Chapter 3
1182 Words
Lorenzo always comes to his office thirty minutes earlier than others. Exactly at 7:30 in the morning.
As usual, he parked his car in the underground of his company.
Just as he stepped out, an unfamiliar car pulled in. Black Audi A3 with tinted windows.
He had never seen this car before. He knew everything in his company. Every detail of his employees.
He watched.
Waiting for the person to get out.
While calmly reaching for his gun.
A familiar girl came out from the driver's seat with a composed look.
Seeing that it was the new hired secretary, he finally got out of his car.
"Good morning, Sir Moretti." Isabella greeted him politely.
"You're early, Miss Ricci." His tone was still icy cold but there was amusement in his eyes.
She chuckled, not flirty but just enough.
“As your secretary, I prefer to arrive ahead of you. It keeps things efficient.”
Lorenzo frowned.
"You're monitoring me, Miss Ricci?" His eyes were sharper and full of doubt.
The elevator hadn’t arrived yet when she spoke.
“I prefer to stay ahead of your needs, Sir Moretti. I asked Vicente for your schedule directly.”
Both had stepped out of their cars at the same time.
Coincidence.
Or precision.
The underground parking lot was quiet, the sharp echo of their footsteps the only sound between us. She walked beside me—not behind. Not ahead.
Beside.
Composed. Unhurried.
He glanced at her briefly.
She didn’t look at him for approval. Didn’t rush to justify herself further. Just kept walking as if she hadn’t done anything unusual.
Most people overcompensate when they cross an invisible line.
She didn’t.
Staying ahead of his needs.
It was carefully worded. Efficient. Logical.
Impossible to fault.
If he questioned her, he would sound paranoid.
If he corrected her, he would contradict his own standards.
There was an awkward silence while they were walking.
He broke it by saying “I appreciate competence, Miss Ricci. Just be mindful not to mistake initiative for intrusion.”
The same exact moment...
The elevator doors slid open.
They stepped inside.
“I understand, Sir Moretti. Though if I’m to remain by your side for five years, some degree of familiarity becomes inevitable."
His fingers stilled at his side.
Her lips formed a knowing smile. "I’d rather you see it as preparation… not intrusion.”
The elevator's small space didn't help at all.
Then....
Silence.
His reflection caught hers in the mirrored walls.
Suddenly, her phone rings. She looked at it and for the first time, her gaze wavered.
Something in that call is important yet she didn't answer it in front of me.
His instincts shifted.
It was either an alarm or recognition.
The same quiet awareness he felt when something in a room didn’t quite align—but hadn’t revealed itself yet.
It had been years since someone triggered that instinct so effortlessly.
He studied her profile—the calm expression, the steady gaze forward.
Either she was exactly what she claimed to be.
Or she was very, very careful.
A faint smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it.
Interesting.
The elevator chimed.
For the first time in a long while…
His morning didn’t feel routine.
And after that, what amazed him the most was the way she worked.
Clean.
Barely her first day but it's already as if she's been working here for a very long time.
This stirred something inside of him.
She knew everyone way too easily. She worked too competently.
It shouldn't be bad but... felt too familiar here.
"Hey, Emily~ here's your coffee." Isabella said.
Handing each employee in this floor with coffee.
It was clearly stated in her contract that she only needed to attend Lorenzo's needs.
"Interesting..." Glancing at her direction again.
Either she was too kind, which made him uncomfortable, or something was off.
Yet, he can't even call her out.
The files? On his desk. Arranged carefully.
His schedule? Fixed and arranged. All he needs was to follow it.
Everything was too perfect. And perfection was never accidental.
She was way too competent.
"It's either she's trying to impress me or..."
He didn't finish his words. He didn't want to assume things. What he needs was evidence.
Although he felt something doesn't add up, he wouldn't confront her.
Keep your friends close.
While keep your enemies closer.
Unknowingly, he already stared at her to the point that he noticed every single detail about her.
The way she talked.
Her habits.
And to Vicente's eyes who's been with him, this created a misunderstanding.
He reached for the intercom.
"Miss Ricci, I need something."
Isabella's desk was only in front of his office, the moment he called her, she immediately arrived.
"Yes, Sir Moretti?" She wore a professional smile.
THUD—
He tossed an important document, inside was a fake document that hinted he's doing underground business.
Carefully slid as if it was a "mistake".
A bait designed especially for her.
"I need this sort out in 30 minutes. This is an important one so check it carefully." His tone sharpened at the word important, implying he valued the document.
Isabella nodded.
Reaching for the documents. "Understood, I'll give it to you as soon as I can." She said before leaving.
Back to her desk, she skimmed through documents. And sure enough, she saw the "accidentally" slid documents.
But inside, she didn't react. Lorenzo might watching her through the CCTV. Instead, she calmly handled it.
She recognized it the moment she saw this. A method she used to catch spies.
She smiled inwardly. "Interesting..."
Before she could even process it, rumors reached her ears.
It was laughable that she wanted the person who first muttered it dead.
The CEO is in love with his secretary.
This scandal escalated in the office.
Although no one voiced it out.
Isabella could feel the stares of every single female employee.
Some with admiration, others with envy.
"Do you need help, Miss Ricci?"
Even the stoic Vicente's tone was softer.
"Shh— she's here!" Some murmured whenever she gets closer.
In this building, they only saw a CEO. Not the heir of the Moretti Family. Not the man who ruled shadows.
In this city, power wasn’t something you displayed. It was something you concealed.
At this time, Isabella already memorized his schedule by asking around openly.
"So... He comes early, exactly at 7:30. Then exactly at 3 p.m. he'll leave the office. I assume this is where he goes to the Moretti hideout." Isabella analyzed.
She looked like she thought she had everything figured out.
Until—
“Cancel my three o’clock.” Lorenzo said casually from behind her.
She froze. Her right eye twitched for a moment.
Gladly, Lorenzo was walking ahead.
Because three o’clock…
Was the time she assumed he visited the hideout.
She didn’t realize the glass behind her reflected everything.
A quiet conclusion began forming in his mind.
The real question was whether her usefulness would outweigh the risk.
Lorenzo's lips curled upward.
"I should thank whoever sent her."
- Writer
