0045 - Some Things You Couldn't Ignore

Maria’s POV

I didn’t want to waste the day. Not today.

I sat up slowly from the bed, still remembering how Luca and I had made love to each other like we were the only ones left in the world. 

His scent was still on the sheets. His warmth still lingering near my skin.

As much as I wanted to stay in bed, soaked in his scent and in the memories of our time together, I needed to do some thinking.

Luca said I needed to think of a business, something I could do on my own. Not just for the sake of doing something, but because he needed it for… cleaning money. 

That part still sounded too big for me. Like something from the movies. But this was real.

I got up, tied my robe, and walked to the small desk by the window. I turned on the lamp and opened a note while scrolling through my phone.

I wasn’t even sure what to search for.

I typed in the first thing that came to my head: business ideas for women.

Endless results came in. Lists and videos. Top ten. Easy-start. Low-cost. Beginner-friendly.

Boutiques. Salons. Gift shops. Nail tech businesses. Day spas. Online courses. So many things.

I opened them one by one. Some looked fancy. Some were just too loud. Some just too much work. And some just didn’t feel like me.

Then I remembered what Luca said. He needed something that wouldn’t raise eyebrows but could still move money quietly. I typed: businesses used to clean cash. I hesitated before pressing enter, like I was doing something wrong.

More results came.

Art galleries. Car washes. Barbershops. Beauty spas. Real estate. Vending machines. Small cafés. Bodegas. Hotels.

I clicked through, reading quietly, trying to picture myself in each of those places. But none of them felt right. Some were too big. Some too risky. Some just felt like… work for someone else.

I rubbed my forehead. My eyes started to itch from the screen.

I leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling. For a while, I didn’t think about anything.

Just silence.

But then my mind drifted again. To someone familiar. Someone who’d probably laugh at me right now.

Sophia.

Of course.

I reached for my phone and dialed her number before I could overthink it. She picked up after a few rings.

“Maria?”

“Hey,” I said, smiling a little.

“Oh my God. How have you been?”

“I’m alright. Been a while, right?”

“Girl! Where have you been? You literally fell off the face of the earth again!”

“I’m sorry, I've just been… occupied with a lot of things.”

“You sound good,” she said.

“I’m okay. How’s Red Coffee?”

“Busy. Always busy. I’m basically running the whole place without you.”

I chuckled softly. “You’ll be okay.”

“I am, but I don’t like it. We miss you.”

The warmth in her voice made something small tingle in my chest. It felt good to be missed.

“So what made you call?” she asked. “You miss me too?”

“I actually need your help.”

“Okay… what's up??”

“I’m trying to start a business.”

There was silence.

Then, a gasp. “What?!” she squealed. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with Maria?”

I laughed. “I’m serious.”

“Oh, I know you’re serious. Mafia money got you dreaming now, huh?”

“Sophia, please…” I laughed. “I’m being for real.”

“Okay, okay,” she said, still giggling. “What kind of business?”

“That’s the thing… I don’t know yet.”

“So you don’t know what you want to do, but you want to start a business?”

“Exactly.”

“Maria…”

“I know how it sounds.”

“Is this your idea or his?” she asked gently.

“His,” I admitted. “But he’s letting me choose.”

She was quiet again. I could feel the change in her tone, even if she didn’t say anything yet.

“I’ve always liked art,” I said. “But I don’t know if that makes sense now. I don’t want something loud or too complicated.”

“Hmm.”

“And I was also thinking… maybe if I figure it out, you could come work with me?”

There was a long pause.

I waited.

“You don’t sound sure,” I finally said.

“I’m just thinking.”

“Thinking what?”

She didn’t answer right away.

“Sophia?”

“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” she said.

I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I’ve heard things, Maria,” she said softly. “About Luca… Luca De Rossi.”

I stayed quiet.

“Things that… I don’t know. Just make me worry about you.”

“I’m fine,” I said. But even I could hear how flat I sounded.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

I didn’t want to argue. Not with her. But I could feel the words building in me.

“You used to be the one who told me not to believe everything people say. You said they were rumours.”

“I know.”

“And now you’re believing them?”

“It’s not that. It’s just… sometimes Maria, there are some things one can't just ignore.”

I shook my head. “Sophia, I live with him. I know him.”

She didn’t say anything.

“I’ve seen his good side. I’ve seen the way he protects. The way he looks at me.”

She was quiet again, then softly said, “I just hope that’s enough.”

I felt a tightness rise in my chest. “I have to go.”

“Maria…”

“Thanks for the talk.”

“Wait, don’t hang up…”

“Bye, Sophia.”

I ended the call.

And just like that, the silence came back.

I sat there for a moment, still holding the phone.

She didn’t say anything I hadn’t already thought about myself. That was the worst part. I knew Luca was dangerous. I knew he could hurt people. But I was already in too.

I am his now.

And leaving now… would be too late.