The room looked like an office, but it carried an aura far darker than any workplace. Around a long mahogany table sat seven men, each one dressed in immaculate suits, their mere presence radiating power and intimidation. Among them, only one face stood out, not because of power, but because of youth. He was in his twenties and that young man was Tyke.At the head of the table, in a chair that looked more like a throne, sat a man who commanded silence without saying a word. His chair bore the image of a lion carved into the wood. His resemblance to Tyke was undeniable, but he was older facially and in everything. This was Tykeâs father, Don Giovanni Basilios, the man who ruled the Brotherhood.The silence broke when one of the men slammed his glass onto the table. âDon Giovanni,â he snapped, glare shifting toward Tyke, seated on the side like a shadow. âWhen will Diablo bring the woman? He cannot take the throne from you without a wife and an heir. You know this as well as we do.âA
Chapter Fourty fiveHe lifted the cup and took a slow sip. Katherine shut her eyes, bracing herself, waiting for his inevitable cough, his disgust, the slam of the cup against the desk.Five seconds passed. Ten. Fifteen. There was nothing.Her eyes fluttered open, only to see that Massimo had drained the cup empty. And now, he was staring right at her with unreadable eyes.âCongratulations,â he said flatly, then returned to his paperwork.Katherine blinked at him, stunned. Her gaze darted between him and the empty cup. Did he just⌠drink it? Did he just drink my spit?Her stomach twisted. Oh God⌠does this mean he actually liked it? That my saliva mixed with coffee is what satisfied his impossible taste buds?Panic pricked her skin. Does this mean Iâll have to spit into his coffee every single day just to keep him satisfied?âOh gosh⌠Iâm in trouble,â she whispered under her breath.âQuit staring in shock and go start your work,â Massimoâs voice snapped her out of her daze. âWe have
âYou heard me,â Massimo's grin widened.Her stomach dropped. Her mind was spinning. Why hadnât Damien told her anything? How could something like this happen without her knowledge?âYou are joking,â she said again, this time firmer.âAnd why,â Massimoâs grin darkened, âwould I joke about something of this magnitude?â He leaned forward, elbows resting on his desk. âIf you donât believe me, call your boss. Oh wait⌠heâs on a business trip with his new PA.ââYouâre lying,â she whispered.He folded his arms across his broad chest, gaze glinting with amusement. âLying? Oh, Katherine⌠youâll find I rarely waste my time with lies. Especially when the truth hurts more.âIt hadnât been easy convincing Damienâs father, James. But after several rounds of tense arguments, veiled threats, and a few very clear ultimatums, Massimo had finally forced him to yield. James had no choice but to pressure Damien into releasing Katherine and her role as PA straight into Massimoâs hands.Of course, Massimo k
âOh my God, I heard President Massimo just moved into the other CEOâs office. Heâs officially one of our CEOs now and he started today, in this very building!âKatherine froze mid-step, her pulse skipping as she heard the word from her colleague. Massimo? Here? No⌠that couldnât be right. Damien hadnât said a word when heâd visited her two days ago. âI still canât believe it either,â Rhoda gushed, smoothing her blouse. âThis time, Iâm so gonna get him all to myself.âHer friend Rose snickered, tossing her hair back. âUgh, donât even remind me of that shameless woman who kissed President Massimo in front of everyone. Gosh, I hate her guts.âAs if on cue, their eyes landed on Katherine as she stepped in. Heat flushed her palms as they grew clammy, but she straightened her back, forcing herself toward her office without a word.The hatred towards her had intensified the day Massimo kissed her in public.âOh, look who we have here,â Rhoda sneered, striding directly into Katherineâs path
âOh, fuck, Kat! I canât believe you.â Willowâs voice thundered through the living room as he paced back and forth. âHow could you stoop so low to the level of kissing your arch-enemy, your ex-husband in the face of danger?â Katherineâs hand unconsciously rose to her lips. That kiss, it hadnât left her mind since it happened. Sitting on the couch with her head bowed, she slowly lifted her gaze, meeting Willowâs furious eyes.âAnd what exactly would you have me do, Willow?â she shot back. âI couldnât save myself at that point! You think I wanted it?âHer friends, whoâd walked in on her and Massimo earlier, now sat scattered around the living room. Since theyâd come home, they had been staring at her like sheâd grown a second head. Sheâd been trying to explain herself, yet nothing.Sure, theyâd already reported everything to the cops and now five skilled officers were stationed in the shadows to protect them, but that didnât erase the tension in the room.âBut Kat, it shouldnât have bee
Her heart thundered. Thatâs what this is about? Now?She shook her head frantically. âI didnât steal anything! Iâd no deal with Uncle Ryan. I wasnât even speaking to him back then.â Her throat was so dry it hurt to push the words out.Massimo studied her with a fake smile. Then, slowly, he straightened to his full height and turned away.âWell then⌠I suppose youâre not ready to be saved. Maybe someone else will wander in here before it blows.ââWait! Please, Massimo, donât leave me here!â Katherine cried, trying uselessly to yank her wrists free. âPlease, Iâll tell you the truth, just donât walk away!ââThen tell me,â he demanded, stopping. Katherine sucked in a breath. The truth or death.She licked her cracked lips, and Massimoâs eyes tracked the movement.âI⌠I needed money,â she whispered, voice hoarse. âMy father was in the hospital. The bills kept piling up. I didnât know what else to do.â Her breath hitched, and she squeezed her eyes shut. âUncle Ryan saw how desperate I was.