CHAPTER THREE _ CLOSER TO TROUBLE
1184 Words
I woke up tired.
Not the normal kind of tired. This one sat deep in my chest, like my mind never slept even when my eyes were closed. The night kept replaying itself in my head Elena’s warning, the agency’s message, the sound of gunshots, and the way Dante had pulled me behind him without thinking.
I touched my chest slowly.
Why was my heart beating like this?
I was here for a mission. Nothing else. I reminded myself of that as I got out of bed. I showered quickly, dressed neatly, and applied light makeup. I stared at my reflection for a moment.
Focus, Aria.
When I arrived at Moretti International, something felt wrong immediately. Security guards stood everywhere at the entrance, near the elevators, along the hallways. Their faces were tight, serious, alert. Like they were waiting for something bad to happen.
The moment I stepped into the elevator, my work phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Come directly to Floor 18.
I frowned.
Floor 18 wasn’t Dante’s office floor.
My fingers hesitated before pressing the button. But I did it anyway.
The elevator moved slowly, the sound of it humming too loudly in the quiet space. When the doors opened, the hallway was dim and silent. No assistants. No voices. Just cold air and shadows.
Then I heard his voice.
“Good morning, Aria.”
I turned quickly.
Dante stood near a glass wall, his sleeves rolled up. He looked tired dark circles under his eyes but there was still that powerful presence around him. Like exhaustion couldn’t touch him fully.
“Sir,” I said, surprised. “You asked me to come here?”
“Yes,” he replied. “There’s something I want to show you.”
My heart skipped.
I followed him to the glass wall. Only then did I realize it wasn’t glass it was a one-way window. Behind it was another room.
A secret room.
Screens covered the walls. Files stacked everywhere. Pictures pinned to boards. Red strings connecting names, faces, companies, and places.
It looked like a private war.
“What is all this?” I whispered.
“This,” he said quietly, “is my life.”
I turned to him slowly.
“Sir?”
“If you’re going to work close to me,” he continued, “you need to understand the truth.”
My breath caught.
“My father died because of the same people who attacked this building yesterday.”
His eyes stayed fixed on the board as he spoke.
“Everyone thinks I’m dangerous,” he said. “They don’t know I’m only trying to survive.”
That wasn’t in the agency report.
Not even close.
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until my chest started to ache.
“I don’t trust people easily,” he said, turning to face me. “But yesterday, you didn’t run.”
I swallowed.
“You stayed behind me. That meant something.”
“I didn’t stay because I’m brave,” I said softly. “I stayed because I didn’t know what else to do.”
Silence stretched between us.
Then he spoke again.
“Rule number three,” he said. “Don’t hide anything from me.”
My entire body froze.
That was exactly what I was doing.
Hiding everything.
I forced a small smile. “Of course, sir.”
He studied my face for a long moment, like he was searching for cracks. Then he turned away.
“Let’s go back to the office.”
The morning passed in a blur. Emails. Calls. Meetings. Notes. But my thoughts kept circling back to that room.
Someone was lying.
And it wasn’t Dante.
During lunch, I went to the cafeteria and brought food for both of us. When I returned, Dante stood by the window, holding a file so tightly his knuckles were white.
“Sir,” I said gently. “Your lunch.”
He didn’t respond.
I stepped closer. “Sir?”
He turned.
His eyes were dark, filled with anger and pain.
“What happened?” I asked carefully.
He hesitated, then handed me the file.
Inside was a picture of a man with scars running down his cheek. His eyes were cold. Cruel.
“His name is Luca Varo,” Dante said. “He ordered the attack yesterday.”
My chest tightened.
“He killed my father,” Dante added quietly. “And now he’s coming for me.”
“Why?” I whispered.
“Because I know the truth about him.”
I closed the file slowly.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
He looked straight into my eyes.
“Because you’re the only person here who hasn’t lied to me.”
The words hit like a punch.
I was lying about everything.
My name.
My purpose.
My mission.
“If you ever feel unsafe,” he said gently, “tell me. I’ll take care of it.”
Guilt crushed my chest.
“I will,” I whispered.
By evening, a storm rolled in. Thunder echoed through the building. Rain beat hard against the windows. The office felt colder.
I packed my things, ready to leave.
“I’ll drive you home,” Dante said suddenly.
I turned quickly. “No, sir, it’s okay. I can take the bus.”
“The roads aren’t safe,” he replied. “I’m taking you home.”
I didn’t argue.
Inside the elevator, the lights flickered. The storm made everything feel tense. Silence wrapped around us.
“When you’re quiet like this,” he said, “I can’t tell what you’re thinking.”
“I’m okay,” I replied.
“You look worried.”
“Everything is new,” I whispered. “The job. The danger. The people.”
“You’re doing well,” he said simply.
Something in my chest relaxed.
His car was black, expensive, and silent. When he opened the door for me, I froze.
No boss had ever done that for me.
“Get in, Aria.”
I did.
Rain streaked across the windows as we drove.
“Do you trust me?” he asked suddenly.
“Yes,” I whispered before thinking.
He glanced at me.
“You shouldn’t,” he said softly. “Not yet.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because people who trust me get hurt.”
His voice didn’t sound like a warning.
It sounded like pain.
“I don’t think you’d hurt me,” I said.
“You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
That scared me.
But somehow, it made me trust him more.
When we reached my house, I stepped out slowly.
“Good night, sir.”
“Aria.”
I turned.
“Rule number four,” he said. “If anyone threatens you, tell me.”
“I will,” I promised.
He nodded and drove away.
My phone buzzed.
New order: Get closer to Moretti. Gain his full trust. Do not fail.
My hands shook.
“He’s not the enemy,” I whispered.
But I wasn’t sure anyone would believe me.
Not even myself.
- Writer
