Chapter 3 Ava's Arrival

The edge of the cliff was shrouded in an eerie mist, the moon casting a silver glow over the desolate landscape. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks below was a constant reminder of the unforgiving power of nature. Alessandro Lombardi sat atop a worn stone bench, his tailored suit a stark contrast to the rugged surroundings. His legs were crossed, his eyes fixed intently on the figure kneeling before him.

Marco Rossi trembled, his eyes downcast in a futile attempt to avoid the wrath that was to come. His hands were bound behind his back, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Alessandro's men stood guard, their faces impassive, their eyes fixed on the traitor. Alessandro puffed on his cigar, the smoke curling lazily into the night air as he regarded Rossi with a calculating gaze. "You stole from my family, Marco," he said, his voice low and even, like the gentle lapping of waves on a summer shore. "You betrayed our trust, our loyalty. And for what?"

Rossi's voice was barely audible, a pitiful whisper that seemed to carry away on the wind. "I-I needed the money, Alessandro. I was in deep, and I saw an opportunity". Alessandro's eyes narrowed, his grip on the cigar tightening. "An opportunity? You call betraying your own people an opportunity? You call risking our business, our reputation, an opportunity?" He leaned forward, his voice taking on a menacing tone. "You know what an opportunity is, Marco? An opportunity is when I offer you a chance to work for my family, to earn a living, to be part of something bigger than yourself. And this is how you repay me?"

Rossi's eyes flickered upwards, a desperate plea for mercy that Alessandro was quick to extinguish. "You should have kept your mouth shut, your hands clean. Now, you'll pay the price." With a curt nod, Alessandro's men seized Rossi, dragging him to the edge of the cliff. The wind howled, whipping the waves into a frenzy below. Alessandro rose from his seat, his eyes fixed on the traitor as he stood at the precipice.

"Look out at the sea, Marco," he said, his voice carrying above the wind. "Look out at the vast expanse of nothingness. That's what you're worth to me now, Nothing". Rossi's screams were lost in the wind as Alessandro's men lifted him, holding him suspended over the edge of the cliff. Alessandro's gaze never wavered, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity as he spoke the final words.

"You should have remembered the loyalty, the respect. Now, you'll feed the fishes."

With a brutal shove, Rossi was sent tumbling through the air, his body arcing towards the jagged rocks below. The sound of his impact was like a dull thud, a sickening splash that seemed to reverberate through the night air. Alessandro turned away, his expression unyielding. "Make sure the others know what happens when you cross the Lombardi family."

Just as he got into his car, he got a call from his father as he asked about the traitor and he told him it was all sorted as he had handled the traitor diligently, his father nodded as he said to him "I know I made the right choice making you my successor" then they ended the call.

SIX YEARS LATER

It's been a whole five years and the dread and fear of the 'Black Gang' increased in the minds and hearts of people, the Lambordi construction kept growing and amassing more projects, locally and internationally making them number one in the country, Rumor has it that the Lombardi's loan the country funds used in running some sectors of the government, that's the level of wealth they have amassed.

In all these years, a lot has happened one of which was the fact that Alessandro was engaged to Camille, how did that happen, I know right? Well it turns out that, Alessandro's grandparents and Camille and Ava's grandparents, that is, their father's parents, were old business associates and friends, and one of the times, they had promised themselves an alliance. They had promised to get their children married; it didn't work out as the both families didn't have daughters, just sons, so they passed that promise down to their grandchildren.

A meeting at one of the Lombardi family events, brought this up as Alessandro's grandmother chose him to be that child who will marry her friend's grandchild, unknown to the Lombardi's, the Castillo's have an elder daughter who should have been the one to be married to Alessandro, but since she is no longer in the picture, they kept quiet about it and that's how Camille miraculously got her wish fulfilled without even having to lift a finger.

At the Lombardi residence, while the men were talking about business, they looked at different designers' portfolio as they were looking to hire an interior designer. Camille haven won the design contest after using another means was working for the Lombardi's since she was Alessandro's fiancée, however, they needed a fresh perspective for their interiors. Alessandro came across a portfolio as he stared at the design, the furniture placement and the color pattern and then he nodded and said "I like this" his secretary looked at it as he nodded and said "I also liked this one too sir", just then Javier came in and then he said to his brother, "Sorry bro, but her manager said she is on a long vacation and she won't be working for now".

He nodded as he said "It would have been nice to work with a very famous and one of the best out there, but look at this bro, I think we have found our designer" Javier looked at it and then he smiled and said to Alessandro, "You are right bro, she's the one" then Alessandro asked his secretary to send a message accepting that candidate's application, he nodded as he took the portfolios and left the office.

After the secretary left, Camille came into the office while Alessandro and Javier were there as she smiled and walked up to her fiancée, gave him a hug and was about to kiss him when he took a step backward and asked her "What sort of insolence is this" Javier gulped and smiled a bit as he knew his brother was about to rain lava and volcanoes on Camille.

"We have been engaged for three years now and you seem to not know a thing about me" Camille was about to speak when he cut her off and said "This is a work place and not your bedroom or house where you waltz in like you own the place, you should be at your desk looking through the portfolios of the designers being the head of the design and interior department" she was about to speak again and then he sent her out of his office as he said "I think you should leave now". She felt so ashamed and then she left and went to her office.

His brother walked to him as he gave him a glass of water and laughed then he said "I mean, I know you don't like her at all and you are doing this because of grandma, but come on bro, that was cruel, I mean she missed her baby" he said teasingly as he laughed at Alessandro. Alessandro sighed as he said "I am so pissed, like, I never want to get married but if I should, then it should be with someone I choose to be with, not someone anyone chooses, I mean, she is so clingy, calling me babe and all, like I get so pissed whenever she does that".

His brother sighed as he said "I know how you feel bro, please just take it easy, I don't know why I feel like a lot will change in your life, I mean I checked your horoscope on the papers today" Alessandro looked at him as he said "Seriously, you believe in all that stuff" Javier smiled as he said "I don't have to, they are real, and from what I read, someone who will change your life is coming soon", "Well I pray that person comes soon, before I will have to marry Camille Castillo" Alessandro said as they both laughed.

At the airport, a cute little girl ran pass a young man as she was followed by her brother, then they bumped into a security guard and when he turned, he gave them a scary look then he asked where their mother is, he walked towards them which got them scared as he heard a voice, "Back off and stay away from my kids" he looked forward and saw the kids mother, and she was none other than Ava Castillo, Camille Castillo's step sister.