Chapter 6: The Rules of the Contract
1047 Words
The morning sun slowly entered the Valentino mansion, spreading soft golden light across the large living room where Aria sat with the contract placed in front of her. She had spent most of the night thinking about Dante’s proposal, trying to find a way out of the situation without accepting his help. She hated the idea of depending on someone like him, especially a man who believed he could solve everything with power and control. The more she looked at the document, the more it reminded her that her life had changed without her permission. Only a few days ago, she had been a normal university student planning her future, but now she was sitting inside the home of a mafia billionaire discussing rules that would determine her safety.
Across the room, Dante stood near the large windows overlooking the estate, silently watching the workers outside. He looked calm, but his mind was far from peaceful. He was used to making decisions quickly and without hesitation, but this situation was different because Aria Moretti was not just a problem to solve. She was connected to the past he had spent years trying to understand. Every instinct told him to keep his distance from her, yet every piece of information told him she was in danger. Dante had built his entire life around protecting his empire, but now he found himself protecting the daughter of the man he blamed for destroying his family.
Aria finally closed the folder and placed it on the table.
“I’m not signing this.”
Dante turned slowly.
“I expected you to say that.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Then why did you waste my time?”
“Because I wanted you to understand your choices.”
Aria stood up from the chair, holding the folder in her hand.
“My choices? You bring me here, tell me I’m in danger, and then give me a contract that decides where I can go and what I can do. That doesn’t sound like a choice, Dante.”
Her voice carried frustration, but behind the anger was fear she refused to admit.
Dante walked toward her slowly.
“You think I enjoy this?”
Aria looked surprised by the question.
“You always look like you enjoy controlling people.”
For the first time, Dante’s expression changed slightly.
“You don’t know me.”
“Then tell me who you are.”
The question caught him off guard.
The room became silent.
Because nobody asked Dante Valentino that question.
People asked what he owned, what power he controlled, and what decisions he made. Nobody asked about the person behind the reputation.
Dante looked away briefly.
“I’m someone who learned that trusting the wrong people can destroy everything.”
Aria studied his face carefully.
For a moment, she saw something different.
Not the billionaire.
Not the mafia leader.
Just a man carrying pain.
But before she could ask more, the moment disappeared.
Dante picked up the contract again.
“These are the rules.”
He placed it back on the table.
“Rule one: You do not leave the mansion without security.”
Aria immediately reacted.
“Absolutely not.”
Dante continued as if she had not interrupted.
“Rule two: You tell me if anyone contacts you unexpectedly.”
“I don’t report my entire life to you.”
“Rule three: You do not investigate your father’s past alone.”
Aria became quiet.
That rule caught her attention.
“You think I’m going to investigate?”
Dante looked at her.
“I think you will do exactly that.”
She wanted to deny it, but she couldn’t.
Because he was right.
Aria had spent her entire life believing her father was honest. Now that someone had questioned everything she knew, she could not simply ignore it.
“You don’t trust me,” she said.
Dante answered immediately.
“No.”
The honesty surprised her.
“At least you admit it.”
“But trust is not something I give easily.”
Aria looked at him.
“Do you trust anyone?”
Dante was silent.
Before he could answer, Elena entered the room carrying a cup of coffee. She looked between them and immediately noticed the tension.
“I see the contract discussion is going well.”
Aria looked at her.
“Does everyone in this house know how impossible your brother is?”
Elena smiled.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Dante looked annoyed.
“Elena.”
“What? I’m not lying.”
Aria almost smiled.
It was the first time since entering the mansion that she felt a little comfortable.
Elena placed the coffee on the table and sat down.
“You should know something about Dante.”
Dante gave her a warning look.
“Don’t.”
But Elena ignored him.
“He acts like he doesn’t care because caring has always been his weakness.”
Aria looked at Dante.
He remained silent.
“He protects people,” Elena continued, “but he never admits that is what he is doing.”
Aria glanced back at the contract.
“So he hides kindness behind threats?”
Elena smiled softly.
“That’s one way to describe him.”
Dante sighed.
“I regret allowing this conversation.”
For a moment, the atmosphere changed.
The mansion that always felt cold suddenly felt slightly warmer.
But the moment did not last long.
Marco entered the room with a serious expression.
“Dante, we found something.”
Dante immediately became focused.
“What?”
Marco looked at Aria before answering.
“Someone has been searching for her.”
Aria’s expression changed.
“Who?”
Marco hesitated.
“We don’t know yet.”
Dante’s eyes darkened.
“But we will find out.”
Aria looked at Dante and noticed something she had not seen before.
Concern.
Real concern.
Not because of his reputation.
Not because of his business.
Because of her.
And that confused her more than anything.
She still did not trust Dante Valentino.
She still believed he was controlling and dangerous.
But she was beginning to realize something she did not want to accept.
The man everyone called a monster might be the only person standing between her and the people who wanted her destroyed.
- Writer
