Secrets
1093 Words
Elena adjusted the silver tray in her hands, balancing two espresso cups as she approached Nico’s office. It had been three days since she officially began her job as his personal assistant, and every minute had been a masterclass in chaos. Between the constant calls, cryptic meetings, and shady visitors who looked like they could snap her in half for blinking wrong, she’d barely had time to breathe. Still, she was holding her own.
Sort of.
She knocked twice, then pushed open the door with her hip.
"Coffee," she announced, placing the tray on the edge of his desk like a waitress at a mafia-themed diner.
Nico glanced up from the mess of documents in front of him, his face unreadable. "You’re a lifesaver."
"That’s what all the dangerous men say before they get betrayed," Elena said, sliding into the chair across from him.
He gave a soft chuckle, reaching for the cup. "Then I’ll have to keep a close eye on you."
Please don’t, she thought, forcing a smile. His eyes lingered a bit too long, and she quickly busied herself pretending to read one of the memos on his desk.
The rest of the day was uneventful by mafia standards. A brief shouting match with a supplier, a phone call involving vaguely threatening terms about shipments, and Marco bursting in at one point to complain that someone was using his cologne. Apparently, in the criminal underworld, scent theft was a declaration of war.
By dusk, Elena had settled into her small office space down the hall. She was sorting through a pile of contracts when her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: I know who you are. You don’t belong there. Leave, or I’ll make you. – SM
Elena stared at the message, her blood running cold.
Sofia Moretti.
There was no mistaking the initials. Elena swallowed hard, the room suddenly feeling smaller. Her hands trembled slightly as she locked her phone. She’d known the risks, but to be found out so soon—by Sofia, of all people? That wasn’t part of the plan. Sofia Moretti was the head of a rival family, a woman with that much power wouldn't have much trouble finding out her secrets.
She stood up and paced. The smart move would be to lie low, reconsider her approach, and maybe even back out. But smart had never really been her thing.
She had come too close to turn back now.
She sat down at her desk, opened her laptop, and pulled up the file she’d begun compiling—notes, connections, accounts. Each thread was part of the web she hoped to unravel. She jotted down the initials ‘SM’ and underlined them.
Enemy. Threat. Potential ally?
She frowned. What did Sofia want exactly? If she knew the truth about Elena’s mission, she could’ve exposed her already. Maybe the message was a test—an intimidation tactic. Either way, it was a warning and it was serious.
Later that evening, Elena returned to Nico’s office under the pretense of bringing more documents. He looked up from his desk, surprised.
"Didn’t expect to see you again tonight." Nico looked tired, he had been in this office all day. Elena guessed that with his father still recovering, Nico had gotten a lot busier than normal.
"Don’t get used to it," she said with a smirk, setting down the stack of papers. "You look like s**t, when last have you gotten some proper sleep?" Elena was surprised to find out that a small part of her did care.
Nico sighed, "Don't worry about me", he waved a hand nonchalantly, " Did you want something?"
"I had a few questions about some of the files."
He leaned back in his chair, motioning for her to sit.
She lowered herself into the seat and gave him a casual look. "So... I came across a name today. Sofia Moretti."
The moment the name left her lips, Nico’s posture stiffened.
Bingo.
He recovered quickly, leaning forward with a sigh. "What about her?"
"Who is she?"
Nico was quiet for a beat, then said, "She runs the Moretti family—our biggest rival."
"And? You two have a history?"
He glanced at her with narrowed eyes. "Why are you asking?"
Elena shrugged, keeping her tone light. "Curiosity. I like to know who the players are."
He studied her, then slowly nodded. "We were... involved. Years ago."
Of course you were. Elena suppressed the flicker of jealousy she had no right to feel.
"It didn’t end well, did it?" she asked.
"Not even a little."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. She tried to kill you, and you stole her favorite wine collection?"
Nico laughed at that; the sound was surprisingly warm and the way his face lit up made him look even more handsome than he already was, if that was even possible. "Something like that. She’s smart, dangerous, and never forgets a slight. The kind of woman who'll burn your house down and send you the ashes in a gift box."
"Sounds charming."
He smirked. "She was, at first. But things got... complicated. I walked away. She didn’t."
"So now she’s just your bitter ex with a grudge and an army of hitmen?"
"Pretty much."
Elena let the subject drop, satisfied she'd learned enough for now. So, Sofia Moretti wasn’t just another rival—she was personal. That complicated things. But it also meant she might be useful. If Sofia saw Elena as a threat, she was already part of the game.
She stood to leave, pausing at the door. "Thanks for the background. I like knowing who I’m working around."
Nico lifted his glass in a mock toast. "Always good to stay informed."
As she turned the handle, he added, "Be in my office first thing tomorrow. I’ve got a big job for you."
Elena turned back, brows raised. "Big how?"
"You’ll see."
She nodded, masking her sudden rush of nerves with a confident smile. "I’ll be there. Go home"
That night in her room, Elena sat cross-legged on the bed with her laptop open and a map of the city on her screen. She traced the routes the Romano family’s shipments usually took, cross-referencing it with data she’d quietly collected.
Her phone buzzed again. She hesitated, then picked it up. A blank message this time—just an image of a rose, with blood dripping from its stem.
She stared at it for a long moment.
Okay, Sofia. Message received.
She deleted the picture and closed her laptop.
No turning back now.
- Writer
