need to do something about them. It's like they are targeting us for some unknown reasons" One of the workers spoke up his worries. 

"You don't need to worry about them. The Pilsario Company wants us to start panicking but their petty tricks won't work on us. Call the meeting with our clients. We will show them that it will be more profitable to stay with us for long cooperation than one short business with Pilsario" Said a woman with unshakable conviction in her voice. "The meeting is over. Go back to your tasks" She stood up first and went back to her office. The beautiful manager was the oldest daughter of the owner of this company - Antonio Forzani. She was working under him for a good few years to take company under her wings. Her long light brown hair and enchanting green eyes with perfect figure and excellent leadership was like a goddess to all the workers. And her name was Sophie Forzani. 

"Manager, sir Anthony is waiting in your office" Said her new secretary when Sophie entered the room.

"Thank you Bethany" She entered her office and saw handsome man with longer, brown hair, sitting on her chair and spinning in circle.

"Anthony. Do you have some business with me?" She asked, a little irritated.

"I just came to say hi and ask how your new secretary is. Your dad wants you to introduce her to the company topics as soon as possible. She must be able to run the company on equal footing as you" 

"And why is that?" She looks at him from under her eyes, thinking there is something fishy with this task.

"You are one of the best. Your secretary should be too, don't you think? When you are not here, who will know better what to do?" He spread his hands with stupid smile.

"They can just call me as always" She flipped him from her chair and sat in front of her desk. Anthony was her fiancee for two years. They were going to get married in a few months. 

"Why are you always so crude? You should be more ladylike" He said irritatedly.

"I have lots of work to do. You should go"

Sophie didn't even look at him. She started typing something on her laptop. She didn't have time to play. Anthony went out and started talking with her secretary. Woman ignored the cute laughter coming from behind the doors. Sophie focused on her plan to kick a certain Darell's ass.

Derell Pilsario.

He was the boss of Pilsario Company. Their hatred towards each other was on a different level. He has already sent a few spies to destroy her business. One time even Sophie was in real danger when she ate a dish containing some seafood to which she was allergic to one of the meetings with their company. The smile on Darell's face told everything. He was behind this. Good for Sophie for having an anesthetic with her 'couse there is no telling what could happen on enemy territory. She had to be very careful every time when it came to her business dealings with Darell. Sophie hated him to the bone for that. Despite problems at work, she still had to struggle with him. 

After a hard day at work Sophie went straight to the shooting rage to blow off some steam. It was her only place where she could relax and imagine shooting Darell's head. Unfortunately for her this day wasn't going to end well. When she was shooting in her box her biggest enemy showed up in the same place. Evil smile spread through his face. Darell leaned on her box and started watching her. Sophie focused on shooting and didn't noticed man until she had to reload her gun. 

"Need something?" She spit with venom looking at very tall, good looking man with short black hair and dangerous black eyes.

"Not really. Just came to see something funny" He smirked

"You want to see something funny?" Sophie stood in front of him. "Try from the point of the view of the target" She provoked. 

"That could be interesting" He leaned next to her head and whispered. Slowly he stepped in front of her target with a dangerous smile.

"Try me" His stare intensified. Something clicked in Sophie's. He wants it? He will get it. She reloads her gun with precision and takes her position to shoot. Bang! Bang! Two quick shots a hair from his both knees. Bang! Bang! Next two on the both sides of his waist. Bang! Bang! Just above his shoulders. Darell standing there, not blinking even once. Bang! Shot above his left ear. Dangerous smile on her face. Bang! She grazed his right cheek with the bullet. Sophie put the gun down and stood in front of Darell. She rubbed her thumb across his bleeding cheek, licking the blood from it. 

"Now we're even. It was a nice experience. We should do it again sometime" She smiles. He grabbed her wrist painfully, looking very dangerous.

"Be careful Sophie" He said coldly. "My blood is very expensive" 

"You should work on the taste then" She pulled her wrist from his hand. "It's not worth the price" She went out of the shooting range leaving Darell standing there. 

"You want a better taste of me? You will get it" He threatened. 

Sofie came back to her house in the late evening with a bitter face, knowing that she made Darell angry and he would start to play more aggressively. She needed to come up with a better plan of action otherwise she would lose her customers. Getting out of her white Mercedes, she was hugged from behind.

"Sophie! You're here!" A ten years old boy was screaming happily.

"Hi Luca. How was your day?" She patted the little boy with love. "Let's go home. Is father inside?"

"Yup. And he's quite angry. Be careful Sophie" He said worriedly.

"Don't worry little brother. Your sister will handle it. As always"

They both went into the house. Girl didn't even have time to change or eat before she was called to see her dad.

"I heard that Pilsario Company is at it again. We cannot lose another contrahent Sophie. I didn't give you the position of the manager to hear about your failures. You should be competent enough to win with them. I paid for years of your education just to see this?" He looked at her with disappointment. 

"I'm working on it. It's not easy with the budget you give for this project. Pilsario Company.." 

"Enough!" He shut her down. "You will find the way. How is it going with training the new secretary?" He changed the subject.

"She's here for a two months. She is a quick learner. In a few days she should be able to handle most of our cases" She refers. 

"Good. You can go" He coldly sent her away.

Sophie left the room in a foul mood. Her father was always like that. Giving her the worst cases and wanting the best results. Never happy. She spent a little time with her brother before going to sleep. Next few days were like a nightmare for her. She was right in thinking that Darell will hit hard. Girl was fighting till the end, but lost. And tomorrow was the day when her father will announce his heir. She was already extremely exhausted but knew she couldn't rest now. On the day of the party, many rich companies were invited. Sophie was standing with a few of her clients in a beautiful white dress. She was stunning. Going to the bathroom she was dragged into a corner by a strong arm. There was only one person brutal enough to do that.

"It's not a place and time to fight. What do you want?" She scolded him.

"I was waiting for a few tears of bitterness after your last loss" He smirked. Looking angrily into his black eyes, she pushed him aside.

"I won't cry over some small business Darell. There are many better ones that I could choose, you know?" She waved him middle finger for goodbye. He clicked his tongue with disapproval and went to the main hall. When the girl came back from the bathroom she saw something unsettling. Her father, fiance and secretary were on the stage. She came closer looking surprised. She couldn't ask because her dad started his speech.

"Dear guest. We are gathered here to see my one and only heiress" He put his arm around smiling Bethany. "Bethany will take over me. She's my first daughter that I couldn't show before because of some circumstances"

The look on Sophie's face was full of disbelief, grief and anger.

 "That company was supposed to be mine!" She said loudly, walking on the stage.

"And another statement" He said triumphantly. "Sophie is no longer my daughter. I stripped her from all her wealth and position as a manager in my company. Her fiance Anthony will be now the future husband of my dear Bethany"

The new couple holding their hands happily.

"As I'm quite good-natured, I'm allowing you to take your things from my house" He looked down at his ex-daughter.

"You will regret this" She said looking at the satisfied three with disgust and hatred. 

"Sophie!" Luka ran to his sister but was stopped by his father.

"Luka she is no longer your sister. You will never see her again" He said proudly.

"You won't dare!" Sophie finally lost it. It was her little brother! No one can separate them!

"Oh I will. He will go abroad to learn and study and when he will be ready he will take the company there" He swing his arm to bodyguards. "Men! Take this unwanted girl from my party" He ordered.

"I will find the way" She said to her crying brother before stepping down from the scene. "Don't touch me" She threatened. "I will go by myself"

Darell looked at the girl leaving. His facial expression was unreadable. 

"Find what's happening. I want it yesterday" He ordered his man. Sipping his champagne he was closely watching Antonio with the happy couple.