Chapter Seventy One

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

MAXIMO

My office was a mess. Papers were scattered everywhere, a chaotic reflection of my mind. I tried to focus on the numbers on my screen, but they blurred together and danced in my vision. It had been one week and two days since I left Aria in that hospital room, never to see her again. I stayed true to my word. I didn’t send any of my men to monitor or stalk her, even though a part of me desperately wanted to know what and how she was doing felt like a part of my soul had died.

I rubbed my temples, willing myself to care about something—anything—beyond this hollow existence.

Just then, I heard the door of my office being pushed open.

“Cancel any appointments I have,” I muttered, thinking it was my secretary.

But the silence remained, and the only thing I could hear was the clicking of heels as whoever it was got closer to me.

That was when I whipped my head up to see no other person but Caterina.

“Get out,” I bit out, the words tumbling out before I could even