Chapter 73
Henley heard Victor's complaints, and a rare mischievous smirk appeared on his lips. He replied in a low voice in Eldorian, "Of course I know, but being lovesick doesn't stop him from smashing enemies' heads. You should know that better than I do, Mr. Malone."
Victor found it boring and stopped talking.
Isabella had never met Blake in person, but she had heard of his name.
A legendary mediator in Lumaria's underworld, a man who could make rival families sit down and negotiate.
Rumor had it that he and Vitale were on the same level, both the kind of people who could decide life and death with a smile.
As the four of them walked toward the restaurant entrance, the evening sky in Marigoldia was slowly turning pitch black.
Isabella's high heels clicked sharply on the marble floor, her deep blue silk gown swaying slightly in the night breeze.
The moment they entered the hall, she recognized Vitale's other accountant.
Dolby Hays, the middle-aged man who always wore a stern face while checking the books.
But what made Isabella stop in her tracks was the man standing next to Dolby.
He was leaning against a Marigoldian pillar in the hall, wearing a tight black T-shirt, his muscular arms covered in tattoos.
What stood out most was the scar on his neck.
A gruesome knife mark stretched from below his left ear down to his collarbone, like a permanent warning of death.
When his gaze landed on Isabella, those deep brown eyes held no warmth, only a beast-like assessment.
Isabella instinctively stepped back, turning to run.
Vitale's chest blocked her path just in time.
He steadily shielded her behind him, using his body to block that dangerous stare.
"He won't dare hurt you," Vitale's voice sounded above her head, calm but laced with a warning. "On Blake's turf, no one dares touch my woman."
Isabella buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath.
Vitale's scent calmed her down.
Cigar, whiskey, and his unique masculine aura helped her relax a bit.
Isabella looked up at him, her blue eyes still showing traces of the earlier panic.
"Alright," she said softly, "I should trust you, but you have to hold my hand."
Vitale met her gaze, a flicker of complicated emotions passing through his eyes.
Then he took her hand, their fingers tightly intertwined.
Vitale's palm was warm and dry, a stark contrast to Isabella's cold fingertips.
As they walked into the restaurant, Vitale's expression visibly hardened.
Blake was sitting at the innermost table. Seeing them, he stood up with a smile.
And that dangerous man was now standing behind Blake.
Turns out, he was Blake's bodyguard and enforcer.
"Vitale, old friend," Blake opened his arms, his silver hair gleaming under the lights.
He looked more like a university professor than a mafia boss, with sharp, cunning eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Blake," Vitale replied shortly, his handshake showing just the right balance of respect and confidence.
Blake's gaze immediately shifted to Isabella. "This must be Ms. Lorraine. Vitale mentioned you three times on the phone, which is a record level of attention for him."
Isabella smiled politely. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Rossi."
"Friend," Blake suddenly turned to Vitale, his smile becoming meaningful, "I've arranged a pool party on the rooftop. You'll love it. Remember last time you said you wanted to swim under the stars?"
Vitale's face darkened instantly.
Isabella clearly saw his jaw tighten, and his grip on her hand tightened for a moment.
"Damn it," Vitale lowered his voice. "Why are you pulling this annoying stunt again?"
Blake laughed and patted his shoulder. "The view from the rooftop is amazing. Are you scared or something?"
His gaze casually swept over Vitale's slightly pale knuckles.
Vitale gripped Isabella's fingers even tighter. "Scared of what? I've got Isabella with me."
Victor and Henley exchanged a sympathetic look.
Isabella knew that look all too well—it was like watching a friend being forced to do something they hated.
The transparent elevator was set in the center of the hall, with glass on all sides, clearly showing the mechanical structure in motion.
Henley instinctively wanted to go in first to check for safety, but Vitale stopped him.
"No need," Vitale's voice was a bit stiff. "You and Victor take the next one. Isabella's with me here."
Isabella looked at him in surprise. "He's supposed to protect your safety…"
"I said, no need," Vitale cut her off, his tone unusually sharp.
Then he glanced at Victor, who was trying hard not to laugh. "Damn it, stop smirking."
The elevator doors opened.
Vitale took a deep breath and led Isabella inside.
The moment the doors closed, Isabella finally understood.
The elevator slowly ascended, each floor's view unfolding outside the glass walls.
The crowd in the hall shrank smaller, then came the diners in the second-floor restaurant, the sweaty figures in the third-floor gym, the fourth, fifth, sixth floors…
The night view spread out below, with countless lights twinkling like scattered diamonds, dazzling and brilliant.
And Vitale's face grew worse with every rising floor.
Isabella suddenly pieced together all the clues.
That castle was built at sea level, never higher than three stories.
The office was on the 37th floor of Tyson Group's building, but with an opaque elevator;
The apartment he bought for her on the fifth floor, saying the height was just right.
The elevator swayed slightly, and Vitale's fingers tightened abruptly, almost hurting her.
Isabella looked up at him.
Under the lights, his face was almost devoid of color, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
But what broke her heart most was the look in Vitale's eyes.
That stubbornness of being pushed to the edge yet still trying to hold onto his pride.
Isabella gently pulled her hand free from Vitale's and cupped his face with both hands.
"Vitale," she said softly, "are you afraid of heights?"
Vitale let out a scoff, but the sound was so weak it carried no conviction. "No, I'm not afraid of heights. Don't talk nonsense. There's no way I'm scared of heights."
Isabella smiled, her thumb gently brushing his cold cheek. "Come on, Vitale, your face has no color at all. You know, you're freezing. My hands can't even warm you up."
Vitale gritted his teeth, forcing out a single word. "Not scared."
But just then, the elevator swayed slightly again.
Maybe it was the high-altitude wind, or just normal mechanical movement.
Vitale's eyes snapped shut, his body trembling uncontrollably for a moment.
In that instant, Isabella made a bold decision.
She took Vitale's hand and placed it on her chest, letting him feel her heartbeat.
Then Isabella stood on her tiptoes, held his face, and kissed him hard.
This kiss wasn't gentle comfort—it was fierce, dominant, and provocative.
She pried open his tightly closed lips with her tongue, mimicking the way he usually kissed her, until he responded in shock.
Vitale's arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.
Isabella deliberately let out a moan.
The kind he loved most, a sound that came from deep in her throat.
Vitale's body visibly stiffened, then he kissed her harder, as if trying to meld her into him.
The elevator kept rising.
Fifteenth floor, sixteenth, seventeenth…
Outside the windows, the city had turned into a toy model, the lights merging into a river of stars.
When they finally pulled apart, both were gasping for breath.
Vitale stared at her, his blue eyes swirling with shock, anger, and undeniable desire.
"Damn it," he growled, his voice hoarse with lust, "what are you doing?"
Isabella licked her swollen lips, a sly smile on her face. "Didn't you say before? When you're in pain, you like hearing my moans to distract you. This meeting is important, right? You can't look scared."
Vitale still tried to save face. "I'm not afra—"
The elevator suddenly stopped, the inertia making them sway slightly.
Vitale's eyes shut tight again, his arms tightening unconsciously.
Then he did something that broke Isabella's heart.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his muffled voice coming through. "I'm sorry."
Vitale whispered, sounding like a child who'd done something wrong. "I might actually be a little scared. But I only want you to know."
Isabella's heart melted instantly.
She lifted Vitale's face and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"Of course," Isabella promised softly, "only I know. This is our secret."