My heels click on the tiles of the long corridor. The smell of pine fills my nose as the dark shiny wooden beams hold my interest. My black pencil skirt and jacket not long enough to shield me from the meeting I have been dreading since my Grandfather had called for me. The call came in the form of a phone call for a change and not a nuclear Armageddon. Regardless, I had to drop everything and get my ass here as soon as possible. Or my Grandfather would declare a world war 3.
I knew he was in a crappy mood when he called me himself. It was not a 'how is my granddaughter doing' type of phone call. This particular phone call was a summons.
Which meant he had reached his decision.
So to say the corridor I walked through was long, and it should be longer was not me understating it.
I get to the brown wooden door as the soldiers who stand on either side tip their heads in greeting.
I've never wanted to become the center of my Grandfather 's world. But, choice and want in the 5th state are not words often used by a woman. In my case, becoming my Grandfather 's property was the only thing that kept me alive. Almost 16-years-ago, someone gunned down my parents and eldest brother. It was all because of power.
They hit my Grandfather where it hurt, they wanted him to step down. No one cared that I was the one who was left without a parent. They never stopped and said, 'hey Camilla, sorry we killed your parents and your brother, it was business.' No one did that.
As young as I was then I hated my life, I hated my Grandfather , and I hated the people who took my family from me because they left me behind.
My resentment grew for my Grandfather as the years went by, and when he stepped down years after my parents died, I despised him even more.
Growing older and seeing the things I have seen, I don't resent the people who wanted him out of the leading position.
My Grandfather Mario Dante Moretti is a cruel man, a sadistic fuck with no soul. And I am his most precious treasure and greatest weapon in his arsenal.
I am also the closest thing to an heir he has. What he doesn't know is I am also his greatest enemy. Come an early grave or a victory to celebrate, I will end his life.
Pavlo opens the door for me, and I walk in. My tall form and power suit compared nothing to the man sitting in the black leather chair, cigar in hand, peering at me step toward him from across the room.
I am an ant, and if I am not useful, then I am an ant to be squashed. His words, not mine.
Lucky for me, I am very useful. Right now, I am the most important person to this man across from me, I call Grandfather .
"Grandfather ." I smile as I move to his side and kiss his ring before touching my mouth to his forehead.
"Camilla. My favorite."
"Your only." He smiles at the reminder as I round the old wooden desk that has seen many Moretti bloodlines over the years.
I seat my ass in the chair, I have sat many times in. And I take a cigar out of the silver tray and clip it before lighting it up, which I have done before. I hate every part of this. He makes me sick.
"You have come to a decision." I get to the point as I am aware of my Grandfather's need to not beat around the bush. Time is something we do not take for granted in our family.
He smiles at me as he takes a puff from his own cigar.
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