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Mr. Ricco's voice rang out sternly, his presence casting a commanding air across the corridor.
"I want to see you in my office. Now," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
"Yes, Sir," the director replied swiftly, immediately falling in step behind him and following him into the office.
Once inside, Mr. Ricco turned to face the director, his gaze sharp.
"Who was the lady in the meeting room today? The one who doesn't belong to our company?"
"She is Miss Emilia, Sir," the director replied, keeping his voice steady. "She was sent by Mr. Albero, the head of the Design Department in Ethan's Group."
Mr. Ricco gave a curt nod. "Very well. You may leave."
As the door closed behind the director, Ricco picked up the phone and pressed a button on his desk.
"Ronald, come to my office."
Moments later, the door opened, and a young man stepped in, wearing a casual grin that contrasted sharply with the formal setting.
"Yes, Ricco?"
Ronald was the only one in the entire company who addressed Mr. Ricco by his first name. He was more than just an assistant - he was Ricco's confidant and closest friend.
Ricco leaned back in his chair, a rare, contemplative look softening his usual stoic expression.
"Tell me, Ronald... How does a man make a woman fall in love with him?"
Ronald blinked in surprise, then let out a laugh. "Is this really happening? Has our stone-hearted Prince Charming finally met his Princess?"
Ricco's brow arched slightly, unimpressed. "If you want your bonus slashed in half, keep talking."
Ronald raised both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! I take it back. But you have to admit, this is new. You've never asked me anything like this before. So... who is she?"
Ricco narrowed his eyes. "Why do you want to know?"
Ronald chuckled. "Can't I at least know who my future sister-in-law might be?"
"No, you can't," Ricco replied flatly, though a trace of amusement flickered in his eyes.
Ronald grinned wider. "Fine. Keep your secrets. But if you need romantic advice, I'm your guy."
Ricco stood and faced toward the window, watching the heavy rain cascade down. "There's a new design project I want to submit to the design department. I'll send you the details tonight. Make sure it's prioritized."
"Understood, Ricco. I'll handle it personally."
Later that evening, the city was drenched in rain. Streets glistened under the glow of streetlights, and people rushed for shelter as thunder rumbled overhead.
Ricco, seated in the backseat of his black car, signaled his driver to slow down. Something - or rather, someone - had caught his eye.
There, under the narrow overhang of a closed café, stood Emilia. Her figure was barely sheltered from the relentless downpour, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her hair damp from the storm.
Without hesitation, Ricco opened the car door and stepped out, pulling an umbrella from the trunk. He walked toward her, each step deliberate, his shoes splashing lightly against the wet pavement.
But just as he neared her, a man approached from the opposite side. Ricco halted, his brows drawing together as the man reached Emilia and greeted her.
Emilia looked up, momentarily startled, then offered a polite smile. Ricco couldn't hear what they were saying, but something in the way her eyes shifted told him this was unexpected. The man seemed familiar, perhaps an acquaintance, though Ricco wasn't certain.
He stood a few paces away, unsure whether to interrupt. His hand tightened slightly on the umbrella's handle.
At that moment, Ricco realized just how much she had begun to occupy his thoughts. It wasn't just admiration or curiosity anymore. There was a pull - something deeper, something undeniable.
Ronald's words echoed in his mind: "Has our stone-hearted Prince Charming finally met his Princess?"
Maybe he had.
But for now, he waited, a silent figure in the rain, watching and listening, as his heart made space for something - for someone.