Chapter 17 Seventeen
Mira had no idea how long he had been standing there.
And it bothered her deeply. She had no idea if he had heard her questioning Lena or if he had just gotten here.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the counter, but her face stayed calm. Masking the uneasiness she felt.
She swallowed once.
Slowly turned her head.
Salvatore was still there.
Just watching.
No expression she could read. Nothing. Just coldness, he’s just stood there his eyes not leaving hers. Like he was deciding what to do with her.
A small nervous smile slipped onto Mira’s face…
The room felt insanely uncomfortable not in a good way.
Mira pressed her hands together her thoughts running wild on what to say.
Then
“Lena makes good toast,” she blurted, unintentionally her voice loud that she intended.
Creating a small conversation to break the chill in the room
For a second, nothing happened.
Then Salvatore moved.
He didn’t answer her. Didn’t even act as if he had heard her. He just walked past her into the kitchen like she wasn’t standing there at all.
Mira’s smile until her jaw started to hurt.
She turned slightly, her eyes following him, watching him.
Salvatore went straight to the coffee machine.
Still not acknowledging her presence.
Mira hesitated, then spoke anyway.
“Would you like me to help you?”
Silence.
Not even a glance.
He kept doing his thing.
The sound of coffee grinding filled the space between them.
Mira stood still.
Her hands lowered slowly to her sides.
After a moment, she stopped trying to create small talk it was useless..
But her mind wasn’t at peace and she had no idea if he had heard her discussion with Lena.
Mira just watched him from where she stood.
He made the coffee with the same calmness he did everything else. Like nothing in the room could shake him unless he allowed it.
When he was done, he poured himself a cup.
Took a sip.
Only then did he speak.
“I like to make my own coffee.” his gaze on her.
Mira nodded slightly,. “Noted,” she replied quietly.
Mira was still watching him when Antonio’s voice cut through the kitchen.
“Car is ready, boss.”
Salvatore didn’t react immediately. He finished the coffee in his cup in a few steady gulps, like it wasn’t hot at all..drinking it all down even when the steam was visible to see.
Mira’s eyes narrowed slightly.
That has to burn.
But his face didn’t even twitch.
He placed the cup down, wiped his hand once on a napkin, and finally looked up.
“Let’s go.”
Mira blinked.
Go where?
She didn’t get a chance to ask. Antonio was already stepping aside, and Salvatore had started walking out without giving her a chance to ask questions
Mira hesitated for half a second before following.
The hallway outside the kitchen felt colder than before. The house was quieter too, for a house filled with so many guards and maids.
Mira walked a few steps behind them, watching Salvatore’s back.
Mira slowed for a second.
She leaned slightly toward Antonio as they walked.
“Where are we going?” she asked quietly.
Antonio didn’t look at her.
“You’ll see.”
That was it.
No explanation.
Mira exhaled through her nose.
“Of course,” she muttered under her breath.
Salvatore reached the black Porsche car first. He got in without waiting.
Antonio followed.
Mira paused again, just a fraction longer this time, staring at the open door.
Then she got in too.
Mira sat upright, hands folded loosely in her lap, eyes flicking briefly to the rearview mirror.
Salvatore wasn’t looking at her.
He was already focused forward, like she wasn't even in the car.
The car began to move.
And only then did it fully settle in her mind.
She had no idea where they were going… she had no choice but to follow orders.
The car ride didn’t last long, but it felt longer than it should have.
Mira kept stealing glances out the window, trying to figure out where they were going, but the route stayed unfamiliar. No warning signs. No names. Just tall buildings and gated turns
Finally, the car slowed.
A large building came into view. Corvin Hotel
Bright lights. Luxury cars lined up like display pieces. Men in suits. Women in gowns. Cameras flashing in the distance. And a big banner with a boldly written word on it
Mira frowned slightly.
“…A charity ball?” she murmured under her breath.
The car stopped.
Antonio got out first. Salvatore followed without a word.
Mira stepped out last..
The atmosphere here was different. As they stepped inside guards bowed, staff bowed as Salvatore stepped inside. Smiles everywhere. Music floating through the air. Soft laughter. Elegance wrapped in polished lies.
And then.. Whispers started the moment Salvatore appeared in the hall
Heads turned.
People bowed their heads.. Some smiled so
Wide. Fear, carefully hidden behind polite faces.
Mira watched as people changed when they saw him.
“Mr. Corvin,” someone greeted quickly.
“Salvatore,” another said warmly.
And then it happened.
He smiled.
He was smiling...
Mira froze…stunned she stopped walking.
He was smiling. It wasn’t a small smile. Not the kind you give when you're trying to be polite.
Salvatore laughed.
Loudly.
Easily.
Like a completely different man had stepped out of the car.
A woman in a red dress said something to him, and he laughed again—head slightly tilted back, shoulders relaxed, hand briefly touching her wasir as it belongs there.
Mira just stared.
No way.
This couldn’t be the same person.
The same man who had stood in a kitchen at 2 a.m. talking about death like it was nothing.
The same man who looked at people like they were nothing but dust. The same man who killed six women.
Here, he looks… normal.
Charming, even.
Then…
His expression shifted… not fully, not very obviously
But it changed. .
The smile faded the moment no one was looking directly at him.
His eyes went cold instantly.
Empty.
Like something inside him had simply switched off.
He turned slightly away from the crowd, adjusting his cufflinks, listening to someone speak with less interest.
And then— His eyes moved and they landed on her
For a brief second, their gazes locked.
He didn’t smile.
He didn’t look away either.
Just a quiet, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth… small enough that anyone else would miss it.
But Mira didn’t.
Her breath caught slightly.
He broke eye contact first, turning back toward the crowd as if nothing had happened.
Mira stood still.
Her hands tightened at her sides.
That shift… it didn’t feel natural.
It felt learned. Practiced.
Like he had spent years perfecting the ability to become whatever the room needed him to be.
Before she could fully process it, someone called his name from the stage area.
“Mr. Corvin! You’re up next!”
He didn’t hesitate. Just like that, he started walking onto a raised podium
Lights shifted. Microphones adjusted.
Applause started instantly the second he stepped on the podium.
And then— He smiled again.
But this time, Wider.
It could be warmer.
Perfectly rehearsed.
“Good evening,” he began, voice smooth. “I was told this is a charity event… which is interesting, because I don’t usually attend anything where I might end up being most spoken about.. Because of Handome I am. It runs in the genes for those who are jealous.”
A soft ripple of laughter moved through the audience.
Mira blinked.
Is he… joking?
Salvatore was telling a joke.
He paused slightly, letting the laughter settle.
“Relax,” he added calmly. “Being handsome means giving a Handome donation to meet my standards so donated before I came. I just didn’t want to ruin my own reputation any further.”
More laughter.
Even louder this time.
Mira’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
He continued speaking.
And the more he spoke, the worse it got for her understanding of him.
He cracked another joke about investors.
Then one about “people who pretend to understand taxes.”
Even Antonio, standing somewhere behind the stage, looked like he had heard it all before.
But Mira?
She was frozen in place.
Watching him.
This man— This was not the man she met covered in blood. This is not the man from last night.
Not the man who looked like he could kill anyone who dared mess with him.
This one was polished. Easygoing. Effortlessly funny.
He ended his speech with a calm smile.
The crowd erupted into applause.
He stepped down.
And just like that.. The smile disappeared again.
The moment he was off the stage his eyes went cold.
No one noticed.
Except Mira.
Because she was watching closely now and his gaze met hers every time with a cold smirk on his face.