Chapter 5
862 Words
Isabella POV
Because of the sudden invitation to dinner, the two barely spoke or even glanced at each other.
“What is wrong with me? Why is my heartbeat uncontrollable?” she felt something.
A distant, unwelcome stir she refused to name.
A man who killed her father.
That's how Lorenzo was to her and that's how he'll be.
She wanted to slap herself.
She had been drawn to the way Lorenzo carried himself. He spoke coldly, yet his actions toward her were softer.
Isabella grew up differently from others. She noticed subtle actions and tones—skills that became her greatest weapon when she was still in Russia. A talent that allowed her to stay several steps ahead of everyone.
That was why she noticed.
The way Lorenzo’s eyes brightened. Every clenched jaw. The way he altered contracts.
Nothing slipped past her.
Before becoming the branch leader in Russia and inheriting her father’s position after his death, she had once been like other girls.
She had dreamed of love. Of having a family of her own.
But her situation did not allow that. Those feelings were buried and labeled as weakness.
At ten, while other children held stuffed toys, she held a real gun.
Her father had made her learn early. She once hated him for it. Now, she understood.
They had many enemies. He could not always protect them.
While others studied normal courses, she was homeschooled—focused on business and strategy.
Her love for dolls and flowers was replaced by the quality of her gun and how quickly she could pull the trigger.
Her life revolved around deception.
But Lorenzo—
He was different.
And she hated that.
And now that he had asked her out…
Her hand hovered over her purse. Had she brought her gun, Lorenzo wouldn’t have survived.
She bit her lip hard enough to taste blood.
Her chest tightened. An unfamiliar feeling stirred in her heart. Anger—that was the only word that made sense.
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Lorenzo’s POV
He leaned back in his office chair and let out a low chuckle.
“I'm just asking her out because it's better to keep my enemies closer.”
His tone was critical, but his heart refused to calm.
"I'm not doing this out of personal reason." He reminded himself, as if chanting it will help him.
Never in his life had he allowed his guard to drop.
Yet Isabella managed to do exactly that.
What he had meant to say earlier was for her to follow him.
He was supposed to interrogate her. Torture her, if necessary. Just like every spy who tried to infiltrate his organization.
But instead, he asked her out.
Now he couldn’t even face her.
Not because he was shy—but because he couldn’t control himself when she was near.
He was afraid that seeing her more would deepen his feelings and lead him to a decision he might regret.
For the first time, he was unsure of the future.
The door opened.
The woman he was trying not to think about stepped inside.
His heartbeat quickened as she approached.
Her perfume. Her composed voice. The quiet confidence in her presence.
In front of her, he felt something dangerously close to vulnerability.
“Sir Moretti, here are the documents you requested. I also moved some of your meetings tomorrow…”
He only nodded.
“Sir Moretti?”
“Sorry?”
“I was asking if you’re fine with the schedule changes. And you have a meeting with Mr. Ranold at five—”
“Cancel it. We have dinner tonight.”
Her eyes twitched slightly.
“Were you serious about that earlier?” Her tone remained neutral.
“I choose my words carefully, Miss Ricci. I never speak lightly.”
They stared at each other.
Their composed expressions betrayed by the rapid rhythm of their hearts.
"I'll pretend I haven't heard that, Sir Moretti." She cut him off. Her tone was firm. “I prefer to keep my professional and personal lives separate.”
Lorenzo's eyes widened.
When he asked earlier, she didn't answer. And now, she flatly rejected him.
He didn't react immediately but when he did he asked—
"Why?"
No one dared to reject him.
"Do you know who I am? I'm Lorenzo Moretti, miss Ricci."
His fingers tapping once, sharply on his desk.
“Precisely. Which is why I must refuse, Mr. Moretti.” Her fingers curled slightly at her side, though her voice stayed even.
His jaw tightened, a slight crease forming between his brows.
He watched her figure leave with disbelief and something else he doesn't want to admit.
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Isabella POV
A subtle frown appeared, but her gaze did not waver.
"Don't fall for that devil, Isabella. Don't decide based on your emotions."
She reminded herself.
"Think of your Father, Matthias and your people... Selfishness will kill you. Don't be blinded." She repeated it in her head like reciting a mantra.
She never imagined keeping her heart in check could be this hard.
"I will not waver."
She immediately went to the bathroom where there's no CCTV.
She texted.
"Proceed with our plan."
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