C2 Chapter 1

GINEVRA, 25 YEARS OLD, MILAN.

“Hello, Ginevra.” Livia—my personal assistant as well as one of my closest friends—pops into my office not long after I’ve come in. “The executive meeting with the board of directors is about to start.”

And I nod, acknowledging her announcement and she leaves. I take a moment to breathe in and ground myself in the present. It’s my first day in this office, taking over the space and the office my adoptive father had called his. Taking the role as the CEO of Alvera Corporations was the moment I had been preparing most of my life for.

I look around the wide space with a large dark brown–almost black–mahogany desk and a black leather chair gobsmack in the center of the room, close to the large windows that overlook the busy city of Milan. There was a black sofa that fit the aesthetic of the office—my office.

The space was mostly professional, no personal touches except for a huge canvas above the sofa that my adoptive mother had painted when she was younger and more into painting. The painting was of a colorful sunset that overlooked the horizon of the ocean reflecting the blur of colors in its waves.

The painting helps me to steady myself, knowing it would be difficult to win the boards’ support but I was going to get it no matter what. With that determination settling in my gut, I take another moment look through the reports since the transfer of power—it has only been a week, today being the official takeover—and although I was expected to feel overwhelmed and nervous about officially addressing members of the board without my father to accompany or give me any form of support, I felt extremely calm.

It was a comfort, knowing I would be going into the den of lions with a calm heart. A heart that wouldn’t stutter, making me regret my life’s dedication.

I had gone through the different branches and departments in the company while preparing to take over so I’m confident in my ability to steer the company in the direction that will enable us to be the wave the fashion industry would follow.

I walk out to the elevator, Livia on my heels. I had set my mind on utter success and confidence, nothing would change.

When I finally make it into the conference room on the floor below my office, they all rise to greet me and I feel a little worry lift off my chest. They weren’t going to blatantly disrespect me, that was good.

Most of the board directors are older members, who have been in the company for at least ten years. When I sit in the chair at the head of the large oval table, I scan the room, making sure to take note of the expression on their faces. I have learnt to read the people around me, feel them out just from the look on their faces. I see a mix of those who are outrightly throwing me disdainful glares, a few who seem more resigned than satisfied at my new position, while a few others look more discreet in their disdain.

When I’m satisfied, I ask them to have their seats as I gesture for Livia to distribute the documents we prepared earlier.

The confusion in the air is palpable, making me feel calmer. I knew they were curious now, curiosity was something I had learnt to manipulate. Manipulate their curiosity to gain their trust, to convince them you’re the best. And I do just that.

I explain the plans I have for the company, the vision that worked hand-in-hand with my mission. I explain to them what we will be doing and not what we might. Confidence was important when dealing with the wolves. Make them know—think—you know what you are doing. So after about two unending hours of questions and more questions that I managed to answer, they seemed to have their doubts pushed aside for now. I knew they would never fully accept a twenty-five year old woman as the CEO of the Alvera Corporation.

I give them another moment in silence, allowing them to contemplate their limited choice—either they accept the new change or challenge a massive asset—before I stand, dismissing them without saying another word, and I walk out, Livia on my heels once again.

Now that the meeting is over, I feel more at ease, the tension holding my neck taut easing out slowly as I make my way to the elevator. Even Livia is more free because the moment the doors of the lift slide shut she breaks the silence.

“Damn, Ginne, that was beautiful.” She sighed, making me smile at her sudden dramatics.

“A beautiful warrior princess going to battle the crazy power-hungry wolves only to come out unscathed.”

“Really?” I laugh, the rest of my unease leaving me with that breath.

“Hell yeah. It’s poetically riveting.”

“Poetically riveting?” I repeat incredulously, stifling a smile as I glance at her right before the doors of the elevator slide open to the top floor. The floor at the very top of the Alvera Corporation tower that has my new office.

We make our way to my office in silence, a complete contrast to the dam of words behind Livia’s sealed lips.

She has always been the person that made me laugh in situations like these. The little sunshine she is with her beautiful brown hair she always had up in a cute bun at the top of her head. Her brightly colored and fashionable clothes she always had on that brightened every room she walked into along with her blinding aura.

Livia is someone I’m glad I have in my corner.

The large wooden door of papà’s office—my office—shuts behind us and I take a seat behind my desk while Livia sits in one of the two smaller black leather chairs in front of my table.

“You rocked their worlds today, Ginne.” She says, crossing her legs. “They would never be able to bounce back from that explosion.”

“You’re just being dramatic, Liv.” I state off-handedly, turning on my computer so I could look through the rest of the documents regarding the teams and work being handled.

There’s a beat of silence that makes me turn my full attention back to Livia. She was never so quiet so suddenly. And I knew it wasn't because I said she was being dramatic.

“Something wrong, Liv?” I hesitate. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to know, it was more like I didn’t know if I could help if I succeeded in getting her to tell me.

“Nothing really.” She says but I wait for her to talk about what’s bothering her. She was like this at times. She didn’t like to be a burden and we got through to her to talk to us whenever something was bothering her.

“It’s two things actually, Ginne. The first is that Elle is in town.” Her voice is dull compared to earlier. I’m glad Elettra—my best friend—is back in town after such a long time but at the moment, I’m more concerned about what was up with Liv. “The second is, uh, well,”

She finally looks at me and for the first time today, I see the tiredness. She looks exhausted, drained even and I begin to wonder what might have caused it.

“Talk to me, Livia.” I say, trying to keep my overactive mind from thinking the worst.

“I need a few days off before we start off with your plans for the company.” She says after a deep breath. “I know it’s your first day and everything. I know it’s so selfish that I’m asking this of you so soon and I’m basically asking you to do things alone but-” She takes another deep breath since she was talking really fast. “I just need a few days off so I can deal with some things at home.”

“How long do you need and from when?” I ask, ensuring to maintain my calmness to make her relax a bit and it works.

“From next Monday, for three days.” She says, the certainty in her tone makes her voice come out firmer than it had before. She was more at ease because I was showing my internal reaction to her request.

“Alright. We can arrange that with HR.” I nod with a small smile.

“Oh my, Ginne, gratias maximas tibi ago.” Her smile is wide with relief as she stands. And on her way out, she blows me a kiss and it makes me smile a bit.

Thank you very much.

When Liv is out and the door shuts completely behind her, I sigh rubbing my hands over my makeup free face.

If I began to think about how the next week would go, without Livia to support me, I would most likely not get any work done today. Livia has been in this company for as long as I have been interning to learn all the dynamics of the company’s operations. Having her leave—even for just a day or three—left like I would be useless alone and I didn’t like it one bit.

Perhaps I should hire someone to fill the space, so things can be less strenuous for Livia especially.

Yes, just for Livia and not because you’d feel as lonely as you are if you didn’t have anyone in that chair outside.

The voice at the back of my mind echos for a moment and I continue my denial because I was doing this for Liv.