Delilah’s eyes fluttered open, and she found herself staring directly into Marco’s eyes.His gaze was steady, a hint of amusement softening his otherwise serious expression."I wasn’t pretending," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I was just trying to get your attention.""Well," he said, his lips curving into a faint smile, "you have all of it now."She swallowed, suddenly nervous. "Where do I even start?""Anywhere you want to." His tone was warm, inviting, as if he had all the time in the world for her.Delilah hesitated, searching his face for any sign of defensiveness. She found none. "I met Lucia."Marco raised a brow. "Alright.""You never told me there was a Lucia," she continued, her words careful. "I walk into the room, and there she is, introducing herself as your assistant. That’s fine—you need o
The morning light crept into the room as Delilah stirred awake, her lashes fluttering open to an empty bed.She stretched lazily before sitting up, her hand reaching for her phone on the nightstand. The events of the previous night flashed in her mind.Delilah had been a bit restless after her brief confrontation with Marco over Lucia.Her possessiveness gnawed at her peace.And so, with a determined smirk, she’d rummaged through her luggage and retrieved a small camera she’d hidden for emergencies like this.Slipping into Marco's library undetected, she had carefully placed the camera where it could capture the room.Satisfied with her work, she’d returned to bed, where Marco lay on his back, chest rising and falling in steady rhythm.Delilah had nestled her head gently against his chest, feeling his heartbeat und
Now that Delilah's mind was at rest after listening to Marco's response, she freshened up and headed to her café.As she arrived, a sense of calm washed over her, and she heaved a sigh of relief.With her mind clear, she decided to take a break from her usual execution services and instead focus on observing the café's operations today.This meant postponing Mrs. Madison's execution request, despite her desire for a swift completion.However, Delilah knew that she and her team needed rest, and the task could easily be rescheduled for tomorrow or another day.As she turned her attention to the café, the soft hum of the coffee grinder filled the otherwise quiet space, where Ruby and Helen worked behind the counter."Good morning," Helen greeted her with a casual wave.Delilah nodded, her li
Ruby and Helen exchanged uncertain glances.Meanwhile, Delilah walked to the door, casting one last look at the café across the street. Her eyes glinted with determination.If Sss... Café thought they could steal her customers, they had no idea who they were up against."Helen," she said, her voice calm but layered with purpose, "I need you to start gathering information about Sss... Café and its owner."Helen nodded, a faint flicker of unease crossing her face. "Alright," she said, her tone steady despite the undercurrent of concern.Delilah opened her mouth to add more, but Ruby’s sharp voice cut in, brimming with exasperation. "Gosh, when can we just take a break? Now we have to deal with that and execute the café owner?"Delilah froze, the words hitting her like a sharp gust of wind.Her brows k
Delilah turned to her, arching a perfectly sculpted brow."Stunt?" Her lips curled into a smirk. "I prefer to call it leveling the playing field. They were the ones who decided to play dirty. I simply ensured their actions didn’t go unnoticed."Ruby chuckled, her voice low and raspy. "I’ll give you credit for subtlety. That coffee dispenser trick? Brilliant. Disgusting, but brilliant."Delilah didn’t answer immediately.Her gaze drifted to the bustling café, her expression softening as Helen moved effortlessly behind the counter.Helen handed a latte to a customer with a bright smile, her hands firm and her presence polished."Sometimes," Delilah said, her voice barely above a whisper, "it’s not about brute force. It’s about knowing when to act—and how. This wasn’t about ruining them; it was a
Delilah’s jaw dropped, her breath catching."What?" she whispered. Her fingers trembled as she put the remote down, her eyes locked on the screen.The reporter continued, detailing the shocking turn of events. "Authorities have confirmed that Mrs. Madison died by apparent suicide, jumping from the balcony of her home earlier this evening."Delilah’s mind raced. *How? Why?*She barely had time to process the information when the bedroom door creaked open.Her heart leaped, thinking it was Marco.However, it was Mrs. Hayden who stepped inside.Delilah quickly grabbed the remote, turning off the TV.She narrowed her eyes, her voice tinged with suspicion. "Is something wrong, Mrs. Hayden?"Mrs. Hayden offered a tight s
Helen tilted her head, her doubt evident. "This is about Mrs. Madison, isn’t it?"Delilah’s jaw tightened, her eyes smoldering. "Yes."Ruby’s brows drew together, her voice hesitant. "The client? The one you postponed yesterday?"Delilah nodded, her voice a knife’s edge. "She’s dead."A thick silence enveloped the room. Ruby’s eyes widened, darting to Helen, who sat frozen, her lips parted in shock.Helen leaned forward, her voice cautious yet probing. "Dead? How?""They’re calling it a suicide," Delilah replied, her tone clipped, each word deliberate. "But there’s more to it than that."Ruby’s lips parted as realization dawned. "Wait, are you saying—"The soft creak of the door interrupted them, and all three heads turned.Mrs. Hay
Delilah narrowed her eyes, her jaw tightening. "The bigger picture? Is that what you call turning your back on someone who trusted us?"Helen finally spoke, her tone gentle but firm. "It’s not about trust. It’s about safety, Delilah. Mrs. Madison’s situation was tragic, yes. But we’re not detectives or vigilantes. We’re executors. We handle executions, not investigate deaths."Delilah let out a bitter laugh. "Is that how you justify it? By sticking to the job description?"Helen frowned but said nothing.Ruby, however, couldn’t resist. "It’s not just about that. Look, I don’t want to get caught up in this because it never ends well when emotions come into play. You know that, Delilah."Delilah took a step closer to the table, her presence commanding despite the room's elegant and tranquil decor.Her
Marco raised an eyebrow, his piercing gaze cutting through Delilah like a sharp blade.Delilah’s mind raced as she replayed her gory remark. A wave of dread washed over her, and she quickly forced a smile, hoping to lighten the moment. "I was just joking," she said, her tone overly bright.Marco’s brow didn’t relax, his expression unreadable yet commanding.Delilah felt the walls closing in on her. Without waiting for a response, she gestured toward the door. "I’ll, uh, leave you two to it," she muttered, her words rushed. Turning on her heel, she quickly exited the library, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.The room now belonged to Marco and Gino.Gino wasted no time, pulling a stack of documents toward him. He sat at a small table on the far side of the library, diligently error-checking the papers. Marco, meanwhile, settled into his chair, unwrapping the food Delilah had brought and eating with calculated leisure.As Gino worked, a stray thought struck him like lightning
Gino’s throat felt like it had closed up, his knees weak as he stammered, "I—I would never hide anything from you, boss. Never! I’ve never hidden anything from you before."Marco tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable but undeniably menacing. "Are you certain?"Gino nodded furiously, his heart pounding.Marco leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "And what if I find out that you’ve been hiding something? Or that you’re hiding something even now?"Gino gulped hard, his hands clammy as he tried to avoid the sheer force of Marco’s gaze."What should I do then, Gino?" Marco asked casually, the words a stark contrast to the danger emanating from him. "Cut off your legs? Or your hands?"Gino froze. His mind raced as he tried to figure out the safest answer—or if there even was one. If he chose neither, Marco might grow suspicious. But what if he chose and Marco actually followed through? Marco was a man of his word, and Gino knew that.His eyes darted across the desk, hoping to
The memory faded as Delilah blinked, her vision adjusting to the light of the bedroom. Her eyelashes were still damp, her cheeks streaked with traces of her earlier tears. She blinked rapidly, forcing herself to push back the emotions threatening to surface. Her hand moved to her cheeks, wiping away any remaining evidence before the door creaked open.Marco stepped inside silently, dressed in a crisp white shirt that hugged his broad shoulders. His short, black hair was stylishly messy, as if he had just run his fingers through it. He carried a lap tray filled with food, his expression a mix of focus and excitement. As he quietly shut the door behind him, his gaze finally landed on her."You’re awake," he said, a slight frown creasing his forehead.Delilah quickly sat up, pulling the oversized shirt closer to her body. "Yeah... What’s with the tray?" she asked, her voice casual despite the blush heating her cheeks.Marco approached her, his lips curving into a soft smile. "Well,
Delilah forced a smile, her lips quivering under the weight of the façade.Her heart pounded in her chest, but she managed to keep her steps steady."Perfect," Josh said, his grin smug as he watched her obey.Her lips trembled as her smile faltered, her eyes misting with tears.She blinked rapidly, willing herself to hold it together. Not here. Not now.As they stepped outside, Josh scanned the surroundings.A few neighbors were visible in the distance, chatting casually, unaware of the silent terror unraveling just a few feet away.Delilah's gaze flicked to the white truck parked ahead. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her heart hammered louder at the thought of Josh pulling the trigger. She had to think, and fast.And then she ran.Josh’s eyes widened in d
The night had ended blissfully, leaving a comforting warmth in the bedroom that lingered well into the morning.The soft glow of sunlight filtered through the curtains, brushing against Delilah’s peaceful face as she slept.She lay on her side, facing Marco, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. Her hair was a cascade of curls, slightly messy but effortlessly enchanting.Marco was awake, his dark eyes tracing her features with an intensity only he could possess.His bare chest rose with a deep breath as he admired her, the curve of her lips, the delicate lashes that framed her hazel eyes. She looked so serene, so unlike the guarded woman he had first encountered.But then, a faint furrow appeared on her brow.Marco’s gaze sharpened, and his thoughts grew troubled. Was she dreaming? A night
Marco arched a brow as he watched her rise from her seat. She stepped around the table, her movements deliberate. His gaze followed her every step."Where are you going?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave.She extended her hand toward him, her expression playful yet commanding. "Stand up."Marco hesitated only briefly before placing his hand in hers and rising to his full height. She led him a few feet away from the table, the dim lighting casting a warm glow on their faces."This," Delilah began, placing his right hand at the small of her waist, "is called a Closed Position dance. I’m sure you’ve heard of it."Marco tilted his head, feigning ignorance, though his smirk betrayed him. "No," he said smoothly. "I’ve never heard of it."Her brow furrowed, and she muttered under her breath, "You don’t?... Eh, it’s fine. It’
Delilah blinked, her stomach knotting. Did she just call me poor? And those dresses cheap?Jonah glanced at Delilah, his expression softening with something akin to pity. "Let it be," he said quietly to the woman. "Don’t trouble her."Delilah’s cheeks flushed. She glanced down at her simple gown, suddenly questioning its appearance. But when her gaze shifted back to the woman’s attire, she couldn’t help noticing how extravagantly luxurious it was. The kind of outfit meant to scream wealth."But baby—" the woman started.Delilah cut her off with a scoff, her composure icy. "Please hand me the clothes," she said to the associate, her voice firm but calm. "I’ll take them to the checkout counter myself."The associate obeyed, passing the clothes to Delilah with an apologetic look.Without sparing the couple another glance
Delilah stared at her phone screen as Marco’s name glowed brightly. Her heart gave an unexpected jolt."Why is he calling at this time?" she wondered.Her heart raced, the usually cold and calculating parts of her mind momentarily disrupted.She glanced around the hospital ward, ensuring no prying eyes or ears were nearby. The ward was still, only the faint hum of machinery and distant footsteps breaking the quiet.She pressed the answer button."Excuse me," she said coolly to Gino, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.Delilah walked out of the ward, her heels clicking softly on the floor. Only once she was in the empty corridor, her back against the wall, did she lift the phone to her ear."Hello?" she said, her voice steady."Hi," Marco’s familiar, deep voice came through
The soft click of the door behind Delilah as she stepped into Gino’s room seemed to echo louder than it should.Her eyes swept over the large VIP ward, noting the unnecessary luxury for someone supposedly recovering from digestive issues.Gino lay on the bed, his hand connected to an IV, his face a picture of forced innocence. Beside him stood a young nurse, her nervous smile betraying her discomfort.The nurse greeted Delilah hesitantly. "He’s still under treatment, ma’am, and—"Delilah cut her off, her voice smooth yet firm. "Please, could you excuse us for a moment?"The nurse glanced at Gino for approval. Gino, with a barely noticeable flick of his eyes, gave her the signal to leave. She nodded awkwardly and hurried out, leaving Delilah and Gino alone.Delilah set the bag she’d brought onto the small table by the