Chapter 10

Juliano's POV

Sitting at the table to eat, in my personal dining room. The dining is as silent and undisturbed as a falling snow. My workers have a different dining room. My mind has been disturbed and diverted,so I wasn't really focused.

Just using a fork to mash the foods and eat the little I can. I got carried away, teasing the hem of the cover table. There are creamy risotto with parmesan cheese and mushrooms mixed green salad as sides and roasted chicken. She makes so many dishes just for me to eat the ones I like. I pull out the chair interrupting the dead silence.

Walking straight to my room with a guard walking directly behind me, I dispersed him as my door clicked.

Entering the bathroom , I moved towards the shower and turned it on above my head, washing away the stress and worries of the day. My wet hair covers my forehead forming rivulets down my face.I stand in front of the mirror, staring into the reflected version of me.

I went into my room and directly toward my closet. Changing into shorts, my eyes caught the scar on my left leg.

In the past, whenever I looked at the scar, I’d have haunting flashbacks about the incident when I lost my mother. Now, I don’t.

Applying my body oil and deodorant, I wore my white robe with my slippers and I walked over to my private library.

It's been over a week since Enzo was directed to the LIAS group and since then, no traces of her have been seen. I hope she maintains her cover but she's smarter than that. I have zero knowledge about her background or anything. Her information was changed because of the LIAS group. I wanted her to live a free life and stop hiding under shadows.

On my way to the library,I saw Margot sleeping with her head on the kitchen table. I made it a duty to always check on the kitchen before sleeping.

Tapping her gently on her shoulder, she yawned obviously awake looking at me like a drunk person.

I made her stand on her feet.

“The kitchen is not your room, you literally stay here all day, Margo”. She gives me a long stare because of the name. But I prefer Margo.

Her petite size is almost comical compared to my height.

“I slept off”, she said, rubbing her face as she widened her pupils

“I wish you can permit me to employ another cook. You need rest after all these years.”

I've tried to employ a cook, but she always makes them leave.

“Did you bake cakes today?”. She motions at the fridge beside the counter.

She smiles warmly at me. That motherly feel returns in full force even more than the look she gave earlier.

“Cooking is no stress for me, I enjoy doing it”. I'm going to my room”. She said, pecking me.

People believe in guardian angels, I believe in Margot.

Marching towards the fridge, I grabbed three slices of vanilla cake and my favourite wine with a tall glass .

The hallway illuminates with dim light.I don't like bright lights at night. Guards bowing almost on every corner.

I entered the library,the last room on the corridor. Sitting directly opposite to the fireplace - watching the firewoods crack into smaller pieces amuses me. The glow of the fire and the warmth is so beautiful. One of my hobbies is reading books in my library at night.

I opened the book I was reading, Existentialism Is a Humanism by Jean- Paul Sartre. He's French but I love his book. I have a few romance books.

As I placed my leg on the other with my back rested in the chair. Philosophy and psychology books have always been my thing. I believe that existence precedes essence.

According to the Existentialism theory, people who manipulate can be manipulated. It’s an endless circle.

Antoine, bored me with his existential crisis. He seemed very psychologically unwell and needed some psychotherapy.

That’s one way to look at it, but maybe I should read it again and search for some hidden clues.

I held the book with my right hand with my cake and wine on the table.

Then, my phone buzzed on the chair beside me.

It's Zach, the private investigator I hired a few days ago. I picked up the second ring.

“Yes, what's the update?”, he definitely called me for that reason, nothing else. I said, sitting upright in my chair.

“She resumed the work and she was seen with Carlo- Giovanni Auder's son this evening in his car around John Avenue”. He said in his slightly husky voice.

I furrowed my brows. That's the road to her new apartment. My grip tightened around the wine glass in a futile attempt. I'm surprised it didn't snap into two.

Is she involved with the CEO’s son?. Maybe that's why she didn’t get back at me. That's not part of the ploy.

“Sir, sir”. He repeated, I got carried away. My stomach was twisted with an odd twinge of betrayal.

My pessimistic brain conjures a different type of theory, ‘if she is disguised to be a bodyguard, then she can pull another stunt’. Or maybe she was sent to infiltrate this company too.

“Keep a close watch on her and give me updates”.

Feeling of boredom and anger flashed through me instantly as I dropped the book, almost knocking over the plate of cake.

I went back to my room, matching with intense anger as I opened my computer. I need to check the documents she applied with for a job.

She must pay for this.