PROLOGUE
Niccolo Sacchetti was many things. The first word that came to mind was powerful, which was almost immediately followed by ruthless and arrogant.
Of course the women would say he was handsome and the most eligible bachelor present. Nothing wrong with that too. At six feet two inches, with a classically cut handsome face with a strong jaw line, and a body which could put Adonis to shame, Niccolo commanded attention of men and women equally.
But no one was looking at him right now. In fact the members of the board present at the meeting were taking utmost care to look anywhere and everywhere but at him. No one wanted to come in his line of fire. Heads were going to roll.
"I need an explanation. Now!", Niccolo broke the strained and uncomfortable silence with a voice so low that it had a terrifying effect.
The chief manager, Jack, took a long deep breathe, cleared his throat nervously and said, "Mr. Sacchetti, sir. We lost ten million dollars this morning. The value of our shares has decreased overnight. Somebody has been stealing from the company and I think passing information from our company to the rivals. There was no reason we should have lost the deal. The Ferrara Corporations gave their tender amounts at the last moment and it cost us the deal."
Niccolo forced himself to remain calm. Focus. He had not reached at the top of the corporate ladder and become a billionaire at the age of thirty two by losing control. He had overcome all the hardships life had tossed his way, left his past-his horrible pathetic past-behind by focusing ahead. By searching for a solution to every problem.
But right now, he was hanging by a fine thread. If he did not get answers soon, he would not be responsible for his actions. No one, but no one messed with his company. It wasn't as if he would not survive the loss. With careful damage control, he knew that even the share prices would rise back. But he was boiling with rage at the thought of someone betraying him, betraying his company. The company he had single-handedly managed to put on top.
He had worked his tail off to reach where he was now. In a place where money and blue blood were important, he had none. He did not have an impressive background. Hell!! As far as he knew he had no background. When you were poor and young, the world was out to get you. But he had survived. Pulled himself out of the dirty pit life was back then.
He was now at the top of the mountain. He moved among thecrme de le crme of the society. But still he was fiercely protective of his privacy. The press had even given him the title of "The Recluse!". Niccolo did not mind. As far as things were going on his term they could call him anything they wished. He could well imagine the field day the press would have if they came to know that Niccolo Sacchetti, the owner of Sacchetti Corporations had lived almost half his life in the orphanage. That he had moved from one foster home to another with an alarming speed. Niccolo could still clearly remember the hunger, the street fights and the poverty. But most of all he could remember his will to survive. His complete determination to leave everything behind. To reach a place where he wouldn't have to worry about hunger or wouldn't have to steal in order to buy food.
The orphanage was the only home Niccolo had known until he was ten. No! Calling it a home was wrong. As far as he was concerned, he had no home. The orphanage was a place that gave him a roof over his head. That was all.
He had hated it. Hated the feeling of being unwanted and being lonely. Hated the jealousy when prospective parents came and chose other children while he was left standing there.
"He's trouble!", they would whisper.
But most of all, he hated the hope every time there came the news that there was a possibility of another adoption.
The hope of a good home, with warm loving parents. Where you could feel loved.
Every time he had got cleaned up, put on his best clothes, and yet not been chosen. And every time his hope had died a little.
But he had learned fast.
Learned that wishing and praying and hoping was for fools. That you could just trust yourself and no one. That love did not really exist. And that wishes did not come true.
Love and hope was for fools.
So he had cleaned up his act. He had a hunger for knowledge. He got a job and his then foster parents enrolled him into classes. He absorbed everything there ever was to know. He copied the manners and the actions of the rich kids. But there was still a rawness about him that people found intimidating. That was good. It gave him an advantage over them.
He was good at finance. It came naturally to him. He had made his first million when he was twenty three. It was the result of some very good investments. And the rest, as they said, was history. Now at thirty two, he was a billionaire. And he loved what he did.
Sacchetti Corporations was his life. And someone had dared to harm it. No way was he going to let anyone play him for a fool.
Niccolo gave a hard look to everyone sitting at the table and said, "Find out who is responsible for this. I want his name on my desk in the next two hours." Saying this he left the conference room. As the door closed behind him, every one let out a collective sigh of relief.
Shiv Shakti
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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