"Like the sun, you sear my vision, yet like the moon, you are its delight."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two hours past midnight. Rome.
The masked man approached cautiously, his steps deliberate and measured. He was clad in black from head to toe, his eyes scanning the empty space—a dark alley where drunks usually loitered—until he spotted him.
Alejandro was standing under a broken lamppost, smoking a cigarette, his eyes fixed on the approaching figure. The man took out a tiny box and placed it in Alejandro's hand, who nodded and gestured for him to leave immediately. Seconds later, the two were gone, and the alley returned to its quietude...
.
.
......
At the Serrani Castle, the elder grandsons sat in their private meeting room, awaiting the boss who had summoned them to an urgent gathering at this late hour. Their faces were blank, each absorbed in their own activity.
Racina applied cream to her face. Moreno had been sitting for fifteen minutes, staring at the water bottle in front of him. Helen was polishing her pistol, enjoying the gleam of it. And Antonio paced endlessly around the table.
"If you don't stop pacing, I swear I'll make you spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair!" Helen broke the oppressive silence, addressing Antonio, who had made her dizzy.
"Well, aren't you all a little curious about this sudden meeting?" Antonio asked.
"Your question will be answered in a few minutes. Be patient," Racina said, applying compresses under her eyes.
Silence fell again... but only seconds later, Alejandro entered. Everyone stood respectfully. He gestured for them to sit, then sat down himself.
"Well, I know I woke you up. I hope it didn't affect your skin, Racina."
"Don't worry, boss, I do my skincare regularly."
He smiled, took a small box from his pocket, and opened it in front of them. This caught the attention of the four of them as they waited for Alejandro to continue... He took out a small chip and inserted it into the computer, revealing numerous files, designs, and a wealth of information...
"Well, our next task won't be as difficult as I expected after obtaining this..." He looked at them for a moment, then continued, "This chip I obtained contains all the information and designs pertaining to Larsen's new project, which he will launch in a week... and which has certainly threatened our monopoly on the technology market for years..."
"What is his project?" Moreno asked.
"A smart watch with GPS and many other features..."
"Okay, what's the plan?" Antonio asked.
"Since we don't have much time, we'll only make one copy and display it the night before the date he set, then we'll have time to produce more..."
"The single copy we announce will be a guarantee and proof to the world that we are the original owners, so any fake copies of it won't harm us," Racina added.
Moreno laughed. "It will be a devastating blow to Larsen..."
"This is just the beginning," said Helen, staring at the clock information on the computer...
.............
Larsen Company
"Coffee Señorita?"
Alfredo entered Celia's office carrying a cup of iced coffee he had made himself.
"This is exactly what I need,"
Celia said, looking up from her computer and shaking her neck, feeling it tense.
"How's work treating you?"
"Don't ask, Alfredo. I can't wait until we announce the project and all this is over," she said, taking a sip of her iced coffee.
"Oh my god, it's wonderful."
Alfredo shrugged with feigned arrogance.
"I know. It's my own recipe... and a secret one."
"I think Rodolfo would be grateful if you shared it with him; he'd turn it into a global brand."
"My company is too big to sell his disgusting recipe,"
Rodolfo said as he entered the office.
"Our company*" Alfredo corrected, but Rodolfo ignored him.
"Celia, cancel my appointments for this evening and arrange a meeting with Mr. Leonardo."
Celia nodded. Rodolfo glanced at Alfredo before leaving. "I think your office is across the street, so go work on our company* project," Rodolfo said, emphasizing the word. Then he left.
Celia burst out laughing, looking at Alfredo's face, who had been roasted in the style of an intellectual.
"Shut up, that's not funny, okay?"
"Sorry, I don't know what it's like to have an older brother..."
"I'm your brother, Celia!"
"We're the same age! Anyway... Now leave me alone to finish working on your company* project,"
Celia said, emphasizing the word in Rodolfo's manner.
This made Alfredo stand up angrily.
"I'll make sure you learn how to speak to your boss, you bad employee!"
Celia stuck her tongue out. "It's a good thing you're a junior manager, otherwise the company would have gone bankrupt and closed years ago. "
she said, just as he slammed the door in her face, wiping away tears of laughter.
...
midnight..
They say that what one grows up with, one grows old with.
Is it really true that even growing older and maturing won't rid us of some of the habits we loved in our childhood?
Well, there are degrees of love..
But when it turns into obsession..
there is nothing in the world that will change that trait in a person..
A trait that has been ingrained in his soul and has become a part of him...
Rodolfo prepared to go out, wearing a long black coat and a hat that hid his features...
Heading towards an old shop in a deserted alley where the old man sold books...
and something else...
The small bell hanging by the shop door rang as it opened, catching the old man's attention.
"I knew you'd come,"
Rodolfo smiled.
"I hope you have what I'm looking for."
He took off his hat and went inside, but stopped when the old man's words surprised him..
"Unfortunately, you're late."
"What do you mean?"
"The card sold out."
A frown formed on Rodolfo's forehead.
Was this a challenge?
Who dared compete with him in collecting cards ?..
The old man's voice snapped him out of his thoughts again.
"She went that way."
He pointed to the left of the shop..
Rodolfo rushed out as the shopkeeper shook his head.
"Good luck."
Rodolfo's steps quickened after he spotted a woman at the end of the alley.
"You! Stop!"
When the woman heard his voice, she started running as fast as she could.
"Damn it!"
Rodolfo cursed under his breath and gave chase.
It was only a matter of seconds before his prey was in his hands..
pointing a knife at him with that trembling hand.
"Shame on you!"
He looked at her mockingly, then his expression fell when he realized on her...
"What? the party ghost? Have you become my ghost now?..."
Yes... It's her...
Celia..
or
Marie...
She looked at him with her blue eyes.
She is now certain that there is a curse that makes this creature always find her.
"Impossible.."
"No, it's impossible with me Marie.."
" Why are you following me?"
"Why did you take my card?"
they both said at the same time..
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
She raised her eyebrow too.
"Do you have a deed to it? These are the rules: first come, first served.."
"Damn it..."
Rodolfo clenched his fist tightly.
She's right... He's late...
"How much do you want?"
"Your whole collection..."
A mocking smile escaped him.
"You don't mean what you say...
" I mean it literally..."
" This is impossible..."
He replied in a darker tone.
"Then the exchange is impossible..."
She turned to leave.
"Wait... Can I see it?"
She smiled and replied, looking defiantly into his eyes...
" In return..."
" Damn it... What do you want... "
"Why are you collecting the cards..."
Her question made him fall silent for a few seconds...
"It takes me back to a beautiful time..."
He replied in a faint voice,.
almost a whisper...
She took them out of her pocket...
The card was divided in two, one half a sun joined to the other half a moon..
These words were engraved on the bottom: "Find him?"
Rodolfo read them aloud, pondering their meaning.
Mary quickly snatched it from his hand.
" The old man said it was the lost card."
She winked at him and turned to leave, while he remained standing, repeating those words: "Find him."
watching her leave until she disappeared completely.
...
Celia finally arrived home..
Well, because of that madman,
she had to take several different and long routes to get there so as not to be discovered if Rodolfo decided to follow her.
She opened the door with quiet steps..
careful not to make any noise that might wake her parents..
They would have a heart attack if they found out!
for sure.
But the important thing was that she had the card..
She sat down on tiptoe, entered her room, and closed the door..
She leaned against it comfortably, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She placed her hand on her heart and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself..
She stared at the card again and read that phrase, which had become a mystery to be solved..
"Find Him!" ...
but who is it?!!
..
.
.
.
.
.
...........
༺༽End of chapter ༼༻
The game is becoming increasingly mysterious and exciting.
What is the secret of the card?
And who was the spy who leaked the project information to Serani?
What is the good old time associated with it?
Tell me what you think; it encourages me to continue.