Whispers in the Wind

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I had been in the same position on the ground for almost an hour unlike me.

I still had a lot of pressing work on my head, calls from John, and what not, but I just couldn’t find the strength to do anything other than lay there reminiscing over all I had discovered today.

It was just too evil. Too bone chilling.

They sold women and young girls like they were items with zero conscience whatsoever. And he knew all about this disgusting trade.

“Lawyer… More like hypocrite” I scoffed and pulled myself to my feet.

It was all too disorienting to wrap my head around.

I need some air.

I shoved on a pair of sandals and walked out of my apartment, shutting the door behind me.

The revelation had left me feeling raw and exposed, the kind of vulnerability I despised with every breath in me.

I should tell John. It could be a link. Maybe that’s the answer to all this.

Mum and Vittoria were trafficked!

While it sounded reasonable, it didn’t at the same time. Something just didn’t feel right about that conclusion.

I sighed and continued until I found myself outside the hotel, and on the bustling streets.

My feet led me down the curb, past crowded cafes and boutiques, until I spotted a high-end bakery nestled between a luxury clothing store and a quaint bookshop. The bakery's glass façade was inviting, warm light spilling out onto the street. The aroma of freshly baked goods wafted through the air, causing my stomach to grumble on instinct.

I pushed open the door, a small bell chiming softly above me. The interior was chic and cozy, with polished wooden tables and a display case filled with an array of decadent pastries and cakes. My eyes were drawn to a particular chocolate cake, its rich, dark layers promising a moment of indulgence.

“Good afternoon,” the cheerful barista greeted me. “What can I get for you?”

“I’ll have that chocolate cake, please” I replied, my voice sounding steadier than I felt.

As I waited for my order, I noticed a familiar figure entering the bakery. Alex walked in with a striking woman by his side.

She somewhat looked familiar. Maybe a celebrity or important personality I had seen on tv?

They were engaged in light conversation, their demeanor relaxed and casual. Curiosity piqued, I approached them.

“Alex,” I called out, a small smile playing on my lips.

He looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes before he returned with a shaky smile.

“Zina, you’re here…”

I arched a brow. “Yeah. Just came across this bakery and decide to try it out. Something wrong with that?”

He shook his head, “Well, you’re not really supposed to… Nevermind. I’d like you to meet Celine Blackwood.”

My eyes narrowed at the suspicious sudden change of topic, but instead of pressing on it, I let it slide.

The woman beside him extended her hand with an almost practiced grace. Her smile was polite but carried an undercurrent of surprise. “Nice to meet you, Zina.”

“Likewise, Celine,” I replied, shaking her hand. Her touch was cold, and her eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. There was a momentary flash of recognition in her gaze that seemed to catch her off guard.

I felt a strange sense of familiarity too but couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Something about her was off.

Maybe I was just being paranoid.

Celine turned to the barista to place her order. “I’d like the special chocolate cake, please.”

The barista’s smile faltered slightly. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but this lady just ordered the last piece.”

Celine’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, and her smile tightened. “Oh, I see. Well, I guess I’ll have to come back another time.”

Her tone was light, but there was a sharpness to it that contrasted with her forced smile.

“Sorry about that,” I said, not entirely sincere myself. “I just couldn’t resist.”

Celine’s eyes flickered with a mix of annoyance and envy before she plastered on another insincere smile. “No problem at all. Enjoy your cake, Zina.”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, Alex following closely behind. I watched them leave, a strange mix of satisfaction and unease settling in my chest.

The barista handed me my order, and I thanked her before stepping back out. I clutched the cake box tightly as I made my way back to the hotel. The encounter with Celine lingered. There was something unsettling about her, a hint of recognition that gnawed at me.

I could swear I have met her before but yet I couldn’t just… figure it where or how.

By the time I reached my room, the city’s energy seemed to seep into my bones, momentarily distracting me from the weight of my discoveries. I placed the cake on the kitchen counter, and pulled out a plate and fork before sinking into the chair and allowing myself a moment of stillness.

As I opened the box and took a bite of the rich chocolate cake, its velvety texture melting on my tongue, I allowed myself to savor the moment. It was a small pleasure. One that fleeted as soon as a knock landed on my door. I stood up to answer whoever had decided to make my peace short-lived.

Peering through the peephole, I don’t know who I was expecting, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to find John there.

His brows were furrowed in what I could only interpret as annoyance. He brushed past me without a word and strode into my living room.

I shut the door and turned to face him. “What are you doing here?" He didn't answer me. His eyes were roaming about the room.

"Nice place. What happened to laying low and dropping the luxurious and expensive lifestyle?"

I rolled my eyes and sat back on the couch, picking up my dessert unbothered by his mood.

"He put you here, didn't he?" his eyes narrowed at me. "What?" "Giovanni Russo. He was the one who put you in this luxurious apartment in his five-star hotel, wasn't he?"

I took a huge bite of the cake, not even sparing him a glance. I'll gladly be the fuel if he wants to burn with annoyance today.

"If you have something to say, you might as well say it" "I should be asking you that. It's been more than a month, and you have not given anything solid and useful. I'm starting to think that your period of redemption has made you incapable of carrying something like that"

I allowed his accusation hang in the air. The dessert was the only thing keeping me from launching into a tirade.

"This isn't a f*****g game, Zina. We need real information, not just reports of fancy dinners and meaningless conversations"

I set my plate down with deliberate slowness, feeling the anger simmering beneath my calm exterior.

"This is the problem I have with you, you are always so impatient. Should I just walk up to him and ask what he and his family did to Mum and Vittoria? Then he will willingly tell me what happened to them.

'Oh, Zina. You are the most trusted person in my life at the moment. I will very much tell you what happened to them, and there will be no consequences at all for being a mole in my organization. You are completely forgiven for breaching my rules and giving out the secret affairs of both my company and family' "

He was breathing heavily. The anger was wafting off him so strongly, but that didn't faze me. I brushed my hair away from my face and leaned back into the chair.

"You don't know what's at stake here—" "—No, you don't know what's at stake here. I'm the one playing the long game here, it isn't as simple as you think. To pretend and keep a mask on every single time, always being alert around him because all it'll take is one slip up, even the tiniest glitch in my guard and we are done for. You think I'm just having fun, lavishing in my comfortable job and comfortable apartment?"

He scoffed. "I know so. First of all, he paid your outrageously expensive medical bills, then took you on an expensive candlelight dinners, then decided to take your security into his hands and keep you in such a comfortable place with 24/7 security from the hotel. What's next? A diamond ring and a romantic getaway to the Maldives?"

I glared at him, my anger flaring.

“Well at least I’m doing something. Trying to manage the work of an assistant and still manipulate my way to get closer to him isn’t a walk in the park—“

“—you have been using that same excuse for the past month, Zina. It isn’t easy to gather even a little bit of information despite being his personal assistant but it is very much easy to go on dates with him, to flirt with him, to make out with him, to spend two days at a safe house just the both of you, away from civilization doing God knows what with each other”

My cheeks flared up. He was actively spying on us?

I swallowed.

“You’ve been spying on us?”

“That’s not the point, Zina. The main question here is from all of that, what have you actually done to improve this case? Where are the results you have supposedly accomplished?”

I pressed my tongue on the roof of my mouth unable to speak, only capable of glaring at him.

I sucked in a breath. “Giovanni isn’t an easy man to conquer. I’m trying my best” “Are you though?”

“Don’t question my dedication,” I snapped, rising to my feet. “I’m playing the long game, John. It’s not as simple as you think. I can’t just waltz in and demand answers.”

He scoffed, his face contorted with frustration. “Or maybe you’re just distracted by Gio’s charms. Maybe you’re enjoying the attention a little too much it’s making you lose sight of the goal here.”

I swallowed once again and tried rebuilding my calm.

“You have no idea what it’s like, trying to get close enough to him without raising suspicion. Do you think I enjoy being around him, pretending to be someone I’m not, don’t you know how strenuous it is for me?”

John’s eyes blazed with anger. “I think you’ve lost sight of why you’re here. This isn’t about you or your feelings. This is about finding our family!”

“I know…” “If you did, if you could only focus more, things would be a lot faster and easier for us” he interjected.

I sighed in defeat.

“You’ve gotten to used to him, Zina. So much that you’re now blinded by his charm…” “I’m not blinded by his charm!” I retorted.

“Gio is the key to finding them, John. Even if he isn’t directly involved in it, he would surely know of something. We can’t get what we want without him”

John’s expression softened, his eyes however didn’t.

“You need to trust me. I know what I’m doing” I declared firmly.

He released a sigh and stood up.

“Whatever you do, just stay focused. And be fast, we can’t carry this out forever. The longer we taker, the more chance we’re giving them to sniff us out.”

I nodded. “I’ll update you by tomorrow noon,” I assured.

“I really hope so” he replied and walked to the door.

I followed behind, closing the door after he left.

I released my breath for what seemed to be the tenth time within the last thirty minutes.

He was right.

I’ve been too distracted to gather any real thing that would be of good use to us. Other than what I heard today.

Gio was my boss and target. I had to keep that at the back of my head.

Because as much as I didn’t want to accept it, my body seemed to act on its own and forget that very fact each time I saw him.

That had to change!