02

Lily Montgomery

Feeling alone in the world was one of the worst sensations.

Actually, I liked solitude. There was something dense and comforting about being alone on a Sunday, writing or simply listening to music. But there came a moment when it became a burden, and the loneliness turned into a black hole that sucked away any remnants of happiness. That was exactly how I felt now.

I opened the browser and typed in the name of the man who, according to my mother, was my father.

I always saw the kids at school being picked up by their parents, talking about them with enthusiasm and affection. I never knew what that was like.

If this man was really my father, why had he never come after me? Did he even know I existed?

The search results were quick, but uninformative.

Luigi Romano. A name that exuded power. CEO of one of New York's largest companies, owner of a renowned publishing house, a respected billionaire in the business world.

I blinked, incredulous. This didn’t make sense. How could this man be my father? My mother always lived a humble life. The equation didn’t add up.

I ran my hand through my hair and kept reading. The information was vague, but the need to know the truth grew inside me like a storm about to break.

I closed the browser tab and went back to writing. My article for the newspaper had to be submitted before the deadline, even though I was far from focused. But the words weren’t flowing. My mind was distant, lost in Matteo.

Our romance was intense, unforgettable. But it hurt me to the point that I couldn’t give myself to anyone else. Who was he now? What was he doing? I didn’t know. After our breakup, I blocked him on all social media, deleted any trace of him from my life.

But not from my memory.

I got up and stared at the refrigerator. Empty. I needed to buy something to survive the week. My budget was tight; the only four hundred dollars in my wallet were all I had to get by.

I put on my boots, grabbed my jacket, and left the apartment heading to the supermarket, three blocks away.

The snow fell from the sky, thick, covering the city in a white veil. I loved this weather. The overcast sky, the smell of coffee in the air, people rushing around. I missed this city. At the same time, I enjoyed the isolation.

As I put items in my cart, a shiver ran up my spine. I felt like I was being watched.

I glanced discreetly over my shoulder. No one.

I took a deep breath. Paranoia. Probably from the suspense books I read too much. Who would want to follow me? I was insignificant.

On my way back home, the doubts started to torment me again. Could my mother have been telling the truth? How had she met a man like Luigi Romano? None of this made sense.

When I got to the apartment, I pushed the door open with my foot, balancing the bags in my hands.

“Damn,” I muttered, trying to keep everything from falling to the floor.

I considered myself clumsy. In college, I never drew much attention. Maybe because of my nerdy style? I was 1.70 meters tall, with green eyes, long blonde hair, and well-defined lips. I knew I was pretty, but glasses were a part of me.

As I organized the groceries, a light tap on my left shoulder made my body freeze. My heart raced.

I turned abruptly, ready to strike the intruder with my umbrella.

“Miss Montgomery, please, don’t be frightened.”

A tall man in a dark suit was watching me with a cold, calculating gaze.

“Who are you?” I stepped back, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

“I’m the secretary of Mr. Luigi Romano. He sent me to find you.”

The air grew heavy. My stomach churned.

So it was true.

“Look, I... I don’t understand.” My voice came out as a whisper.

“Can we talk somewhere more suitable? There’s a coffee shop around the corner.”

I fell silent. What were the chances of me agreeing to have coffee with a stranger who claimed to be here on behalf of my supposed father?

But I needed to know.

“Okay.”

Only those who take risks find answers.

I followed the man to the coffee shop. A smiling waitress brought us cappuccinos, but I could barely taste mine. My fingers trembled around the cup.

“Your father… He recently learned of your existence. Your mother searched for him before she passed away.”

My chest tightened.

“What does he want from me?”

The man studied me for a moment before answering.

“He needs your help. And he wants to meet you.”

I let out an incredulous laugh.

“My help? A man with so much money needs the help of a stranger?”

“That’s not exactly an option.”

His gaze was cutting.

My body tensed when I saw his hand discreetly slide to his waist. The metallic gleam of a weapon shone for a second beneath his suit.

My eyes widened.

Time seemed to slow down. The coffee shop, the people around, the smell of coffee... everything dissolved into the background.

“Are you threatening me?” My voice came out tense.

“I’m ensuring your safety, Miss Montgomery. Your father wants to see you, and I advise you to cooperate.”

I swallowed hard. My heart was pounding so loudly that I could feel it throbbing in my neck.

The situation was clear: either I got in the car with this man and faced the unknown, or I would never meet my father. Or worse, that damn trigger could be pulled right there.

My mind screamed to run, but my legs were frozen to the ground.

“I’ll go. But with one condition: after this, you leave me alone.”

The man smiled slyly, satisfied.

“No one will harm you if you cooperate.”

He stood up, and I followed him. Outside, a shiny black car stood under the snow. A Ferrari. Something I only saw in movies.

My hands were cold and sweaty as I settled into the soft leather seat. The smell of the car was luxurious, but to me, it smelled like danger.

My life was about to change forever. And I had no idea what awaited me.