CHAPTER TWO

Vittoria’s POV

I froze, my fingers clenched even tighter. Francesco Russo was my father's name, he knew who I was.

Or did he?

I tried my best to maintain my composure. “The name sounds familiar,” I started. “I think I saw it on the news, he's dead right?”

He nodded slowly, still watching me. “Yes, he’s dead.”

I remembered the day his body was pulled out of the river, my Mammà was so devastated. Some members of the Lombardi Mafia were there that day, watching.

I had hoped none of them would recognize me but it seemed like I had been deceiving myself.

“Okay, miss Balotelli,” he finally said. “You can go.”

I took my file from him, my hands shaking as I stood up and walked out of the office.

The moment I was out I let out a breath, for a moment I thought he had caught on to who I was but he let me go.

I don't think he would have let me go if he knew who I really was.

I walked out of the building and hailed a taxi back home.

I looked out the car window, my hands placed on my chest. “That was close” I said to myself.

Do you know a man called Francesco Russo?

Why did he ask me that? Did he already know who I was or was he just suspecting?

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough,” I murmured. There was no way he'll give me a job as his assistant if he knew who I was or even let me live.

The moment I got home, I lay down on my bed and let out a breath, it was a long day.

Two days later

It was almost noon, I was seated at my desk typing away at my laptop, trying to beat my deadline.

Mammà came in with a plate of cookies and dropped it on my desk.

“Grazie,” I said, putting one of them in my mouth.

“Carà mia…” my mother started and I turned towards her, “Sí, mamma.”

“Did signore palazzo say anything else…that may suggest that he knew who you were,” she asked, wringing her hands together.

“Mamma,” I said slowly. “I told you he didn't know who I was, maybe Papa had mentioned my name before.”

“Okay, that's possible.” She said, nodding her head.

“Don't worry ma, it'll be fine. Besides, I don't think I'll be getting the job anyway.”

“I hope not,” She said sharply and walked away.

I wish I hadn't told her about my Interview with Mr Palazzo, it made her so worried and she kept analyzing and reanalyzing it, looking for signs that he knew who I was.

But he didn't know, the fact that I was alive was enough proof. He wouldn't keep me alive knowing that I would want to avenge my father.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the work in front of me.

But then my phone buzzed.

I picked it up, frowning at the notification. An email? From Lombardi enterprises?

My stomach churned as I opened it.

Dear Miss vittoria Balotelli,

We are please to inform you that you have been selected as Mr palazzo's new assistant.

Please report to the office tomorrow at 8am

I stared at the screen for a while, not quite believing what I was reading.

They gave me the job. I would be working with Mr Palazzo which means I'll also be working with Ricardo Lombardi.

This was my chance.

A mix of emotions surged through me– joy, fear and excitement. All at once.

I was going to bring down the Lombardi empire.

I closed my laptop and leaned back in my chair remembering the way he looked at me. What if he knew?

Well I would just have to be careful then.

“Tomorrow,” I whispered to myself. Tomorrow I will enter Ricardo Lombardi's world.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring. I groaned, staring at the ceiling in silence.

Today was the day. My first day at Lombardi enterprises.

The thought alone pumped adrenaline through me and I sat up immediately, jumped down from the bed and rushed to the bathroom.

I spent a longer time in the shower than I usually do because I kept thinking. What was the plan? I had planned to get a job and infiltrate the Lombardi empire but that was it, I had no idea of what I would do once I got in.

“You've got this,” I whispered to myself.

After the shower, I dressed in a plain white blouse and a black pencil skirt. I tied my hair back in a ponytail and put on some makeup.

The taxi ride was fast and I got to the office before 8am. I looked up at the towering glass building.

The sign of Lombardi enterprises was bold in front of it. My heart raced as I walked inside and greeted the receptionist.

“I'm the new assistant,” I told her and she smiled politely. “Mr Palazzo is expecting you,” she said, gesturing towards the elevator.

“The top floor,” she added.

The elevator ride took forever, with a ding signaling every floor. My anxiety increased with each ding.

When the doors finally opened at the top floor, I took a deep breath before stepping out.

The hallway was wide with floor to ceiling windows on one side and the other side lined with offices bearing names of the important people.

I walked to the front of Mr Palazzo's office and just as I was about to knock, I read the name on the door of the office right next to it.

Ricardo Lombardi.

I walked to his door and stared at his name. Underneath it was written, Chief executive officer, CEO.

The door creaked slightly and I moved quickly to Mr Palazzo's door and pushed it open.

His office was expansive , with Large windows that gave a breathtaking view of the city.

He wasn't in the office, probably stepped out, so I used it as a chance to look around.

His desk was an imposing structure of dark glass and metal, positioned in front of the windows. Behind it was a large bookshelf.

I moved closer trying to see the books when the door opened behind me.

I stepped back, turning to see Mr Palazzo walk in. “Miss Balotelli,” he said smoothly, walking towards me.

“Good morning sir, I..I was just looking at the shelf.”

He chuckled, “That's no problem, welcome.”

“Thank you sir,” I replied, my heart pounding against my ribs.

He pointed at a desk near his own. “You’ll be working here.”

I nodded, keeping my expression professional.

“We don't have much work right now but I would like you to go through some records,” he said, walking towards the shelf.

He pushed one of the books back and suddenly the shelf split apart, revealing a kind of vault.

He put in a code and the vault opened, then he pulled out some files and handed them to me.

I collected the files and placed them on my desk. “Go through it now.” He said, closing the vault.

I nodded looking at the files with two questions on my mind.

One, why were they still using paper in this era? I already had an idea of the answer.

They could easily get hacked, so they had to be careful.

But why would he just hand it to me on my first day? A stranger?

For that question, I had no answer.

“One last thing,” he said, walking towards me.

“If you want to survive here, you must learn to avert your gaze and keep your mouth shut. People who talk don't last here.”

That was a clear warning. “Yes sir,”I replied, nodding my head.

“Good,” he said, already walking to the door. “You may begin. I have somewhere to be but you can go on break by noon.”

Before I could respond, he had already walked out.

I sighed and sat down, opening the first folder. This was my chance, I was hopeful that I would find something related to their illegal businesses.

Something that could ruin them.

Hours passed as I poured over the files, making notes. I had to ask myself why he hid the files in a vault. There was nothing incriminating in them.

Just financial records from the restaurant and construction company. These were legitimate businesses.

When I saw a file with details from a nightclub, my heart leapt and I quickly looked through it. There was nothing illegal documented there.

“That answers the second question,” I huffed. Of course he wasn't going to give me secret files. I had to prove myself first.

All I have to do now is gain his trust.

I looked at the clock on the wall, it was already past two and I was done with the files but Mr Palazzo wasn't back yet.

It was my first day and it would have been rude for me to just leave.

It had just clocked 2:30pm when the door flew open. I looked up to see Mr Palazzo standing at the door.

“Come with me, now!” He commanded.

I barely had time to process what his words when he turned and walked away. I stood up quickly and followed him.

We moved quickly through the hallway, I had to jog to keep up with his long strides.

His expression was unreadable, his jaw tight and his shoulders tense. Whatever was happening, it wasn't good.

The car ride was silent, my nerves were screaming at me to ask where we were going, but the expression on his face shut me up.

The car stopped in front of one of the company's restaurants, The Olive Branch.

But we didn't enter through the front door, instead he walked to the back to a heavy, unmarked door.

Immediately we walked in, the atmosphere changed. It was a large den that smelled of sweat and blood.

My stomach twisted as we walked further into the place.

Then I saw him.

A man lay on the floor, his shirt torn and stained with blood. He was barely breathing, his face was swollen and covered in bruises.

I tried to keep my face neutral, but I couldn't stop my stomach from turning at the sight of the man's injuries.

“Has he talked?”Mr Palazzo asked, sitting down.

One of the men standing in the corner, moved towards him and whispered in his ear.

“Hmm, that can't be all, get all the information out before the Don comes.”

I stood frozen, unsure of what to do or where to look. My brain screamed at me to leave but my legs were rooted to the spot.

Mr Palazzo turned to me suddenly, his amber eyes locked on mine.

“Welcome to the business, Miss Balotelli.”

I nodded slowly, gripping the strap of my bag so tightly it might tear.

I watched as the enforcers tortured the man, asking him questions. He held on at first, but later gave in.

Suddenly I felt warmth behind me, there was someone standing there, but I didn't hear any footsteps.

The hairs on the back of my head stood on end. I wanted to turn my head to see the person but I couldn't.

The enforcers had strengthened up, bowing their heads at the sight of him. Mr Palazzo also stood up, all of them echoed one word.

“Don.”

My breath hitched and I turned slowly to see him.

He was tall, dressed in a tailored black suit that seemed too polished for the place we were.

His sharp jawline was framed by neatly combed black hair, his green eyes looked at me with so much Intensity l felt like it would pierce through me.

It was him.

Ricardo Lombardi.