UNDER MR. RICCI

CHAPTER SIX:INTERRUPTED

(Giovanni)

The moment the door swung open, we both froze.

Who had the audacity to walk into my office without knocking?

Whoever it was had just made a very serious mistake.

I locked eyes with Piccola Rosa.

She looked horrified.

And somehow, even in her embarrassment, she still managed to look beautiful.

I tilted my head slightly—and then my eyes landed on Lorenzo.

He looked as pale as a ghost.

Oh.

He was in trouble.

Marina immediately stepped away from the table, hurriedly straightened her skirt, and muttered, “Excuse me, sir,” before practically fleeing my office.

I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.

“Shut the door, you stupido,” I ordered, glaring at Lorenzo.

He closed it quickly.

I could practically see the questions running through his mind.

“Giovanni… eri tu—”

“Why did you barge into my office like that?”

I cut him off before he could finish.

He rolled his eyes, walked straight to the chair, and sat down as though he hadn’t just interrupted something very important.

This man had some serious guts.

“Do you know you’re a few minutes away from your death?” I asked, staring him down.

“Forget that, man. Were you really with Marina Bianchi?”

His curiosity was almost insulting.

I walked past him, picked up my cigarette, and settled into my chair.

Did he really think I was going to forgive him that easily?

“Sì, ero io. E hai interrotto il nostro momento, idiota. Sei proprio morto, amico.”

I said it calmly.

Much too calmly.

My quiet voice was always more dangerous than shouting.

Lorenzo stared at me.

Then, after a long silence, he snickered.

Really?

He was laughing?

“You have a death wish, man?”

I asked, holding his gaze.

“You have only me as an amico in your life. If you kill me, you’ll be all alone in this world.”

He said it with a smug little smirk.

I chuckled.

Who did this man think he was?

Without breaking eye contact, I slowly opened the drawer of my desk.

Lorenzo’s smile disappeared when he saw what I pulled out.

“Are you sure, amico?”

His eyes widened.

“Sei un demonio, Giovanni!”

He jumped out of the chair and practically sprinted toward the door.

I watched him disappear.

Finally.

I placed the object back in the drawer and leaned into my chair.

But my thoughts had already returned to Piccola Rosa.

The memory of her standing in my office refused to leave my mind.

She had looked breathtaking when she walked in with Leo, doing everything possible to avoid looking at me.

Her long, thick brown hair had fallen loosely around her shoulders, glossy beneath the light. Her dress was elegant, perfectly suited to her, and she carried herself with a confidence that made it almost impossible to look away.

Almost.

The moment I had seen her, I had known she was avoiding me.

And the way she’d paused when I stopped her from leaving?

That moment would stay with me for a long time.

She really thought she could simply walk away from me.

She was wrong.

Somewhere along the way, this woman had managed to become far more important to me than I had ever intended.

Piccola Rosa had stolen my heart.

And I wasn’t about to pretend otherwise.

Perhaps I needed to remind her that avoiding me wouldn’t be so easy.

I picked up my phone and dialled Leo.

He answered almost immediately, as usual.

“Let Ms. Bianchi prepare my coffee and bring it to my office.”

“Yes, sir.”

I smiled.

Now let’s see how long she could keep avoiding me.