Antonio's POV“Don't tell me you are going to attend,” Vincenzo said.A bodyguard had come into my study where Vincenzo and I sat with an envelope.After reading through, I passed it to Vincenzo to take a look. It was an invitation from Leonardo to attend a ball he was hosting.“I am.”“Why should you honour his invitation? He has done enough already, who knows what plans he has next?”I smiled dryly. “You still don't understand, Vincenzo... I'm honoring the invitation and you are coming with me.”I appreciated the fact that Vincenzo was concerned but he still didn't understand yet.“You are insane…” Vincenzo spat angrily. “Make me understand.”“There's no time to start making explanations; we are going.”I picked up my cellphone and put a call across to Lorenzo who picked up immediately.“Make preparations, we are attending the ball.”“We are?” he asked in surprise.“Yes, we are.”“Okay,” he answered, his voice lingering with hesitation and I hung up.Vincenzo stood up angrily and t
Vincenzo's POV “Antonio, what are you doing?” I yelled.Antonio had called Lorenzo, Franco, Mario, Alessandro, Roberto and I for a meeting.He had been sour since the ball yesterday, not that he was any different but he was still sour and refused to talk to me.I had wondered why he called for the meeting up until now.The moment he entered, he pounced on Franco without uttering a word.His eyes were filled with rage as he pulled Franco from the chair where he sat.“What did you do?” He roared.Franco's eyes were filled with confusion as he stammered. “I… didn't…do…do…anything.”“Shut up,” Antonio's eyes were dark with anger; it seemed like nothing could stop him from doing whatever he had in mind.“You should at least tell him what he did before killing him,” I chipped in.Antonio threw me a deadly glare; if looks could kill, I'd be sixteen feet under.“Stay out of this Vincenzo.”He threw Franco to the ground. “I'm going to kill you,” Antonio said as he walked towards Franco.Franc
Giulia's POV“You'll be fine,” Maria encouraged as she placed her hand gently on my shoulders.She had become more than a mere maid; she was now a friend.It was already two weeks and I still hadn't recovered from the shock of what happened at the ball.Antonio could have been killed or severely injured. I would not have escaped a scratch either.That was why Sophia was in a good mood. She thought they would be able to get him killed at the ball.Since then, I've gone through brutal and ill treatment from Leonardo and Sophia.Oh! My Antonio.To my greatest surprise, after the attack which led to Antonio leaving immediately ended, the event went back to normal.It must have been planned by every one of them and there's no way Maria could not have heard.I was dying in silence and the best option was to speak to her.“Did you know that an attack was being planned against Don Antonio?” I asked as I sat facing her.“No,” she answered curtly with a surprised look on her face. “Not all word
Giulia's POV I opened the door and walked in. It was his conference room, a beautiful room with an ugly scenario.Leonardo held a gun in one hand while three men knelt in front of him trembling and a pipe which he smoked on the other hand.I never for once thought that Leonardo smoked, and from the look of things, I couldn't tell if I was to join the men or watch them get killed.“Giulia!” Leonardo called when he noticed my presence. “Join them.”“What?” I was surprised.“Join them, Giulia,” he roared.“What did I do?” I asked. “There should be a reason why I should join them.”If I had to join them there should be a reason why.One of the men who knelt before Leonardo locked eyes with me and shook his head in what seemed like pity.I soon had a bad feeling about this, maybe I should have just done as he had asked without asking questions.Leonardo didn't utter another word. He sucked on his pipe a little longer and released the smoke from his nose.He did a little hand movement and
Giulia's POV“Sometimes, I wish there was something I could do to help Don Antonio.”I paced my room to and fro while Maria sat on the sofa watching me.“You seem to care about him a great deal; he's a ruthless mafia,” Maria said.“You know that too?... I mean the fact that he's ruthless,” I was surprised.“Who doesn't know Don Antonio?” She laughed. “He's a wild beast.”I raised my brows speechless. Maria was so bold to say these things; she wasn't as timid as the other maids.“How about Leonardo?”“He's ruthless too but he cannot be compared to Antonio who kills for a living.”“So, Leonardo is nicer?”“Not at all,” Maria laughed. “I didn't say so. Leonardo is ruthless as well.”“Fair enough,” I answered.“But ma'am,” Maria started. “Why do you care so much about helping Don Antonio?” she asked, not taking her gaze off me.“If I'm helping him, I'm helping myself,” I looked away from her. “This place is killing me.”“I get it,” Maria said. Her voice was steady and soothing.For a mome
Giulia's POV “Giulia,” he called and I almost fainted.How did he know I was here? I didn't tell anybody I was coming here. Not even Maria.“Come out now,” he ordered.I still stood behind the curtain. Maybe he wasn't so sure that I was here, he must be playing along with his instincts.Leonardo turned with a big frown. “Come out, Giulia.”Oh! He was fully aware of my presence, so I was caught. I walked out shakily from behind the curtain soaked in panic sweat.I couldn't breathe properly as I stood before Leonardo. This was going to be the worst day of my life.“You know,” he started as he walked back to his desk. “If any of my men saw you first, they'd have beaten you to stupor before coming to me.”I swallowed hard. The room was cold but my sweat pores could only produce more sweat.“What were you doing here?” he asked as he rested his back on his swirling chair.“I… I um…” I stuttered.“Speak now,” he ordered and I shook.“I came to…” I started again and stopped.There was no val
Giulia's POVI rolled to the other side of the bed as my abdomen ached.It was my fourth month here and I was beginning to get a hang of everything except for Leonardo's brutality.Maria had come in earlier to check up on me but left immediately to attend to something and I knew just where she went.I hadn't heard a word from Antonio since I sent that message and I never had the chance to speak to Frank. He was almost like the wind.Maria walked in with a smile that disappeared almost immediately when she saw the surprised look on my face.“What's the occasion, Maria?” I asked as I sat up.“It's nothing,” she answered. “So, how are you feeling?” She was trying to divert the conversation, but I knew better.“Maria, I'm fine and nothing wouldn't make you smile like that, it's something.”“Okay, fine.”She went to shut the door and came to sit next to me.“Gabriele and I are planning an escape,” she spoke in whispers.“Gabriele? Who's Gabriele?” I asked with raised brows.“Yes, he's my bo
Giulia's POVI sat quietly on my bed as the look on Maria's face before she died kept playing in my head.It has been weeks since she died but it felt like it all happened yesterday and memories of her lived rent-free in my head.Maria was so much like a sister to me and some stupid mafia who thinks he can get whatever he wants took her away from me.I rarely went out so the maids were forced to bring my meals which I barely had an appetite for to my room.I couldn't shut Leonardo out. He had a spare key and came in whenever he wanted to get what he wanted.
Giulia's POVJust as we stepped into his room, I pulled him closer and placed my lips on his, leading to a heated kiss.He had spoiled me today, it was my turn to return the favour.Our tongues twirled endlessly around each other and I felt the best run through my body.Antonio turned the other way and pinned me to the wall with our lips still in motion.Antonio's lips soon left mine. I closed my eyes as he trailed kisses from my lips down to my chest.He quickly ripped my dress off so he could access my breasts.“I loved the dress,” I said with a playful frown.“I got you this one, I'll get many more…”“if you say so.”Antonio went back to my lips and let his hand fondle my breasts, making every move worth the while.He pinched my nipples slightly and I moaned.Antonio let his hand drop to my panties and he tore it.He could have just asked me to take it off but what time was there to do so?Antonio took his lips from mine and pulled me up so that my legs were around his waist.He mad
Antonio's POVThe sun rays from the slightly opened curtain shone into my eyes.I opened my eyes to find Giulia still sleeping peacefully beside me. I moved away the strand of hair scattered on her face and placed a kiss on her forehead.I swung my legs from the bed and stood up. I didn't want to leave her side but I had to.If I was going to accomplish my plans for the day, I had to start early. I had never felt so much peace in my entire life, being with this woman was everything.I went to the bathroom to freshen up.As I had my bath, last night's ordeal presented itself in my thoughts.I carried Giulia in my arms from the dining room after the first round and when we got to my room, we went again before I collapsed.Damn! I waved away any more detail that came to mind before the urge to pounce on sleeping Guilia came.Life looks good again. I finished and prepared the bathtub for Giulia.It was something I had never done or even dreamt of doing for any woman but Giulia deserved to
Giulia's POV“Antonio asked for you,” a maid who had walked in after I asked her to, said.“Where is he?”“He is in the dining room; he's inviting you for dinner.”“I'll be there in a giffy,” I answered and she left after bowing slightly.I reached out for my dress as I had just had my bath a few minutes ago.As I put my dress on I took countless deep breaths to ease my heavy heart but it wasn't working.It would have been better if I ate in my room, I didn't want to see Vincenzo. I could only think of how I had left that day at the airport.I had not taken my time to think deeply on how he must have felt that day because I thought I was never going to see him again.But here I was…I walked to the dining room, my heart pounding heavily in my chest and for a moment, I thought it was going to come out.If there was anyone I didn't want to see now, it was Vincenzo.I didn't want to sit at the same table with him but I had no choice. I had never been this uncomfortable.I honestly began
Giulia's POVTwo months laterI walked into the building twirling my waist like I owned the place.I was earlier than usual and I couldn't help but imagine the look on his face when he got in to meet me in the office. I wore whatever I wanted but was sure to not abuse the privilege I was given to do so.Since the last time the boss shunned them, everyone was careful with what they said to me.Of course, they still gossiped but never to my hearing. The place became silent whenever I walked past.The receptionist, Amanda, became my best friend.We always exchanged pleasantries and did a little chit chat for a while before I took the elevator.Today wasn't any different.“You look good girl,” she said with a smile even before I got to her.“You don't look bad yourself,” I smiled back.“I still can't believe how lucky you are,” she said, the smile not wearing off.“What is it?” I asked with raised brows.“You are the only person who has worked this long as the boss’s personal assistant; g
Antonio's POV“Where is she?” Vincenzo asked immediately as he set his eyes on me.Vincenzo flew down after I told him about Sharon. I tried to dissuade him but he insisted on seeing her.“She is in her room.”“You already gave a stranger a room in your home; who knows if this is a trap?”I took a deep breath. I hope I wasn't making the wrong decision in bringing her in.“What if it's not?”“You have been getting countless attacks, Antonio… she could be one of them,” he interjected.What if Vincenzo was right?How I suddenly believed she was my sibling was what I couldn't fathom, yet my conviction was stronger than my doubt.“She's not.”“How sure are you?” He frowned.“I felt a connection the moment I saw her, the trust came so easily.”"Since when did you start working based on your emotions?”I took a step closer to him with a burning gaze.“I'm not working based on emotions, I'm being realistic.”“I hope you are not making a mistake you'll forever regret,” he said and looked away.
Antonio's POV“Good morning,” a nurse greeted me as I made my way to Sharon's room.I responded with a nod, not sparing her a glance.I got to her room to meet the doctor coming out.“Good morning, Antonio.”“Good morning Doc,” I answered. “How is she?”“Her health has improved, she's responding to treatment,” he said.“That's good news,” I said with a light smile and walked into the room.Sharon lay quietly with a drip fixed to her arm. Her mood lightened up when she saw me.I dropped the things I had bought for her on the table and sat next to her.She looked better than the previous days; her health had improved.I leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead and she smiled.How I'd come to care so much about this stranger was something I was yet to understand.''I brought some things for you,” I said as I helped her sit up.“That's so nice of you.”I picked the bag and handed her the fruits in it.For the last few days, I figured that she preferred fruits to food so I always got them
Giulia's POV“Bloody hell,” I muttered as i sleepily reached for my buzzing alarm to turn it off.I wanted to stay in bed a little longer but it was 5:30 am and I had to be ready before seven.I rolled out of bed and went to freshen up. As I opened my drawer, his words came to mind.‘You are to dress well as you would be almost everywhere with me.’I took out a mini corporate skirt and a long sleeved shirt coupled with my black heels. I carefully did my make up and packed my hair in a messy bun leaving two strands to fall forward.I quickly put on my jewelry and I was all set. I picked up my phone to check the time and it was a few minutes past six.Way to go, girl!I picked up my hand bag which I had arranged the night before and stepped out of the room.Then I remembered one more thing. ‘Always come with a jacket or two so as not to freeze to death.’I rushed inside to pick up the jacket he had given me the day before. I couldn't afford to freeze to death.My stomach grumbled but I
Giulia's POV "Lucien."What in the world was he doing here? Lucien, who was in shock, regained his composure.I was in awe. I just wanted the ground to open and swallow me; I thought I was never going to see him again."Giulia," he said with a smile.Why in the world was he smiling? Well, he wasn't the one who thought we were never seeing each other again."Babe," a high pitched voice came from inside.Lucien had a girlfriend?When Lucien didn't respond, she came out to see us standing faced each other. The shock on my face had been replaced with anger and Lucien retained his smile.Her eyes darted from Lucien to me and then back to Lucien."Do you know her?" She asked."I do," he answered curtly, in hopes that I didn't speak before he did.What was I even supposed to say?"We had a little clash yesterday and I never expected to see her today but it turns out we are neighbors."A little clash? The word 'neighbors' rang a loud bell.Was this what Vincenzo was talking about? He should
Antonio's POV"How is she?" I asked."Her condition is critical, and her breath is quite unsteady," the doctor said with his hands in his pocket."I want to see her."The doctor looked at me in hesitation before giving a nod.I followed him to the room and as he entered I followed suit with my mind in chaos.The moment I set my eyes on Sharon I broke down mentally and emotionally.She lay down looking lifeless with oxygen masked to her face. I couldn't help but blame myself for her condition.I got to her bedside and watched her. "What do we have to do to keep her alive?""I'm not certain about her survival but we can try...""What is that?" I asked in desperation. I couldn't let this woman I had just met hours ago die."We could carry out an operation. We've managed to stop the bleeding but the bullet has not been removed.""Why?""The bullet got to her heart and it's not something we can remove carelessly... it's a miracle that she is still alive," he said.I let my eyes run through