He closed the distance between us in two long steps. His hands rested on my waist. “You’re full of surprises tonight, amore mio. Don’t keep me waiting.”
I didn’t respond and kept standing there. Later that evening, over dinner, Cassian pushed a sleek black folder across the table.
“The papers are ready,” he said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. “Sign them, and the brand’s yours. Their designs are ready to ship next week.”
I opened the folder, and read the details briefly before picking up the pen. I signed with a calm demeanor that matched my voice. “Done.”
At that moment, there was a loud popping sound from his phone. He turned his gaze towards it. He was distracted. His focus was everywhere but on me.
“They’re limited edition, you know,” he said absently. His eyes were still fixed on the screen. “You’ll love them. I already told the driver to take you tomorrow. No excuses, Cara.”
“You’ve given me so much, Cassian,” I said, my voice deceptively soft.
He turned his face towards me at my tone, his dark eyes locking on mine. For a moment, the man who ruled the city with an iron fist looked vulnerable.
“You’re my world, Eva,” he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “If I don’t protect you or spoil you, someone else might think they can take you from me.”
A flicker of guilt passed through me at his words, but it was quickly replaced by the bitterness festering inside.
No one needed to take me away. I was going to leave on my own. For the rest of the evening, Cassian’s focus remained on his phone.
He kept issuing commands, sealing deals, and maintaining his iron grip on the city.
And me? I sat in silence, a faint smile concealed the storm brewing within.
Time was running out. Not for me alone but for both of us. Everything was there but love. We ran out of it, I guess.
His eyes were fixed on the screen of his phone as if he was seeing something amusing.
After looking at him for two long minutes, I finally asked, “Are you still working at home?”
"You used to leave work at the office after coming home," I said, my voice echoing in the silent air.
Cassian Moretti, the infamous head of the Moretti Mafia Family, barely moved his eyes from his phone. He was sitting in his private study. There was a faint glow of the screen highlighting his sharp features.
A simple wedding band was adorning his hand. To be honest, it felt more like a prop these days. The next moment, he hovered over the keypad. Hesitation flickered across his face.
"Things have changed, Eva," he mumbled, his tone sharp. "The family demands more these days.”
He stopped in the middle and glanced up at me. A flicker of guilt crossed his sharp features, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. It was replaced by his usual mask.
“It’s nothing, cara mia,” he replied smoothly and kept the glass down. “Just a little work. Go to bed. I’ll join you soon.”
But I didn’t move. My gaze stopped at the screen of the phone in his hand. For a moment, the screen illuminated with a new message.
It was a single emoji. A crying face. Moreover, I didn't miss the sender's name- Elena Johansson.
Without delay, I turned away and pretended not to notice, and headed towards the bedroom. My steps were slow, but my heart accelerated with the highest speed.
Once I walked inside my bedroom door, I grabbed my phone and logged into the dummy account I’d created weeks ago.
It took me no time to search for the name that had been haunting me for days—Elena Johansson.
She was the social media influencer who used to pretend and had just posted an update.
Her caption was bold, almost defiant:
"Grateful to my man for making dreams come true. The new endorsement deal is signed, sealed, and ready to launch. This exclusive collection? All mine."
