CHAPTER 46

Sharon's POV

My pupils dilated, and I tried to convince myself that I heard what I thought I heard

Luca Pavilochenki, Luca asshole Pavilochenki said he loved me?

I was done believing lies, I was done getting hurt. But deep inside his eyes was a sincerity, that made me believe he longed for me in ways that I couldn't begin to imagine

I fell silent, not knowing how to respond to his out of the blue confession

His voice grew lower, and deeper

“I'm not asking you to reciprocate my love Sharon, I'm not asking you to love me in return

Just—”

His thumb found my lips, and he let it rub little circles over it

“It'll be extremely selfish of me to expect love from you, after everything that's happened between us

But please

Allow me to love you.

That's all I'm asking Sharon”

I felt the room get smaller with each passing second. We were so dangerously close it looked intimate, and there he was spouting lines that could've come from a 90’s love play

I wanted so desperately to reject him,

I couldn't. Not when he was looking at me with those eyes, those piercing blue eyes, fixed to his perfect face. Not when he was smiling at me like I was candy. Not when my heart ached so desperately, wanting him to fill the void I wasn't aware of before.

Not when I knew deep down, that I wanted to love him too

“Is this why you rushed back home before you got to work?”

I heard myself ask

Luca looked at me, amused

“Yes Sharon”

The way my name sounded in his mouth, the way it slipped sexily off his tongue—

It was no surprise he didn't want anyone else calling me Sharon. That name was his, and so was I

“I guess I could allow it” I said

Luca smiled, like a teenager, smitten. His eyes trailed across my face, as though he was watching to see if I'd take back what I just said. Then I felt him come closer, felt his breath fan my face, felt his hand grasp the small of my back

He pressed the cutest most adorably romantic kiss to my forehead

My resolve was weak at that point. He could've done something, anything.

And Even though I would not consent fully, I would not have refused either

But he didn't, he told me he would never do anything without my consent

“I love you Sharon” He said, pressing more kisses to my forehead

“I love you too Luca” the words escaped from my lips

I barely even heard myself, and I was certain he didn't hear me either. It was just a guess, a hunch, a thought that was supposed to stay in my head

Somehow I felt that I would get to say those words to him everyday

Because I meant it

End of Sharon's POV

*********************

Arman walked into the Pavilochenki mansion. Four armed men, attachés of Rufus Pavilochenki trained behind him

They entered a dimly lit room, that reeked of cigarettes and alcohol.

Mr Pavilochenki had requested Arman's presence, but he was beginning to think the old man wasn't there.

Mr Pavilochenki wouldn't smoke and drink to that extent. He needed his livers and kidneys in good health, if he was going to continue his Godfatherism

There was a man seated on a chair, and another man was standing. Arman could make out who they were through the fog and dimness of the room

The man seated was Donald, and the other was Palmer

That godforsaken son of a

“You thought it wise to invite me in your grandfather's name?”

Arman said, obviously pissed

“You thought it wise to honour the invitation” Donald said, adjusting his sitting position

“Sit and have a drink, my grandfather will not be here”

“Thanks for the offer, but I didn't come here to drink”

Arman knew what Donald was capable of doing. If the drink wasn't laced with something, it was more alcoholic than intended

They meant to make him lose his cool, to relax. They were obviously trying to convince him to do something, something Luca wouldn't like.

That was the reason for his invitation

“Well, it seems you've made up your mind. I have high hopes for you Arman”

“You either go straight to the point or I walk out of here after beating up your lackeys”

Donald smiled through the glass he was holding

“That's why Palmer is here. You two are a good match for each other”

Donald dropped his glass on a table and stood up

“You see, grandpa needs eyes everywhere. On his company, in his home, in Luca's—”

“You want me spy on Luca for you? you're fucked”

“Not for me” Donald stood two feet away, Arman was a few inches taller

“It's for my grandfather, a direct offer from him. Our former informant gave us intelligence that suggests that Luca is not going according to plan. That bitch Sharon probably has her hands wrapped around his reasoning

Your pay would be unimaginable, better than whatever Luca gives you. You can even attain a position in his business”

Arman thought for a few seconds

“What made you think I would say yes”

“Well it's the most logical thing to do. You were assigned to protect Luca, so you are still an extension of my grandfather's will.

And besides

No one refuses an offer from Rufus Pavilochenki, nobody. It's not really worth the risk”

Arman sighed

“Is there a contract?”

Palmer walked over and handed him a document, and a pen

Arman took it

“If you work for my grandfather, you will reap the benefits till you—”

The sound of paper being ripped echoed through the room. The pen fell to the floor, along with the shredded pieces

Donald stood wide eyed. The audacity he had to defy Rufus Pavilochenki, The Rufus Pavilochenki

“Snitching has never really been my thing. It always seemed rather childish to me”

He dipped his hands in his pocket and turned to leave.

Palmer grabbed his suit jacket, In his other hand was a gun

Arman gave him a quick punch to his jaw, the same spot Luca had him before

Palmer let go of Arman's suit, and guns clicked behind Arman

“I don't think you want a gunfight Donald. Someone important might be caught in the crossfire. And you don't want to create a rift between the boss and Luca, it usually doesn't end well”

Arman was holding a gun to Palmer, who's gun was aimed right back at him

Four guns were aimed at Arman from behind. The man was outnumbered, but Donald was no fool.

It would definitely not end well

“Lower your weapons”

The four men behind Arman complied, but Palmer's gun was still aimed

“I said lower your—”

“I don't take orders from you little boy. This fucker punched me”

Donald gritted his teeth and stood between Palmer's gun and Arman

“Lower your fucking gun Palmer!”

Palmer's eyes had a glint of madness. He was hungry for blood, and it didn't matter who's blood it was

“Move Donnie boy, you don't want to get caught in the crossfire”

Arman lowered his gun.

“Call me when you two have sorted out your administrative issues, the we'll have a proper fight”

Arman said as he walked past the other men and towards the door

“This isn't over, this—”

“And Donald—

Try not to call Luca's wife a bitch, just look at Palmer's jaw”

Palmer clenched his fists, Donald gritted his teeth

But Donald couldn't risk touching the man

It would mean war—