His cold voice reverberated through the room, making Olivia's stomach twist. She lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you," he commanded, each word laced with ice.
Her breath hitched. Slowly, she raised her head, only to be met with his piercing stare and a cruel smirk tugging at his lips. Fear gripped her chest, and she instinctively stepped back, shaking her head as if in a daze.
Lorenzo advanced, unbothered by her reaction, his footsteps steady, deliberate. "Olivia Whitmore… how do you think you should be punished?"
He moved closer, closing the space between them. Overwhelmed, Olivia stumbled backward, missed her footing, and fell hard onto the polished floor.
Olivia's back hit the wall as she instinctively tried to retreat, panic clouding her vision. Already on the ground, she scrambled backward, her palms sliding against the polished floor as though trying to escape an unseen predator. Gasps rippled through the room—everyone was stunned by her sudden fall.
Lorenzo stopped in his tracks, his gaze darkening. His green eyes narrowed with a murderous glint, sharp enough to pierce through her.
Olivia's chest tightened. Her breath caught. No… it can't be… this isn't real. She shook her head violently, whispering under her breath, "No… it can't be him… it can't…"
Madison and Alexandra exchanged worried looks before rushing to her side.
"Olivia, what's wrong with you? Stand up—now," Madison hissed, trying to cover for her embarrassment.
Alexandra grabbed her shoulder, shaking her with firm urgency. "Snap out of it! Now isn't the time. Do you want to get yourself fired?"
Their voices barely reached her ears. All Olivia could see was that gaze—cold, piercing, merciless. It was the same look Vincent had given her that night, three years ago, when she hid in the shadows as he slaughtered those two police officers. That same murderous glint, that same twisted smile, as if promising: Once I finish with them, you're next.
Her body trembled violently. No… his face is different. He's not Vincent… but those eyes…
Alexandra's urgent whisper cut through her daze. "Olivia! Get up and apologize before you get yourself fired!"
Madison shot her a warning glance, urging her to move.
Finally, Olivia blinked, realizing the entire room was staring at her like she had lost her mind. Shame burned her cheeks. Had she really mistaken her new boss for that monster?
She forced herself halfway up, her hands pressing against the floor for support, but her knees still trembled violently. Maybe she had been haunted by that man in her dreams for too long, until she began seeing illusions. Or… was her heart right? Was Vincent truly still alive? Olivia wondered.
Still, she couldn't shake the chill crawling down her spine when Lorenzo's cold gaze lingered on her. With Madison and Alexandra's support, Olivia finally rose from the ground.
She smoothed her clothes with trembling hands, forcing herself to stand straight. Her eyes lifted cautiously toward Lorenzo. He was already seated at the head of the table, his posture calm, his gaze unreadable—indifferent, as if her humiliation hadn't even been worth his notice.
"I… I'm sorry, sir," Olivia whispered. "I lost my composure. Please forgive my outburst."
Lorenzo didn't acknowledge her apology. His pen tapped against the table, each click echoing like a countdown. When he finally spoke, his voice was frigid.
"Who is her editor?"
The room stiffened. His assistant, a tall man standing behind him with an aloof expression, remained silent, waiting.
Alexandra stepped forward. "It's me, sir."
Lorenzo's gaze shifted to her, sharp as a blade."Good. Then you'll take responsibility. If an editor cannot manage her own subordinate, the punishment falls on you. Otherwise, everyone here will think lateness is acceptable. Tell me—am I wrong?"
"No, Mr Chairman, you are right," the staff echoed quickly, heads bowing in unison.
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed, his decision swift and merciless. His gaze dropped to Alexandra's work badge before he called her name. "Editor Alexandra, you'll be reassigned to field work, and your two months' salary will be deducted.
As for you, Miss Olivia—you'll forfeit five months' pay and stay late every day for that period. If you dare come late again, you're fired. No second chances."
He pushed back his chair and stood. The room reacted instantly—every employee jumped to their feet, bowing slightly as he strode past. His assistant followed at his side, cold and silent.
Only when Lorenzo left did the suffocating pressure in the room ease. Some employees cast Olivia and Alexandra sympathetic glances, but others smirked openly, their eyes filled with ridicule.
Olivia clenched her fists at her sides, her cheeks burning with humiliation. Yet what unsettled her most was Lorenzo's gaze—cold, piercing, suffocating. It carried the same bone-deep chill that had haunted her for three long years. Why… why does it feel like Vincent is the one looking at her? She thought.
Olivia's chest tightened with guilt the moment she realized Alexandra had been punished because of her. Why today of all days? Why did she have to wake up late today?
"Olivia!" James strode toward her, his brows furrowed. "What happened back there? And why on earth were you this late?"
Alexandra, Madison, and James all turned their eyes on her, curiosity and confusion heavy in their stares. Olivia's throat tightened. She couldn't tell them the truth. If she admitted she had mistaken their new boss for a killer from her past, they would think she had lost her mind.
Seeing her remain silent, Alexandra's voice cut through the tense air. "Olivia. My office. Now." Without waiting for her reply, Alexandra turned and strode out of the meeting room.
James and Madison lingered, still watching her expectantly.
"I'll explain later," Olivia muttered, her expression full of remorse. "But first, I need to apologize to Alexandra. She was dragged into this because of me."
Madison sighed and gave Olivia's shoulder a gentle pat before leaving. "It's not entirely your fault. No one expected our new boss to be this harsh. Just… make sure you're never late again. Still, I'm afraid you've already landed in his black book."
James gave her a look of pity. "Girl, how did you even manage this? I left the nightclub at midnight, and I still got here earlier than you."
Olivia lowered her gaze. "I don't even know myself…"
They stepped out of the meeting room together but soon parted ways in the hallway—James returning to his desk, while Olivia forced her unsteady steps toward Alexandra's office.
She knocked lightly, then pushed the door open. Alexandra sat at her desk, her head bent over a stack of documents, not sparing Olivia a single glance.
Olivia closed the door softly and sat opposite her, her heart pounding. Alexandra's silence spoke louder than words.
After thirty long minutes of silence, Alexandra finally dropped her pen and fixed Olivia with a cold stare.
"Alright. Start talking. What the hell happened out there? Why did you suddenly lose your mind?"
Olivia's lips trembled. "Don't think I'm insane—or imagining things. But… didn't you feel it? Our new boss… his smile, his eyes… they looked a little like that man."
Alexandra froze, momentarily confused. But when she caught the panic etched across Olivia's face, realization struck. Her expression hardened.
"Olivia, are you insane? They're completely different. How could you compare that gangster Vincent to our boss? The difference between them is like heaven and earth."
Alexandra froze, momentarily confused. But when she caught the panic etched across Olivia's face, realization struck. Her expression hardened. "Olivia, are you insane? They're completely different. How could you compare that gangster Vincent to our boss? The difference between them is like heaven and earth."
"I know!" Olivia insisted, her voice shaking. "But the way he looked at me… the way he smiled—it was too similar. Think about it. Vincent supposedly died three years ago, yet three years later the Moretti Mafia family suddenly appeared and rose to the top. I'm telling you, my gut is screaming—it's him!"
Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost pleading. "And another thing—how did he know my name? We've never even met before."
Olivia's hands clenched into fists as her voice rose, trembling with both fear and desperation. "I don't know how Vincent and our new boss are connected, but I feel it—they're similar. What if he had plastic surgery to change his face? What if he's been hiding all along? I'm going to find out the truth. I have to destroy him before he comes back to kill me!"
Alexandra pushed back her chair, pacing back and forth before turning sharply to face Olivia. "Olivia, you need professional help—a therapist, maybe even a psychiatrist. And you must take your medication. This obsession with Vincent is eating you alive. Drop it. I warned you yesterday you'd get yourself into trouble, and now look—you're even mistaking strangers for him!"