Page 79 of The Billionaire's Destiny

“Take it out, Bella.”

My hands moved down and pulled out his cock, hard and ready, and I moaned as I put it inside of me. He moved deeper and reached up to hold my face, kissing me surprisingly tender on the lips. We gazed at each other again, and I could see his eyes shine, and my heart melted.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Gunnar stood outside the boardroom on the fifth floor of Marini Corporate. A sharp-looking team in tailored suits from Unger and Crane, LLP loomed behind him as we arrived at Marini Corporate. To my surprise, Gunnar wore a playful grin, a stark contrast to the gravity of the meeting ahead. On the other hand, what good would it do to show weakness?

I straightened my posture and shook his hand. “Hello. How are you?”

He took my hand, his grip firm despite a slight hesitation. “Not bad at all. Rocco.” He paused, and a flicker of unease crossed his face before continuing. “We have ten minutes. Do you still want to do a brief meeting?”

“I do,” he said, with a hand on my back, and we all went into a nearby office and took our seats. Gunnar pulled out his laptop and opened a file I instantly recognized as the same one Luca had sent in his farewell message.

“You copied it?” I said. But of course he did; only now it dawned on me, with heat burning my ears, how intrusive it was and how little my life had changed. I thought it would stop after the arranged marriage. That Rocco as head would have more control, but it was a fantasy.

Gunnar confirmed. “Yes, Adelina. The trust, board members, and their lawyers all received copies to prepare for today’s meeting.”

Rocco placed his hand on mine, comforting me, and I appreciated that he understood how difficult it was for me to have my life so exposed to their scrutiny. “I had to show my parents first to prepare them for what Luca recorded. However, it’s the way things are done. We have to provide complete transparency.”

I sighed heavily. “I see.

Rocco gave my hand a gentle squeeze, then turned to Gunnar. “Tell us what you have learned.”

Gunnar folded his hands on the table. “All right, let’s start with the good. Marini Corporate’s stock has surged by eight percent over the last quarter, thanks to your initiatives and leadership. It’s why Marini Trust is careful not to leak any news. They know, as we do, that shareholders care most about profit. Removing you from power would weaken public confidence, and thereby earnings, which means displeasing you could only go so far.”

I let out a slow breath. Relief washed over me. “That’s good, right?” I glanced between them.

“In some ways, yes,” Rocco said. “What else?”

“Luca was aware the new will wasn’t validated. He was also sick, so that brings about an argument that he wasn’t of sound mind—”

“That’s what I don’t want to use,” Rocco pointed out.

“Unless we’re losing,” Gunnar added. “Which also brings us to the bad for us. Luca, the board members, and the shareholders want you to return to Marini Corporate full-time. That means they’re willing to entertain restrictions on your ability to take hold as head of the family. A review committee has been thrown around to delay you from getting access to the billions or from using your money toward your studio. The child provision—”

“We’ve decided not to fight the child provision,” Rocco said. “We’re trying for a child now.”

Gummar’s eyes shifted between the two of us. “Okay, if that’s what you want to do. However, that still delays your receiving the money from the trust until after birth. I can argue today that the agreed release of money has been met. But that doesn’t help with Marini Corporate.”

Rocco hesitated for a moment, a flicker of regret in his eyes. “I’ve made a decision on that, Gunnar.” He took my hand. “I’llreturn to the head of corporate full-time,” he finally said, the weight of commitment grounded in his voice.

“No, Rocco,” I interrupted him.

He smiled wistfully. “It’s fine, Bella. It’s not the end of my dream. It means more work to get there, and sacrifices need to be made to make sure Marini Enterprises stays on top.” As he spoke, I envisioned the rolled-up blueprints he kept on a draft table in his office, which he brought to every investor meeting. The accolades he’d already received as a producer of award-winning movies. It was his next step, his big dream, and now he was willing to let it go.

“I’m devastated for you,” I said then gulped, my eyes stinging.

Rocco squeezed my hand. “Don’t give up, Bella. I haven’t. There’s no one better to step in. Luca mentored me for a reason. His death is still fresh, and our companies need a stronger transition. My dream’snotover; it’s only paused.” His faith, confidence, and unwavering spirit would carry him. However, I could see the stress and pain behind his mask. His passion was his art, and nothing about this was fair, but it wasn’t the time for it. He needed me to stand by him.

“Okay, Rocco. I’m with you.”

He leaned over and kissed my cheek.

“Well, with that news, this should be a short meeting,” Gunnar quipped. “Let me catch the team up, and we’ll go in.” Gunnar’s words were encouraging, but we all knew that anything involving money and power wouldn’t go gently.

As we entered, the room’s energy rose, and a wave of people stood up, their chairs scraping against the polished wood floor, ready to shake Rocco’s hand. The eager expressions on their faces mirrored the tide’s turn since the funeral and Rocco’s power as the leader of the Marini family and interim leader of Marini Corporate. One person was as intense as the next, pumping my hand and congratulating me on our marriage. However, my attention stayed on the two that remained reserved, Mrs. Ricci, Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Sears, Luca’s personal lawyer and chair of Marini Trust.