The Lost Ricci: Heir Back from the Dead

Chapter 4: Power Shifts

Leonardo Greco stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse office, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth. The city sprawled beneath him like a kingdom he'd conquered through ambition and ruthlessness, but right now, none of it felt like enough.

"That pathetic worm," he muttered, his reflection showing eyes burning with disgust. "Two years. You were married to that worthless piece of trash for two years."

Behind him, Giulia reclined on the leather sofa, examining her emerald engagement ring with the detached interest of someone appraising a moderately interesting painting. She'd changed into one of Leonardo's shirts—an intimate gesture that usually pleased him. Tonight, it only reminded him that she'd once worn another man's clothes.

"Leo, darling," Giulia's voice was smooth as silk, practiced in the art of manipulation. "You're being dramatic. Dante was nothing. A mistake I made when I was a silly girl, carried away by fake looks and empty promises."

"A mistake that lasted two years," Leonardo snapped, spinning to face her. "You shared a bed with him. You—"

"I shared a bed with a ghost." Giulia stood gracefully, moving toward him with calculated steps. "Dante Moretti was never really there, Leo. He was just... a placeholder. A warm body while I figured out what I really wanted." She pressed against him, her hands sliding up his chest. "And what I wanted was you. Power. Success. Everything that wretched guy could never give me."

Her fingers worked at his tie, loosening it with expert precision. Leonardo felt his anger softening despite himself. Giulia had this effect on him—this infuriating ability to dissolve his rage with a touch, a look, a whispered promise.

"You're sure the baby is mine?" he asked, his voice rough.

Giulia's smile never wavered. "Of course. I always made sure Dante used protection. You're the only man I've been careless with." She kissed his jaw, his neck. "The only man I wanted to bind myself to permanently."

It was a lie. Leonardo suspected it was a lie. But in that moment, with her pressed against him and his body responding despite his doubts, he chose to believe it.

His phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the spell. Leonardo pulled away, straightening his shirt as he checked the notification. His expression shifted from frustrated to calculating in an instant.

"The contract," he breathed, his eyes scanning the email. "Giulia, the contract with Apex Crown Holdings—it's almost finalized. Just needs Ryan Ricci's signature once he officially takes over."

"The real estate company?" Giulia moved to the bar, pouring herself sparkling water. "That's huge, isn't it?"

"Huge?" Leonardo laughed, the sound sharp with triumph. "It'll elevate Golden Fingers from fourth-tier to third-tier status. We'll be playing with the big corporations, baby. Everything changes after this."

Giulia's phone rang, interrupting his celebration. She glanced at the screen. "It's Roberto. My lawyer." She answered, her voice becoming crisp and businesslike. "Yes?"

Leonardo watched as she listened, her expression remaining perfectly neutral. Years in high society had taught her to mask every emotion, to reveal only what served her purposes.

"Excellent," Giulia said finally. "And his belongings? ... His friend collected them? Perfect. Send me the finalization documents." She ended the call, turning to Leonardo with a satisfied smile. "It's done. The divorce is finalized. Dante Moretti is officially out of my life."

"Good riddance to pathetic trash," Leonardo muttered, pulling her close. "Now you're mine. Legally, permanently."

"Legally," Giulia agreed, her tone suggesting she found the concept of legal marriage somewhat amusing. "Though we both know legal documents are just paper. What matters is power."

Leonardo's phone buzzed again—a news alert this time. He glanced at it absently, then froze, his eyes widening.

"What is it?" Giulia asked, noting his expression.

"Breaking news." Leonardo's voice was stunned. He turned the phone so she could see the headline: "RICCI HEIR FOUND: Ryan Ricci Returns After 25-Year Disappearance."

Giulia leaned in, reading quickly. The article featured a grainy photo—clearly taken by paparazzi through a window—of a young man being escorted into the Ricci mansion by security. The caption identified him as Ryan Ricci, the long-lost son of Pietro Ricci, founder and former CEO of Apex Crown Holdings.

"They actually found him," Giulia murmured, genuinely surprised. "The Ricci family has been searching for decades. I thought he was dead."

"Apparently not." Leonardo's mind was already racing, calculating angles and opportunities. "This changes everything."

"How?"

Leonardo began pacing, his earlier anger forgotten in the face of this new development. "Selena Ricci rejected our proposal three times. Called Golden Fingers 'beneath Apex Crown's standards.' The woman has ice in her veins and standards so high even God wouldn't qualify." He stopped, a slow smile spreading across his face. "But this Ryan? He's been missing for twenty-five years. Who knows where he's been, what he's been doing? He'll be overwhelmed, confused, desperate for allies in a world he doesn't understand."

"You think you can manipulate him," Giulia said, understanding immediately.

"I think he might have better taste than his uptight sister," Leonardo corrected. "I think a man who's suddenly thrust into billions of dollars might appreciate someone with experience guiding him. Someone who can help him navigate high society, make the right connections." His smile turned predatory. "Someone who can ensure certain contracts get signed without all of Selena's irritating moral objections."

Giulia moved to the window, her reflection overlaying the city lights. "It's risky. If the Ricci family finds out you're trying to influence him—"

"Then we'll be subtle." Leonardo joined her, his hand possessive on her waist. "You're good at subtle, aren't you, darling?"

She didn't answer, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. After a moment, she asked, "Do you ever regret it? Choosing me over... stability?"

Leonardo's expression darkened. It was a question she'd asked before, always at odd moments, as if testing him. "What kind of question is that?"

"An honest one." Giulia turned to face him, her blue eyes unreadable. "You could have married someone from your circle. Someone whose past wasn't complicated. Someone who didn't come with baggage."

Leonardo studied her, this beautiful, calculating woman who'd walked into his life eighteen months ago and turned everything upside down. He remembered that first meeting—she'd shown up at Golden Fingers without an appointment, demanding to see him with such audacity that his secretary hadn't known whether to call security or admire her nerve.

"I'm Giulia Bronson," she'd announced, standing in his office doorway like she owned the place. "And I have a proposition for you."

"I don't take meetings without appointments," he'd said, not looking up from his computer.

"You'll take this one." Her voice had been pure confidence. "Because I'm offering you something no one else will. Myself. One night. In exchange for one request."

That had gotten his attention. He'd looked up, seen her standing there in a designer dress that probably cost more than his secretary's monthly salary, and felt something shift in his chest. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. She had ambition burning in her eyes, a hunger that matched his own.

They'd made love that same night, in his office, against the very window he now stood before. And when morning came, she'd made her request: "Help me divorce my husband. Quietly, efficiently, brutally."

He'd done it. More than that—he'd fallen for her, though he'd never admitted it aloud. She'd become part of his heart in ways he didn't fully understand, this cold, ambitious woman who treated love like a business transaction.

"I don't regret choosing you," Leonardo said finally, pulling her closer. "I was willing to lose everything for you."

It was almost true. He conveniently didn't mention Amanda—his mistress who still lived in the east wing of his mansion, who still warmed his bed when Giulia was "too tired" or "not in the mood." Some secrets were better kept buried.

"Good," Giulia said, her lips curving into a satisfied smile. "Because we're about to gamble everything on this pregnancy, this contract, this new life."

"The baby," Leonardo said carefully. "You're absolutely certain—"

"It's yours," Giulia interrupted, her voice sharp. "Stop asking, Leo. The doubt is unbecoming."

But doubt lingered in Leonardo's mind like smoke. The timing was suspicious—Giulia had announced the pregnancy mere weeks after he'd agreed to divorce proceedings. Convenient timing. Perfect timing. Almost too perfect.

If the child was Dante's... Leonardo pushed the thought away. It didn't matter. By the time anyone could question paternity, he'd have the Apex Crown contract signed, sealed, and generating millions. And Giulia would be too deeply embedded in his life to extract without destroying them both.

"Come to bed," Giulia said, heading toward the bedroom. "Tomorrow we start positioning ourselves for Ryan Ricci. I assume you'll want to make contact?"

"Soon," Leonardo agreed, following her. "But carefully. We can't appear desperate."