SARAHMarco’s lips were still on mine when the sound of the door clicking open broke the moment. His hand was on my waist, his breath heavy against my cheek. I was smiling, about to tease him for not locking the door, when a voice froze the air in the room.“Sorry, I’m late. The traffic—”The words stopped.Marco turned first, his body going still. I turned after him, slow, my heart still pounding from the kiss.Sofia stood by the door. Her hand was frozen on the handle, a folder clutched tightly in her other hand. Her eyes widened, shock flooding her face. She looked from Marco’s hand on my waist to my lips, still a little swollen, and then back at Marco.No one said a word.I blinked once, then twice, pretending to act as if nothing was wrong. Marco was too quiet, his body tense but his arm still holding me close. He opened his mouth, maybe to speak, but I cut in before he could.“Well,” I said softly, tilting my head as I rested my palm against his chest, “you’re here early, Sofia.
SARAHThe woman’s voice cut through the quiet office like a siren.“Who are you? What are you doing in here?” she shouted. “I saw you touch that drawer. Don’t move!”I froze. The sound of chairs scraping filled the space as people began to turn their heads. Within seconds, the office that had been calm became filled with whispers and curious eyes. My heart started to pound as she pointed at me like I was holding a weapon.“I didn’t touch anything,” I said, my voice low but steady. “I’m waiting for Marco.”The woman’s face twisted in disbelief. “Marco? You think you can throw his name around to get away with this?”“I’m not—”“Save it,” she snapped, cutting me off. “Security!”Two guards appeared at the end of the hall, walking fast. I stepped back, confused and embarrassed, my pulse rushing through my ears. The woman folded her arms, satisfied with the scene she was creating.“You were going through his desk,” she continued, loud enough for the crowd gathering around. “I’ve seen peopl
SARAHI woke up to the soft sound of movement. The faint rustle of a suit jacket, the quiet click of cufflinks. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming, but when I opened my eyes, Marco was standing in front of the mirror, already dressed for work. The early light hit his shoulders, tracing the shape of his back through the crisp white shirt.He looked too serious for seven in the morning.“You’re really up already?” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. “You do realize normal people still sleep at this hour, right?”Marco glanced at me through the mirror, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Normal people don’t run an empire, Sarah.”I laughed softly and pulled the blanket closer. “Empire, huh? You sound like one of those movie villains.”He turned, fixing his tie, and walked over to the bed. “What are you laughing at?” he asked quietly. “You’re coming with me.”I blinked, halfway between confusion and disbelief. “Wait—what?”“I said you’re coming with me,” he repeated. “To the office.”I sat up,
SARAHThe morning felt different. The air didn’t carry that weight it used to. I woke to sunlight pushing through the curtains and the quiet hum of the house. No phone ringing, no raised voices from Marco’s office, no rushing footsteps down the hall. It was peaceful in a way that felt almost strange.I lay there for a minute, listening to nothing, letting it sink in. Maybe it was the calm after last night—his apology, his words that sounded real this time. I didn’t know what today would bring, but the silence felt like a start.When I finally got up and went downstairs, the smell hit me first. Something was burning. Then I heard a clatter from the kitchen.Marco stood by the counter, sleeves rolled up, flipping something black around a pan like he knew what he was doing. He turned when he saw me, smiling like he’d been caught stealing.“You’re up,” he said, his voice still rough from sleep. “Good. I was starting to think I’d burn the place down before you saved breakfast.”I looked at
SARAHThe house was quiet when I woke up. The air still carried that soft chill that came before sunrise, and for a while I just lay there, staring at the ceiling. The night before kept replaying in my head.. the look on Marco’s face, the way his voice had turned cold, the way he said I wouldn’t understand.I wanted to shake it off, but the words stuck like a weight in my chest.By the time I got out of bed, Maddalena was already in the kitchen, her perfume mixing with the smell of coffee. She smiled when she saw me, that slow, polite smile that never quite reached her eyes.“Good morning, Miss Sarah,” she said smoothly, lifting her cup. “You’re up early. Trouble sleeping?”“Something like that,” I said, trying to sound casual.“Ah. Men,” she murmured, stirring her coffee. “They forget sometimes that we have hearts too.”Her words were light, but there was a sharpness under them, like she wanted to twist the knife a little deeper. I forced a small smile and went to help Martha with br
THIRD PERSONThe lounge was quiet that night, the kind of silence that seemed to stretch long after the city outside had gone to sleep. A low lamp lit the room in gold. Guido sat in his chair, cigar smoke curling above him, his eyes heavy but sharp. Daniel leaned on the bar with a drink, his shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows, watching the door.When Sofia finally walked in, the sound of her heels echoed against the wooden floor. She moved with her usual calm, but her eyes showed she was restless. She crossed the room and stood before them, not yet sitting.“You’re late,” Guido said, voice low, gravel rough from the cigar.“I came straight from him,” Sofia replied, keeping her tone steady. “I wanted to tell you while it’s fresh.”Daniel raised his glass slightly. “This better not be a waste of the night.”Sofia pulled a chair and sat across from Guido. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Marco had a meeting with investors today. Nothing special on paper. But I change