"That's got to be the Don's doing. I heard he gives his wife a new watch every single year."
"Adriana Valente must have saved the whole galaxy in a past life to marry a man as incredible as Don Bianchi."
"Honestly, Adriana comes from good blood too. Her father ran half the harbor Territory before he passed."
"Such a shame the old Don Valente died so young. They say he was buried by pure spite, or the harbor would still answer to his name."
…
I stopped just outside the Don's office.
Lorenzo Bianchi's irritated voice carried through the heavy door, past the soldier who straightened and stepped aside for me.
"I clearly ordered two watches. One standard edition, one limited edition."
"The standard one's already been delivered, and now you're telling me I have to wait on the limited edition?"
"Is that any way to do business under our name?"
"I don't want to hear your excuses. If that watch isn't in my hands within the hour, you'll answer for it to the Family."
So Lorenzo had bought two watches.
I stood outside the door a few minutes before I finally pushed it open and went in.
The moment he saw me, the frown melted off his face and a smile bloomed instead.
"Adriana, you're here."
"Give me one second. Let me finish these papers and I'll be right with you."
I told him there was no rush, we had plenty of time.
Then I sank onto the leather couch, scrolling through my phone, and waited in silence. A clock ticked somewhere behind his desk, unhurried.
Lorenzo was focused when he worked, and he looked good doing it.
For a hazy moment, I thought I saw a little of my father in him.
It wasn't really so strange. Both of them were men other men learned to fear.
Less than half an hour later, my phone buzzed with a notification.
I tapped it open. Bianca Falcone had posted to her social media feed.
Nine photos, all close-ups of her wearing a watch.
"This is the best birthday gift I've ever received."
"They say every new year outshines the last. I say having you outshines everything!"
A few comments popped up beneath it right away.
"Isn't that the Patek Philippe that just dropped?"
"Oh my God, that's the limited diamond-set edition, worth over thirty-seven million!"
"So jealous!"
"No need to guess. I already know exactly who gave it to her."
"I won't say a word. Here's to true lovers finding their happy ending."
I kept scrolling down and never found a comment from Lorenzo.
I looked up. He was still absorbed in his work, his phone lying quietly to one side, two fingers resting flat against the desk.
Only then did it hit me. When Bianca posted this, she'd almost certainly blocked him from seeing it.
A bitter look crossed my face.
As far as I could remember, today was the first time I'd ever seen Lorenzo this furious.
And all of it over a single watch…
At last Lorenzo finished what he was working on, and we drove out toward the Bianchi Estate together, the driver silent behind the glass partition.
On the way, I closed my eyes and pretended to doze.
Lorenzo's phone suddenly rang.
He turned his head to glance at me, and thinking I was asleep, he pressed accept.
"Lorenzo, thank you for such a precious watch."
The voice through his earpiece was faint, but I was close enough to catch every word.
The corner of Lorenzo's mouth curved up.
"It's only thirty-some million. Hardly expensive."
"As long as you like it, that's all that matters."
Bianca sounded moved. "Over all these years, you've given me so many gifts."
"And each one more precious than the last."
"It leaves me so uneasy. If Adriana ever found out about this, she'd be crushed."
"I don't want the two of you to fall out because of me."
Lorenzo gave a light little laugh. "Don't worry. She'll never know."
"Besides, I bought her a watch too."
"Not as pricey as yours, of course."
Bianca's voice dropped low all at once. "Lorenzo, tonight, could you spend it with me?"
