CHAPTER 29: – YOU BE CAREFUL WITH ME –

"What do you mean?" Viviana asked.

Everyone’s attention had been grabbed at this point.

"You forgot to add, sir." Giancarlo rattled his chair back and stood up. "For someone who was once CEO, you lack a lot of manners. That’s not nice now, Viviana Di-grassi."

Her name rolled out of his tongue, very emphasized as if to provoke her.

"What?"

He grinned at her. "You were supposed to say, ’Here is your coffee, sir.’ Ain’t that right, guys?"

Some snickered in agreement with him. While the rest looked away, not wanting to involve themselves in any of this. Even if she had been stripped of her initial title, this woman was still the heir of Vizera Luxe, the only legitimate daughter of Amadeo Di-grassi, who was, of course, the big boss.

Only an idiot would go finding trouble with her.

Dawn balled her fists against her work desk. She knew Giancarlo was about to—

"Do you have some sort of issue with me?" Viviana asked suddenly. "It appears you do. However, I’m unsure why."

Gin’s expression dropped. "Very bold of you to assume I’d have a problem with a woman like you."

"Meaning?"

He sneered in disdain, responding, "A whore who’d crashed her own wedding with her boy toy. Hm."

A condescending laugh fled his throat.

Viviana was, however, unfazed by his provoking words. After all, only an idiot would fail to realize he was intentionally trying to get a rise out of her.

She took a deep breath. "Well, if that is all, I’ll kindly take my leave—"

"Now, now, wait." Gin picked up the cup of coffee. "I haven’t tasted this crap you made."

"I made it just like you asked." She looked at him.

"We’ll see."

Gin took a sip, and all of a sudden, he grunted before spitting on the floor. His expression was twisted as if it was the worst thing he’d ever tasted.

"Disgusting!" He spat again. "You can’t even make a simple coffee."

Viviana blew out an easy breath. Was this some sort of joke? "Listen, that coffee—"

He splashed the liquid on her body.

Everyone gasped.

Gin dropped the mug on the floor and it shattered into pieces.

Dawn slapped a palm over her mouth. Gin was a trouble maker, but to go this far? Stripped of her title or not, this was the Lady Di-grassi!

Throwing coffee on her? Was he asking for a death sentence?

"Gin!" His friend Andre stormed over, deeply bowing to Viviana with an apologetic smile. "Boss, we’re very sorry for this. He’s—"

"Boss?"

Laughter chorused out of Gin, but it was tight, almost forced.

"She’s no longer relevant in this company, not after what she’s done. Why are you—"

"Have you lost your mind?" Andre shot back. "This is the chairman’s daughter!"

Viviana adjusted the coffee-soaked ocean blue coloured dress she had on. She said with a smile, "I’ll take my leave now, if this is all."

She didn’t stick around for a response as she was well aware that she was on her last straw, turning to leave. But then!

"Like mother, like daughter."

And, that did it.

Viviana snapped to a stop immediately. She slowly twisted her head to look over her shoulder, questioning, "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," Gin taunted provocatively. "Like mother, like daughter. You think everyone doesn’t know she’s stuck in the hospital, literally mental?"

At his last word, she spun on her heels and began to storm back toward him.

But even so, Ginacarlo showed no signs of stopping. Instead he sneered, mocking, "The poor chairman. Can’t believe he dealt with your mental mother and now has to deal with a daughter like—"

She gripped a good chunk of his hair and slammed his head into the cold table without warning.

The sound of it vibrated through the entire room.

Everywhere was immediately enveloped in a stunned silence.

Andre froze, and so did the other workers.

"How dare you?"

SMACK!

"Utter my mother?!"

SMACK!

"How. Dare. You?!"

SMACK!

"You have no right to speak of her!"

SMACK!

"If you dare to speak of my ma one more time—" Viviana shouted, pummeling his face over and over again into the desk. "—I will make you regret it!"

Her shoulders were quivering frantically in heavy breathing.

Some of the workers who’d snapped out of their daze rushed over and grabbed her by the arms to stop her.

"Boss! Boss! You have to stop."

Viviana shoved them off. She turned to shoot them a withering glare with rage-filled eyes, warning, "Don’t you ever touch me again."

She breathed out shakily and leveled the idiot who was now unconscious on the floor with an angered look. "You be careful with me." She stormed off toward the restroom, her heels loud against the floor.

The workers all glanced at each other with a stupified look.

How could such a composed, always poised woman lose her cool like this as if she’d gone crazy? They’d never seen her this way. Not even once.

Viviana slammed the door, rattling it shut. She tramped over to the mirror and stared at herself, at the blood on her hand.

Her face twisted.

She was pissed. ’There are only two days left. Only two!’

Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

Drawing in heavy breaths, she washed her hands and pulled it out, ignoring the coffee stain spreading across her dress.

— The Hospital —

’Huh? Why are they calling? Has something gone wrong?’

Answering quickly, she stuttered, "H-hello?"

[Am I speaking with Viviana Di-grassi?]

"Yes."

[Could you come to the hospital right now? Your mother is in a very concerning condition, and we’d like to speak to you regarding a few changes that have been made]

A wave of nausea hit her. "B-bad condition?"

[Yes. Please, if you could be here in thirty minutes, that would be—]

Viviana hung up and dashed out of the restroom. She sprinted across the office toward the elevator, but someone caught her arm before she could step inside.

It was Serena.

"Where do you think you’re going? You’re staying till five p.m., and there’s still an hour before five. So—"

"Take your hand off me, Serena!"

It was unclear what Serena saw in her eyes, but she let go, frowning as she took a step back.

Viviana reached the last floor, hurried out, and rushed to the car. Pulling onto the road, she sped away, her trembling hands wrapped around the steering wheel.

What could have happened?

When she arrived at the hospital, she quickened her way inside and stopped at the receptionist desk.

"My mother." She was breathing heavily. "Where is my mother?"

"Lady Di-grassi?" A nurse quickly approached her. "Please come with me."