◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ This girl would be the death of me. One way or another. In my head I already pictured my early demise, and for sure the cause would have something to do with her. One look at her left me weak. Just ready to risk it all. One tiny glimpse of her vulnerability always fucking did me in. Shit. I'd probably regret this in the morning...except kissing and having my way with her again. I'd be lying if I told anyone I loved this sober and "healthy" version of me. None of this felt sober or healthy. Her glare just cut right through me. I bit on the inside of my cheek, just waiting for her to make a move. I wanted her to start undressing and prove to me that I overreacted. To prove that she wasn't a stone-cold liar paid to spy on my family. Adreana weakly shook her head. "You're delusional if you think I would just do everything you say." "Not delusion. Just trust issues." I glanced down at her cold fingers on my wrist. She jerked her fist out of my grip. I stayed put. T

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ "We'll take another good look at the figures and the revised Strat Plan after our meeting with the executives. Same time next week. Ciao." Finally. I sighed at my cousin's peremptory announcement as the others got up from their chairs. Practically racing to get out of here. I stayed in my seat in the farthest row, opposite my cousin Amara who frequently headed our weekly meetings in this conference room. Her new assistant turned off the projector and gathered Amara's belongings with one arm, then exited through the glass doors, leaving me alone with my older cousin who probably couldn't wait to fire me. She always thought she knew which employees were essential and which ones weren't. And with Mamma pushing her to be our next VP for Operations, Amara's ego would only balloon even more in the coming months. "Maxim, you busy tonight?" My "new boss" stood by the huge whiteboard, looking a few years younger with a wavy bob that framed her angular face. Amara feigned a s

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ "I know some French recipes. I mean, a dozen at least." "Yeah?" "They're not too complicated." Adreana spoke with a restrained smile as I led her outside, walking her through the wide hallway. The random topic switch from that fake marriage agreement to her culinary skills lightened the tension between us, eventually forcing us out of the conference room. We lapsed into silence and stepped into the empty elevator. She leaned against the silver rail, carrying a leather handbag while I held my work tablet. I pressed the topmost button on the panel beside me. We reached the 29th floor after the awkward small talk about French dishes I didn't like, and the local ones I could make from scratch. "Of course," she murmured, grinning again. "You're more Italian than American." "Most of the time. But, pretty sure you're a better cook." I led her straight into my office. The only four corners I could call my own in this building. My office wasn't big and extravagant, but pri

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ "Was that something new? You hangin' out and havin' fun with them?" I looked up from my phone and paused my strides, the muted question snapping me out of my grim thoughts. I just texted Niccolo to get out of Russia this week. He should, before Ilya's sons found out that Nicco worked for my father before Pappa went missing. Although it was mostly blackmail, their arrangement, I bet Ilya's mob-boss-wannabe sons wouldn't take Niccolo's reasons at face value. "I looked like I was having fun?" To my right, Adreana fiddled with her gold necklace, staring at me with a frown that showed genuine interest and some bemusement. "You weren't?" "The wine tasted like piss." She laughed and took a step forward so we'd be facing each other. "I mean, at first, you clearly looked like you'd rather be somewhere else." "It's just not something I'm used to," I mumbled. When she kept staring at my face, I redirected my attention to my phone screen. "Having fun with your family wasn'

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆•1 new messageMykaela"We're here. You guys on the beach?"Today 4:12PM•I stared at the message on my phone screen and rubbed my nape. I massaged the crick in my neck until the tension lessened. I was running on barely five hours of sleep. My eyes and legs were tired, but an odd nervousness wouldn't let me take a nap.What Adreana shared about what she endured while she was living with that lying, cheating, money-laundering prick in Rome still gnawed at me. I just didn't expect she'd gone through all of that abuse and got out of that city with her sanity still intact. Just one more thing that reminded me of Kel...Shit. Why her? Of all people.It was almost driving me nuts. They were just too similar in more ways than I wanted to admit⁠—beyond their looks, demeanor, and the way they dressed. They were practically the same person. Except Kel wanted a different career, and she still had her family and a few close friends to run to whenever she needed them.Adreana