CHAPTER SIX_ HIS ABSENCE
1077 Words
The office felt wrong without him.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
Dante Moretti’s presence usually filled the building. Even when he was silent, you could feel him. The way people straightened their backs. The way voices dropped. The way the air felt heavy, like something important was always happening.
But that morning, there was nothing.
Just silence.
I sat at my desk, staring at my screen without really seeing anything. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, but I couldn’t type. Every few seconds, my eyes went to his empty chair.
Still nothing.
My chest felt tight.
Where was he?
I checked the time again. Late morning. Almost noon. Still no sign of him.
This wasn’t like him.
Not at all.
My phone buzzed softly beside me. I jumped, my heart racing, but it was only an email notification. Nothing important. Nothing helpful.
I swallowed and stood up.
I couldn’t just sit there anymore.
I walked toward the executive floor, my steps slow. Each step felt heavier than the last. People were whispering. I caught pieces of conversations.
“—haven’t seen him—”
“—since last night—”
“—security is tense—”
That only made things worse.
I stopped near his office door. It was closed. Locked.
I stared at it for a long moment.
Last night replayed in my head.
His silence.
His injured hand.
The way he looked at me when he said, Don’t ever lie to me.
My throat burned.
What if he knew?
What if he had gone to confront someone because of what he suspected?
Or worse… what if someone had already gotten to him?
My phone buzzed again.
This time, it was the agency.
Agency: Reminder. Financial report. Three days.
I clenched my jaw and locked my phone.
Not now.
For the first time since I took this job, the mission felt small compared to the fear sitting in my chest.
I didn’t want files.
I didn’t want reports.
I just wanted to know if Dante was safe.
By afternoon, the tension in the building had grown thick. Security moved more than usual. Calls were made behind closed doors. Meetings happened without explanations.
No one told me anything.
And that scared me the most.
I was still sitting at my desk when a man stopped in front of me.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark suit. Sharp eyes.
Elena Vasquez.
I had only seen her a few times before. She worked closely with Dante, closer than most. She had the kind of confidence that made people uncomfortable. The kind that didn’t need to raise its voice to be heard.
“You’re Aria,” she said.
It wasn’t a question.
“Yes,” I replied, standing up quickly.
Her eyes scanned me slowly, like she was reading something written under my skin.
“You’re very close to him,” she said.
I stiffened. “I’m his assistant.”
She gave a small smile. It didn’t reach her eyes.
“Assistants don’t usually stay this late. Or look this worried.”
My hands curled slightly at my sides. “I was just… concerned. He hasn’t come in.”
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“Dante doesn’t disappear without reason.”
That didn’t help.
“Do you know where he is?” I asked.
She straightened and looked away. “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Then she walked off, heels clicking against the floor.
My heart sank.
So even the people closest to him didn’t know.
Or they were hiding it.
By evening, I couldn’t focus anymore. I packed my bag and left the office, my mind spinning with worst-case thoughts.
The city outside felt colder than usual. Louder. Dangerous.
Every shadow made me jump.
I kept seeing his face. The way he watched me. The way his voice softened when he spoke my name.
Aria.
I hugged my jacket tighter around myself.
When I got home, I didn’t even turn on the lights. I dropped my bag and sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall.
What if this was my fault?
What if my questions, my presence, my lies had pushed something into motion?
My phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
My breath caught.
I stared at the screen for a few seconds before answering.
“Hello?” My voice came out weak.
Silence.
Then breathing.
Slow. Steady.
“Aria,” a voice said.
My heart nearly stopped.
“Dante?” I whispered.
“Yes.”
I stood up so fast the chair behind me fell.
“Where are you?” I asked quickly. “Are you okay?”
There was a pause.
“I can’t talk long,” he said. His voice sounded different. Lower. Tighter.
Fear rushed through me. “Are you hurt?”
“No.”
That was not convincing.
“Why didn’t you come to the office?” I asked.
Another pause.
“Because I needed answers.”
My stomach twisted.
“Answers to what?” I asked, even though part of me already knew.
“To who I can trust.”
My chest ached.
“Dante” I started.
“Listen to me,” he cut in. “If anyone asks, you haven’t heard from me.”
“What?” My voice shook.
“It’s safer that way.”
Safer?
“Dante, please,” I whispered. “Just tell me you’re safe.”
He was quiet for a moment.
“I am,” he said finally. “For now.”
That made tears sting my eyes.
“Where are you?” I asked again.
“You don’t need to know,” he replied softly. “And Aria…”
“Yes?”
“If someone contacts you,” he said slowly, “if anyone asks you for information about me or my business”
My heart pounded.
“—tell me immediately.”
My mouth felt dry. “Okay.”
Another pause.
“And Aria?”
“Yes?”
His voice dropped. “I meant what I said. Don’t lie to me.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone, shaking.
I had never felt so torn in my life.
The agency wanted information.
Dante wanted loyalty.
And my heart was caught in the middle.
I slid down onto the floor, hugging my knees.
I was running out of time.
And whatever game was being played around Dante Moretti…
I was already standing in the middle of it.
- Writer
