CHAPTER 4: The Heart Within

As they both sat down and reached for their face towels, Sophie couldn’t help but think about how her own journey had brought her here. After graduating from Nosa Costra, many Mafia families had wanted Sophie to work for them. Her skills made her a valuable asset, but she chose to work for the Ivanovick family. It had felt like the right decision. Sophie got along well with Camilla, and she believed she could help her become stronger.

Sophie’s own family, the Gambinos, had been involved in human trafficking, a business she hated. She wanted no part of it, and after her parents were caught and locked up in the Nosa Costra Prison, she cut ties with them completely. There was no chance she’d ever see them again, and honestly, she didn’t want to.

One thing Rhomana Ivanovick had made clear when Sophie started working for him was to never speak about Nosa Costra to Camilla. The academy had its dark side; a secret prison for Mafia criminals and more, but Camilla didn’t know about that. Sophie understood and never mentioned it.

Even though Sophie was the best in martial arts, she knew she couldn’t teach Camilla everything. Some lessons could only be learned through experience. But for now, Sophie was determined to make sure Camilla could protect herself and live up to her family’s name.

“Alright, ready to go again?” Sophie asked, standing up and tossing her towel aside.

Camilla nodded, still tired but determined. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Sophie smiled, knowing that Camilla had the heart of a fighter. “Good. Now let’s see if you’ve been paying attention."

Rhomana Ivanovick sat in his grand office, wearing his signature white suit and red tie. He was watching his daughter, Camilla, training with Sophie on a screen that was mounted on the wall in front of him. The screen was built into a beautiful, polished wooden panel, fitting perfectly with the luxury of the room. Rhomana’s office was a testament to his power and success, with a large mahogany desk in the center, leather-bound chairs neatly placed around it, and a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a breathtaking view of Willowbrook. The city stretched out before him, like an empire he controlled.

As he watched Camilla work hard under Sophie’s guidance, Rhomana smiled. He was proud of her. She was learning fast, and one day, she would be ready to take on the challenges that came with being his daughter. With a small remote in his hand, he pressed a button and the screen went dark, satisfied with what he had seen.

Turning back to his work, Rhomana’s fingers flew across the keyboard. He was reviewing the latest financial reports for his vast empire, which included casinos, hotels, and finance businesses. The numbers were good; better than good. Every quarter, his profits grew, and he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Business was booming, and everything was running smoothly under his control. As he looked over the reports, positive thoughts filled his mind. He was thinking about how his investments were paying off, how the hotel renovations were bringing in more guests, and how his name carried weight not just in Willowbrook, but beyond.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was a firm, polite knock. Rhomana didn’t look up from his screen as he responded.

“Speak,” he said, his voice calm and commanding.

The door opened slightly, and his assistant, Marco Marino, stepped in. “Sir, we have a meeting with the hotel managers in fifteen minutes,” Marco said respectfully.

Rhomana nodded, not surprised. He had been expecting the reminder. “I’m ready,” he said, his fingers still moving quickly as he saved his work on the computer. Once everything was saved, he stood up from his chair, straightened his suit, and prepared to leave for the meeting.

Marco stepped aside as Rhomana Ivanovick approached the door, making sure to give his boss space to pass through first. It was a sign of respect, something everyone in the organization did without needing to be told. Marco waited until Rhomana had exited the office before following closely behind. He gently closed the door behind him, then continued walking a few steps behind Rhomana as they made their way to the conference room where the hotel managers were already waiting.

Rhomana walked confidently down the hallway, his footsteps calm but focused. Marco, always quiet and observant, followed at a respectful distance. When they arrived at the conference room, Rhomana opened the door himself and stepped inside.

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately as he entered. All the managers stood up from their seats, their heads slightly bowed, showing their respect for Rhomana. The room was spacious, with a long, polished wooden table at the center. Large windows let in natural light, and the walls were decorated with expensive art pieces. The managers, all wearing black suits and red ties, looked serious and professional. The women in the room wore black skirts and red blouses, matching the men’s formal attire.

Rhomana walked confidently to the head of the table. Once he reached his seat, he gave a short nod to the room. “Good morning, everyone,” he said, his voice calm but authoritative. “Please, sit.”

The managers all sat down immediately, waiting for the meeting to begin. Rhomana looked around the table, his sharp eyes studying each of them before speaking again. “Let’s get started,” he said, turning to Lucian, his chief financial officer. “Lucian, go over the financials.”

Lucian, a tall man with neatly combed hair and glasses, opened his folder and began speaking. “The numbers show steady growth across our properties. The casino is performing well, with a fifty-five percent increase in revenue this quarter. However, there’s some concern with the hotel occupancy rates in the downtown area. We’ve seen a slight drop of about three percent, and we believe it’s due to increased competition from newer hotels.”

Rhomana listened carefully, his eyes focused on Lucian as he spoke. “What’s being done to address that drop?” he asked, his tone direct but not harsh.

Lucian responded quickly. “We’re adjusting our pricing strategy and planning some renovations to stay competitive. We believe that will help turn things around in the next quarter.”

Rhomana nodded, satisfied with the answer but not fully convinced. “Make sure you keep an eye on those renovations. I don’t want any delays,” he said firmly.

Lucian nodded, “Of course, Mister Ivanovick. We’ll stay on schedule.”

Next, Rhomana turned to Sofia, who handled the hotel operations. “Sofia, give me the update on hotel occupancy and customer satisfaction.”

Sofia, a sharp and efficient woman, straightened her papers and began. “Customer satisfaction has been strong. Our luxury suites are fully booked most weekends, and we’ve had positive feedback on our customer service. But as Lucian mentioned, we’re facing some challenges with our downtown hotel. We’re exploring partnerships with local businesses to create more unique experiences for our guests, which should help improve bookings.”

Rhomana nodded thoughtfully. “Good. Keep pushing for those partnerships. We need to stay ahead of the competition.”

Finally, Vinny, who oversaw the casino operations, gave his report. “Casino revenue is up, as Lucian said. We’ve also installed several new games that are attracting attention from the younger crowd. Our VIP section is doing well, but we could bring in more high-rollers if we start offering more exclusive promotions.”

Rhomana leaned back in his chair, taking in the information. “Alright. Here’s what we need to focus on,” he said, summarizing. “Vinny, work with the marketing team to create a new promotion. Something big that will bring in more high-rollers. Sofia, I want you to focus on enhancing the customer experience. We need to be offering something unique that they can’t get anywhere else. Make it happen.”

Both Vinny and Sofia nodded, writing down notes. “Understood, Mister Ivanovick,” they both said in unison.

Rhomana stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. “Let’s keep things moving. I expect results by the next quarter,” he said with finality. The managers stood up once more as Rhomana prepared to leave the room.

The meeting was over, but the work was just beginning.

On the countryside of Willowbrook, twelve-year-old Nathan Grapes was busy working on his family’s small farm. The farm was simple, with rows of vegetables, tomatoes, and a few scattered fruit trees. The sun was shining down on the green fields, and Nathan was crouched down among the tomato plants, carefully plucking ripe, red tomatoes from the vines. He gently placed each one into a woven basket, making sure not to bruise them. The basket was slowly filling up, and he worked patiently, wiping sweat from his forehead as he went.

Nearby, his grandmother Diana was ploughing the field with an old hand plough. Even though she was getting older, her movements were steady and strong. She wore a wide-brimmed hat to protect herself from the sun, and every few minutes, she’d stop to catch her breath and check on her grandson.

“Nathan,” Diana called out, her voice firm but kind, “hurry up with those tomatoes! Your mother’s probably waiting for them at the market.”

Nathan looked up from his work, holding the nearly full basket of tomatoes. “I’m almost done, Grandma!” he replied, grabbing the last few tomatoes and putting them carefully into the basket. He stood up, dusted off his pants, and picked up the basket, balancing it in his arms.

As he started to head out of the farm, Diana called out again, reminding him, “Be careful, Nathan! Watch out for the traffic on the street, alright?”

Nathan nodded, adjusting his grip on the basket. “I will, Grandma. Don’t worry!” he said with a smile, before walking out of the farm, heading down the dirt path toward the market. The sound of birds and the wind through the trees accompanied him as he made his way, carrying the fresh tomatoes his family worked so hard to grow.