Chapter 54
Simon finished speaking, gave a graceful bow, and turned to leave.
Only after the office door was completely shut did the two women let out a sigh of relief at the same time.
"Are you okay?" Laura's voice trembled a bit, "I'm sorry, I had no idea he was this dangerous. I'm such a shallow idiot, only seeing his face."
"It's fine, Laura." Isabella put down her book and rubbed her stiff fingers, "I'd think he's handsome too, but remember, the prettier something is, the more poisonous it can be. When it comes to men, trust your gut, not your eyes."
Though she wasn't really in a position to say that. After all, hadn't she also fallen for Vitale's body and looks back then?
In the end, Isabella found out that the man she chose was actually a mafia boss.
Laura nodded, "Yeah, I think you're right. I'm a bit thirsty."
Isabella walked to the water cooler, poured a glass of water, handed it to her, and asked, "Did Simon ever ask you about me before?"
Laura thought for a moment, "He asked a lot, but not directly. He'd always bring it up casually, wait for me to respond, and then steer the conversation. God, thinking about it now, he probably knows way more than I realized."
"He's much more dangerous than Amboni," Isabella concluded.
Laura nodded, "The people in Victor's branch of the family are all trouble. I've heard their internal dynamics are really complicated. So, Simon coming here might be to keep an eye on Mr. Luca."
Isabella caught the key detail, "Isn't Vitale the one in control of the family?"
"It's split up," Laura lowered her voice, "Mr. Luca controls the core business, but the other branches have their own agendas. That's also why he needs someone like you, fresh blood, loyal, and not tied to any old factions."
Isabella walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Down below, Simon was leaning against a black car, smoking.
His gaze shifted upward, locking precisely on the direction of Vitale's office.
Then, he made a move that made Isabella's blood run cold.
Simon raised his right hand, thumb up, index finger extended, mimicking a gun, and pretended to shoot at the window.
"Damn it." Isabella cursed out loud.
Laura came over just in time to see Simon get into the car and drive off, "What did he do?"
"A warning," Isabella's voice was icy, "Or a preview."
Meanwhile, in the closed-off office, Vitale was going through a tough moment.
Judy was presenting the latest PR plan, but he didn't hear a single word.
Vitale's knee was shaking uncontrollably under the desk.
It wasn't fear, but longing.
He wanted to see Isabella, to hold her in his arms, to make sure she wasn't hurt by Simon's probing.
God knows how much willpower it took for him not to storm out and interrupt when he heard the questions Simon asked.
His phone was right beside him, the screen dark.
He wanted to text her, to hear her voice, but Vitale forced himself to wait.
He wanted to know if Isabella would reach out to him first.
Judy was still rambling on, "So, I think we should arrange a meeting with the mayor to showcase Tyson Group's contributions to social responsibility…"
Vitale unlocked his phone, his fingers scrolling through the photo album.
It was full of secretly taken pictures of Isabella.
The shadow her lashes cast on her cheeks while she slept, the slight frown when she was focused on work, and those hazy looks he captured in intimate moments.
Damn it.
Vitale felt a familiar tightness in his lower body.
Getting turned on by these photos in front of an employee—he must be out of his mind.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
Victor sent a message: [Simon has already made contact with your little bird. She's not as fragile as she looks. Also, Simon asked those 'special' questions. Her reaction was interesting.]
Vitale stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
"Mr. Luca?" Judy stopped her report, surprised.
He didn't answer, striding toward the door and yanking it open.
Across the hallway, Isabella was standing by the glass wall of her office, her profile looking thin yet resolute in the sunlight.
Vitale walked over quickly, his eyes scanning her carefully.
No tear stains, no trembling, even her posture carried a stubborn strength.
Only after confirming that Isabella was truly okay did the tight knot in Vitale's nerves finally loosen.
"Mr. Luca?" Judy followed him out, her voice tinged with barely hidden jealousy, "Our meeting isn't over."
Vitale didn't look at her. Instead, he took Isabella's hand.
The gesture was so natural, as if they'd done it a thousand times.
"Let my secretary join us," he announced, pulling Isabella back to his office, "She needs to know everything."
Judy's expression changed, but she had no right to challenge Vitale's decision.
Isabella, led by Vitale, could feel the burning warmth of his palm.
Her cheeks flushed, half from this sudden closeness, half from the open hostility she was about to face from Judy.
Vitale had Isabella sit in the chair beside his desk.
That spot was usually reserved for the most important guests.
Judy stood across from them, her fingers unconsciously gripping her folder tightly.
"Go on." Vitale said, but his hand remained on Isabella's, his thumb gently brushing her skin.
Judy forced herself to continue her report, though her voice was clearly strained.
Isabella tried to focus, but Vitale's touch was like an electric current, messing with her thoughts.
She could feel the venom in Judy's stare, Vitale's silent claim, and the undercurrent of power struggles in this office.
And when Vitale lightly bumped her leg with his knee under the desk, Isabella suddenly realized—this crazy man missed her.
Good thing, because she missed him too back then.
When the meeting ended, Vitale told Judy, "Redo the plan. I want to see a more aggressive strategy targeting the Gabriel family and Costa's remnants."
After Judy left, only the two of them remained in the office.
Vitale turned around, placing both hands on the armrests of Isabella's chair, trapping her between his arms.
"Simon's questions," he looked straight into her eyes, "you could've refused to answer."
"But I did answer," Isabella met his gaze, "Because I have nothing to hide, not in the past, and not now."
Vitale leaned down, his forehead touching hers, "You know, when you told Simon to get out, I was watching on the surveillance. That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life."
Then he kissed Isabella.
Not a gentle, testing kiss, but one full of possessiveness and declaration.
In this center of power, in a glass office where someone might be watching, Vitale used his own way to tell Isabella.
She was his.
And the world better accept that fact soon.