All Chapters of Day Three of the Freeze, I'm Done: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Lena, I need these files sorted out as soon as possible. The council wants them today." Iris Medici dropped a thick stack of documents onto my desk, her voice saccharine sweet.After glancing around the office, she leaned closer and added, "There are still two rows of filing cabinets in the records room that need to be cleared out. Since you're already here, why don't you take care of those today, too?""Sure."I kept my head down and continued working without looking at her.From the corner of my eye, I saw her shoot me a vicious glare before stalking off, her heels clicking sharply across the floor.One of the men sitting nearby gave me a sympathetic look. The moment he realized I had noticed, he quickly turned away.Everyone knew I was Adrian Castellano's fiancee. They also knew how many legal problems I had handled for him over the years.And everyone knew that, given my experience and position, I shouldn't have been squeezed into a shared workspace with the junior staff.

Chapter 2

Enzo Profaci called that night just after I had showered.We only spoke for a few minutes. He told me that when the time came, all I needed to do was return to the Ricci family. I didn't have to worry about anything else. Padre had already notified everyone who needed to know and made all the necessary arrangements.This time, the Principessa who had spent years away from home was finally coming back.When I ended the call, Adrian was still sitting in the living room with his head down, replying to messages on his phone.I walked over and glanced at the screen.A photo was open in the chat.Iris had sent him a picture of the front entrance to her family's old residence.She wrote, "I didn't realize how run-down our place had gotten until I took you home with me last time. The house really needs repairs, but I'm a little scared to go back there by myself.""Don't be scared. I'm here."Adrian's expression was relaxed as he sent the message.Then, he seemed to notice me standi

Chapter 3

Early the next morning, Adrian announced that Iris had been promoted to Consigliere.At the same time, I was demoted to the lowest level in the family.I was already packing up my things when the announcement was made.Adrian had even sent someone over to watch me and report back on my reaction. When I didn't get angry or make a scene, he finally believed I had accepted the decision.That put him in an excellent mood.As far as he was concerned, I had finally stopped being the jealous, unreasonable woman he'd accused me of becoming.Not long after, someone came over with a message."He wants to see you in his office."I hadn't planned on going. But after thinking about it, I changed my mind.We had been together for so many years that, if nothing else, I owed the relationship a proper closure. Adrian had barely been home lately, and there was a good chance this would be the last time I ever saw him.The door hadn't been shut all the way.Through the narrow gap, I saw Iris si

Chapter 4

It was barely 3:00 pm when my plane landed. No one even knew I'd already left.The second my phone reconnected to the network, notifications flooded the screen."Didn't we just agree we'd pick a date and get married? What are you up to now? I'll take you out to dinner tonight to make it up to you, okay?""Take back what you said about breaking up. We'll sit down and talk this out tonight.""Joy just told me you submitted a resignation letter. Are you actually serious this time?""I'm not approving it."I couldn't help laughing at the messages.Just as I'd expected, Adrian had never bothered to read the paperwork I sent him. Even now, he still thought this was nothing more than another tantrum.I didn't bother responding.The people sent to pick me up were already waiting beyond the barrier. They raised a hand when they spotted me, and I walked over.The Ricci crest was mounted on the front of the car. The last time I'd ridden in it was five years ago.Back then, I'd been usi

Chapter 5

The person siphoning off that missing 20% wasn't an outsider.One of our own Capos was behind it.Three years earlier, he'd started two businesses under his nephew's name and started diverting half of certain shipments into his own operation.Nothing looked obviously wrong on paper because he was careful about how much he took. Instead of stealing large amounts at once, he broke each one into smaller losses and buried them among nearly ten years' worth of routine inventory discrepancies.I caught him using the most tedious method imaginable.I went through the books line by line, then worked backward through every transaction.Near the end, I fell back on the accounting method we used most often with the Castellanos. That finally let me reconcile the numbers and piece the whole scheme together.Once I was done, I handed everything to Enzo.At the next meeting, Padre told him to read my findings aloud.Rocco was the first to snap."You've been back three days, and you're alr

Chapter 6

The Ricci family was powerful, but it was also old.Some of our rules and business practices had been in place for so long that no one dared question them, even when they'd clearly become outdated. Most of Padre's generation had built their influence through personal connections and loyalty.That approach worked while Padre was strong enough to hold everything together. But the family couldn't rely on the old ways forever.During my five years with the Castellanos, I'd learned far more than just law. I knew how to keep certain operations insulated from the people behind them, how close we could legally get to the line without crossing it, and which ventures could actually be structured in ways that allowed us to work with government agencies.I took everything I'd learned and adapted it to the Riccis, rewriting it around our territory and the way the family actually operated.Whenever I ran into something I didn't understand, I asked Enzo.He looked at me with affection. "Pri

Chapter 7

"Iris' father died serving your family. That was between him and the Castellanos. It had nothing to do with me," I concluded.Adrian fell silent.After a moment, he mumbled, "I'm sorry."I chuckled.So, that was it? He had hurt me for years, made me miserable for years, and now one apology was supposed to wipe the slate clean?Five years ago, I'd walked away from my own family for him. I gave up the Ricci name and stood beside Adrian while we built the Castellanos from nothing.The moment he finally had power of his own, he betrayed me.And after everything, all he could say was, "I'm sorry.""Don't come back."With that, I turned and walked away.I'd gone several yards when his voice came from behind me."Lena, the day you left, when you saw Iris and me in the study… We were planning my proposal."My steps halted, but I didn't turn around.That night, I stayed up working on the new operating rules I'd drafted for the Ricci family.Enzo came in with a glass of warm milk a

Chapter 8

Enzo came to see me again that night. This time, he brought news from Adrian's study. Adrian had finally cut Iris loose.Every account, contract, and legal document she'd handled had been pulled and sealed for review. This time, the council hadn't forced his hand.The decision had come from Adrian himself, and the council approved it almost immediately.Just like that, Iris had been stripped of everything.I didn't feel vindicated when I heard the news. I couldn't have explained why.Two days later, the Riccis and Castellanos met in a private room at an Iveronian restaurant.We sat on opposite sides of the same table, and I sat with the Riccis. It wasn't a particularly long table, and an unopened bottle of red wine sat between us.Adrian arrived first with several of his Consiglieri behind him.The moment everyone sat down, he got straight to business.We started with the disputed docks.Both sides understood that until that issue was settled, there was no point discussing

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