Chapter 127
"Just kidding, I'm just making a bad joke," Frand hurriedly pleaded through gritted teeth, "Your Isabella is definitely waiting for you obediently in Thalassia, one hundred percent, I believe it! I absolutely believe it!"
He was rambling, desperate to get that terrifying finger away from his fragile wound.
Vitale squinted, staring at him for a few more seconds before finally easing the pressure from his fingertip.
He glanced down at the expensive platinum watch on his wrist.
"It's late. I'm heading back to rest. Got a date with Isabella tomorrow."
His steps were steady, showing no hint of hesitation.
It wasn't until the warehouse door opened and closed for the third time that Frand let out a shaky breath.
"Damn it."
He cursed under his breath, his heart still pounding. The wound on his abdomen throbbed even worse from the tension and fear.
The two doctors resumed bandaging his wound, but their movements were more cautious than before, barely daring to breathe.
Frand suddenly felt a wave of absurdity and anger.
"Tell me, is Vitale completely insane? Over a woman, he smashed a table, nearly killed someone, and now he's planning a damn candlelit dinner and a walk down the aisle?"
He was fishing for agreement, trying to salvage his crushed pride and shaken worldview.
The two doctors froze mid-motion, exchanging a quick, terrified glance.
After all, it was Vitale who paid their salaries and held their lives in his hands, not this defeated and unpredictable Frand in front of them.
Even if they agreed with him a thousand times in their heads, they wouldn't dare say a single word.
Frand waited a few seconds, got no response, and angrily shoved away the hand of the doctor wrapping his bandage.
"Useless cowards, can't even speak the truth."
The sudden movement tugged at his abdominal wound, sending a sharp pain through him. He hunched over, letting out a stifled groan, his face growing even paler.
The two doctors stepped back in fear, unsure of what to do.
Frand panted, clutching his stomach, taking a while to recover.
He ignored the two frightened doctors, his gaze falling on the broken table in the center of the warehouse, his expression complicated.
Vitale had really changed.
Or maybe, the obsession and possessiveness buried deep in his bones had been fully ignited and unleashed because of that woman named Isabella.
Was this a good thing, or the start of a bigger disaster?
Frand didn't know.
All he knew was that in three days, he'd be sneaking into a place that might be a lion's den, and the root of it all was tied to that woman far away in Thalassia, possibly sleeping peacefully right now.
"Isabella," he muttered her name under his breath.
Thalassia.
The phone vibrated on the bar counter, the screen lighting up.
Isabella grabbed it almost instantly.
The message was short: [Just finished handling things. I'm exhausted, gonna sleep, then come back.]
Vitale was fine. He'd taken care of everything, he remembered to come back, and he was letting her know.
Those simple words felt like a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.
She replied almost immediately, her fingers quick: [Good night.]
After sending it, Isabella looked at the phone screen, a small smile tugging at her lips.
The heavy feeling that had nowhere to go before miraculously faded away for the most part.
"Got a message from the boss?" Laura, who had been watching her, teased as she leaned over, her tone laced with envy, "Your face lit up all of a sudden."
Isabella put away her phone, a bit embarrassed, "Yeah, Vitale said he's done, he's tired, and he's going to rest."
"That's good," Laura said, visibly relieved. She could tell how anxious Isabella had been earlier, "Alright, you've been out of it. This place is too noisy anyway. Let me take you somewhere we can talk properly."
Laura paid the bill and pulled Isabella out of the loud bar. They crossed a couple of streets and turned into a quieter alley.
Deep in the alley was a small, unassuming shop with a warm yellow sign that read "Haven."
Pushing the door open, it was a world apart from the bar they'd just left.
Soft jazz music played in the background, the lighting was warm and dim, and the air smelled of coffee beans and old books.
The booths were separated by simple partitions, creating little private spaces.
Most of the customers were in small groups of friends, talking quietly, with hardly anyone raising their voice.
"Pretty nice, right?" Laura said, leading the way to a corner booth in the back, "I come here when I'm in a bad mood. Amboni doesn't know about this place."
Isabella looked around and nodded.
The atmosphere here finally let her tense nerves relax.
The deafening music and crowded bar from earlier now felt exhausting just thinking about it.
A waiter brought over two cups of hot herbal tea, the fragrance wafting up.
Laura looked at the steam rising from her cup, hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, "Isabella, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you."
Isabella looked at her, "What is it?"
"It's about you and Vitale," Laura said, lowering her voice, "Do you remember Marina? The one who kept trying to seduce Vitale and got transferred to the logistics department?"
Isabella nodded.
"She's been spreading rumors about you and the boss in the office," Laura said with some difficulty, "Most colleagues don't really believe it, since everyone knows how the boss operates. But some things about you seem a bit suspicious. There were a few times you came out of his office after a long while, and your clothes looked a bit wrinkled, your hair was messy, and it was obvious you'd touched up your makeup."
Isabella listened and smiled, a hint of pride in her expression.
"Really? Is it spread that much? And not just once, huh."
"What?" Laura was stunned.
"I mean," Isabella set down her cup, leaning forward slightly and lowering her voice even more, "I've fucked Vitale in his office more than once."
Laura's eyes widened, clearly shocked by Isabella's bluntness and boldness, "You really…"
"Vitale loves it," Isabella continued, her gaze a bit distant, as if recalling some heated moments, "He says it's exciting and helps him focus on work. Honestly, I can't really say no."
Her voice softened, carrying a mix of helplessness and indulgence.
Laura covered her flushed face, taking a moment to recover, "You're really bold."
Maybe it was the safe, private setting, or maybe the alcohol and emotional ups and downs of the night had lowered her guard, but Isabella opened up about deeper things for the first time.
"If I weren't bold…" She looked at the petals floating in her cup, her voice soft, "My first time might've been taken by some jerk long ago."
Laura sat up straight, her expression turning serious and concerned.
Isabella briefly recounted that party, Colt's intentions, Sonia's scheming, and how, on the edge of despair, she chose to run toward Vitale—who seemed more dangerous at the time but might've been her only way out.
"So you see," Isabella concluded, her smile tinged with bitterness but also relief, "it's because I made that bold choice back then that I didn't lose to myself or fall into the trap Sonia and Colt set for me. Though I might've jumped into an even deeper mess."
Laura listened, her face full of anger, "Your sister Sonia is just awful! How could she do that to you? Sounds like your family situation isn't great."
Isabella shook her head, her expression softening, "Actually, aside from Sonia, the rest of my family is fine. My mom passed away from illness when I was young, but she was very kind. My dad loves me a lot, but he just doesn't always know how to show it, and his health isn't great. I don't want to worry him. I also have a younger brother in college, and we're really close. It's just Sonia—she's always had this weird hostility toward me, especially when it comes to men. But honestly…"
She sighed, "I've never wanted to take anything from her, especially not any man."
"I believe you," Laura said without hesitation, squeezing Isabella's hand, "You're not that kind of person. The first time I met you, I thought you seemed so pure and clear-headed, not someone who plays mind games."
She paused, then circled back to the original topic, curiosity getting the better of her, "And the first time I saw Vitale, honestly, I thought he'd have tons of women around him."
"With his status, his presence, his charm," Laura's face flushed again, "it's hard to imagine he'd be a one-woman man."
Isabella smiled, this time brightly, with a sweet certainty.
She shook her head, "No, he's said it himself—I'm the only woman for him."
Laura looked skeptical, or maybe it was her general view of men that made it hard to believe.
"Why? Are you sure he's never had a girlfriend before? That doesn't seem likely. With Vitale's build, his looks, and that commanding vibe he has…"
Her voice trailed off, her face growing redder, "I bet he's amazing in bed, right?"