Chapter six
745 Words
The club was still buzzing with energy when Massimo and Alessia left. The night air was cool, a sharp contrast to the heat inside. Alessia took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. The encounter with Lorenzo Ricci had left her uneasy. There was something about him—his smooth words, the way he looked at her like he was studying her every move. She knew better than to trust men like him, just as she knew better than to trust Massimo.
Massimo’s black car was waiting at the curb, his driver standing at attention. He didn’t say a word as he opened the door for her. Alessia slid inside, and Massimo followed, his expression unreadable. As soon as the doors closed, the tension inside the car thickened.
"What did you think of Ricci?" Massimo asked, his voice low, but there was something sharp beneath the calmness.
Alessia turned her head to look at him. His jaw was tense, his fingers drumming lightly against his knee.
"He seems... interested in your business," she said carefully.
Massimo let out a humorless chuckle. "That’s one way to put it. He’s been waiting for me to make a mistake, looking for any weakness he can exploit."
She frowned. "And you introduced me to him? Why?"
His eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, she felt like he could see right through her. "Because I wanted to see how he would react to you. He’s curious about you, and now he knows you belong to me."
Alessia stiffened. "Belong? I work for you, Massimo. That doesn’t mean you own me."
His lips curved into a smirk, but there was no humor in it. "In my world, Alessia, there’s no difference."
She turned away, staring out the window. The lights of the city blurred as they drove past. His words disturbed her, not because they surprised her, but because part of her knew he meant them. He was possessive, controlling, and dangerous. And yet, she was still here.
The rest of the ride was silent.
Back at the estate, Alessia was about to head upstairs to her room when Massimo spoke again. "Come to my study."
She hesitated. "It’s late."
"I wasn’t asking."
With a sigh, she followed him. His study was dimly lit, the scent of whiskey lingering in the air. He walked to his desk and poured himself a drink, his back to her.
"Do you know why I don’t trust Ricci?" he asked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
Alessia crossed her arms. "Because he’s your rival?"
Massimo took a slow sip, then turned to face her. "Because he wants to destroy everything I’ve built. He would kill me without hesitation if he had the chance. And now, he’s interested in you."
Her pulse quickened. "I can handle myself."
He studied her for a moment, then shook his head with a small, dark smile. "You think you understand this world, but you don’t."
"Then teach me," she said before she could stop herself.
Massimo raised an eyebrow. "Be careful what you ask for, Alessia."
She swallowed hard, but held his gaze. "I just want to do my job. If I’m going to be working for you, I need to know what I’m dealing with."
He set his glass down and stepped closer. "You’re dealing with men who don’t hesitate to put a bullet in someone’s head if it benefits them. You’re dealing with power, greed, and blood. This isn’t a game, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get caught in the crossfire."
Her stomach twisted, but she kept her expression neutral. "I understand."
He studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Good. Then let me make one thing clear—you don’t speak to Ricci again. Not without me."
Alessia clenched her fists. "You don’t control who I talk to."
His eyes darkened. "In this case, I do."
She wanted to argue, but deep down, she knew it was pointless. Massimo wasn’t a man who gave options. He gave orders.
"Fine," she muttered.
His lips twitched as if he were amused, but he said nothing more. He simply walked back to his desk, dismissing her without another word.
Alessia turned and left, her heart pounding in her chest. As she walked to her room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just stepped deeper into something she wasn’t sure she could escape.
And the worst part?
She wasn’t sure she wanted to.
- Writer
