Chapter 117
Henley paused for a moment, noticing a hint of Vitale in Isabella's eyes.
It was that confident air of control, the calm way she gave orders with a gentle tone, and the sharp, witty sense of humor that hit back just as hard.
It seemed that spending a lot of time together really did make lovers influence each other, leaving traces of one another.
Henley couldn't help but curve his lips into a slight smile as he said, "Alright, Ms. Martinez."
He turned and gestured to two of his men sitting in another car parked at the street corner.
It was an ordinary-looking black sedan, but the windows were made of special bulletproof glass, and the engine was modified to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just three seconds.
The two men got out quickly, their movements well-trained and their faces expressionless.
One of them opened the back door for Sonia and Colt. Sonia tried to resist, but Colt shook his head and gently pushed her inside.
He got in as well, his expression surprisingly calm. He even nodded at Henley, as if thanking him for some kind of hospitality.
The door closed, the engine roared to life, and the car sped off like an arrow released from a bow.
Sonia's screams immediately pierced through the closed windows. Even with good soundproofing, you could still hear her terrified, high-pitched wails.
The car nearly drifted during a sharp turn, and Sonia's screams hit their peak before quickly fading.
Maybe she passed out, or perhaps she was too scared to make another sound.
Aria burst into excited laughter, "A real-life car chase! So cool! I hope Sonia doesn't wet her pants tonight, but honestly, she deserves it!"
Henley glanced at Aria, "No surprise that friends of Ms. Martinez are all so interesting."
Aria's face turned slightly red, but she didn't back down. Instead, she puffed out her chest, her eyes bold and bright.
"Yeah, I think I'm pretty interesting too. And Henley, you're cool as well."
"You always show up and disappear like some kind of invisible man. Can I add you as a contact? I mean, just in case I need bodyguard services in the future. Or, you know, just to chat?"
She held out her phone, the screen showing the "add contact" page, her eyes full of anticipation and nervousness.
Henley raised an eyebrow and looked at Isabella.
Isabella shrugged helplessly, a fond smile on her lips.
"She likes you and wants to be friends. Aria's always very straightforward. You'll get used to it."
Henley turned back to Aria, looking at her eager expression, and stayed silent for a few seconds.
Finally, he shook his head.
"Sorry, I'm not interested."
"I'm a bodyguard. My job requires me to keep a distance. I can't build personal connections with friends of the people I protect. It's for everyone's safety."
Aria's smile froze, her tone disappointed.
"Alright, I get it. Professionalism matters. I just thought you were cool. Never mind."
Isabella sighed.
She understood Henley's position. As Vitale's personal bodyguard, he had to stay completely professional and distant.
But she also felt bad for Aria.
"Henley, I think you should take Aria and me back to the office."
"I need to change clothes, and I have work this afternoon. Also, please arrange a good car—low-key but safe—to take my other friend Doria home."
"Her husband is a politician involved in some recent events. I don't want her to get into any trouble because of today."
Henley narrowed his eyes, instantly understanding.
He nodded, his expression turning serious.
"Understood, Ms. Martinez. I'll arrange two cars. One will take Mrs. Martinez home, making sure she arrives safely without drawing any attention. The other will take you and Aria back to the Tyson Group building. I'll escort you myself."
He was very efficient.
A few minutes later, two plain black sedans pulled up by the roadside.
Henley opened the door of the first car for Doria, quietly giving the driver some instructions.
Doria hugged Isabella and Aria, thanking them for today, before getting in and leaving.
In the second car, Henley sat in the front passenger seat while Isabella and Aria sat in the back.
The ride back to the office was quiet. Aria kept looking out the window, no longer speaking.
Isabella gently took her hand. Aria didn't turn around, but her fingers squeezed back lightly.
Isabella thought that after Henley's intense car ride lesson, Sonia would behave herself and at least not dare to bother her for a while.
But she underestimated Sonia's stubbornness and spite.
A few days later, in the afternoon, Isabella was in her office sorting through a complicated tax document when the internal phone rang.
The receptionist's voice sounded a bit nervous.
"Ms. Martinez, there's a lady named Sonia in the lobby. She says she wants to see you."
"She claims to be your sister, and she said if you don't meet her, she'll..."
The receptionist hesitated.
"She'll what?" Isabella asked calmly, though a bad feeling was already creeping up inside her.
"She said she'll call your father and tell him some private things about you and Mr. Luca."
Isabella closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Sonia hadn't learned her lesson. Instead, she doubled down, using even more shameless tactics to threaten her.
A few minutes later, Isabella met Sonia in the lobby's reception area.
She looked more worn out than a few days ago, with dark circles under her eyes that even thick foundation couldn't hide. But the malice in her gaze was as sharp as ever.
"Isabella, I need you to come with me to an event tonight at Nightingale Club in the city center."
"It's a private gathering. Only certain people can get in. I tried, and they know me, but because Colt got into some trouble recently, they won't let me through."
Sonia paused, a vicious smile curling on her lips, "But your name can get in. More specifically, the name of Vitale's partner can. If you say you're Vitale's woman, they'll respectfully let you in without even checking an invitation."
Isabella immediately shook her head, "No, I won't use Vitale's name to go anywhere. And I don't want to go to some club. I have work to do."
Sonia's smile vanished.
"Then I'll call Dad right now," she said, her voice calm but laced with threat, "I'll tell him his precious little daughter is involved with a mafia boss, a man who broke her ex-boyfriend's legs, controls her life, and turned her into a cold-blooded monster. How do you think he'll react? Will his heart condition act up?"
Isabella's fingers tightened at her sides.
She knew her father, Mason Lorraine, had a mild heart condition and couldn't handle stress.
And Mason always believed she was living a normal life in Thalassia, with a decent job, maybe dating a reliable guy, and eventually settling down with a family.
He couldn't know about Vitale, at least not like this.
"Sonia, you can't—" she tried to stop her.
But Sonia had already pressed the call button, holding the phone to her ear.
Isabella's heart pounded in her chest, "Wait!"
Sonia paused, her finger hovering over the end call button, her eyes locked on Isabella, waiting for her to give in.
Isabella bit her lower lip, feeling a sickening sense of helplessness.
"Fine," she finally said, her voice dry, "I'll go with you, but just this once. And I won't use Vitale's name. I'll figure something out."
Sonia smiled with satisfaction, ended the call, and slipped the phone back into her bag.
"Good. I'll pick you up at eight tonight. Dress nicely, but not too revealing. It's a classy place."
Isabella stood there, feeling a wave of dizziness.
Back in her office, she had just sat down when Henley knocked and came in.
He had clearly learned about Sonia's visit through the security system.
"Ms. Martinez, what does she want?"
Isabella hesitated but knew she couldn't hide it from Henley.
He was Vitale's eyes and ears, always aware of everything.
"She's forcing me to go to a club with her, saying only Vitale's name can get us in."
"She threatened to tell my father about Vitale and me. I agreed to go."
Henley's expression darkened instantly, "No, this needs to be reported to Mr. Luca. That club isn't a safe place. And Sonia is clearly using you."
"Don't tell him," Isabella said quickly, a hint of pleading in her voice, "Henley, I want to handle this myself. Sonia is my sister, my problem."
"I don't want to rely on Vitale every time I'm in trouble. I need to prove I can protect myself."
Henley was angry. He took a step forward, his voice low but firm.
"Ms. Martinez, this isn't a small matter. Nightingale Club is one of Blake's territories. The activities there aren't clean, and Sonia obviously has ulterior motives. You can't go to a place like that alone. Mr. Luca will—"
"Henley!" Isabella cut him off, "I can handle this. I can."
"You can help me from the shadows and keep me safe, but don't tell Vitale."
"This is my fight. I need to win it on my own."
Henley stared into Isabella's eyes, silent for a long time.
Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"Alright," he relented, though his expression remained serious, "I'll help you from the shadows. But you need to know, if Mr. Luca finds out—and he will, because nothing gets past him. You'll have to face the consequences yourself."
"I don't want to get my ribs broken just because of your stubbornness."
Isabella nodded, relieved, "Of course. I won't let you get in trouble. I promise."
At eight that evening, Sonia showed up right on time downstairs at Isabella's apartment building to pick her up and head to Nightingale.
The car stopped in front of an unremarkable building in the city center. There was no sign at the entrance, just two men in black suits wearing earpieces standing guard.
Isabella could feel a faint vibration through the ground.
It was music, a deep, heavy bass, like the pulsing of a giant heart.
The scene felt familiar in a way that made her uneasy.