Chapter 5

Dante

As I watched Anna stride confidently out of my office, my heart sank. I knew her returning my jacket was merely a pretext to see me again. Despite the fact that she was on the run, I had made the decision to keep my distance unless she specifically sought my help. Did she honestly believe she could hide from me? My men had been monitoring her ever since they discovered her in that miserable motel, but they refrained from dragging her to me on my orders.

I was aware of the suspicious individuals who had been asking about her whereabouts, but unless she opened up to me, I refuse to intervene.

Despite my decision, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that I needed to protect her from any potential danger.

I picked up my phone and dialed Matteo's number. "Anna just left my office. I want my men to keep a close eye on her."

"Sure thing, boss. Is she connected to the new business owner?" Matteo inquired.

"I pay you to follow my orders, not to ask questions," I snapped. "Just get my men on her."

"Apologies, boss. I'll take care of it," Matteo responded before I hung up.

I lit up a cigarette and pondered how Anna was already affecting my life without even realizing it. I knew I had to rid her from my mind. I called Lisa and instructed her to come to my office within five minutes.

As I sat in my office, the door suddenly opened without a knock, and I immediately recognized Matteo's bold entrance. We had been friends for years, so I knew he wasn't afraid of me.

"Boss, we have a problem," Matteo announced, looking grim.

"Someone better be dying, Matteo," I growled.

"We've lost Anna," he stated.

I glared at him, trying to contain my rage. "How difficult is it to keep track of one girl? How difficult is it to keep her under surveillance?" I demanded.

"I'm sorry, boss," Matteo apologized.

"I hate that fucking word. You had better find her before nightfall, or else you will be facing the consequences," I threatened. "Get out!"

Matteo left my office, and I immediately called Victor, ordering him to send me the camera footage.

Later, as Matteo and I reviewed the footage together, he asked me, "Who do you think took her?"

"If I had the answer to that question, I would already be on my way to retrieve her and make those bastards pay," I replied.

"At least the CCTV captured their license plate numbers. We'll catch them in no time," Matteo reassured me.

I couldn't shake off the feeling of apprehension that gnawed at me. "I hope we can find her in time," I murmured.

"We will, boss. We'll get to her before it's too late," Matteo replied. "Speaking of time, how long will it take to make Mr. Valentine cooperate with us?"

"Very soon, Matteo. I've already sent him a copy of the files we have on him. He'll realize that he can't avoid prison by holding onto that factory forever," I smirked.

"I doubt he'll give up without a fight. That factory brings him in billions each month," Matteo remarked.

"He's not smart enough to take me down, and even if he tries, I'll be ready for him. That factory will be mine, whether he likes it or not," I declared.

As Matteo prepared to leave, he asked me, "What's your deal with the girl, boss?"

Taking a sip of Scotch, I furrowed my brow. "I wish I knew, Matteo. I really do."

“I sincerely hope this new girl won't cause any complications for us, boss. However, I place my trust in you. If you deem her presence worth the inconvenience, then she must be worth it. I will go discuss with Tom about any information he has gathered about her."

With that, he exited the office, leaving me to ponder over my thoughts. As I took the last sip of my scotch, a sense of unease washed over me. I couldn't help but worry about her safety, wherever she may be.

I was seized with regret over my decision to send her away, a feeling that was new to me.

It dawned on me that I was in a serious situation. For the first time in my life, I, Dante Williams, the ruthless and calculating businessman, was second guessing his actions and questioning his choices.