Chapter 71
Victor couldn't believe how quickly and decisively Vitale hung up the phone.
The moment the screen went dark, Victor raised an eyebrow, his tone full of disbelief. "Are you planning to keep ignoring your 'muse'? The way she looked at you just now, she seemed like a little kitten abandoned by its owner."
"Not the right time," Vitale said, tossing his phone onto the desk with a rare hint of exhaustion in his voice. "Once I've got everything sorted, I'll go explain things to Isabella."
He rubbed his temples, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "A kitten does need comforting, I know that."
Victor shrugged and poured himself half a glass of whiskey from the bottle on the table. "Just a heads-up—angry women are scarier than ten fully armed enemies. You'd better hold out until you've got everything under control."
The next day, Isabella was fully focused on handling the accounts.
Numbers danced across the screen as her fingers flew over the keyboard, trying to fill the emptiness and unease Vitale had left her with through work.
Damn Vitale. He didn't come to see her last night, nor did he call or text.
She was determined to kick this Vitale out of her heart.
Isabella's frustration was so obvious that her colleagues didn't dare approach her.
"Isabella?" Laura cautiously poked her head in. "Mr. Luca wants you to join Mr. Rossi's video conference. It starts in ten minutes."
Without looking up, Isabella replied, "I'm an accountant, not PR. What does he need me there for?"
"I don't know," Laura said, her voice quieter, "but Mr. Luca expects you to be ready in ten minutes. He's already waiting."
"I'm not going," Isabella said, her pen leaving a sharp scratch on the paper. "I'm busy. Tell Mr. Luca I have my own meeting this afternoon."
Before she could finish, a deep voice came from the doorway. "Then cancel it."
Isabella's back stiffened instantly.
Vitale leaned against the doorframe, hands in the pockets of his suit pants, his red hair glowing like a dark flame under the hallway lights.
He looked as perfect as ever—suit without a single wrinkle, tie knotted flawlessly—but Isabella could sense something was different.
She swore to God she wouldn't let him affect her, but just hearing his voice made her body tremble, betraying her mind.
Laura slipped away like a startled rabbit, making some excuse.
Vitale stepped into the office and closed the door behind him.
The sound of the lock clicking echoed in the quiet room.
Isabella forced herself to stare at the computer screen, her fingers still typing on the keyboard, though she had no idea what she was even writing.
Vitale walked up behind her.
She could smell him.
Cigar, whiskey, and that unique scent of his—a mix of danger and temptation.
His shadow loomed over her, his warmth radiating through the air.
"Isabella," Vitale's voice was right by her ear.
She didn't turn around.
The next second, her face was gently but firmly turned toward him by his hands.
Vitale's kiss came out of nowhere, like a planned ambush.
His lips were burning hot, prying open her mouth with a punishing force, his tongue invading, stealing her breath and her senses.
Isabella's mind screamed to resist, but her body had already betrayed her.
Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, fingers threading through his thick red hair.
When Vitale's hand slipped under her shirt, brushing the skin at her waist, she let out a moan she was ashamed of.
She was lifted onto the desk, papers scattering everywhere.
Her skirt was pushed up, Vitale's palm sliding along the inside of her thigh, each touch making her shiver.
His kisses moved from her lips to her neck, leaving wet, warm marks.
Just as Isabella thought he'd take her right there as he had before, a knock came at the door.
Vitale froze.
His body tensed for a moment, then he slowly, almost restrainedly, let go of her.
Isabella blinked in confusion, watching him step back, even helping her fix her skirt and wipe the smudged lipstick from her lips.
This wasn't like Vitale.
The old Vitale would have covered her with his jacket and kept going when someone knocked.
He would have had her against the glass wall behind the office blinds.
He would have taken her whenever and however he wanted.
Not like now—stopping, fixing things, restoring order.
Vitale opened the door.
Victor stood outside, a knowing smirk on his face. "I really didn't want to interrupt, but you should know..."
He pointed to the hallway. "This is a separate office now. Everyone can see right in from the outside. Your desk faces the glass wall—great spot for 'sightseeing.'"
Isabella instantly covered her mouth, blood rushing to her cheeks.
She had completely forgotten.
Since moving out of Vitale's office, her new workspace was surrounded by transparent glass.
Everything just now...
"Oh my God," Isabella groaned. "I didn't realize I had such a big audience."
Victor stepped in, teasing, "Maybe you should rethink the desk's position, or..."
He glanced at Vitale with a mischievous grin. "Get a desk that's not see-through."
Isabella's face burned with embarrassment.
She scrambled off the desk, smoothing her messy shirt. "I'll get you both some coffee."
She practically fled the office.
In the break room, Isabella stared at her reflection in the mirror—flushed cheeks, swollen lips—and suddenly felt a wave of grievance.
Vitale clearly cared about her, so why push her away? Why did he feel so distant now?
When Isabella returned with the coffee, the atmosphere in the office had shifted.
Vitale and Victor stood face to face. Though they weren't shouting, the tension in the air was almost freezing.
They were speaking rapidly in Eldorian, so fast that Isabella could only catch a few words.
"Coffee," she said softly, placing the cup in front of Vitale. "Do I need to leave? Or should I stay and take notes for the meeting?"
Before Vitale could answer, Victor cut in. "You can stay."
"Victor." Vitale's voice was like a blade dipped in ice.
The two started arguing again in Eldorian.
Isabella couldn't understand everything, but she could hear the warning in Vitale's tone and the stubbornness in Victor's.
Finally, Vitale turned to her sharply, his blue eyes swirling with a dark emotion she'd never seen before.
"Get out," he ordered. "Don't come in without my permission."
Isabella bit her lower lip and quietly left the office.
As she closed the door, she heard Victor say in Eldorian, "Doing this will only make her more curious about the truth."
Vitale's response was muffled by the heavy door.
In the hallway, Laura hurried over, whispering, "It's fine. The brothers argue all the time. We just need to make sure the final decisions are good for the company."
Isabella forced a smile. "Got it, thanks."
She returned to her desk and started an online meeting. When she focused, she could push Vitale out of her mind.
The meeting lasted an hour, and she was professional, calm, and flawless throughout, as if the woman who had melted in Vitale's arms earlier was someone else.
When the meeting ended, Vitale's office door finally opened.
Victor came out first. As he passed Isabella's desk, he stopped, leaned down, and spoke in a voice only she could hear.
"I know what you mean to him. I hope you're smart enough to keep your distance."
Isabella looked up, meeting Victor's blue eyes—similar to Vitale's but colder.
She took a deep breath, her voice so calm it surprised even herself.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Malone. I'm just Mr. Luca's accountant and secretary. My job is to be where he needs me."