Chapter 45: Meeting With The Goldsmith

Chapter 45:

Anna’s eyes flew wide, not believing what she was hearing. Was there a reason to? It’s not like it was true.

Was it okay to care that he was getting married to this chirpy woman? Why did it feel like a heavy stone had been placed on her chest? If this was true, she should’ve heard of it sooner, not now, right?

Did Leone know about this? Her lids twitched as she stared at the girl who kept rambling about it. If it was true and Leone knew, wouldn’t they have said something when they met each other in the lobby?

Plus, Leone would’ve told her. He would.

“I’ve never been to Italy before. You don’t mind showing me around when I come, do you?” Erica asked, waking Anna from her trail of thoughts.

Except the place was her bedroom, Anna pretty much didn’t know anywhere else in Italy as she was cooped up in that mansion day and night.

Her eyes trailed up to Erica’s neck to see the golden chain dangling on it. Anna mustered a small smile. “That’s a beautiful chain, Erica. I’m sure it must be from the best and the most exquisite goldsmiths here.”

Erica tipped her chin, taking each and every bit of the compliment. “Of course, the best in the country, and he isn’t so far from here. My chains are worth almost a billion dollars, made by the best.”

Anna’s brows arched. This was good—he wasn’t far from here. If he makes and sells gold, he would definitely be into buying gold too.

Anna dug her nails in her palm. “We should go together sometime. I would love to go shopping with you to pick the best neck chain suitable for the wedding.” The words barely crawled out of her throat, yet it left a bitter taste.

Erica nodded gingerly. “Yes, of course,” she smiled. “You should see my collection of jewelries. The one you’re wearing is really tacky compared to it.”

Erica continued rambling, and Anna could barely stop herself from rolling her eyes. Although the girl annoyed her to no end, she was more than glad she was able to get the required information she needed. Now all she needed was Leone’s consent to go with her.

Thankfully, Leone came to get her, and Anna bid Erica goodbye before following Leone out of the building. When they got to where he parked the car, he opened the passenger door for her, and Anna hesitated a bit before getting in.

With Leone now driving them back to the hotel, Anna thought about confronting him about what Erica said. It would be a lie if she said it didn’t bother her; the very thought of it made her eyes twitch.

She played with her fingers nervously, contemplating whether to ask him or not. “I would love to spend time with Erica. We would be going to the goldsmith to pick some jewelries for her,” Anna spoke softly.

Leone’s eyes remained fixed on the road ahead. “Last I checked, you found her rather irksome. What changed?”

Anna’s eyes widened at how quick he noticed that. Her heart raced in her chest; sudden cold hit her, forming goosebumps on her skin at the very thought of him seeing through her lies.

She was here secretly planning her escape plan, but did she ever think the person she was trying to escape from was Leone? Could she escape from him? It was better to try and fail than to not try at all.

Dread closed her features at the very thought of failing—the punishment she would receive. Her blood ran cold at the mere thought of incurring the Don’s fury on herself.

“I just want to be around with a female… person,”

she trailed, her eyes fixed out the window.

“All right then.”

Anna’s eyes flew wide. He agrees? Her lids lit up in excitement. “I also need a phone too.” Anna stared at him to see his eyes already fixed on her, and Leone nodded to her earlier question.

Anna was sure this was her lucky day, but mere luck couldn’t save her from Leone. She wondered why he was being… nice.

Anna had been anxious about the thought that Leone might press for answers, considering their earlier conversation, but he was probably too tied up with his upcoming wedding to care about that.

Again, her heart ached for reasons she couldn’t comprehend, but it wouldn’t matter though. She would be long gone soon, somewhere far from him.

………..

Anna stood next to Erica as she chatted with the goldsmith himself in the luxurious shop. They sat at the VIP section of the rooms, and Anna was certain that Erica frequently visited this place.

Although Leone had allowed her to come with Erica, he had made sure his guards came with her.

Her eyes fell on the goldsmith who stared at Erica with a wide grin. In fact, all the workers were especially nice to them.

“Ma’am, allow my manager to show you our best collections,” the goldsmith and owner of the place, Hercules, said to Erica.

Erica gingerly nodded and followed the manager, while Anna stayed behind.

“Is there something you want us to tailor to your taste?” Hercules asked her, his eyes raking her to quickly figure she came from a wealthy background herself.

“Yes,” Anna nodded, bringing out her gold jewelries from her bag. There were just five of them. “I want to sell these.”

Hercules motioned for her to place them on the table so he could take a look at them. He rubbed his chin calculatively. “It’s quality,” he nodded. “I’ll buy them all for 30 million dollars. Nothing more.”

Anna didn’t need a second more before she nodded in agreement.

He ran his hands around the jewelries. “Are you sure you want to sell all of them?”

Anna stared at them wordlessly for a minute, and Hercules presumed her silence as a ‘yes’. He was about to pack them up when Anna stopped him.

“Wait,” her voice sharp. She picked up the necklace Leone had gotten for her. “All except this.”