Chapter 2 The Encounter With The Billionaire

The first thing Rosetta noticed when she opened her eyes was the beautiful gold chandelier on the ceiling. Her vision was initially blurry, but after blinking a few times, it became clear.

Her eyes wandered around the room, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. Was she already dead? Is this heaven? Those were the thoughts racing through her mind because where she found herself didn't resemble Earth at all.

With a groan, she sat up, her hand instinctively moving to her head. Her stomach continued to ache, and she felt as though she might succumb to hunger soon.

"Sei sveglio?" she heard a deep, masculine voice ask. ("Are you awake?")

She turned her head towards the voice and her mouth fell open in awe upon seeing the man before her. Was he human? She couldn't be so sure.

"è sorda?" she heard him mumble under his breath. ("Is she deaf?")

"No, I'm not!" she retorted, eyeing him intently. How could he think of her as a deaf person?

"Oh... Good thing you aren't," she heard him say.

Rosetta simply stared at him. He was seated on the couch with his legs crossed, his arms folded across his chest, and his gaze fixed directly on her.

Clearing her throat, she attempted to diffuse the building tension in the room. "How... How did I end up here?" she asked, surveying the opulent surroundings.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" he scoffed.

"I think I have to. I woke up here and..." Her stomach grumbled loudly, causing her to abruptly halt her words. Her eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Did he hear that?

It was evident that he did, as a smirk slowly crept onto his lips.

"I think that's coming from... You," Rosetta stammered, looking away in mortification.

"Sul serio?" His lips curved into an amused smile. ("Seriously?")

"I... I should get going," Rosetta stuttered, rising to her feet. However, as soon as she made a move, her stomach grumbled once again, this time even louder. Her eyes shut tightly in humiliation, and she lowered her head, covering her face with her hair.

With a mere snap of his fingers, the door swung open, revealing a waiter holding a tray laden with a variety of dishes.

The waiter seemed taken aback by Rosetta's presence in the room, but she quickly masked her surprise and smiled. The waiter set the tray on the table and promptly exited.

Upon seeing the food, Rosetta couldn't help but involuntarily lick her lips, her mouth already watering.

"Eat up," she suddenly heard him say, his attention focused on his phone.

"Huh?" Her head snapped towards him, only to find him engrossed in his device.

"Tha... Thank you," she stuttered, her pride vanishing into thin air. This was a matter of life and death; pride could take a backseat.

She swiftly seated herself at the table and picked up her cutlery. As she took a bite of the chicken, a moan of delight escaped her lips, savoring the delicious flavor that filled her taste buds.

"non fare più quel suono," she heard him remark, and she turned to look at him. Observing the expression on his face, she quickly averted her gaze and resumed eating her food.

"Mi dispiace," she mumbled. ("I'm sorry.")

Rosetta finished her meal with satisfaction, relishing every bite. It had been years since she had tasted something as delicious as this, and her heart was filled with joy. She couldn't help but let out a loud belch, quickly covering her mouth and glancing at the man from the corner of her eye.

"Thank you for the meal," she said slowly, trying to find the right words to express her gratitude. Rosetta was overwhelmed with various thoughts. Despite her appearance and job, he had chosen to help her. It was a gesture that touched her deeply.

Just as she was about to speak, he abruptly stood up and put on his dark shades, staring at her. Rosetta felt a mixture of confusion and anticipation. What did he mean by "When you're okay, you can take your leave"? Was she kidnapped? The uncertainty made her heart race.

Forgetting that she had just finished eating, Rosetta jumped up and rushed to the door, opening it forcefully. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when the door swung open, confirming her safety.

"I'm safe," she whispered with a smile. Taking one last glance at the room, Rosetta's smile softened before she stepped out, making her way back through the hotel. Navigating her way was easier since it was the same hotel she worked at, although she wasn't privileged to enter the VIP rooms.

•••

BOARDROOM

Romeo entered the boardroom, and the room immediately fell silent as all heads bowed in respect. It had been a while since he had shown up, and the employees felt compelled to show their respect to the boss.

Taking his seat, Romeo placed his phone on the large table and scanned the room with a sense of satisfaction. Everything seemed to be in order.

"It has been a while, Sir Castillo. How have you been?" one of the men in the room asked.

"Good, I guess. Let's move on to business," Romeo replied briskly. He glanced at Diego, his personal assistant, who promptly opened a hardcover book and began reading out some information.

"You have been doing an excellent job so far, and I am impressed," Romeo said, offering a light smile. It was a rare sight for him to appreciate his employees' efforts, and they felt a sense of happiness and validation hearing his words.

"Thank you, Sir Castillo," the voices echoed in unison. They knew how rare it was for their boss to express appreciation, and they felt motivated by his praise.

"I am back for good now, and I expect things to continue running smoothly, just as they were before. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to take action," Romeo declared. His employees didn't need any clarification on what "action" meant.

"We won't disappoint you, Sir Castillo. Welcome back once again," they responded in unison.

Romeo stood up and swiftly left the room, with Diego following closely behind.

•••

Rosetta had finished changing out of her work attire, signaling the end of her day. She neatly folded her uniform and placed it in a basket, taking a deep breath. It was getting late in the evening, and she needed to head home as soon as possible. The transport fares tended to increase late at night.

Her mind drifted back to the man who had saved her earlier in the day. The food she had eaten had sustained her until now, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for his unexpected act of kindness.

"Why had he chosen to help her despite knowing she was nothing but a cleaner?"