Chapter 1

Chapter One: 

Emilia’s Pov

I have always prided myself on my ability to blend in. My job as an accountant at Marsh & Carter required little more than quiet efficiency—qualities that came naturally to me. Most days, I kept my head down, my eyes on the endless stream of numbers and files that crossed my desk. It was a life of comfort, a life that I felt safe in. No risks, no complications. Just order and routine.

But all of that changed the night Luca Moretti walked into my world.

The day had started like any other, I was going through a pile of invoices, barely glancing at the clock. But just as I was about to clock out, my boss, Mr. Jenson, had called me into his office. He was a stern man with a permanent frown etched into his face, though I rarely interacted with him. Seeing him look uncharacteristically tense had set my nerves on edge.

“Miss Rossi,” he’d said, his voice stiff, “I’ll need you to go over a few additional accounts. A special request from a… valuable client. Just get it done tonight.”

The folders he handed me were thicker than usual, filled with page after page of transactions. Something felt off, but I didn’t question him. People like me dont question men like Mr. Jenson.

So here I was, alone in the office at nearly midnight, sifting through confusing numbers that didn’t add up. My fingers trembled as I noted large sums missing, amounts that weren’t matching any records I had seen. A creeping feeling of dread started to settle into my stomach, but I pushed it down, convincing myself it was nothing.

Then I heard it.

The unmistakable sound of footsteps, slow and deliberate, echoing down the hall.

My heart rate spiked as the footsteps grew louder. I told myself it was probably just the janitor or another late-working employee. But something about the heavy, unhurried steps sent shivers down my spine.

And then, the door swung open.

My eyes shot up, locking onto the figure silhouetted in the doorway. Tall, dressed in a tailored dark suit, with an aura of command that filled the room. His gaze was sharp, piercing—eyes like shards of ice that seemed to strip me down to my soul.

Luca Moretti.

I knew who he was immediately. His name was one I had heard whispered in fear—a name that lingered in the dark alleys of the city’s underbelly. People like me dont cross paths with people like him. But here he was, standing in my office with an unreadable expression.

“Emilia Rossi?” His voice was a low, steady baritone, sending an uncomfortable chill through me.

I nodded, her mouth dry. “Yes?”

Luca stepped further into the room, and I caught the faint, intimidating glint of something metallic at his side. A gun. Panic gripped me, rooting me to the spot.

“Interesting files you’re handling tonight.” His tone was almost mocking, as if he already knew the answer to any question he could ask me. “Tell me, did you find what you were looking for?”

My mind raced. How much did he know? And what exactly was he accusing me of?

“I… I don’t know what you mean,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Luca’s gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing as he took another step closer, closing the distance between them. “Don’t play dumb, Emilia. These accounts—” he tapped the folder on her desk, “—are connected to a series of very unfortunate discrepancies. Discrepancies that have cost me quite a lot.”

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. My hands trembled as I tried to keep myself steady. “I don’t know anything about that. I’m just an accountant… I didn’t… I was only doing what my boss asked me to…”

“Is that so?” he murmured, his tone unreadable. “Then why are you the one sitting here, alone, going over these files?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I had no answer for him. Why had I been the one stuck with these mysterious accounts?

He let the silence hang between them, a weighted pause that made me feel as though I was shrinking in my seat.

Then, abruptly, he leaned forward, his hands pressing down on my desk as he looked at me directly in the eyes. “You’re not involved in this… mess?” It wasn’t a question as much as a challenge, a test I was terrified to fail.

I swallowed hard, clinging to the last shreds of composure I had. “No. I swear. I don’t know anything about it.”

Luca studied her face, his eyes lingering on my trembling lips and the faint tear threatening to fall from my eye. For a moment, something flickered across his expression—something almost like pity.

But it was gone in an instant.

“I see,” he said. Luca's gaze lingered on mine, as if searching for any sign of deception. I held my breath, praying my innocence would shine through.

"Very well," he said finally, straightening up. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, Emilia Rossi. For now."

His words offered little reassurance, but I nodded gratefully.

"However," Luca continued, his tone turning cold, "I need your cooperation. You see, these discrepancies are merely the tip of the iceberg. There's a larger scheme at play, one that threatens my... interests."

He paused, studying me.

"I believe your boss, Mr. Jenson, is involved. And I suspect he's not acting alone."

My mind reeled. Mr. Jenson, involved in something illicit? It seemed impossible, yet the evidence in front of me suggested otherwise.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Luca's expression turned calculating. "I want you to continue working on these accounts, Emilia. But now, you'll be working for me."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"You'll uncover the truth behind these discrepancies," Luca explained. "And in return, I'll ensure your safety."

Safety? From what? Or whom?

Luca's gaze seemed to anticipate my questions. "You're in this now, Emilia. Whether you like it or not. But with me, you have a chance to come out unscathed."

I swallowed hard, weighing my options. Refuse, and risk facing unknown dangers alone. Or cooperate, and potentially uncover the truth.

"Okay," I said finally. "I'll do it."

Luca's expression didn't change, but a hint of approval flickered in his eyes.

"Good choice, Emilia. Together, we'll unravel this web of deceit."

As he turned to leave, I called out, "Wait."

Luca paused, looking back at me.

"What's at stake?" I asked.

His gaze hardened. "More than you can im

agine."

And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving me with more questions than answers.