The Temporary Wife: Luca and Valentina's Story
Catharina Maura
Chapter One
Luca
There’s a bead of sweat forming on the forehead of the man sitting in front of me, despite the chilly temperature in my office. I should put him out of his misery, but instead, I continue to stare him down.
“I… the fund… we… we’re so grateful for your continued investment,” he stammers.
As he should be. Between my family and all of our clients, we’ve got billions invested throughout the world, a far from insignificant portion of it in his firm.
“I never said I’d continue investing in you.” My voice is firm, devoid of any kindness despite my best attempts to insert some.
He starts to tap his foot, and I watch as that bead of sweat runs down his face, his breathing accelerating by the second.
“A-are you not satisfied by our performance? Our share price increased by twenty percent this year.”
My executive secretary, Valentina, walks in right at that moment, her timing as perfect as it always is. I’ve had my office checked numerous times to ensure that she does not, in fact, have a listening device in here. My security team even triple checked that our phone system doesn’t allow her to listen in either. I don’t know how she does it, but she’s always there before I even have a chance to ask for her.
I look up at her and take in the stoic expression on her beautiful face. They call her The Ice Queen behind her back, and it’s not hard to see why. Despite her obvious beauty, she’s cold as ice. I’ve witnessed her orchestrate the downfall of more than one famous company, and she does it without an ounce of compassion. She’s as devoid of emotion as I am, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Valentina places a folder in front of Jackson Smithson and smiles politely as she moves to stand beside my desk. I’ve always hated that smile of hers. There’s nothing overtly wrong with it, and it doesn’t exactly look fake, but it still rubs me the wrong way.
She looks into my eyes for a moment before placing a copy in front of me, too. My gaze drops to the pink sticky note on top of the stack of documents, and I grimace. It simply reads R&D. There’s no further context, but then again, when it’s her, that’s all I really need.
I glance up at her in mild irritation. She knows I hate the color pink, and I’m certain all of her stationery is pink just to spite me. It is, no doubt, her way of paying me back for the torment I’ve put her through in the last couple of years.
Valentina has gotten on my nerves from the second my grandmother appointed her as my personal assistant eight years ago. I’ve done all I can to get rid of her, but she’s always a step ahead of me. We’ve been locked in an endless war, and no matter what I do, I’m always on the losing end.
I tip my head toward the document on my desk. “Your share price increased by twenty percent, but your company’s profit tanked this year. Care to explain?”
Jackson’s chest expands as he breathes in deeply, almost as though he’s bracing himself for the verbal battle we’re about to engage in. How perfectly adorable.
“That would be because we chose to invest heavily into research and development this year. We’re creating some products that will revolutionize the finance industry as you know it.”
I smile at him. “The whole industry? Really?” That’s the best he could do? If nothing else, he should’ve chosen an emerging investment vehicle that falls outside of my area of expertise.
He nods vehemently, the gaze that is meant to look reassuring reeking of desperation instead. Valentina’s gorgeous warm hazel eyes meet mine, and she smiles yet again, irritating me even further as she places another sheet of paper in front of Jackson. It never made sense to me that a woman as cold as she is was blessed with such beautiful warm eyes.
“The R&D figures in your annual report were lower than they were last year,” she says, her voice soft and sweet, and oh so fucking deceptive. “I’m not sure I understand,” she adds hesitantly.
He turns to her like she’s a fucking lifeline, not knowing she’s a shark in her own right. Poor guy. I wonder if he’ll drown in his own shit before she shreds him to pieces.
“Oh, that’s because the R&D isn’t on this year’s report,” he says, his eyes wide with panic. “But it will be in our upcoming quarterly report.”
Valentina’s eyes widen innocently, and I bite back a smile. “But… if that’s the case, then how come the upcoming R&D investment isn’t in your retained earnings in this report? How are you funding your research?”
I turn toward Valentina and nod thoughtfully. “I wonder,” I murmur. “Do you have any theories, Valentina?”
She nods and looks into my eyes. “I’m no expert, but I’m somewhat worried that there is no money to invest in the R&D he’s speaking of — not unless we invest it in him. The inflated share price is caused by their dimwit of a CEO who continues to make outlandish social media statements in an obvious attempt at market manipulation. There’s no substance, and there will be a market correction when they fail to follow through on their infeasible theories.”
She’s a vicious fucking beast wrapped in the sexiest body I’ve ever laid eyes on. I lean back in my seat as I enjoy the show. I might despise Valentina, but she’s my right hand for a reason.