Il Suo Zaffario (His Sapphire)

Chapter 13

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, coaxing my eyes open. I yawned, stretching my sore muscles, and instantly, memories of last night flooded back. My cheeks flushed as I recalled every detail, and I quickly looked around the room. Logan wasn't there.

I stood up and stretched again, feeling the pleasant ache in my limbs. I wandered into the bathroom, shedding my clothes and letting the warm water soothe my body in a long, relaxing bath. Afterward, I slipped into one of Logan's black tees and a pair of his boxers, feeling the familiar comfort of his scent surrounding me.

"That was the best birthday ever," I murmured to myself, smiling at the thought of spending it with people who actually cared. For once, I wasn't alone.

I left Logan's room and descended the stairs, calling out for him. "Logan?" My voice echoed in the silence. No response. I walked into the kitchen, where Sara was busy preparing something.

"Good morning, Sara," I greeted her.

She looked up from her work, smiling warmly. "Good morning, dear. You look like you had a good night last night."

Her comment made me freeze, and I blushed, glancing down at the floor. Had she heard us? That would be so embarrassing. I thought the room was soundproof... or maybe she was just teasing. I decided to change the subject quickly.

"Have you seen Logan?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"He left this morning," Sara replied, handing me a cup of cocoa tea.

I accepted it, frowning slightly. "Oh, so he'll be back soon?"

Sara shrugged, returning to her task. "I don't know, dear. He went on an urgent business trip. He didn't say when he'd be back. But he did tell me to make sure you eat and not to be stubborn about it."

I laughed a little at that, but deep down, I wished he had woken me up to say goodbye. I walked over to the couch, sinking into the cushions as I took a sip of my cocoa.

"So that means I'm going to be here all by myself," I pouted, glancing around the room. The thought of spending the day alone made me feel restless. I missed Logan already. For today I’ll learn how to drive. I wandered back into the kitchen where Sara was slicing fruit.

"Sara, I want to be able to dive to by myself to Logan's parents' house, but I can't drive."

Sara paused, looking up at me. "Let Adonis help you," she suggested, handing me a plate with toast, eggs, bacon, and fruit on the side.

I took the plate, nodding. "Thank you," I said, sitting at the dining table. After finishing my breakfast, I quickly placed the plate in the kitchen, gave Sara a quick kiss on the cheek, and ran outside.

"Bye, dear!" she called after me.

"Adonis!" I called, waving at him as he approached with a smile.

"Hey, Sapphire," he greeted me, though he seemed a bit awkward. I lightly hit his chest, telling him to stop being weird.

"So, what do you want?" he asked.

"I was wondering if you could teach me how to drive."

Adonis smiled. "Yeah, sure."

I clapped my hands, hugging him in excitement. He went inside to grab the keys, and soon enough, he brought out one of Logan's cars. I squealed with delight, running over to it.

"Get in," he said, climbing into the passenger seat.

I hesitated for a moment but then climbed in as well, trying to calm my nerves. "Okay, it's just driving. How hard can it be?"

~A Few Hours Later~

That was the worst driving test ever. Even though I eventually got the hang of it, I nearly hit five trees, three poles, and Logan's car parked outside. If I had damaged it, Logan would have killed me. I was just glad someone had the foresight to invent brakes, which I used constantly. Thank goodness for seatbelts. Adonis was pale with fear, and I must have apologized a hundred times.

"I'm really sorry," I said one last time.

Adonis, still shaken, nodded quickly. "It's okay, Sapphire. You've already said sorry a hundred times."

I smiled sheepishly at him. "Thanks for putting up with me."

Learning to drive had taken up the whole day and I was exhausted. As I kicked off my shoes, Sara looked up from her work, eyebrows raised.

"How did it go, darling?" she asked.

I sighed. "I almost killed Adonis like a hundred times."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "And now you're tired, I see."

"Yeah, I am," I yawned, starting to climb the stairs.

"Don't you want dinner first?" she called after me.

I shook my head. "No thanks, I'm not hungry."

As soon as I reached my room, I took another long bath, letting the warm water ease the tension from the day. I dressed in comfortable clothes and crawled into bed, wishing Logan were here with me.

But what if he regrets what happened last night?

I pushed the thought away. Logan wasn't like that. He made love to me, stole my first kiss, and took my virginity. Maybe we could be together.

But then, there was the matter of him not wanting marriage or kids. That was my dream, not his.

Maybe I can change his mind. Or maybe I'm just fooling myself.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess, but exhaustion soon took over, and I fell asleep, the debate in my mind left unresolved.

••••••••••••••••

LOGAN POV

I'm had to leave home urgently this morning when dad called me and told me I had an important meeting in France with Mr. Laurent. I hated that I had to leave Sapphire alone after such a big moment for her. I would've argued with my dad about staying but he told me I couldn't stay no.

I've been here for a week and I really miss Sapphire I wanted to feel her gentle touch, I wanted to see her smile and hear her sweet laugh but I would have to wait.

"Mr. Laurent is expecting you," someone said, interrupting my thoughts of Sapphire.

I entered the room, taking in the scene before me. Seated at a large mahogany table was Mr. Laurent. His sharp eyes met mine as he stood to greet me.

"Logan, it's been a while," he said, his French accent smooth but cold. He extended his hand, and I shook it firmly.

"Laurent," I replied, keeping my expression neutral. This wasn't a meeting for pleasantries.

We both took our seats at the table, the weight of what was about to be discussed settling heavily in the room. A decanter of whiskey sat between us, and Laurent poured two glasses, sliding one across to me. I accepted it, though I knew better than to drink too much. This meeting required a clear head.

"I'm sure you're aware," Laurent began, "that our last shipment ran into... complications."

"Complications" was a generous term. The entire operation had nearly fallen apart, and it had cost both of us a lot of money and resources. I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"The shipment was intercepted by authorities, but fortunately, we were able to recover most of it before it became a problem. However," Laurent's eyes narrowed slightly, "I suspect there's a leak in the organization."

"Do you have any idea who it might be?"

"We're still investigating," Laurent said, his voice tight. "But we need to ensure that the next shipment goes off without a hitch. This is where you come in, Logan."

I leaned back slightly, studying him. "You want me to oversee the shipment?"

"Precisely," he said, leaning forward. "Your reputation speaks for itself. If you're involved, it sends a message that we won't tolerate any more mistakes."

I considered his words carefully. Laurent didn't hand out responsibilities like this lightly. If he was asking me to take charge, it meant he was desperate to secure the operation. But it also meant more leverage for me if I played my cards right.

"What's the shipment?" I asked, my tone measured.

"Guns and drugs, the usual," Laurent replied with a wave of his hand as if he were discussing mundane goods instead of lethal contraband. "But this time, we're upping the quantity. It'll be our biggest load yet, and it needs to reach our contacts in Italy without any interference."

"And what do I get out of this?" I asked, cutting to the chase.

Laurent smiled, a cold, calculating expression. "Twenty percent of the profits from this shipment. And a favor from me, which I'm sure you'll find invaluable in the future."

Twenty percent of a shipment this size was no small amount. It was tempting, but I kept my face impassive. "I want thirty percent."

Laurent's smile faltered, and his eyes hardened. For a moment, the tension in the room thickened, but then he chuckled, a low, dangerous sound. "You're a bold man, Logan. Fine. Thirty percent. But I expect results."

"You'll get them," I said, my voice firm. I stood, signaling the end of the meeting.

Laurent rose as well, and we exchanged another handshake, this one laced with the mutual understanding that failure was not an option.

~~~

After the meeting, I returned to the hotel, my mind still on the discussion with Mr. Laurent. My father had approved of the plan, which should have given me a sense of accomplishment.

The phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I picked it up, immediately shifting into work mode. "Speak," I commanded, my voice sharp.

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost feel the hesitation through the line. "Boss, it's about Sapphire and Adonis," one of my guards finally said, his voice uncertain.

My heart dropped, the words sinking in like lead. A flash of anger surged through me, quick and uncontrollable. "What about them?" I asked, my tone a dangerous calm.

"The other night, when I was on duty... I saw them together. I was outside, but I could see them through the curtains. They were talking, but then Adonis pulled them closed. After that, I could only see their shadows." The guard paused, and I could hear his nervous breath on the line. "I saw them kiss. And... god knows what else they were doing up there."

The guard's words were a hammer to my chest. My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. Anger, sadness, confusion—they all swirled together, a chaotic storm I couldn't control.

"Why didn't you go up there and stop them?" I demanded, my voice cold and dangerous.

"I'm sorry, boss, but I wasn't sure if it was my place," he stammered.

I didn't let him finish, ending the call abruptly. The phone clattered onto the desk, the sound harsh in the quiet room.

How could she do this? The thought seared through my mind, repeating over and over. But more than that, how could *he* do this? Adonis knew how I felt about Sapphire. He knew, and yet he still kissed her.

The memory of the moments Sapphire and I had shared flashed through my mind—her laughter, her softness, the way she made me feel something I hadn't felt in years. And now, it was all shattered.

I clenched my fists, struggling to contain the turmoil inside me. Sapphire's betrayal hurt, but Adonis's betrayal cut even deeper. I had trusted him, relied on him, and this is how he repaid me?

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind, but they all led back to one thing: I couldn't ignore this. I couldn't let this go. They had both crossed a line, and there would be consequences.

But beneath the anger, beneath the cold resolve, there was a deep, aching pain. A pain I wasn't sure I could ever shake.