Rome. The city of dreams, of art, of history yet for Lucien Ricci, it was merely a backdrop. A
backdrop for the empire he had spent years meticulously building from the ground up. A city where
the powerful controlled everything business, politics, and, hidden beneath it all, an underworld
few could even imagine.
As Yuna Kim stepped off the plane, the weight of the city's atmosphere settled around her. It
wasn't the first time she had visited Europe, but Rome was different. Everything about it screamed
opulence and corruption, the kind of place where money was king and secrets were the currency.
She pulled her coat tighter against the cold breeze of the airport terminal and glanced at the address
on her phone again. Ricci Global Headquarters her new assignment. The city's glittering skyline
stood in the distance, the headquarters towering among them, sleek and cold, much like the man
who controlled it all.
Yuna was not intimidated by wealth. She had grown up with money, albeit of a different kind. Her
family had been deeply entrenched in the financial systems of Seoul her father a well-known
businessman who had made his fortune through deals both legal and otherwise. But unlike Lucien
Ricci, her family never stayed hidden in the shadows. Her father was a known quantity in the
business world. Lucien? A mystery.
She didn't like mysteries.
The taxi ride to the heart of Rome gave her ample time to reflect. She had been recruited for a
purpose to clean up the mess left in the wake of Ricci Global's accounting irregularities. A job
that was supposed to be routine crunch the numbers, report the discrepancies, and leave the politics
to the powerful. But from what little she knew about Lucien Ricci; it would be anything but routine.
Ricci Global had long been a symbol of success. A conglomerate in everything from luxury goods
to tech, and everything in between. Yet the financials she'd reviewed at the airport made her
stomach churn. There were discrepancies large ones. Untraceable assets. Offshore accounts that
didn't make sense. The kind of things that would raise alarms in any other company. But no one
seemed to care. Not when Ricci Global had such a reputation for clean operations.
But someone was lying. And Yuna was here to figure out who.
As the car drove through the winding streets, she could see the Ricci Headquarters rising in the
distance an architectural marvel of glass and steel. Lucien Ricci's empire. The man who had built
this from the ground up, rumored to control not just legitimate business but the darker parts of
Europe as well.
The car stopped in front of the building, and Yuna couldn't help but stare up at it. Impressive.
Cold. Calculated. And the man who ran it was no less so.
A figure stepped out to meet her Matteo De Luca, Ricci Global's CFO. He was the face most
people saw when they talked about the company's finances. Tall, sharply dressed, with dark eyes
that assessed everything and everyone.
"Ms. Kim," Matteo said, extending a hand with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I trust
your flight was comfortable?"
Yuna took his hand with a firm grip. "It was. Thank you. I'm looking forward to working with
you."
"Of course. Right this way."
They entered the building, walking through a series of sleek, high-end hallways that screamed
wealth at every turn. But there was something more. Something in the way Matteo moved, the way
people looked at him when he passed. It wasn't just admiration for his position—it was fear. Fear
of Lucien Ricci, the ghost who moved unseen through every corner of Europe's power structure.
As they reached the top floor, Matteo turned and offered a smile. "Mr. Ricci will be expecting
you."
Yuna didn't need to be told twice. She followed him into a large, open office, walls lined with
glass that offered a panoramic view of Rome. The city sprawled beneath them like a sea of lights
and noise, yet inside the office, the air was still. Lucien Ricci stood by the window, his back to
her.
He was exactly how she had imagined a man of striking presence. Tall, with sharp features that
spoke of a lifetime of privilege and hardship. His dark hair was neatly combed, and his black suit
seemed tailored to fit his every movement. There was no warmth in his posture, no friendly
gestures. Just a man who owned the world, standing still.
"You must be Ms. Kim," his voice broke the silence. Deep, controlled, with an undercurrent of
power that made her skin prickle. "I've heard a lot about you."
Yuna stood her ground, resisting the instinct to step back. "I'm here to assist with your financial
review," she said, keeping her tone businesslike.
He turned, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a thrill through her. "I'm sure
you're here to do more than that, Ms. Kim. After all, no one is brought into my world without a
reason. But for now, we'll stick to business."
Yuna didn't flinch. "The numbers don't lie, Mr. Ricci. And someone here is lying. I intend to find
out who."
He regarded her silently for a moment, the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"You're either very brave… or very stupid."
Yuna didn't hesitate. "I just don't like being lied to." Lucien's smile deepened, and for the briefest
moment, his eyes glinted with something darker. Dangerous. Inevitable.
"I'm afraid you've already lasted longer than most," he said softly. Then, turning away, he walked
toward his desk. "I'll let you get to work. But remember, curiosity can be dangerous in my world."
Yuna watched him walk away, her thoughts racing. She wasn't here for the power games. She
wasn't here to get swept up in whatever tangled web Lucien Ricci had spun. She was here for the
truth. And she would find it.