Chapter 70
Isabella remembered what Vitale had said about weaknesses.
That day in the greenhouse, he mentioned casually, "Letting everyone know you're my weakness actually makes things safer."
She believed him back then because his embrace was so warm, his kisses so real, and his promises so firm.
But now, standing in the corridor on the thirty-seventh floor of Tyson Group Tower, facing those unfamiliar and dangerous faces, and sensing the tension in the air, she finally understood the storm hidden behind Vitale's casual words.
"Vitale said he was on a business trip," she turned to Amboni, trying to keep her voice steady, "but I want the truth. Is his life in danger?"
Amboni was clearly caught off guard, a flicker of panic passing through his usually sharp eyes.
Isabella Lorraine was much sharper than he'd thought.
This seemingly gentle blonde beauty had the instincts of a hawk.
"Ms. Martinez, Mr. Luca, he..." Amboni started, but was interrupted by a sudden commotion at the end of the corridor.
Everyone turned their heads.
Vitale was back.
He walked at the front, his dark gray suit perfectly tailored, his red hair glowing like fire under the corridor lights.
But Isabella noticed something off right away. There was a man beside him.
The man was taller than Vitale, with broader shoulders, dressed in a custom black suit, his tie knotted flawlessly.
He shared similar features with Vitale—high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and that innate arrogance of an ancient family.
But he was a few inches taller, more muscular, like a battle-hardened beast trained under harsher conditions.
Vitale entered the office, his gaze lingering on Isabella's face for just a second.
One second.
Then he looked away, gesturing to Amboni and Laura.
They understood immediately, almost half-pushing, half-guiding Isabella out of the office.
"Ms. Martinez, let's step outside for now," Laura said apologetically. "Mr. Luca just got back, and he must have a lot of urgent matters to handle."
The office door closed in front of Isabella.
Through the glass wall, she saw Victor—she later learned his name.
He was looking at her with the eyes of someone sizing up prey.
There was curiosity in his gaze, scrutiny, and a hint of mockery she couldn't quite read.
Her stomach churned.
Isabella covered her mouth, forcing herself to take deep breaths.
Something was wrong. Everything felt wrong.
Vitale never acted like this after a business trip.
He'd call her the moment his plane landed, saying in that husky, sexy voice, "I missed you, baby."
He'd rush into her office as soon as he got back, not caring who was around, and give her a possessive kiss.
Then at night, whether in his office, her apartment, or the castle by the sea, Vitale would prove how much he missed her with his body and sweet words.
Not like now.
Cold, distant, as if she were just another employee.
All morning, Isabella absentmindedly handled paperwork, her eyes drifting to the closed door.
Inside the office, Vitale and Victor talked for a full two hours.
She wasn't called in to serve coffee, wasn't asked to take meeting notes, and no one even seemed to remember she was the CEO's secretary.
At eleven, the meeting room door finally opened.
Vitale and Victor walked outside by side, followed by Amboni and a few men in suits, whom Isabella didn't recognize.
She immediately noticed a fresh wound on Vitale's right hand—cracked skin on his knuckles, covered with medical tape, clearly recent.
She instinctively clicked her tongue, and that small sound made Victor turn his head.
His gaze swept over her face like a spotlight, finally settling on her eyes, which were fixed on Vitale.
Isabella didn't back down.
She met Victor's stare, then shifted her focus back to Vitale.
Her obsessive, worried look was so obvious that even the other employees outside the meeting room noticed, whispers spreading through the corridor.
During lunch break, Isabella cornered Laura in the restroom.
"Who is that man?"
Laura hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Victor. Mr. Luca's cousin is from one of the biggest mafia families in Eldoria."
She added, "And one of the most powerful ones."
Isabella frowned. "So you're keeping me away from him? Is Vitale scared of him? Or is he a threat to me?"
"No, no!" Laura quickly waved her hands. "Mr. Luca isn't scared of him. As long as you're in this building, you're absolutely safe."
"Mr. Luca is the strongest, he..."
"Then why is he being so cold to me?" Isabella cut her off, her voice carrying a hurt she didn't even realize was there. "He came back and didn't even look at me, like I'm..."
Like, I suddenly don't matter to him.
She didn't say the rest, but Laura understood.
She sighed and gently hugged Isabella. "Give him some time, Isabella. Mr. Luca is under a lot of pressure right now."
In the afternoon, when Amboni brought over a stack of files, he accidentally let something slip. "Mr. Luca is very busy. Don't take it personally. He asked me to arrange to hide you for now."
Isabella's head snapped up. "Hide me? Vitale told you to hide me? Why?"
Amboni's face changed instantly, realizing his mistake. "I mean, arrange some security measures! Yes, extra security!"
He raised his voice, trying to cover his panic. "Laura, where's Laura?"
Then he practically fled.
Isabella sat at her desk, looking around.
Those unfamiliar faces were still on guard. Henley stood at the end of the corridor, his eyes occasionally scanning her area.
Everything pointed to one fact.
Danger was closing in, and Vitale had chosen to push her away instead of protecting her by his side like before.
This wasn't his style.
Vitale was never the type to dodge problems. He was the kind who'd drag a problem out and crush it in front of everyone.
Unless this time, the problem was so tough that even he felt he had to protect her this way.
Isabella took out her phone and dialed Vitale's number.
It rang three times, then she saw Vitale and Victor coming out of the meeting room, walking past the corridor outside her office.
Vitale pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.
He didn't stop walking. His finger swiped across the screen, hanging up.
He didn't even look at her through the glass wall.
Isabella stared at the blacked-out phone screen, her heart feeling like it had been pierced by an ice pick.
Then, a wave of anger she'd never felt before rose from deep inside.
Fine.
If Vitale decided to handle their issues this way, she had her own way, too.
She opened her laptop and started focusing on those suspicious accounts.
Numbers danced on the screen as Isabella reorganized every transaction, tracing them back to the original senders.
This was what she was best at—finding order in chaos, digging out truth from lies.
And this time, the truth she wanted to uncover was why Vitale had suddenly changed.
Halfway through her work, she set a rule for herself.
Until Vitale gave her a proper explanation, he wasn't touching her again.
No kisses, no hugs, no sweet words that melted her, no passionate moments that made her lose herself.
She loved him.
God knew how much she loved that redheaded jerk.
But love wasn't blind obedience or passive waiting.
Love was asking questions even when scared, seeking the truth even if it hurt.
Outside, dusk slowly fell.
Isabella shut down her computer and packed up to leave.
Passing Vitale's office, she paused.
The door was slightly open.
She saw Vitale standing by the window, his back to the door, holding a glass of whiskey.
Victor sat on the couch, saying something, but Vitale didn't respond.
His silhouette looked lonely.
The kind of loneliness that even standing at the peak of power couldn't chase away.
Isabella's heart softened for a moment, but then hardened again.
She turned toward the elevator, deciding not to go back to the apartment Vitale had arranged for her, but to Aria's place instead.
As the elevator doors closed, she didn't see Vitale turn around, his gaze following her as she left, pain swirling in his blue eyes as she'd never seen before.
Nor did she hear Victor's words, "Are you sure about this? Pushing her away, making her hate you?"
Vitale downed the whiskey in his glass, his voice rough. "Her hating me is better than her dying by my side."