Chapter 2

On Monday, I arrived at the estate on time and handled my duties before going to inform Cesare that the negotiation with the Barbosa Group was about to begin.

Through the slightly open door, I saw Sofia curled up in his arms, feeding him half-eaten Sicilian cookies.

Cesare swallowed with a smile and even kissed her fingers. "I stood in line for three hours to get the dessert you kept talking about."

Sofia pouted, trying to keep him from leaving for the meeting. Cesare didn't hesitate. "We'll postpone the negotiation by two hours."

I couldn't help but remind him, "The heads of the Barbosa Group are waiting in the underground conference room. This concerns the Family's trade routes, and it's very important."

"You're such a nagging secretary with no sense at all!" Sofia complained.

Cesare's expression turned icy as he tapped out his cigar. "I said the meeting's postponed. No deal is more important than Sofia!"

My chest tightened. I quietly closed the door and turned away.

When I stepped into the underground conference room to apologize, the heads of the Barbosa Group didn't dare blame Cesare. Instead, all their anger was directed at me. I kept my head down, silently taking the scolding, and forced myself through two grueling hours.

By the time Cesare arrived, I was just leaving the meeting when Sofia called me back.

"I hear your coffee is excellent. Make a cup for everyone. Mine's iced, no sugar."

I didn't dare refuse. It took me two hours to brew over four hundred cups of coffee.

But the moment Sofia sipped hers, she smashed the cup against my forehead. The hard ceramic shattered and sliced my skin, and I curled up on the floor in pain. But she wasn't done. She scooped up more coffee and poured it over me, and the shards of broken ceramic cut further into my skin.

When Cesare arrived, Sofia tearfully explained, "I'm on my period, and she put ice in my coffee. My stomach hurts so much."

Cesare didn't ask for details. Instead, he scolded me for failing after four years of service, even suggesting I might have been deliberately targeting Sofia.

He also docked my monthly stipend and quarterly bonus, announced it to the whole Family, and required me to stand at next week's meeting to answer for my mistakes. Then he shrugged on his coat and walked off with Sofia.

As I watched their retreating figures, my tears finally fell.

I forced myself to stand and grabbed a broom to clean up the broken cups and spilled coffee. A few kind-hearted maids came over to help, whispering that Sofia was arrogant and spoiled, completely indulged by Cesare. They warned me to be more careful in the future.

I thought back to the old days, when a deal I handled went wrong, and the partners tried to shift the blame. Back then, Cesare had always believed in me and even cleared my name.

But now, with just one casual lie from Sofia, he didn't believe me at all.

Not long after, Cesare called and asked me to deliver ginger tea and heat packs to his private villa.

When I arrived, I barely recognized the place. The olive trees planted by Cesare's father had been replaced with tulips, and the black-and-white furniture had been swapped for soft pinks and pastels. Every corner of the villa reflected Sofia's taste.

He open the door and took the items from me, then froze when he saw the injuries on my face.

"It's that bad? Did you go to the hospital?"

I shook my head and stayed silent.

He pressed his fingers to his forehead, his tone unusually gentle. "Sofia was just feeling unwell, she didn't mean it. I'll make up the money I docked from you in your year-end bonus. Go get checked at the hospital. If it's serious, take a day off."

I wanted to tell him about my resignation, but he interrupted and handed me a Family black card. "Do as I say. Rest well. Also, I'll need you to handle Sofia's welcome-home banquet."

I took the card and turned to leave. Just as I closed the door, I heard Sofia teasingly asking Cesare to rub her stomach, and his soft, indulgent reply floated back to me.

I'd suffered through terrible menstrual cramps myself, sometimes fainting from it and being rushed to the hospital by the Family's people. Cesare had never come to check on me, nor did he ever bring me ginger tea or heat packs.

At the time, I thought he was too busy to notice. But now, I understood.

It was because he simply didn't care.

I went to the hospital to have my wounds briefly treated and rested at home for a few days, then received the banquet plan from his assistant.

With only three days to prepare, I steeled myself and handled every detail, from the flowers to the desserts, down to the maids' outfits, exactly as requested. On the night of the banquet, Sofia appeared in a couture gown, and guests flocked around her, praising Cesare for his unwavering devotion.

I stood not far away, silently watching it all unfold.