The atmosphere had grown suffocating, I quietly excused myself to the restroom, needing a moment to breathe. As I leaned on the cold marble sink, I stared at reflection in the mirror, my thoughts drifted back to the strange tension between my aunt and that mysterious man.
They weren't just strangers,It seems like there was something between them, something unspoken. A past, maybe. Olivia Williams was a powerful businesswoman, who used to control and command. But with him… she seemed cornered.
How the hell did she know him? Was it money?
'No, His presence alone screamed wealth and dominance. A man like that didn't need money. He needed something far from more valuable.'
I was drowning in questions when giggles and drifted from the lounge area next door.
"He's so attractive and cute!" one girl squealed.
"I still can't believe Vincenzo Ruggiero is actually here!" another exclaimed, practically breathless with excitement.
"Patricia, this is your chance! You can't let it slip away," someone urged.
Patricia…? The name struck a chord. My frown deepened. Why does that name sound so familiar?
I wasn't exactly eavesdropping, but I couldn't ignore the conversation either.
My phone buzzed. It was a message from Naomi my best friend:
'Are you okay? Caught any fish yet and you better spill everything the second you get back here'
A small smile tugged at my lips. Trust Naomi to tease me even when I was spiraling. I had begged her to come with me, but work got in the way.
' I'm fine..I promise' I typed back, though it felt like a lie. I tucked the phone away. I had to go back out, not like I can hide in the restroom forever.
When I stepped back into the ballroom, the tension air felt slightly clearer. My gaze was pulled,like a magnet towards the centre of the room....until I met his burning gaze again. His turquoise blue eyes were cold, it felt like he was peeling back my skin to see what was underneath.
The room was blur of noise until he spoke .
"I want her,"
'Uhn?'. Those three words were cold as a tombstone, cutting through the music and laughter. He didn't look at my aunt, his eyes directly at me.
I frozed, a wave of ice crashed over me, making my chest tighten until I couldn't catch my breath. He watched me panic as his lip curling into a slow smirk. It was the look of a man who had finally found the pieces he needed to win a very long dangerous game.
However, Vincenzo hadn't believed the captivating young woman could be Olivia Williams's niece. But once Jacopo confirmed it, his interest on her lit up.
One stone, two birds, he mused, a sly smile curling on his lips. Still, frustration lingered through him because Jacopo had failed to dig deeper into her background. And Vincenzo hated loose ends.
****Earlier****
As Jennie walked into the restroom, Olivia quickly wrapped up her conversation with the other guests.
Soon, they all dispersed to mingle, leaving Olivia and Vincenzo seated alone at a large table.
Vincenzo's gaze trailed Jennie as she excused herself.
"You haven't forgotten our agreement, have you, Mrs. Olivia Williams?" he asked, his voice low and sharp.
"I haven't," Olivia answered, her face composed, but her mind raced. She hated this being at his mercy, never knowing what he truly wanted. It can be never money.
Then what?
He turned his eyes in the direction Jennie had gone.
"What about her?" he said, tone as casual as it was dangerous.
"You wouldn't dare—" Olivia gasped, her voice cracking.
Vincenzo's smirk deepened. Without another word, he rose to his feet.
"I'll send the documents. Along with the contract," he said, and walked away.
****Olivia's Private Suite****
The party was long over, but now the silence in Olivia's room felt more louder that the ballroom music. Olivia sat by the window, her silhouette sharp against the moonlight, She looks older and brittled.
Vincenzo's words kept echoing in her mind. She dreaded of what coming next, how she would explain it all to Jennie. A knock at the door echoes, jolting her awake from her thought and she knew who it was.
I stepped inside as my heart start hammering against my ribs, She gestured me to sit opposite her. I sank into the couch, staring at her intently.
"Who is he?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "Why does he feel dangerous...more like a death sentence?"
Olivia let out a breath. "You get two questions tonight, Jennie" she said.
I swallowed hard,my throat dry.
"Who is he… and why do you look so scared of him?" Olivia finally turned, her hands shaking and that alone terrified me more than anything Vincenzo had done.
"Vincenzo is a man of unimaginable power. He doesn't need to raise his voice to be feared. He doesn't break people with his hands, Jennie. He breaks them with his silence. To Vincenzo, a person is either a tool to be used or an obstacle to be crushed. And he never, ever forget a debt. Her voice trembled slightly. "Mercy, to him, is weakness. Betrayal… is a death sentence."
She stood up slowly, her eyes filled of fear. She walked up to me, stopping just an inches away. The air in the room felt like it has been sucked out.
" He isn't just a business man Jennie...he is the reason why your parents never came home that night."