Chapter 2 - The Girl in the Rain
521 Words
The sound of rain filled the silence of the De Luca mansion.
Alessandro stood in his office, staring at the city lights through the glass window. The image of the girl from the alley kept returning to his mind.
Her eyes.
The way she looked at him without fear.
Everyone who stood in front of Alessandro De Luca either lowered their head or trembled.
But she didn't.
She challenged him with nothing but her silence.
"Boss."
Marco's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Alessandro turned around.
"Did you find out who she is?"
Marco placed a folder on the desk.
"Yes."
Alessandro opened it.
Aria Romano.
Age: 22.
University student.
Part-time worker at a bookstore.
No criminal record.
No connection to any organization.
At first glance, she seemed ordinary.
Too ordinary.
"Romano..." Alessandro said quietly.
Marco noticed the change in his expression.
"You know the name?"
Alessandro closed the folder.
"Her family."
Marco nodded.
"The Romano family has always stayed away from our world. Her father was known for refusing to get involved with powerful groups."
Alessandro looked at the picture inside the file.
"Then why was she there?"
Marco had no answer.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Aria sat on her bed, staring at the wall.
She had barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him.
The man with cold eyes.
The man whose presence alone made the entire street feel different.
Who was he?
Why did everyone listen to him?
And why did hearing his name feel familiar?
She picked up her phone and searched.
Alessandro De Luca.
The results appeared.
CEO of De Luca Corporation.
Successful businessman.
Private life unknown.
But the more she searched, the more confused she became.
There were rumors.
Whispers.
Stories people refused to say out loud.
Aria quickly locked her phone.
"Why did I have to be there?"
.
.
The next morning, Alessandro entered De Luca Corporation.
Everyone immediately greeted him.
"Good morning, Mr. De Luca."
He ignored the attention and walked straight to his office.
Power was something he was used to.
Fear was something he expected.
But curiosity...
That was something he hated.
And Aria Romano had created it.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Marco entered.
"There is a problem."
Alessandro looked up.
"What?"
"Damian Moretti knows someone witnessed the meeting."
Alessandro's expression darkened.
"How?"
"We don't know."
A dangerous silence filled the room.
Damian Moretti was not someone who gave up easily.
If he discovered Aria's identity, she would become a target.
"Keep an eye on her," Alessandro ordered.
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"Protect her?"
Alessandro looked at him coldly.
"No."
A pause.
"Make sure she doesn't become a problem.''
.
.
.
That evening, Aria arrived home and noticed something strange.
A black car was parked across the street.
She stopped walking.
The same feeling from yesterday returned.
Someone was watching her.
She quickly entered her house and locked the door.
Her heart raced.
She didn't know it yet...
But her life had already become connected to Alessandro De Luca's.
And once someone entered his world...
Leaving was never easy.
To be continued....
- Writer
