Chapter 3: The First Morning
861 Words
Elena did not sleep again that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Dante. His gray eyes. His cold smile. The way his fingers had brushed her cheek.
She sat by the window, watching the sun rise over the gardens. The mansion was beautiful in the morning light. But beauty could hide darkness.
At 7 AM, a knock on the door.
Rosa entered with a tray of breakfast. Eggs. Fruit. Coffee.
"You should eat," Rosa said.
"I'm not hungry."
"You said that last night. Eat anyway."
Elena took the tray. "What time does Mr. Vitale expect me?"
"He's already in the study. He asked for you at 8 AM."
Elena looked at the clock. 7:15. She had forty-five minutes.
---
She ate quickly. Showered. Changed into one of the black dresses from the wardrobe. It fit perfectly. Too perfectly.
She looked at herself in the mirror. She did not recognize the woman staring back.
Dark dress. Dark circles under her eyes. Fear in her expression.
She took a breath. Straightened her shoulders.
She would not let him see her fear.
---
At 8 AM, she knocked on the study door.
"Enter."
Dante was sitting behind his desk. He looked different in the morning. Less like a monster. More like a man.
But his eyes were still cold.
"You're on time," he said.
"I said I would be."
"Words are cheap. Actions matter."
He gestured to a chair. She sat.
"Today, I have meetings. You will take notes. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will not make eye contact with anyone."
"Not even you?"
Dante's lips twitched. Almost a smile. "You can look at me."
---
The first meeting was with a man named Enzo. Old. White hair. Expensive suit. He greeted Dante like an old friend.
"Who's the girl?" Enzo asked.
"My new assistant. She's nothing."
Elena's heart stung. She was nothing. Just a debt. Just a servant.
Enzo nodded. They discussed business. Money. Territories. A shipment that had gone missing.
Elena took notes. Her hand moved quickly across the page. She did not look up.
But she listened.
A shipment of weapons had been stolen. Rivals were moving into Vitale territory. Dante was not pleased.
"Find them," Dante said. "And kill them."
Enzo nodded. "Consider it done."
---
The next meeting was with a man named Rossi. Younger. Nervous. Sweating.
"The shipment wasn't stolen," Rossi said. "I sold it."
Dante went very still.
"You betrayed me."
"I had no choice. They threatened my family."
Dante stood. Walked around the desk. He was calm. Too calm.
"You should have come to me. I protect my people."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't bring back the weapons."
Dante pulled a gun from his jacket. Rossi fell to his knees.
"Please. My wife. My children."
Dante looked at Elena. "Leave."
She did not move.
"I said leave."
Elena stood. Walked to the door. She heard the gunshot as she closed it behind her.
---
She stood in the hallway, shaking.
Rosa found her there.
"You heard?" Rosa asked.
"He killed him."
"He had no choice. Betrayal cannot be forgiven."
Elena looked at Rosa. "How do you work for a man like that?"
Rosa sighed. "Because he is not always like that. And because he saved my life once."
"Saved your life?"
"My husband owed money. Dante forgave the debt. Let us work here instead. When my husband died, Dante took care of me." Rosa touched Elena's arm. "He is not a good man. But he is not evil. There is a difference."
---
Elena returned to the study an hour later.
The body was gone. The carpet had been cleaned. There was no sign that anything had happened.
Dante was sitting behind his desk, reading a document. He looked up when she entered.
"You're back."
"You killed a man."
"I protected my empire."
"He had a family."
"He should have thought of them before he betrayed me."
Elena stood in front of his desk. "Is that what you would do to me? If I betrayed you?"
Dante set down his pen. Stood. Walked around the desk until he was inches from her.
"You will not betray me, Elena. Because I will give you no reason to."
He reached out. Tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're different," he said. "I knew it the moment I saw you."
"Different how?"
"You're not afraid of me. Not really. You're afraid of yourself. Of what you might become if you stay."
Elena's heart pounded.
"I should go," she whispered.
"Yes. You should."
She turned. Walked to the door.
"Elena."
She stopped.
"Tonight, you will have dinner with me. 8 PM. Dress nicely."
She did not turn around.
"Okay."
She left.
---
She went to her room. Sat on the bed. Her hands were shaking.
She had seen him kill a man. She had seen his coldness. His ruthlessness.
And yet, when he touched her face, she felt something she should not feel.
This was dangerous. He was dangerous.
But she could not run.
She had made a deal with the devil.
And dinner with the devil was at 8 PM.
- Writer
