Gabriele Vendetta, dressed in a tailored black suit, sat at the head of a long, polished mahogany table. The room was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the scent of cigars and old money. Around the table, the other mafia lords of the organization,AURA, sat, their faces grim and impassive.“Gentlemen, you all know why we are here,” Gabriele began, his voice a low rumble that commanded attention. “Xavier, Alessandro Esposito’s successor,the man who betrayed BELLA VENDETTA,after my father trusted him. He killed my sister, Alessia, and my father on the night of his wedding. The man who had gone into hiding for years.”A chorus of grumbles and nods went around the table. The lords shifted in their seats, their impatience palpable.“Have you found him, Gabriele?” one of them demanded, his voice laced with steel. “Our rules are clear. Anyone who puts a sword to a brother’s neck shall be killed. Xavier betrayed us all, and he must pay for every if his single crime against his family”Gabr

Xavier stepped out of the elevator and onto the top floor of his corporate tower. The marble hallway was spotless, the recessed lighting casting a cool, professional glow. He was already fifteen minutes late, a rarity for him. The cold, calculated mask he’d worn since the nightmare ended was firmly back in place.His secretary,Ari, was already at her desk.Unlike the previous day where she was just looking like a…mess,she was dressed impeccably in a fitted black blazer and skirt, her hair pulled into a severe bun that somehow still looked elegant and elevated her looks. She looked up at the sound of his Italian leather shoes clicking on the floor."Mr. Stewart, good morning. I—""Save it, Ari," he cut her off, his voice flat and devoid of warmth. He stopped directly in front of her desk, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her. “When is my first meeting today?” he checked his watch and sighed “I came in so late”Ari’s bright smile immediately dimmed, but she didn’t flinch. "I ha

“You have been turning me down because of someone like this?” Xavier demanded, his voice a low, incredulous hiss.Ari, whose mind reeling from the betrayal and the public shaming, could only stare at him, completely taken aback.Liam, clutching his wrist, finally found his voice, high-pitched with anger and fear. “Who the hell are you?” he sputtered, gesturing wildly. “Release me right now!” Xavier finally let go of him.Xavier gave his suit cuff a fastidious smooth, a gesture of disdain. He didn't acknowledge Liam directly, instead speaking loudly enough for the whole room to hear, yet addressing his words to Ari.“I’m someone who finds her intelligent, capable, and, yes, physically attractive,” he stated, his eyes locking onto hers. “In fact, the mere thought of her is enough to make me very hard down there. So, perhaps you might be the one having a problem down there,which is not her fault.”A wave of loud laughter erupted from the surrounding tables. Liam’s face, already red, now

Ari’s eyes snapped open. She scrambled out of the bed, which now looked pristine and impossibly inviting. The apartment, spotless and smelling of lemon, offered a moment of clarity amidst the chaos of her morning rush. She can’t be late on the day she is trying to pretend she didn’t just fantasize about her boss.She threw on a crisp, navy suit after she was done bathing,her movements hurried. No time for breakfast. Just coffee. On her way to work,she made the taxi driver drop her at the coffee shop where Xavier said he likes their coffee.She ordered black Americano and a double-shot espresso, black, for Xavier. A peace offering, or maybe just a desperate way to ensure he wouldn't look at her with that cold disdain.Ari power-walked the last few blocks, gripping the two steaming cups like talismans. She kept glancing at her watch: 7:52 a.m. She only had eight minutes before Xavier’s scheduled arrival, and if she could be at her desk, papers arranged, coffee cooling on his mahogany,

Ari settled into her luggage on the private jet, the plush leather of the seat swallowing her petite frame. They were airborne swiftly, the ground crew became a blur to them from outside the thick porthole window. Xavier was across the aisle, with his face buried into his phone replying to his personal DMS and messages. A flight attendant served them sparkling water and a small plate of gourmet canapés. Ari ate sparingly and sipped her water. She was also offered wine,but she declined. Soon after trying to distract herself with movies, she reclined the seat, wrapped herself in the cashmere blanket provided, and drifted into a deep sleep, her professional anxiety temporarily muted. A wet, sugary warmth slid across her lower lip, instantly jolting her awake. “Why does it taste familiar?” She asked in her subconsciousness. The taste came again. “It tastes like …….” She drifted off trying to figure out the taste. Alcohol! Ari’s eyes snapped open, a flash of pure, terrified a