Chapter 191

Chapter 191
ISABELLA

“From the look on your face, I am right—that he made sure no company hires you.”
I nodded. “I used to work as an intern in the PR department at Ferrari & Co. That’s where I met Levi,” I added, trying to steady my voice.
Mateo’s lips twitched into something almost like recognition, as if he now knew where to put me. “Good. We need a PR manager now. You will be working with my son; that way you can keep a better eye on him. Mr. Antonio holds no power over me, so whatever blacklist he tried to put you on means nothing here.”
I smiled, light-headed. “Thank you. I’ve missed working—doing what I studied in school. I’ve missed pouring myself into something that mattered.” The words escaped in a rush, more honest than I intended. The idea of a steady place, of purpose, of traveling, of being useful again made my chest ache with relief.
“Thank you.” Charlotte finally spoke, and now Mateo turned his attention to her.
“How are you, my dear?” he asked, and I could tell he was fond of her—very. I zoned out as they spoke. Inside me, I felt that fear—the kind you feel when something good is about to happen, and you know your life is about to change.

Lorenzo had impeccable taste, if the five-star restaurant I tailed him to was anything to go by. The space was intimate, warm light pooling over polished wood tables, and the soft murmur of carefully curated music drifted through the room. I slid into a seat near a tall window, the glass framed in dark wood, letting me observe the street outside and his table without being too exposed. Lorenzo and Barbara sat at the far end of the restaurant, two seats from the door—a calculated distance that somehow made the table feel both close and apart.
He knew I was watching him, having been told by his father that I would be, according to plan, yet he seemed unbothered, clearly not into his date.
Dinner had begun. Barbara was nibbling delicately at her food, her movements graceful, while Lorenzo barely touched his own plate. His attention seemed elsewhere—focused on me, though he would not dare look directly. I swallowed nervously; his gaze made me nervous, though I swallowed again, forcing myself to maintain the air of composure Mateo had drilled into me. Supposed to be in control. But my pulse betrayed me.
I pulled out my phone, the familiar weight grounding me, and started typing a quick message to Caroline and Matt, who had been calling and texting all day. It was evening now, and I knew they were worried as hell.
“I’m fine, guys. Coming home soon.”
I set the phone down and looked up, only to catch a subtle shift at their table. Lorenzo and Barbara were talking, but the energy between them felt… tense, almost competitive, like two wolves circling, ready to pounce on each other at any moment. A flicker of amusement hit me—this was eerily reminiscent of how Levi and I used to bicker, teasing and testing each other, only… too long ago.
Then it had been attraction on my part at least, because I was unable to resist him, and maybe for him too. However, Lorenzo and Barbara did seem to actually loathe each other. I almost laughed at the thought, remembering how mad I had been at Levi when he put my truck up for sale.
And then, as if I had summoned him, Levi appeared at the restaurant entrance. My breath caught. He stepped into the room with that effortless presence, wearing a soft grey cashmere coat that fell perfectly over his frame. His black hair was slightly tousled, and the familiar glint in his brown eyes—sharp, commanding, impossibly beautiful—locked onto me.
No man had ever made me feel like this. None. My heart threatened to shatter and ignite all at once. Every nerve in my body was alive, screaming at the audacity of him standing there. And yet, why was he here? Had he followed me? I had no idea. The question churned inside me, a twisting, dangerous knot. It was maddening, intoxicating, terrifying.
Lorenzo stole a glance in my direction again, oblivious to the fact that my attention had completely shifted. The room seemed to shrink around me; the warm glow of the chandeliers, the soft hum of conversation, even the clink of cutlery faded into the background. It was just Levi and me. My pulse thudded painfully in my ears as his gaze met mine, sharp and unyielding, and he began walking straight toward my table. Every instinct in me screamed to stand and run, but I rooted myself to the spot, gripping the edge of the table to keep from trembling.
He pushed a chair out across from me and sat down, the movement deliberate, controlled, as if claiming a piece of territory. My chest tightened.
“Levi… what are you doing here?” I asked, forcing my gaze to remain composed. After the fight earlier today, I would not let him see weakness—not here, not now.
He leaned forward slightly, pulling a sealed envelope from the pocket of his cashmere coat and placing it on the table, the soft rustle of paper audible in the sudden stillness. “I will be asking the questions here.”