CHAPTER 6: MEMORIES

Rosalie's POV

     The alarm went off at 5:30 AM, the shrill sound dragging me from sleep before the sun could. My eyes blinked open, the ceiling above me still cloaked in shadow

   I didn't move at first, just laid there, comfortable in my sheets that were already soaked with sweat and nerves. Every morning felt like a battle now, a silent war I had to fight before I could even get out of bed

I'm exhausted.

      Isat up slowly, rubbing my eyes, my body felt heavy. The kind of tired that sleep couldn’t cure. I could already hear the soft, shallow breaths from the next room. It was mom, she had a rough night again. I walked quietly across the floor and to the next room, peeked in through the slightly open door.

    She was lying on her side, a soft blanket covering her small frame. Her face which was once full and round, now looked too small against the pillow. Her skin seemed paler under the morning light and her hair thinner, every day spread across the sheets like loose threads.

"Mom? Are you up?"

Her eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the light 

"Good morning, Rosie"

I smiled and walked in "How are you feeling today?"

"Like I slept on a pillow trying to smother me, I'm so frail. My pillow is Five times the size of my small head" She gave a weak chuckle, one that ended in a long, hard cough.

I sat beside her, moving a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I called the hospital yesterday. The new doctor wants to see you again, today"

"Another round of poking and injections? I'm being treated like a lab rat, I'm tired" she said, sounding exhausted, already trying to sit up. I helped her, she leaned into me without resistance. "You don’t have to take me, Rosie. I can call a cab."

"No way, I'm not letting you go alone. My shift starts late, I can make it."

She reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. I could feel her bones, they felt so delicate. "I worry about you more than I worry about me, you've been so lost lately"

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Just focus on getting better, I can handle the rest."

We got ready slowly, I helped her into her clothes; a soft cardigan over a simple t-shirt and loose trousers. She refused to wear anything that looked too 'patient-ish' Her pride was stronger than her body

    The cab ride to the hospital was quiet. We both stared out the window, lost in our own thoughts.

The streets of Laos, italy moved with a rhythm that felt distant to us. I used to dream of city life, now I just wanted a moment to breathe without a knot in my stomach.

     Inside the hospital, the bright lights made everything feel colder. I sat beside Mama in the waiting room, glancing through a magazine I wasn’t reading. She rested her head on my shoulder.

"If I go, you better finish school, your dad would have wanted that" she mumbled.

I closed the magazine and looked at her "You're not going anywhere, you hear me?"

She smiled "I hear you. Doesn't mean I believe you."

I kissed her forehead "You’re stubborn, too stubborn for cancer. That’s why you’ll be fine"

The nurse called us in. 

The doctor, a new one named Matteo  greeted us politely.  He was young, too young to carry news that heavy. 

He went over charts, examined her, asked about her medication, her dosage . I tried to listen but my head felt full When he mentioned the possibility of surgery, I froze.

"We’ll need to discuss payment options soon," he added, his voice soft

I nodded "I'll handle it."

Mama looked at me, worried. But she didn’t say anything

When it was over, I got her a coffee from the vending machine. We sat by the window of the ward

"Rosie" she said, sipping slowly. "You don't have to do this, the cost of the surgery is too much for you to handle. I wouldn't mind spending my last days knowing my daughter's mind is at peace"

"Don't say that" I whispered, teary. 

"You don't have to work for that awful man. I've heard rumors about him. He ruins people's lives without a second thought"

I looked down at my hands "I know. But I will."

She didn’t say anything else, she just squeezed my hand reassuringly 

    By the time I got to Moretti Enterprises, I was already exhausted. The security guards at the front barely looked up

The elevator ride to the 43rd floor felt like a climb up a mountain I didn’t ask to be on.

As soon as the doors opened, I knew something was off

People were looking at me.

Not directly, no one ever did that here. But there were glances. Long, lingering looks, awhisper or two, a smile that wasn’t really a smile. I passed a man near the conference room who did a full-body turn just to stare as I walked by

I kept walking.

      When I got to my desk, I took a deep breath and sat down. The desk was spotless, organized just like everything else in Alessandro’s world. My email was already full of tasks, I started working on the first one, keeping my head down

 An hour later, a soft voice caught my attention.

"Hey, new girl?"

 I looked up.

 A woman stood by my desk, holding a cup of tea. She had red lipstick, round glasses, and the kind of confidence that couldn’t be bought, I wondered who she was.

"I’m Marina, accounts. You look like someone who hasn’t blinked in an hour, lot of work to do, huh?"

I let out a small laugh. " I'm rosalie" I gestured to Alessandro's office First "personal secretary"

"Ah, that explains the wide eyes. You're never too ready. Welcome to the moretti enterprise. Home of misery"

"Sounds fun" I chuckled softly, then let out a quite yawn. I was exhausted.

She handed me a vhocolate bar "For when you feel like crying in the bathroom. Trust me, it helps"

I blinked at the kindness "Thank you, marina"

"Don’t thank me yet, If anyone sees me talking to you, I might get dragged into the pit of rumours"

"What are you talking about?"

She raised an eyebrow, surprised "You mean you don’t know?"

I stared at her.

"About you and the big boss? Everyone's talking about it. It's unusual, he doesn't just employ anybody"

My mouth went dry "There’s nothing-"

"Relax, I don’t care. But some do, you might want to check your desk before you leave."

She gave me a look, then turned and walked away.

My heart pounded hard in my chest

     I didn’t know what she meant until hours later, when the office began to empty

I was gathering my things when I noticed it, a small black USB drive tucked neatly beside my keyboard.

My fingers hovered over it.

I looked around, no one 

I took it.

     That night, after helping Mom into bed and making her some chamomile tea, I sat at the tiny dining table with my old laptop, the USB sat on the table

I stared at it for a long time, then I plugged it in.

There was one folder. Labeled MEMORIES.

Not company files, not financial statements. 

Just... photos, hundreds of photos.

All of Alessandro.

Some were professional shoots, event pictures

But others...

Others were taken in secret, from weird angles. Through a window, behind pillars, In restaurants, Hotels.

And some...

Some were with a woman.

The same woman in almost every photo, she looked nothing like me. But the pattern was clear, hotel rooms, the same car, penthouse, dinner parties, the same watch on his wrist. It looked like he was hiding her. Then, I realised. I was her replacement.

Each image was marked with a date, time, location.

And then I saw the last photo.

It was me, yesterday. Standing in the elevato, holding coffee. Looking up at the camera.

I held my breath, slammed the laptop shut.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: "You’re not the first but you can be the last. Be careful, Rosalie."

I dropped the phone, my heart pounded, my skin crawled.

I looked towards Mama's door, she was asleep

Someone was watching.