Chapter 2: Two: Claiming Paradise

Luo Xueli raised her chin and an eyebrow. "Father, you just now recognize me? Your own daughter?"

He took a couple steps forward, but her bodyguards closed in around her, cutting him off. "Luo Xueli, what is this? You dare go against your own family?"

"I wouldn't dare. But what I will dare to do is take the position of CEO for myself. And anyone who argues with me will face my bodyguards. They're specially trained and highly skilled. I wouldn't choose to fight them if I were you."

Luo Jiahuang roared, "Are you threatening us?!"

"You sent me off aboard so I wouldn't drag down the family name. Since I had no interest in Paradise before, I was slighted and forgotten about because of it. Now... I want what can and will be mine."

Luo Xuehe, her older but less attractive sister stood. "Meimei, calm down. I've been preparing for this for the last six years while you've been away. Just focus on your history career and let me do my job."

Luo Xueli laughed, "Hahahaha! You actually think I studied history for six years? Sure that was my passion back then, but..."

Her eyes suddenly changed as she thought about the fateful events that led her to this present day. After a silent moment, she cleared her throat and recomposed herself.

"It's not anymore. I studied Cloud and Network Infrastructure at the . I know management. I know tech. I know networking. Tell me, jiejie, am I any less than you?"

Luo Xuehe couldn't speak for a moment. For six years, the Luo family hadn't been in contact with their second daughter. They had no idea what he was doing or what she had accomplished. But the proud and domineering woman in front of them now was not the Second Young Lady they knew. No, she was a completely different person now.

"You have fifteen minutes to decide whether you'll make me CEO or whether you'll like to deal with my men instead. I will wait in the side office outside. When you've made your decision, I want President Ao to come and tell me."

Before anyone could respond, she had already turned and exited the conference room. Two of her bodyguards remained inside, blocking the doors so no one could leave. She and the other four headed to the sound-proof office on the other side of the check-in desk.

Inside, she sat down on the cool, metal desk. Luo Xueli pulled out her Android and dialed a number. Raising the phone to her ear, she waited for the call to be picked up.

Finally, there was a, "Scarlett?"

"Alessandro."

"What is it?"

She smirked and switched over to speaking Italian, "By tomorrow, I will be CEO of Paradise. Aren't you proud?"

"I wish you were here in Naples with me."

"I've been away from home long enough. But, maybe, if things are going smoothly there, you could take a small trip and come and see me?"

"Only a trip to see the woman I've bound myself to?" he asked. "Or have you forgotten our marriage vows already?"

She winced and began to placate him. "Of course not. But how am I supposed to explain to my family, my very proud and very traditional family, that I've married a laowai?"

"A what?"

"A foreigner老外, lǎowài – old foreign (is a slang for foreigner)."

"Just don't tell them yet. I'm still busy here, so I can't fly over just yet. But I will keep you updated."

"Okay. Alessandro?"

"Hmm?"

She bit her lip before saying, "Stay safe. I don't wish to have to bury my husband while still being a newlywed. I understand that you're doing what you have to, but..."

Her voice trailed off, leave a gap of silence behind. On the other end of the line, Alessandro Moretti, sighed.

"I'll see you again, Scar. If something happens, don't be afraid to use my name. Though my family doesn't have as much pull there as yours does, can the Luo family really keep you safe if my enemies come after you?"

"Why would they? Very few people know we're married."

"I know. I'm just scared of losing you."

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Luo Xueli hung her head. "I'm scared of losing you too, mio amore."

She lowered the phone and hung up. A heavy sigh slumped her shoulders. Closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose, she growled.

"Why have they not made their decision yet?" she easily slipped back into Mandarin.

"Madam, fifteen minutes will be up in thirty seconds."

After Antoine spoke, there was a knock on the door. Luo Xueli looked up, and he stepped aside. At the door, President Ao stood with a grim look on his face.

"Marco, let him in."

Marco Conti, another one of her bodyguards, nodded and held the door open.

"President Ao," Luo Xueli's voice rang out. "Have you come to a decision?"

He nodded. His lips were drawn tight.

Paradise is very close knit. Uncle Ao watched me and Xuehe grow up. He came to our family dinners often. He probably can't believe it, seeing me like this.

"Well?" she raised an eyebrow. "I don't have all day."

Through gritted teeth, Ao Jiansong敖健松, áo jiànsōng – strong and sturdy like a pine tree declared, "We have agreed to name you CEO. The news will release on Weiboa Chinese social media app tomorrow, along with a statement welcoming you home from abroad."

A smirk spread across her lips. "Good. You've made the right choice."

She stood up, hopping off the desk. "Antoine, Marco, Brandon, Ferdinand, let's go. We're done here for today."

Her four bodyguards nodded and exited the office room with her. She peeked into the conference room.

"William, Lorenzo, we're leaving."

Her eyes settled over her sister and her father. "Father, Xuehe, please don't take this to heart. I can run Paradise, don't worry. In fact, within a month, I will expand Paradise beyond China. Just watch me."

Whipping her hair, she turned and headed for the elevators. With her six bodyguards in tow, they circled her, protecting her, as they waited. Footsteps echoed behind them on the linoleum floor.

Luo Xueli turned around to see Luo Jiahuang approach. Ferdinand Costa and Brandon Windler edged closer to her. Her father's eyes gauged the Western men warily.

"Xueli, what have you gotten yourself into? Why are these laowai following you?"

She rolled her eyes and sighed exasperatedly, "They're here to help me. Don't worry about them, Father."

"Do you really think you can handle the business world? You will be swarmed with press, following by paparazzi, and criticized by the netizens. Are you prepared for that?"

As long as it doesn't kill me, I can handle anything.

"I'll be fine, Father. I know how to take care of myself."

Dismissively, she turned as the elevators dinged. Antoine and Marco stepped on, keeping the doors open for her. Just as she was about to step inside, a hand caught her wrist. With the fabric of her outfit stuck, the back and collar shifted, beginning to reveal angry scars along her spine. Luo Jiahuang's eyes widened as he gasped.

"What is this?!"

Luo Xueli quickly adjusted her clothes and cleared her throat. "It's nothing. I had an accident four years ago and some scars are left. I've already forgotten it."

She scampered into the elevator and the doors closed on her and her six bodyguards. Her eyes closed as she took a shuddering breath. Lorenzo Moretti, Alessandro's younger brother, knew everything about his sister-in-law and saw her reaction.

He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Scar, are you going to tell them what really happened?"

"No, they haven't bothered to check up on me all six years I was away. Why should I tell them now, only for them to pretend to care? Lorenzo, you and Alessandro are my family now. Paradise is mine now, and I don't care about my ties to the Luo family. I'm not a Luo anymore anyways. Luo Xueli exists solely for Paradise. But in every other regard, I am Scarlett Moretti."

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