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00:00on my first day back running n-city's most powerful mafia empire i pressed the button for the private
00:04elevator a woman stepped in front of me are you blind it's private elevator made members and
00:10executives only cleaning crew use the freight elevator left turn i glanced at her i'm not a
00:16maintenance she didn't move an inch then you're an errand girl errand girls take the freight
00:20elevator too house rules follow them or walk i looked her over a bulky man with a thick gold
00:26chain stepped forward watch your mouth she's the boss's favorite secretary i called him on the spot
00:31and demanded an answer julian laughed near the line you mean that girl clara she's just stubborn
00:36let it go take the freight elevator it won't kill you don't embarrass her then he hung up clara smirked
00:43save the bluff move this elevator isn't for just anyone i almost laughed i shoved her aside stepped
00:49into the lift and pressed the 68th floor if the old order had rotted this far i would set it
00:55right
00:55today are you deaf you can't use this elevator the steel door slid shut inches from her hands
01:00the lift stopped at 68 i turned toward family registry directly before i reached the door
01:06someone yanked me backward you really came here this is the crown floor people like you don't belong
01:11here clara had chased me up breathing hard no one gets through that door without my say so
01:16leave now i laughed coldly funny i don't remember our house rules saying family members answer to an
01:23under dos's secretary rookies today just can't take hardship today she's trying to claim the
01:28executive elevator tomorrow she'll be after the don's chair if secretary clara says you don't pass
01:33you don't pass mr romano won't take your side exactly miss clara is always mr romano's favorite
01:39what she says goes my chest tightened julian knew i'd returned as the syndicate's donna yet still
01:45expected me to bow to his secretary clara poked my shoulder can't you hear me get out before mr romani
01:50finishes his meeting i noticed the white watch on her wrist the custom piece julian asked me to buy
01:56last month he said it was a birthday gift for his mother only 10 existed in the world i slapped
02:01her
02:01hand away and said coldly fine let julian tell me those words himself clara's smile vanished clara
02:07jabbed a finger at me how dare you call mr romano by his first name a man in mr romano's
02:12position won't
02:13meet an errand girl can meet just because she wants to i get it you came for mr romano didn't
02:19you
02:19first you made a scene over the elevator then shouted his name so everyone would notice you
02:24she circled me slowly looking me up and down i've seen dressed women like you by the dozen
02:28unfortunately no woman could tempt mr romano except me i looked at her anger climbed hard i'm here to
02:35work not compete with you over a man and that lift starting today anyone can ride it clara face flushed
02:41scarlet who the hell are you you dare overturn my rules i've been with mr romano for 10 years
02:48the private lift rule has stood for 10 years at that moment a woman in glasses came from the
02:53side of the crowd she gently tugged my sleeve please just let it go i've worked on 63rd floor
02:58for years i've always taken freight elevator 63 i paused the freight elevator lift only reaches 63
03:04how did you get up here she looked carefully at clara the stairs it's only five floors think of
03:09it as exercise don't argue with secretary clara just apologize to miss clara she'll let you off i
03:15turned to the woman since windu made members bow to a secretary the next second clara slapped her
03:21across the face know your place if you interrupt again i'll throw you out too i shoved clara away
03:26enough show some respect to a member of the family clara sneered then she raised her hand and slapped
03:32hard across the face i'm not just slapping her i'll slap you too i've had enough of you get out
03:39now i won't be so nice next time that moment registry door opened vivian head of registry she
03:45recognized me at once the newly transferred donna her face went dead white she shouted at clara
03:50mrs clara what the hell have you done clara looked at vivian coldly miss vivian has registry forgotten
03:57its duty you actually brought in trash like this let me tell you because she rode mr romano's private
04:06lift today i now have to hire people to clean it at least five grand should we deduct that from
04:12registry's budget i laughed from anger five grand for one elevator ride since when did the family start
04:19robbing its own people you laid a hand on one of our own that's a line you don't cross clara
04:24laughed
04:25around here i decide where the line is with mr romano here what can you do to me then she
04:32turned
04:32to vivian annoyed vivian she's no longer family now after today i don't want to see her in this
04:38house again take care of this before mr romano finishes his meeting vivian ignored clara she rushed
04:44over and helped steady me before she could say something clara grabbed her and yanked her aside
04:48did you not hear me she's no longer family she looked me up and down or is she one of
04:53your people
04:54no wonder she dares ignore me the surrounding people started blaming vivian vivian that's not right is
05:00it we've worked with you for years i asked you to find my son a position and you refused now
05:05you're
05:05sneaking in your own people how dare you do this under mr romano's nose exactly good thing mrs clara
05:12saw right through her that slap just now felt amazing vivian went pale and looked at me what slap
05:20have you all lost your minds how could you hit her do you know she is i raised a hand
05:26to stop her
05:26not yet i wasn't ready to reveal who i was i wanted to see just how far clara would go
05:31and i wanted to
05:31know who still belonged in this family and who didn't what is she your sister or your daughter
05:37i don't care who she is handle her now right then the conference room doors opened julian romano's
05:44meeting had ended through the crowd i saw him step out his face tight with tension clara what's wrong
05:51i could hear you from inside who's got the guts to upset my little princess mr romano just some
05:55rookie that doesn't know her place he broke the rules then threaten me who's got the guts to
06:00threaten you in my house then he saw my face his entire body locked i let out a cold laugh
06:05julian
06:06romano tell me am i the one the second julian saw me he stepped away from clara didn't i tell
06:14you to
06:14let the elevator go he forced his face calm how did this blow up into something this big everyone
06:19looked at me at once mr romano actually knows her he's still on clara's side clara's eyes went red
06:24instantly she grabbed julian's sleeve voice soft and wronged mr romano you said everyone in the
06:29house has to follow the rules i set even if you know her she doesn't get an exception besides i
06:35was
06:35only looking out for you an outsider with no clearance got into your private elevator what
06:39if she was carrying a weapon poison or a tracker julian's expression softened he turned to me oh dana
06:44she's just strict about rules i'll have her apologize let it go all right apologize clara's
06:49face darkened she shrugged off julian's hand mr romano aren't you here to stand up for me
06:53why should i apologize who the hell does she think she is i was protecting your lift what did i
06:58do wrong
06:59i gave julian a slow look your lift julian this house isn't your playground for special treatment
07:05why would you think i want her apology who said i was going to apologize you're not even formally in
07:10the house since when do our rules need your opinion julian finally noticed i was truly angry
07:15enough shut your mouth then he pulled me aside and lowered his voice audria she's just a kid
07:20don't make this bigger than it is if you make an example out of a young girl on your first
07:23day who
07:24will ever follow you after that brows tightened i shook him off julian she's writing her own house
07:28rules now and you think i'm the one overreacting that's not what i meant then my gaze cut to the
07:33watch on clara's wrist i laughed under my breath and you're defending your secretary like she's your
07:38wife flashed across julian's face he tried to explain so you finally figured it out that was new
07:44i turned she smiled like she'd already won i've been by mr romano's side for years so what now
07:49apologize and disappear oh my god clara really is mr romano's woman no wonder he spoils her i knew it
07:55some nights i came back late and saw him getting cozy in the office that's hilarious this rookie
07:58picked the wrong woman to mess with clara this is the house stop talking nonsense clara didn't notice
08:04his face she even lifted her wrist and pouted how am i talking nonsense you gave me this birthday gift
08:09two days ago if she knows why keep hiding it julian lost control are you out of your mind shut
08:15up get
08:15out come back when you've remembered your place mr romano
08:21why are you afraid of her you're the associate underbore here who dare say one word against you
08:28i smiled and turned to vivian my voice stayed calm vivian effective immediately revoke every
08:34authority delegated to julian ramassa remove him from all syndicate operations then he won't be
08:40associate underboss anymore let's see who she'll hide behind after that the hallway exploded especially
08:46clara she pointed at me who the hell do you think you are you can't remove mr romano are you
08:52out of
08:52your mind julian's face turned bloodless then he slapped clara across the face shut up didn't i tell
08:58you to shut up he walked toward me darling you have to believe me there's nothing between me and
09:06clara i laughed and stepped away from him not darling in this house it's donna audrea clara's lips
09:12trembled donna you're mr romano's wife i turned to everyone in the corridor my voice stayed even
09:19no introductions have been made i'm donna audiana the commission has appointed me to lead the
09:25corporate syndicate from today on every name in this house answers to me the corridor detonated what
09:31she's not just mr romano's wife she's the new donna so clara slapped our donna we're dead
09:37we picked the wrong side wait clara said she'd been with mr romano for years so she's the side piece
09:44god claire screwed us all clara grabbed julian's arm with trembling hands mr romano you have to help
09:50me i can't lose this job it's not all my fault if you told me who she was why would
09:55i have stopped
09:55her from taking the elevator if i told you i told you to apologize you just wouldn't shut up there
10:07is
10:07nothing between us don't even think about dragging me down the moment julian turned on her clara crumpled
10:11to the floor then she looked up at him and screamed julian romano
10:18you told me your wife was overseas if you hadn't none of this would have happened and you said i
10:22spoke for you you said nobody at headquarters would dare challenge me now you're just throwing me away
10:29did you ever think about me everyone around us sucked in a breath and all stepped back
10:33so clara knew mr romano had a wife she knew he had a wife and still got into his bed
10:39disgusting
10:39we've been sick of you forever all you ever did was throw mr romano's name around now donna
10:44audia's here let's see who saves you now only then did clara realize she'd said too much
10:48she dropped to her knees crying no i never wanted to take mrs romano's place if i'd known it was
10:54her
10:54none of this would have happened i'd heard enough even without my name or my title she had no right
10:59to treat me that way if this was what one secretary had become what was everyone else doing i turned
11:04and walked into the registry without another glance at clara vivian inside
11:11darling you
11:13julian i said it already in this house you call me donna audira whatever happened between you two
11:19can wait i raised a hand that was enough vivian understood immediately she shut the door behind
11:25us two guards immediately took the door once i sat down vivian drew in a deep breath donna i reported
11:31clara more than once but mr romano i know i cut her off with a nod pull clara's file vivian
11:37pulled
11:37up the file and turned the screen toward me i scanned the file until one line caught my eye
11:42she started in the cargo base vivian nodded cleaning outside mr romano's office three months later mr
11:48romano personally requested she be moved to the front desk six months after that she was already his
11:53private secretary that was when she started making her own house rules including the elevator one
11:57i stared at clara's promotion dates in silence especially the first jump cargo bay to front desk
12:03it happened right after julian and i got married i just suffered a miscarriage my body gave out and
12:08i spent weeks recovering at home after that julian started disappearing for nights at a time when i
12:13asked he said he was entertaining dangerous clients to build our future he wore grief so well i believed
12:17he hurt over the child too so before i had even healed i forced myself back into the field i
12:22thought
12:22if i stood again he wouldn't have to suffer so much now i knew where those nights had gone
12:25to clara then came the second promotion front desk to private secretary that was when i led my first
12:31overseas operation it was nothing more than a few dates on a screen but each one felt like another
12:36knife to my heart if clara hadn't made a scene today i would have kept believing julian that was
12:40my mistake i rubbed the bridge of my nose before looking at vivian starting today strip julian romano
12:46and clara of every position tied to this house reason abuse of authority unauthorized appointments
12:51breaking family rules and the people outside who backed clara dig into them i want every favor
12:56every payoff every name and get rid of that ridiculous elevator privilege at once donna after
13:02that i walked back into the corridor every head lowered as i walked past i went straight to the
13:06regent's office julian was waiting inside as soon as i closed the door who caught my arm darling what
13:12do i have to say to make you believe me if i had something to hide why would i let
13:16you find out
13:16on your first day i didn't answer just sat on the sofa and opened my phone julian probably thought i
13:21needed a moment to cool down darling you saw clara's file didn't you i can explain she was an orphan
13:27working the cargo bays i gave her a chance that's all before he could finish the call connected julian's
13:32mother's voice came through the speaker odria sweetheart what is it mom the white watch i sent
13:39you for your birthday a few days ago how does it fit the other side went confused what watch odrie
13:47what are you talking about i never got a watch only then did julian realize what i was doing his
13:51face
13:51drained he lunged from my phone mom you forgot i gave it to you that watch i said odria bought
13:57it for
13:57you think carefully his mother hesitated but you didn't i took the phone back with a cold smile and
14:03ended the call julian we're getting divorced julian stared at me audrey it's just a watch we've been
14:11married 10 years i lied because i knew you'd overthink it i just wanted to buy something to
14:16motivate an employee motivate i looked up at him i felt nothing but calm julian save the excuses for
14:23yourself don't take me for a fool the registry will send you removal notice this afternoon pack your
14:28things and be gone before i change my mind color moved across julian's face that's not what he
14:33expected then the shock turned to rage adria the commission voted me into this seat i've held
14:38headquarters longer than you you think you can walk in on your first day and remove me with one
14:42sentence i let out a quiet laugh what are you laughing at i opened a message thread on my phone
14:47and handed it to him julian six years ago the commission made you associate underbores because
14:52they wanted to keep me they'd already chosen me as the next regent donna before i left on my overseas
14:56missions in other words they raised you because they feared losing me i backed you because i believed you
15:02were the right man for the job i misjudged you on the screen sat my private messages with the
15:07chairman of the commission audria i knew you'd return to headquarters sooner or later six years
15:12ago i promised you this take the regent seat and julian keeps his position your ability is rare with
15:17you leading the house the syndicate will climb higher julian drew a hard breath and pushed the phone
15:21back you're lying i got here through my own ability my results are mine they weren't because of you
15:27i won't deny your ability if i did i'd be no better than you for promoting clara but julian i'm
15:31better than you
15:36do you understand now after that i lowered my eyes and reopened my work files if there's nothing else
15:42get out the divorce papers will be on your desk by this afternoon i thought he would leave instead julian
15:48backed up a few steps and stayed his face filled with bitter refusal audria the doctor said last time
15:54your body probably can't carry another child you're already in your 40s you can't give birth if you
15:59leave me who else is going to want you clara is basically cargo cleanup blood how can she compare
16:03with you she can't shake your position at all so why do you have to keep tearing at this he
16:08sounded
16:09so convinced he was right that i couldn't help laughing julian no matter how old i am i'm not the
16:13one at fault here my life isn't only marriage if you don't leave i'll have to call guards right then
16:19the office door opened from outside clara walked in
16:24she opened the syndicate's internal channel and went live audra i served this house 10 years and
16:31just because you think i'm too close to your husband you're throwing me out let's let everyone
16:36watching decide who has justice i glanced at the screen 113 authorized accounts had already joined
16:42the syndicate's internal channel capos bookkeepers crew chiefs commission observers everyone who mattered
16:48was watching the comments rolled cold and fast so the new donna's first move is firing her
16:52husband's secretary sounds like jealousy to me 10 years of loyalty wiped out just like that even
16:58adonna shouldn't be above the rules someone needs to report this to the commission she just took over
17:02headquarters and she's already purging family members who's keeping her in check she'd finally
17:07crossed the line i'd meant to end this with some dignity but clara didn't think she'd done anything
17:11wrong she had shoved my face onto the syndicate's internal channel in front of the people who counted she
17:16looked at me with smug eyes then she muted the channel audio and hissed see that if you don't want
17:21the
17:21commission stripping you on your first day restore my position and mr romano's right now you don't
17:26have any proof that there was anything between us that's definition
17:32restore your position i looked up at her she mistook my calm for fear that's right and you
17:38raised my pay by 20 call it sincerity then i'll tell the channel we talked it out and everything
17:43was a misunderstanding the syndicate's paying for it not you it doesn't cost you a thing julian stood
17:48beside her stunned for a second audria she has a point you don't want the commission watching this
17:52and questioning you do you i stay associate under lord you stay donna isn't that better
17:56well we'll be together every day from now on you won't have to worry about clara anymore first the
18:00day the commission appointed me donna they transferred five percent of the syndicate's
18:03legitimate holdings to my name so yes payroll affects me too second who told you i don't have
18:09proof you just got here what proof could you have all you have is gossip people outside were
18:14lying you believe that too i didn't bother arguing i pulled a usb drive from my pocket and plugged it
18:19into the computer then i looked straight into clara's phone and pressed play the screen flickered
18:23to life under the break room's dim yellow lights clara sat on the counter while julian stood between
18:27her knees one hand resting high enough more than enough clara finally understood she quickly turned
18:32her phone away from the monitor you how did you too late they had seen the comments shifted instantly
18:39that's mr romano clara lied to the whole house sleeping with your superior that's enough to get
18:45you thrown out of the syndicate she knew he belonged to the donna and still crossed the line
18:49she brought this on herself i backed clara five minutes ago retracting that vivian had handed me
18:54the usb drive back in the registry i'd only watched the first few seconds before i knew exactly what it
18:58was i'd planned to keep it for the divorce but clara pushed me so i showed it a little bit
19:02early
19:05no that footage is fake i didn't don't believe her no one bought it the feed died midstream a moment
19:12later a system notice appeared this broadcast has been terminated by order of the commission
19:16i pointed at the computer
19:20well i've got plenty more that was just the appetizer want me to keep going julian finally
19:27came fully awake he spun around and slapped her a heart across the face you seduced me destroyed my life
19:31now you're humiliating me in front of the whole syndicate now the commission knows neither of us
19:34gets to stay you hit me how could you you made me think i could do anything in this house
19:43this is your fault you came to me first julian romano how can you treat me like this now
19:50we didn't happen once or twice now you say i ruined you did you ever think about how you ruined
19:57me too
19:58julian's face twisted he pointed at her nose and shouted climbed over me because you wanted status
20:04what do you think you are you started in cargo cleanup what right do you have to speak to me
20:09like
20:09this something in clara snapped she lunged forward and grabbed his collar julian romano
20:14what did you say say it again they were too busy turning on each other to notice me anymore
20:20i didn't know what i felt only tired so tired it hollowed me out i sat back down picked up
20:27the
20:27office line and pressed internal security send two men to the regent's office now throw them out
20:34less than two minutes later two broad men from house security opened the door clara and julian
20:39were still tearing at each other the guard stepped in one took julian one took clara they forced
20:45them apart clara immediately struggled and screamed at me audria you have to answer for me
20:53what exactly do i need to answer for because because he cheated you didn't control him yes if you
21:03had watched your man properly how would he have ended up with me and i'm pregnant now you have to
21:07make julian take responsibility pregnant i looked at julian without thinking he was just as shocked as i
21:15was audria divorce him peacefully split the assets down the middle we all walk away clean
21:20otherwise i'll go to the commission i'll expose every dirty secret your family has
21:24a marriage doesn't fall apart because one person failed to control the other people make their own
21:30choices people live with the consequences as for the child that's between you and julian it has
21:36nothing to do with me clara tried to speak again house security had already started dragging her and
21:41julian toward the door her makeup ran from crying she fought them and screamed until her voice stretched
21:48thinner and thinner down the corridor then the office went quiet i didn't know how long passed before
21:54vivian knocked softly and came in donna come in are you all right i'm fine sit after a brief hesitation
22:04she spoke i checked the internal files just now clara didn't do this alone people inside the company
22:10protected her and profited from it everyone involved is on this list she pushed the list across the desk
22:16i took a look at the list verify every name then handle them according to house rules go after every
22:23last of them yes donna donna today was hard i shook my head the house had it harder it fed
22:32worms for too
22:33long vivian said nothing else she rose took the list back and left quietly over the next few days
22:39i moved fast showing no mercy and wasting no time everyone connected to clara's network of favors was
22:46investigated those who traded money data and protection got removed one by one trusted people
22:53from within the organization took their places fresh blood filled the empty seats i went through the
22:58syndicate's operating numbers from the beginning the rot ran deep in some divisions but it hadn't
23:04spread beyond repair i'd seen worse and fixed worse about a week later i got a call i didn't expect
23:10it was
23:11security from the estate the butler had called the police after violence broke out inside the manor
23:17someone had been injured that was when i learned julian had secretly given clara a key he had let her
23:23live in
23:23one of my estates later vivian found out what happened and came to tell me after julian lost
23:29his seat he tried to beg his way back to me so he forced clara to get an abortion but
23:34when he went to
23:35clara that day he found another man inside the apartment that man had been seeing clara in secret
23:41for a long time only then did julian understand no one could say whose child it was the three of
23:47them
23:47exploded on the spot then they started fighting the other man lost control he screamed that clara had lied to
23:53him in the chaos he grabbed a dagger from the table and attacked julian clara was badly hurt during the
23:59struggle she miscarried on the scene the noise got too loud butler called police all three were taken
24:05into custody vivian finished telling me and watched my face carefully i sat in my chair for a while
24:11truthfully i felt no rage only tired and empty like something i had carried for years had finally
24:18ended in the ugliest stupidest way possible i understand thank you for telling me donna take
24:25care of yourself when she left she closed the door behind her i sat there a moment longer then i
24:30picked
24:30up my phone and messaged my divorce lawyer pushed the dissolution forward fast i put the phone down
24:36opened my afternoon schedules there was still too much to do i still had a house to rule this page
24:41was
24:42done so i turned it my mafia ex-husband of 10 years fucked his secretary every night while i was
24:48overseas so i divorced him and threw him out of my family i thought i'd spend the rest of my
24:52life alone
24:52until one of my father's oldest allies offered his only son as my next husband the heir to one of
24:58the
24:58most powerful mafia families on the east coast here i speak for adrian and anyone who takes my private
25:03parking space gets their car totaled looks like adrian was just another julian soon enough he'd lose
25:11everything and be on his knees at my heels begging me to forgive him and just like last time six
25:17months
25:17after i divorced julian dad called me into a study he was retired now but old habit died hard he
25:22still
25:22spent most mornings drinking coffee and going through family reports he no longer needed to handle himself
25:28vincent deluca called me what about marriage i looked up dad shrugged his idea not mine i laughed
25:35good for a second i thought you were already trying to marry me off again if it were up to
25:39me you'd
25:39stay single for another 20 years now that sounded like my father i sat down and opened the file the
25:44first page held a photograph adrian deluca 35 vincent's only son and the designated heir to the deluca family
25:50i studied his picture for two seconds well at least he was my type the delucas were one of the
25:54most
25:55powerful mafia families on the east coast an alliance between our families made sense at least
25:59on paper what did you tell vincent that you're the donor now dad took another sip of coffee if he
26:06wants to marry my daughter he can ask her himself so he called me didn't he oh must have missed
26:11it you
26:11know commission business i'll call back i pulled out my phone sure enough there was a missed call i
26:16flipped through the rest of adrian's his record was impressive impressive he spent years at vincent's side
26:20and already ran most of the family's harbor operations everyone expected him to be the next
26:25dawn on paper there was nothing wrong with him then again i'd already married one man who looked perfect
26:29on paper for 10 years i learned my lesson i closed the file i'll meet him dad studied me
26:37you sure it's one meeting i'm not marrying him tonight fair and working with the delucas would benefit us
26:43i can't stop dealing with men just because julian turned out to be an
26:46that's my girl i leaned back don't get excited i only agreed to meet adrian and if i don't like
26:53him
26:54then don't marry him that's simple i'm not the one marrying old vincent's son i laughed three days
26:59later our families arranged the first official meeting noon deluca headquarters dad originally
27:04planned to come with me i shut that down immediately i'm old enough dad i think i can meet my
27:08own
27:08fiance without supervision fiance already both families have basically agreed to the match let's not pretend
27:14this is some blind date he still didn't look thrilled about letting me go alone but eventually
27:18he gave in at 10 45 that morning i left the estate without my usual convoy or guards i didn't
27:24tell
27:24vincent i was coming early our meeting was at noon i planned to arrive at 11. after julian i'd learned
27:29at least one thing trust what i saw with my own eyes adrian knew i was coming by noon of
27:34course he'd be
27:34on his best behavior that version of him meant nothing to me i wanted to see the man he was
27:39when he
27:39didn't know his future wife was watching at exactly 11 i pulled into the underground garage
27:44beneath deluca headquarters i'd chosen one of my more understated cars for the day a custom-built
27:49black luxury sedan worth well into seven figures expensive but discreet perfect for today i found
27:56open spot near the private elevator and parked hey i ignored her i'm talking to you i turned a woman
28:02in
28:02her late 20s was striding toward me in heels burgundy suits designer bag immaculate from head to toe
28:07she pointed at my car move it why you parked in my spot i glanced back at the space looks
28:13public
28:14to me everyone here knows it's mine i turned and pressed the elevator button i said move your car
28:19my expression went cold let go she released me with a sneer i'm vanessa adrian deluco's personal
28:25secretary in secretary of course another mafia man with an entitled little secretary now move it i don't
28:30take orders from secretaries never have when adrian isn't here i speak for him that made me pause that
28:34was quite a claim for a personal secretary more interestingly several people nearby had heard her
28:39not one of them looked surprised i glanced at the elevator then back at her coming an hour early was
28:44already looking like one of my better decisions last chance move it no the last trace of patience
28:50disappeared from her face get her car out of my spot she won't give us the keys then smash it
28:56i speak for adrian one of the men grabbed a heavy sledgehammer and swung it into the side of my
29:01car
29:01the hammer bounced back he froze then tried again still nothing two more men joined him after several
29:07hard swings they'd managed to leave a few shallow marks that was it finally one of them brought the
29:13hammer down on the front of the car something girl one headlight the men stopped even vanessa didn't
29:18look quite as pleased anymore i folded my arms and glanced at the damage then i looked at her finally
29:22happy now someone nearby laughed what are you laughing at she stormed toward me and raised her
29:29hand but i was faster my palm landed across her face hit the ground the entire garage went silent
29:34she sat there holding her cheek staring up at me in disbelief you you hit me i looked down at
29:40her you
29:40swung first you she scrambled to her feet shaking with rage you smashed my car then tried to attack me
29:48anything else vanessa glared at me then she pulled out her phone you're going to regret
29:52this adrian come down here please some crazy woman took my parking spot i only asked her to
30:01move her car and she hit me i almost laughed not a word about having my car smashed of course
30:06different
30:06secretary same trick less than five minutes later the elevator doors opened again a tall man stepped
30:11out with several deluca men behind him so this is adrian deluca the photo hadn't done him justice too
30:16bad he didn't even look at me vanessa he went straight to her vanessa's eyes instantly filled with tears
30:21and she threw herself into his arms adrian she covered her reddened cheek it was her adrian saw
30:26the mark on her face his expression turned cold only then did he look at me you hit her yes
30:33then
30:34apologize you don't want to know why i don't need to she's been with me for years you're a stranger
30:42in my parking spot adrian kissed her forehead then held out his hand to me keys she won't ask you
30:47twice i
30:48didn't move there are plenty of witnesses ask any one of them what happened no need no wonder vanessa
30:53thought she owned the place i glanced at the shattered headlight adrian followed my gaze she
30:58wouldn't move so i had the men handle it i'll pay for the damage now get on your knees and
31:02apologize
31:02to her he paused that's fair compared with julian at least adrian was efficient it had taken him one
31:07meeting to show me exactly what kind of man he was what are you doing making a call to whom
31:13i pulled up
31:13the number i'd missed earlier and called it back audra i thought we were meeting at noon we were
31:19i came early i looked at adrian your son has already made quite an impression where are you
31:24your garage coming down i hung up who was that don vincent de luca your father vanessa laughed
31:31don vincent you really expect us to believe that you've wasted enough of my time and if i still refuse
31:37then we'll do this the deluca way the private elevator opened vincent strode out with several
31:42senior family members dad vincent walked straight past him audria i didn't know you were already here
31:49vanessa froze adrian stared at me adrian this is donna audaria he paused your fiancee adrian's face
31:56changed instantly donna viria wasn't that hard to figure out was it he stared at me for another second
32:01why didn't you tell me i almost laughed vincent's eyes moved to my shattered headlight and the
32:05sledgehammers on the floor what happened just a misunderstanding vincent didn't even look at her
32:12i wasn't asking you vincent turned to the deluca men you tell me what happened they exchanged nervous
32:18look no one spoke if none of you can speak i see no reason for you to keep your tongues
32:22one of them
32:23finally stepped forward the spot it's public don vanessa shot him a warning look he swallowed miss
32:31vanessa told donna abia to move her car when she refused miss vanessa said she spoke for mr deluco and
32:35he hesitated again vincent's voice dropped and what
32:41she ordered us to smash the car vincent went still
32:46you did what that was enough don it's a public spot it was never assigned to her but miss vanessa
32:52always parks there so nobody dared take it she said she spoke for mr deluca she told us to smash
32:57the
32:57car don we were following orders we didn't know it was donna avita's car
33:00vincent's roar shut them up enough he turned to adrian and you've been letting her get away with this
33:06shit vincent pointed at my car she used your damn name to order my men to smash a guest's car
33:12right
33:12under my roof vincent's eyes went straight to vanessa vanessa went white dad adrian stepped in front of
33:18her move dad calm down i said move she screwed up i know but odia wasn't exactly innocent either
33:24vincent stared at him what the hell are you talking about she hit vanessa vincent finally noticed the
33:30mark so what vanessa called me after it happened that's why i came down so vanessa damaged the car
33:36odia hit her fine they both crossed the line he glanced at me i'll cover the repairs vanessa can
33:42apologize then he looked back at his father that makes us even i almost laughed even one of the deluca
33:47men suddenly spoke up miss vanessa swung first adrian turned sharply what the man swallowed she tried to
33:54hit donna odia first donna odia was just faster you knew that no did you ask a single damn person
33:59here what happened no check the cameras no vincent stared at him so you knew nothing and you still
34:04made the donna of an allied family get on her knees vanessa's been with me for years i trusted her
34:08dad enough i said i'll pay for the car vanessa can apologize what else do you want two families
34:13falling out over a parking spot we'd be a joke to everyone vincent stared at his son the anger in
34:18his face slowly giving way to disappointment how bad is the damage odia how much damage did she do
34:22vanessa pays every cent maybe that'll teach her some rules i glanced at the shattered headlight
34:26not much about 80 000 vanessa's eyes went wide 80 000 for that that's extortion dad come on
34:35she's a secretary you expect her to pay 80 grand for one headlight vincent's jaw tightened i'm not
34:40cleaning up her mess and neither will you adrian frowned but 80 000 for one headlight she's ripping
34:47me off vincent snapped toward her do you have any idea what the hell you smashed that's odia's custom
34:52armored car 80 grand for that light is cheap you should be thanking god those idiots couldn't break
34:57anything else vanessa's face went pale vincent gave her a cold look pay the 80 grand don't make me send
35:05someone to collect it from you and pray 80 000 is all your stupidity cost us today i'm afraid it's
35:11already cost you more than that i'm sorry vincent but i won't be marrying your son adrian's expression
35:16changed odia no i looked at him i came here an hour early because i wanted to know what kind
35:21of man you
35:22were when you didn't know i was watching now i know adrian's jaw tightened he looked almost annoyed
35:28our marriage was never supposed to be about feelings anyway it's an alliance between two families
35:32his tone made it sound obvious you're a donna odia you know how this works i do that seemed to
35:37reassure him good then we can put this behind us no his face tightened again i looked at him
35:43a political marriage doesn't need love adrian but it does require me to trust the man i'm marrying
35:47and you don't trust me not anymore silence adrian gave a short laugh you met me less than an hour
35:53ago
35:53it was enough his expression darkened you're overreacting i'm sorry vincent there won't be a
36:00wedding i understand dad not another word adrian fell silent vincent rubbed a hand over his face the
36:07marriage was my idea i won't force you into it then his expression grew serious but our families have
36:12worked together for years i hope that doesn't have to end with it that was different vincent had
36:16always dealt fairly with my family i respected him you're not the problem vincent but you're not
36:21the future of the deluca family either his hand stopped so did everyone else i looked at adrian
36:26he is
36:29one day everything you built will be his your ports your territory your men your seat
36:39and if that's the man i'll be dealing with i'm not tying my family's future to deluca vincent's jaw
36:46tightened he understood this wasn't about punishing adrian it was business i had spent years building my
36:52family back into something no one could threaten i wasn't going to gamble it on a future dawn i had
36:57already learned not to trust the engagement is over
37:03and so is the alliance
37:06you can't do that i just did
37:11audria
37:12do you have any idea how much business exists between our families yes then act like it adrian
37:19you don't tear up years of cooperation because you don't like how i handled one situation
37:24enough dad she's making a business decision out of a personal grudge
37:32for years i've been preparing you to take my place dad i gave you the harbor i gave you men
37:41i gave you a seat beside me and today another donna took one look at you and decided you weren't
37:48worth
37:48doing business with maybe i should listen effective immediately you are no longer my heir
38:00what the succession is open
38:04you'll earn my chair or someone else will
38:08dad i'm your only son that makes you my son
38:12not my successor no dad wait
38:18i can fix this
38:21odara
38:25don't call off the engagement
38:28ten minutes ago i was supposed to be on my knees
38:32i was wrong that was fast i'll apologize i'll do whatever you want
38:41you want me on my knees fine i'll kneel
38:47you want me to lick your shoes i'll fucking lick them please audria just tell me what you want
38:56just don't end this
38:58i almost admired the speed apparently losing a fiance meant very little losing the deluca throne was
39:04another matter too bad i don't want anything from you
39:10there has to be something adrian stared at me then his eyes moved past me to vanessa she had been
39:16standing silently beside him pale and shaken
39:21you
39:25adrian you're done here what
39:29pack your things and get out
39:32adrian wait i said you're done here
39:38she will be gone
39:42she'll never work for me again she won't be allowed on deluca property
39:49is that what you wanted
39:52what the hell are you doing
39:56audria i made a mistake trusting her i see that now
39:59do you yes
40:01adrian
40:03don't touch me
40:05half an hour ago he had been holding her against his chest now he looked at her like she was
40:10something
40:10stuck to his shoe you heard my father look what you fucking cost me
40:15i cost you
40:18if you hadn't started this
40:20none of this would have happened
40:23you were the one who enough
40:26get out
40:27so that's it
40:29don't make a scene
40:30a scene
40:33you were ready to make donna audina real for me half an hour ago
40:38Vanessa
40:38you kissed me in front of everyone
40:41shut up
40:42that made vincent's eyes narrow
40:44vanessa saw it too
40:45and suddenly
40:46she smiled
40:47it wasn't a pleasant smile
40:49oh
40:51vanessa
40:52now you're embarrassed
40:53i said shut up
40:56why
40:58i'm only your secretary right
41:01that's exactly what you are
41:06just your secretary
41:08then why the hell have you been
41:09fucking me for six months every chance you got
41:15that's exactly what you have to do
41:16vanessa
41:20six months
41:20so the rumors were true
41:22vincent's head snapped toward the voice
41:23rumors
41:24silence
41:25his eyes swept over the deluca men
41:27no one would meet them
41:29of course there were rumors
41:31half of the family knew we were sleeping together
41:35half my family
41:37dad we can talk about this upstairs
41:39answer me
41:43everyone knew except me
41:44it wasn't like that
41:46really
41:46then tell him what it was like
41:48enough
41:49tell him what you told me every time this marriage came up
41:57vanessa don't
42:00why not
42:03he said he was only marrying you for the alliance
42:05shut the fuck up
42:08he said he said you were 44
42:11divorced
42:14vanessa
42:15and you couldn't even give the delucas an heir
42:17that one sounded familiar julian had said the same thing once
42:21i looked at adrian so i'd been right about him from the start just another julian
42:26he said if it weren't for the alliance he'd never marry a woman like you
42:29i looked at adrian a few minutes ago he had been begging me to go through with the wedding
42:34now i knew what he really thought of his future wife
42:38she's fucking lost it she'll say anything to hurt me now
42:42lost it me you said the wedding wouldn't change us
42:48you said you'd marry her take the alliance and i'd still be the woman in your bed
42:53adrian
42:56tell me she's lying
42:59you let me propose this marriage
43:01dad you let me put the deluca name behind it while you were
43:04fuck your secretary
43:05the whole time i was arranging this marriage
43:09we weren't married yet
43:15that's your answer
43:18i i didn't mean and my men knew adrian fell silent vincent looked around the garage
43:22one by one people lowered their eyes that seemed to hurt his pride more than anything else
43:27dad
43:33dad
43:34the garage erupted several men caught him before his head hit the floor
43:38someone shouted for the doctor another ran for the elevator
43:42dad dad look at me
43:44vanessa stood a few feet away completely white i checked the time 11 47 a.m not even time for
43:51our scheduled meeting yet but it looked like i was already done here i left before noon after that
43:57i never saw adrian deluca again but news had a way of reaching me vincent survived the collapse
44:04but his health never fully recovered adrian tried more than once to see me
44:08flowers gifts messages through mutual allies once he even waited outside my estate for an entire
44:14night i sent everything back i had already wasted 10 years on one man who learned regret too late
44:20i wasn't wasting another day on a second then a few weeks later i heard vanessa was pregnant
44:25that changed everything she returned to the delucas almost immediately after all adrian was vincent's
44:32only son and if the baby was his vanessa was carrying the next generation of deluca blood
44:37adrian saw the child as his last chance if he could give the delucas an heir maybe vincent would
44:42reconsider but vincent never restored adrian's position after hearing this vincent's health only
44:48got worse he died several months later i attended his funeral whatever his son had become vincent had
44:55always treated me and my family with respect he deserved the same from me adrian tried to approach
45:01me there i walked past him vincent had died without naming a new heir and with adrian already stripped
45:07of his position the deluca family began tearing itself apart almost immediately within a year the
45:14deluca empire vincent had spent his life building barely resembled what it had been adrian had been born
45:20into everything now there was almost nothing left for him to inherit still he had vanessa and supposedly
45:28his child until the dna test came back the baby wasn't his i actually laughed when i heard apparently
45:35vanessa had also been sleeping with an ex during her affair with adrian she never knew which man had
45:41gotten her pregnant but adrian had been the deluca heir so naturally she had picked the more useful
45:47father adrian lost whatever was left of his mind the two turned on each other after that the story
45:53became messy i stopped paying attention months later someone mentioned over dinner that adrian and vanessa
45:58had both died in the same incident i never asked for the details by then neither of them mattered to
46:04me
46:04adrian had once had everything waiting for him his father deluca empire the title of heir a marriage
46:11that would have joined two powerful families an alliance that could have lasted decades even the child
46:17he thought would save him in the end he lost all of it as for me i went home back
46:22to my family back to
46:24the chair i had earned for myself tad never suggested another marriage after that at least not for a while
46:31and i didn't mind i had already learned something from total failed men a woman like me never needed
46:37a husband to stand beside her any man who wanted that place would have to prove he deserved it first