UNDER MR. RICCI

CHAPTER NINE: THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR

(Marina)

A weary sigh escaped me the moment I stepped into my office.

What, exactly, had that been about?

Everyone in Italy knew the two Ricci brothers were anything but fond of each other. Their animosity was practically common knowledge, whispered about in boardrooms and splashed across gossip columns whenever their names happened to appear in the same story.

But witnessing that tension firsthand was something else entirely.

There had been something almost palpable about the hostility between them.

Why did they hate each other so much?

They shared the same father. Surely, that had to count for something.

And then there was Mr. Vittorio.

Why on earth had he asked me out?

What a strange man.

I crossed the room and lowered myself into my chair, hoping the quiet would clear my mind.

It didn’t.

Instead, an unwanted image surfaced—the look on Giovani’s face.

The fury in his eyes.

The rigid set of his jaw.

And the way his voice had changed when he told me not to take Vittorio’s card.

It hadn’t sounded like a simple warning.

It had sounded personal.

I exhaled slowly, pushed the thought aside, and opened my laptop. Whatever was happening between the Ricci brothers had nothing to do with me.

At least, that was what I intended to believe.

I had barely begun working when my office door flew open with enough force to make me jump.

I rose abruptly from my chair.

And there he stood.

Giovani.

His expression was carved from fury, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.

“Sir.”

The word escaped me in a tremulous voice.

“So, you dated my brother?”

His question landed like a blow.

My brows knitted together.

Dated his brother?

What was he talking about?

“Sir, I…”

“Answer me, Marina.”

His voice thundered through the room.

I flinched.

My fingers tightened against the edge of my desk as I shook my head rapidly.

“No. No, I haven’t. I haven’t even met him before.”

For several agonizing seconds, he said nothing.

He simply stared at me.

The anger in his eyes slowly subsided, though the tension remained etched across his features.

“I hope you’re not lying to me.”

“I’m not, sir. I would never lie to you.”

His gaze lingered on me for another moment before he finally turned toward the door.

“Get back to work, then.”

The door closed behind him.

I remained standing for several seconds, too stunned to move.

Only when the sound of his footsteps disappeared down the hallway did my legs finally give way.

I sank into my chair.

Oh, my God.

My soul had practically abandoned my body.

His question continued to reverberate inside my head.

So, you dated my brother?

Why would he even think that?

I had only ever seen Vittorio Ricci in newspapers and on television. Before today, I had never spoken to the man, let alone met him.

Unless…

My thoughts stalled.

Could Vittorio have lied to him?

Perhaps he’d invented some imaginary relationship simply to provoke his brother.

It certainly wouldn’t surprise me.

He had been shamelessly flirting with me earlier, but I hadn’t expected him to take things as far as lying about us dating.

Still, one question remained.

Why had Giovani been so furious?

Perhaps it was because I was his personal assistant and he didn’t want me becoming involved with his brother, especially considering the rivalry between them.

That made sense.

It had to.

But then another possibility surfaced.

Could he have been jealous?

I immediately scoffed.

Jealous?

Of his personal assistant?

That was absurd.

There was no reason whatsoever for Giovani Ricci to be jealous of me.

I dismissed the thought before it could take root and returned my attention to work.

Several hours passed before I finally glanced at the time.

Lunch.

I stretched, easing the stiffness from my shoulders, then rose from my chair.

After retrieving my Birkin, I paused before the mirror and gave myself a quick once-over.

Everything was in place.

Perfect.

Perfetto.

Satisfied, I stepped out of my office.

I walked down the corridor with my head held high, completely aware of the glances that followed me.

When I reached the elevator, I stepped inside and pressed the button.

The doors opened on the final floor.

The moment I stepped out, I felt it.

Eyes.

Dozens of them.

Following me.

Watching me.

I slowed slightly.

Why were they staring?

Then the whispers reached me.

“She’s very beautiful.”

“Yes, she is. Let’s hope this one lasts longer than the others. Some were fired within thirty minutes for making the wrong coffee or touching Mr. Ricci.”

“I think she’ll last. She’s already been here for hours.”

I nearly stopped walking.

If they thought they were whispering quietly, they were terribly mistaken.

I had heard every word.

Fired after thirty minutes for making the wrong coffee?

I almost laughed.

Why hadn’t I been fired?

I hadn’t merely survived the infamous coffee test.

I had also made out with the man after being explicitly warned not to touch him.

And, in my defense, he had kissed me first.

Still…

That probably wasn’t something I needed to explain to anyone.

I continued toward the exit, ignoring the curious stares.

The lounge was no better.

Women watched me with thinly veiled suspicion, while the men seemed considerably less interested in pretending they weren’t staring.

I continued toward the exit, ignoring the curious stares.

Once outside, I made my way to the parking lot and got into my car.

A few minutes later, I pulled up at my favorite restaurant.

The moment I stepped out of the car, a handsome valet approached to take the keys.

“Thank you,” I said with a smile.

He nodded, returning the smile before taking the keys from me.

I turned and walked into the restaurant, immediately greeted by its familiar warmth and elegant atmosphere.

I chose a table near the window and settled into my seat.

“Good day, Ms. Marina. What can we get you today?”

Lily, the waitress, approached with her usual sweet smile.

I smiled back.

“Hey, Lily. You know what? Let’s do the usual.”

“Of course, Ms. Marina. I’ll be right back.”

She turned and walked away.

I reached for my phone and, almost instinctively, opened our trio group chat.

Me, Laura, and Isabella.

My eyes landed on the messages waiting for me.

Marina Bianchi, how dare you leave us hanging in the air like that? Isabella had sent, accompanied by an angry emoji.

A quiet giggle escaped me.

Isabella was truly something else.

Then another message appeared.

Call us, babe. Call!

Laura.

I smiled.

It was true. I hadn’t spoken to them in hours, and I hadn’t even realized how quickly the day had slipped away.

I needed to call them now, before I returned to the office and became buried in work again.

I pressed the call button.

They answered on the second ring.

Their familiar, smiling faces immediately filled my screen, and something inside me softened.

“Hey, girls.”

“After how many hours?” Isabella asked, giving me an accusing look that was completely ruined by the smirk tugging at her lips.

I laughed.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I was busy. You know I resumed work today, so—”

“That smile, girl.”

Laura interrupted me, narrowing her eyes as she studied my face.

“That smile.”

I blinked.

Only then did I realize it.

I was grinning.

Actually grinning.

My fingers instinctively brushed against my lips.

What had Giovani done to me?

“Marina, spill the tea!” Isabella demanded.

We all burst into laughter.

What was wrong with this girl?

“I promise I’ll tell you everything when I’m less busy.”

They exchanged a look.

A suspicious one.

The kind that immediately made me wonder what they were planning.

“About that…” Laura began.

“Marina, we’re coming to Italy tomorrow!”

Isabella cut her off with an excited squeal.

My eyes widened.

“Are you serious?”

They both nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah!”

A scream escaped me before I could stop it.

Several people in the restaurant turned to stare.

I couldn’t have cared less.

My girls were coming to Italy.

My best friends.

After years apart, I was finally going to see them again.

The thought alone filled my chest with a happiness I hadn’t realized I’d been missing.

“See you soon, amore,” Laura said, her gentle smile warming the screen.

“Oh yes!” Isabella exclaimed. “I can’t wait for the Italian men. Ouu, my papis!”

I stared at her in disbelief.

“Oh. My. Goodness.”

She burst into laughter.

“You’re crazy, Isabella. But I can’t wait to see you guys.”

“We love you too, amore!”

“Bye.”

The call ended.

I slowly lowered my phone, unable to keep the enormous smile from spreading across my face.

God knew how much I had missed my girls.

For a brief moment, everything felt perfect.

Then I heard it.

“Marina.”

My smile disappeared.

Every muscle in my body went rigid.

That voice.

I knew that voice.

I would recognize it anywhere.

Slowly, I turned toward the sound.

My heart seemed to forget its rhythm.

What was he doing here?