Page 134 of Unholy Union
I decided it was more important to rebuild from the inside out.
So I tore down the name first. Valente Luxura died with him. Sabrina and I renamed it Eterna Lux, a brand that not only speaks to the caliber of luxury imports and exports we provide, but to the longevity of what we’re creating.
Eternal. Enduring. Unified.
Not just me or her as individuals butus. She had an equal hand in shaping the new vision with me, and that was intentional.
What I build from this point forward, I build with her.
She’s been an asset in every sense of the word. I didn’t even fully realize how much she had to offer until I saw her step into her role as Head of Heritage & Acquisitions. What started as a convenient title has become something she embodies with natural ease. She curates the finest works of art, special edition books, rare antiquities, and oversees import deals that require both finesse and taste. She negotiates with dealers who respect her mind, and she signs off on acquisitions that strengthen our reputation across the globe.
It’s more than a job—for her, as a lover of literature and the arts, it’s become how she’s fused her creative spirit with a career.
And I’ve never seen her shine brighter.
Corsini Construction was trickier. Sabrina’s father wasn’t quite so generous in death as mine was. Sabrina inherited a thirty percent non-executive stake, a symbolic nod more than a meaningful one. But that’s where Argento Holdings came into play. The shell company I’d used to quietly acquire a sizableportion of Corsini stock—twenty-five percent to be exact, was enough to tip the balance in our favor.
With our combined holdings as husband and wife, we took majority control. We installed a CEO who answers to us, and rebranded the company under a new name: M&L Construction, a tribute to Mariella and Leonardo, Sabrina’s mother and brother. Two people who deserved so much more than what they got from Rinaldo Corsini.
And then there’s our marriage.
What started as war turned into a true partnership. An arranged union forged in blood and vengeance has become the most unexpected salvation of my life. She used to be the enemy, a spoiled, infuriating, sharp-tongued girl who challenged me at every turn.
But beyond that she was a loyal, courageous woman who never backed down from me, even when I tried to break her.Especiallywhen I tried.
Sabrina’s the light and color I was missing in my life but had never known I was. She’s the spark that makes every room she’s in glow brighter, and I’ve only fallen more in love with her every day that we’ve been married.
Even when she’s driving me fucking crazy, which sounds crazy in and of itself.
But every word of it is true.
I show up to Eterna Lux for my first day as CEO like I do any other day—confident and commanding with an aloof air that makes most people nervous.
I stride down the halls of the executive floor with Lazaro at my side. He’s silent, always on guard for any potential threats. The person on my other side serves as his foil.
My new assistant, Paisley, keeps pace in heels that tap against the tile. She’s rattling off my appointments for the morning.
“Call with our partners in Antwerp at ten. Supply chain update on the Geneva acquisition at eleven. Press Q&A postponed to next week. And lunch has been moved to the rooftop suite.”
I grunt in acknowledgment, offering no other input. I haven’t said much to Paisley since I hired her.
She’s a bright girl with sharp instincts and perfectionist tendencies. Then again, so was Harper. Only time will tell if Paisley is more trustworthy, or if she’ll suffer the same “unfortunate accident” as her predecessor should she betray the family and company.
The doors to the boardroom are already open. A hush settles over the gathered executives the moment I stride inside. All eyes turn to me. Some seated are guarded while others are eager, but everyone’s curious about what I’ll be like as CEO.
I take my seat at the head of the table.
Sabrina’s seated to my left, looking as poised as she is tempting. Her crimson wrap dress naturally draws the eye, cinched perfectly to her waist with a neckline that dares me not to look. Her curls are swept up off her shoulders, exposing the delicate slope of her throat.
A fucking distraction if there ever was one.
She sneaks a quick knowing glance and smile at me.
The only empty chair is Cassian’s, which doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Just as I’m about to ask where the hell he is, the door swings open and in strolls my brother looking like hell. His button-up shirt is wrinkled, his collar lopsided and hair rumpled.
He’s sporting a giant purpling bruise along his jaw that couldn’t be more of an eyesore if he tried.
