Beneath The Ashes - Chapter 17: Chapter 17
You are reading Beneath The Ashes, Chapter 17: Chapter 17. Read more chapters of Beneath The Ashes.
The mirror in my room reflected a girl who barely recognized herself. I'd chosen a soft pink dress that flared slightly at the waist, paired with white flats. My hair fell in loose waves over my shoulders, and the tiniest hint of gloss shone on my lips. Simple, but pretty. Still, I smoothed the fabric nervously, chewing on my bottom lip.
Taking a deep breath, I headed downstairs. The sound of my footsteps echoed through the hallway, and as I reached the last step, five pairs of eyes snapped toward me.
"Damn, Sunshine," Zayn whistled lowly, a grin stretching across his face. "Trying to give the angels a run for their money?"
"Cute," Vale added, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed. "Didn't think you could get more adorable, but here we are."
Massimo's eyes softened as he gave me a once-over. "You look gorgeous, Love."
Jaxon shrugged. "Umm maybe Could've tried harder," he muttered, though the corners of his mouth twitched.
Declan said nothing, but I caught the faintest nod of approval, and that was enough. My heart did a little flip as warmth spread through me.
"Ready to go?" Massimo asked, gesturing toward the door.
I nodded eagerly. "Where are we going first?"
"Our offices," Massimo replied as we stepped outside. "Vitalo Co. It's where we handle most of the business deals and day-to-day operations."
The sun hit my face as I stepped onto the driveway, squinting against the light. As usual, there were sleek black cars parked out front and guards in crisp suits standing at attention. The sight still made me nervous, though I was getting used to it.
I slid into the backseat, squeezed between Vale and Zayn. As the car pulled away, I stared out the window, trying to imagine what their offices would be like.
When we arrived, my mouth nearly fell open. The building was massive — all glass and steel, gleaming in the sunlight. The facade was curved in beautiful waves that looked magnificent.
The entrance had high arching doors, and as we stepped inside, the cool air hit my face. The floors were polished marble, and everything smelled faintly of expensive cologne and fresh coffee.
Behind the reception desk, in elegant silver letters, were the words: Vitalo Co.
"Wow," I breathed, craning my neck to take it all in.
Zayn chuckled beside me. "Impressed?"
I turned to him. "You could say that."
Massimo led the way past the reception, and as we walked through the halls, I couldn't help but notice how everyone straightened a little when they saw the boys. People nodded respectfully, whispering to each other as we passed.
"They're staring," I whispered to Vale.
He grinned. "Of course they are. We're the bosses."
I blinked at him. "All of you?"
Vale shrugged. "Technically Massimo is the big boss, but we all have our roles."
Massimo pushed open a set of double doors, revealing a large, open-concept office. Glass partitions separated workspaces, and a massive conference table stretched along one side of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, and the view was breathtaking.
"This is where the magic happens," Massimo said, his tone almost teasing.
Zayn nudged me. "Want to see how things work?"
I nodded eagerly. For the next hour, they showed me everything.
Massimo explained how they handled negotiations and acquisitions. Declan walked me through their security systems. Jaxon showed me their logistics operations, and
Zayn — ever the showman — said he will teach me how to make a business call sound like I owned the place.
Finally, we stopped in front of a large mahogany desk. Zayn leaned casually against the edge, arms folded across his chest, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He looked completely at home here — like the office belonged to him, and everyone else was just lucky to breathe his air.
"Alright, Sunshine," he drawled, gesturing to the leather chair behind the desk. "Take a seat."
I blinked at him. "Me?"
"No, the invisible person behind you. Yes, you." He arched a brow, waiting.
Swallowing my nerves, I eased into the chair.
Zayn strolled around the desk and perched on the edge, drumming his fingers against the polished surface. "Okay, first lesson: confidence." He tapped a finger against my forehead.
"It starts here. You could be making a call about buying paperclips, but if you sound like you're running a multi-billion-dollar empire, people will believe you."
I snorted. "Paperclips?"
"Hey, supply chains are important." He winked. "Now, pick up the phone."
I hesitated, then slowly reached for the receiver. It felt heavier than I expected. "What am I supposed to say?"
Zayn leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Imagine you're in charge. You're not just some girl making a call — you're Ivy Vit—Bright, sister of the Vitalo brothers, calling the shots at Vitalo Co. Own it."
I swallowed, gripping the phone a little tighter. "Okay... but what do I actually say?"
He gave me an exaggerated sigh, then straightened, clearing his throat. Suddenly, his entire demeanor shifted. His playful smirk faded, and his expression turned sharp, commanding. When he spoke, his voice was smooth and controlled, each word dripping with authority.
"Vitalo Co.," he said, his tone effortlessly professional. "This is Zayn Vitalo. How can I assist you?"
I stared at him. "Wow."
"See?" He grinned, the playful sparkle returning to his eyes. "Easy."
"Right," I muttered. "Easy."
I took a deep breath, then pressed the phone to my ear, my fingers trembling slightly against the buttons. Zayn watched me expectantly.
Clearing my throat, I tried to channel the same confidence he had. "Vitalo Co.," I said, my voice a little shaky. "This is Ivy Bright. How can I assist you?"
Zayn immediately burst into laughter. I scowled, slamming the receiver down. "What?"
"Sunshine, you sound like you're about to apologize for existing." He slid into the chair beside me, his arm draping over the backrest as he leaned closer.
"Try again. But this time... own it." His voice dropped lower, each word slow and deliberate. "Don't ask. Command."
I took another breath, Confidence. I could do that. Probably.
I picked up the phone again, letting my fingers curl tightly around the receiver. I closed my eyes, picturing Zayn's easy smirk, the way he carried himself like the world bent to his will. I could do that. I just had to believe it.
When I spoke, my voice was steadier. "Vitalo Co.," I said, a little firmer this time. "This is Ivy Bright. How can I assist you?"
Zayn clapped his hands together, grinning like I'd just solved world hunger. "That's what I'm talking about!"
I set the phone down, cheeks flushing. "It still felt weird."
"Confidence feels weird at first." Zayn shrugged, nudging my shoulder. "But you nailed it." He gave me an exaggerated wink. "I'd hire you."
I laughed, the tension easing from my shoulders. "Thanks."
He leaned closer, voice low. "Stick with us, Sunshine. You'll be running this place in no time."
All while this was happening, others were casually standing at the door as if this was the most entertaining scene they have ever seen.
By the time we left, my head was spinning. As we walked back to the car, my stomach growled loudly. Vale laughed.
"Someone's hungry."
I blushed. "A little."
"Perfect timing," Massimo said. "Let's get some food."
We drove across the city to a modern building with a glowing sign that read Lunaire. The restaurant was stunning — dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the waitstaff moved smoothly between tables, balancing trays of dishes that smelled absolutely divine.
The second we walked in, heads turned. Whispers filled the room. One waiter nearly dropped his tray when Massimo passed by.
"Do you guys own this place too?" I asked.
"Yep," Zayn said proudly. "Best food in the city."
The hostess led us to a private table in the back, away from prying eyes. As I slid into my seat, I picked up the menu — and immediately froze.
There were no prices.
Panic prickled at the back of my neck. I knew this place was expensive. The kind of place where the portions were small, but the bill could make you cry.
"I... uh..." I swallowed. "There aren't any prices."
Massimo raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"So... how do I know what's not crazy expensive?"
Zayn chuckled. "Sunshine, owning a restaurant means free food for life." He winked. "Perks of being a Vitalo."
I shifted in my seat. "But you're the ones paying for everything anyway. Doesn't that mean it's technically still your money?"
Jaxon snorted. "She's got a point."
Massimo rolled his eyes. "Order whatever you want."
I hesitated, then settled on a plate of pasta that sounded delicious. The food was everything Zayn promised — rich, flavorful, and absolutely perfect. As we ate, the boys kept the conversation light, teasing each other and making me laugh until my sides hurt.
When the meal was over, Massimo slipped a stack of bills into the waiter's hand. My eyes widened.
"wow ...That's... a lot."
Massimo shrugged. "They work hard."
"I wish I had you as my customer when I was working at cafe" I mumbled
Thankfully nobody heard me
As we stepped out into the night, I couldn't help but smile. Today had been... amazing. like I understood them a little better.
Taking a deep breath, I headed downstairs. The sound of my footsteps echoed through the hallway, and as I reached the last step, five pairs of eyes snapped toward me.
"Damn, Sunshine," Zayn whistled lowly, a grin stretching across his face. "Trying to give the angels a run for their money?"
"Cute," Vale added, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed. "Didn't think you could get more adorable, but here we are."
Massimo's eyes softened as he gave me a once-over. "You look gorgeous, Love."
Jaxon shrugged. "Umm maybe Could've tried harder," he muttered, though the corners of his mouth twitched.
Declan said nothing, but I caught the faintest nod of approval, and that was enough. My heart did a little flip as warmth spread through me.
"Ready to go?" Massimo asked, gesturing toward the door.
I nodded eagerly. "Where are we going first?"
"Our offices," Massimo replied as we stepped outside. "Vitalo Co. It's where we handle most of the business deals and day-to-day operations."
The sun hit my face as I stepped onto the driveway, squinting against the light. As usual, there were sleek black cars parked out front and guards in crisp suits standing at attention. The sight still made me nervous, though I was getting used to it.
I slid into the backseat, squeezed between Vale and Zayn. As the car pulled away, I stared out the window, trying to imagine what their offices would be like.
When we arrived, my mouth nearly fell open. The building was massive — all glass and steel, gleaming in the sunlight. The facade was curved in beautiful waves that looked magnificent.
The entrance had high arching doors, and as we stepped inside, the cool air hit my face. The floors were polished marble, and everything smelled faintly of expensive cologne and fresh coffee.
Behind the reception desk, in elegant silver letters, were the words: Vitalo Co.
"Wow," I breathed, craning my neck to take it all in.
Zayn chuckled beside me. "Impressed?"
I turned to him. "You could say that."
Massimo led the way past the reception, and as we walked through the halls, I couldn't help but notice how everyone straightened a little when they saw the boys. People nodded respectfully, whispering to each other as we passed.
"They're staring," I whispered to Vale.
He grinned. "Of course they are. We're the bosses."
I blinked at him. "All of you?"
Vale shrugged. "Technically Massimo is the big boss, but we all have our roles."
Massimo pushed open a set of double doors, revealing a large, open-concept office. Glass partitions separated workspaces, and a massive conference table stretched along one side of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, and the view was breathtaking.
"This is where the magic happens," Massimo said, his tone almost teasing.
Zayn nudged me. "Want to see how things work?"
I nodded eagerly. For the next hour, they showed me everything.
Massimo explained how they handled negotiations and acquisitions. Declan walked me through their security systems. Jaxon showed me their logistics operations, and
Zayn — ever the showman — said he will teach me how to make a business call sound like I owned the place.
Finally, we stopped in front of a large mahogany desk. Zayn leaned casually against the edge, arms folded across his chest, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He looked completely at home here — like the office belonged to him, and everyone else was just lucky to breathe his air.
"Alright, Sunshine," he drawled, gesturing to the leather chair behind the desk. "Take a seat."
I blinked at him. "Me?"
"No, the invisible person behind you. Yes, you." He arched a brow, waiting.
Swallowing my nerves, I eased into the chair.
Zayn strolled around the desk and perched on the edge, drumming his fingers against the polished surface. "Okay, first lesson: confidence." He tapped a finger against my forehead.
"It starts here. You could be making a call about buying paperclips, but if you sound like you're running a multi-billion-dollar empire, people will believe you."
I snorted. "Paperclips?"
"Hey, supply chains are important." He winked. "Now, pick up the phone."
I hesitated, then slowly reached for the receiver. It felt heavier than I expected. "What am I supposed to say?"
Zayn leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Imagine you're in charge. You're not just some girl making a call — you're Ivy Vit—Bright, sister of the Vitalo brothers, calling the shots at Vitalo Co. Own it."
I swallowed, gripping the phone a little tighter. "Okay... but what do I actually say?"
He gave me an exaggerated sigh, then straightened, clearing his throat. Suddenly, his entire demeanor shifted. His playful smirk faded, and his expression turned sharp, commanding. When he spoke, his voice was smooth and controlled, each word dripping with authority.
"Vitalo Co.," he said, his tone effortlessly professional. "This is Zayn Vitalo. How can I assist you?"
I stared at him. "Wow."
"See?" He grinned, the playful sparkle returning to his eyes. "Easy."
"Right," I muttered. "Easy."
I took a deep breath, then pressed the phone to my ear, my fingers trembling slightly against the buttons. Zayn watched me expectantly.
Clearing my throat, I tried to channel the same confidence he had. "Vitalo Co.," I said, my voice a little shaky. "This is Ivy Bright. How can I assist you?"
Zayn immediately burst into laughter. I scowled, slamming the receiver down. "What?"
"Sunshine, you sound like you're about to apologize for existing." He slid into the chair beside me, his arm draping over the backrest as he leaned closer.
"Try again. But this time... own it." His voice dropped lower, each word slow and deliberate. "Don't ask. Command."
I took another breath, Confidence. I could do that. Probably.
I picked up the phone again, letting my fingers curl tightly around the receiver. I closed my eyes, picturing Zayn's easy smirk, the way he carried himself like the world bent to his will. I could do that. I just had to believe it.
When I spoke, my voice was steadier. "Vitalo Co.," I said, a little firmer this time. "This is Ivy Bright. How can I assist you?"
Zayn clapped his hands together, grinning like I'd just solved world hunger. "That's what I'm talking about!"
I set the phone down, cheeks flushing. "It still felt weird."
"Confidence feels weird at first." Zayn shrugged, nudging my shoulder. "But you nailed it." He gave me an exaggerated wink. "I'd hire you."
I laughed, the tension easing from my shoulders. "Thanks."
He leaned closer, voice low. "Stick with us, Sunshine. You'll be running this place in no time."
All while this was happening, others were casually standing at the door as if this was the most entertaining scene they have ever seen.
By the time we left, my head was spinning. As we walked back to the car, my stomach growled loudly. Vale laughed.
"Someone's hungry."
I blushed. "A little."
"Perfect timing," Massimo said. "Let's get some food."
We drove across the city to a modern building with a glowing sign that read Lunaire. The restaurant was stunning — dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the waitstaff moved smoothly between tables, balancing trays of dishes that smelled absolutely divine.
The second we walked in, heads turned. Whispers filled the room. One waiter nearly dropped his tray when Massimo passed by.
"Do you guys own this place too?" I asked.
"Yep," Zayn said proudly. "Best food in the city."
The hostess led us to a private table in the back, away from prying eyes. As I slid into my seat, I picked up the menu — and immediately froze.
There were no prices.
Panic prickled at the back of my neck. I knew this place was expensive. The kind of place where the portions were small, but the bill could make you cry.
"I... uh..." I swallowed. "There aren't any prices."
Massimo raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"So... how do I know what's not crazy expensive?"
Zayn chuckled. "Sunshine, owning a restaurant means free food for life." He winked. "Perks of being a Vitalo."
I shifted in my seat. "But you're the ones paying for everything anyway. Doesn't that mean it's technically still your money?"
Jaxon snorted. "She's got a point."
Massimo rolled his eyes. "Order whatever you want."
I hesitated, then settled on a plate of pasta that sounded delicious. The food was everything Zayn promised — rich, flavorful, and absolutely perfect. As we ate, the boys kept the conversation light, teasing each other and making me laugh until my sides hurt.
When the meal was over, Massimo slipped a stack of bills into the waiter's hand. My eyes widened.
"wow ...That's... a lot."
Massimo shrugged. "They work hard."
"I wish I had you as my customer when I was working at cafe" I mumbled
Thankfully nobody heard me
As we stepped out into the night, I couldn't help but smile. Today had been... amazing. like I understood them a little better.
End of Beneath The Ashes Chapter 17. Continue reading Chapter 18 or return to Beneath The Ashes book page.