The room smelled of cigar smoke and bitter whisky, dimly lit like the back corner of a forgotten bar. Lorenzo sat comfortably in a leather chair, legs stretched out in front of him, a smug glint in his eye. Fiona, always poised, perched on the armrest beside him, scrolling through her phone with disinterest, though her ears were tuned to every word.The third man paced near the far end of the room, his shoulders stiff, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. He was older, with a nervous energy that tried to pass for authority. The kind of man who barked louder when afraid.“They’ve got her,” he said after a moment, voice rough but tinged with unease. “She tried to fight, pulled a gun but she’s with them now. Out cold.”Lorenzo’s lips curled into a cold smile. “About time.”“Keep her quiet,” Fiona added without looking up. “We didn’t plan this to have Rafael breathing down our necks in an hour.”The man at the window shifted, uneasy. “Are you sure about this? I have heard what Rafael’s c
Celia returned to her desk, her expression unreadable, but inside, everything was unraveling. She already felt humiliated after what happened in Rafael’s office, and the bathroom gossip had only driven the knife deeper. Her chest was tight, throat burning. She didn’t trust herself to stay much longer without either breaking down or lashing out.Without hesitating, she rose from her seat and made her way to Viktor’s office. Her knock was soft but urgent.“Come in,” Viktor called.She stepped in, trying to hold herself together.“Hey,” she said quietly. “I’m finished with everything, and I know it’s not closing hour yet, but can I go home?”Viktor looked up, concerned. “Why do you want to go home?”“I just don’t feel too good,” she said, trying to mask the emotion in her voice. “I would really appreciate it if I can be allowed.”He paused, then gave a small nod. “It’s not usually allowed, but alright. Go and take care of yourself.”“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper
Celia was bouncing between tasks, her attention darting from her screen to the documents spread on her desk. She was deep in thought when the girl who usually stood at the building’s entrance, always poised with a professional smile suddenly walked up to her table.“Good afternoon, ma’am.”Celia looked up, blinking. “Good afternoon.”“Boss is waiting for you in his office.”Her hand paused on the pen. “Oh. Okay. Thank you.”The girl turned and walked away, and Celia sat still for a moment, processing. He said he wasn’t leaving the house today. She glanced toward the office across from hers, the one with the sleek, smoked-glass walls. You couldn’t see inside unless the door opened, and she definitely hadn’t seen him walk in.Still, she didn’t rush. She tidied the last few points on her current file, saved it, and after about ten minutes, finally rose from her desk and walked across the room. She opened the glass door with a light knock and stepped inside, her smile cautious but soft.R
They went back inside, shared a quiet dinner, and eventually retreated to Rafael’s room. The day had drained them both, and before long, Celia was curled beside him, fast asleep beneath the dim glow of the bedside lamp.But somewhere deep in the night, the air shifted.The bed jolted with sudden movement.Celia stirred, her brows knitting as she blinked through the shadows. At first, she thought Rafael was simply turning in his sleep, but the jerking of his limbs said otherwise. His breath came in short, ragged bursts, and the sheets tangled around him as though he were fighting something invisible.“No, don’t!” he muttered under his breath, voice thick with panic. “Mom… Mom, don’t go!”Celia shot upright, heart pounding. The sight of him drenched in sweat, his face contorted with distress, froze her for a moment.“Babe?” she called softly, her voice shaking slightly as she reached for him.He didn’t respond. His head tossed to the side, jaw clenched as he groaned low and guttural, li
They stepped out of the garden, and instead of heading through the normal entrance, he led her down a quiet hallway she had never explored before. The walls were darker there, sleek and lined with matte black panels, subtly lit by recessed lights above. At the end of the corridor was a biometric scanner.Celia raised a brow, glancing around curiously. “I didn’t even know there was a hallway here.”Rafael grinned, his tone teasing. “You know now. And believe me, there are still plenty of places in this house you haven’t discovered yet.”She let out a soft laugh. “I keep forgetting this is a mansion.”He gave her a look. “A fortress, technically. But mansion works too.”“Wow.”He pressed his thumb to the scanner, and the door unlocked with a soft mechanical click. The panel slid open silently, revealing a narrow staircase leading downward. Cool air met her skin, carrying a faint metallic scent.“Is this where you normally hold those meetings with your men?” she asked as they descended t
Getting up from the study, Rafael made a firm decision, he was going to teach Celia how to shoot and defend herself. It was time she learned how to stay safe in a world that didn’t always play fair.As he made his way to her room, the door suddenly swung open from the other side. Celia was just about to step out, and they nearly collided.Rafael caught her by the waist before she could stumble, and without thinking, pulled her into a tight hug. He kissed her forehead softly.“How are you?” he asked, his voice warm.“I’m good. Never been better,” she replied with a bright smile.“How was work today?”“It was amazing,” she said. “I love it. Everything about the job is really exciting.”“I’m glad you do,” Rafael said, reaching for her hand. They began walking down the hallway together, slowly making their way to the parlour.“Did you take the medications?” she asked, giving him a knowing look.“I did,” Rafael replied smoothly. “You can ask her.”“Who is her?” she asked with a raised brow