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ARA
Ireceive another text message from Luca, despising the power he thinks he has over me. That to desire my freedom back in any way I’m forced to text him as if I don’t hate every fiber in his being. My mother’s necklace is standing as a reminder of that. I haven’t felt the same since this morning. I’m on edge and finding it a struggle to settle into the calculated composure I’ve hidden behind for years.
I blow him off about tonight’s event. As if I’m going to feed the media’s attention about our non- existent relationship.
My pace picks up in my office as I stride back and forth thoughtfully. I have to obliterate the feelings and sentiment I am starting to notice before I cling to it, jeopardizing everything I’ve worked so hard to accomplish. A few plans have come together on how I can drive a deeper wedge between Luca and his brother. The obvious answer is to sleep with Dario, but I hesitate. He’ll kill his brother and me for it.
I want at best to last a few more months and despite my cruelty in wanting to destroy their frail relationship, I don’t want to be the reason Luca kills his only family member as well.
Though I can’t say I’m so good of a person to avoid it either.
Yet the final plan I continue gravitating toward is risky and might be difficult for me to remain in the shadows. However, every other plan I’ve pondered doesn’t come even close to its magnitude.
My gaze continuously lands on the jaguar statue as I pace. “I’ve always hated that fucking thing,” I say as I go to pick it up to put it in the bin. It looks exactly like something my father would buy as well. I look around the office that hasn’t at all changed since the previous CFO. Fuck it, it was about time I demanded a palette change either way. When I go to pick up the statue, something grabs my attention. My stomach sinks. Surely not.
I stand upright beside it and with the sass of a woman on a mission I forcefully slam my hip into its side. The statue comes to a crash. Porcelain splinters everywhere but I’m quick to dig through the pieces and pull out a small camera.
“Mother fuc—”
“Is everything okay?” My assistant, Liam barges in. Surprised, I nick my hand on a piece of porcelain as I hide the camera.
“I’m fine. Can you get me something to clean this up with?”
“You’re bleeding,” he says pointing to the small gash that’s starting to trickle down my hand.
Fuck. What is happening to me today?
“It’s only a small gash.” It’s not. “Perhaps a bandage as well. I’ll be okay,” I encourage waiting for him to leave. He’s hesitant at first but does as he’s told. When he leaves, I roll the tiny camera between my fingers. Mother fucker bugged me. I blanch at the thought of all the conversations I’ve had in here. When did he even do this? How?
It doesn’t matter. What if he’s done the same to my apartment?
I have other resources, is what he had said this morning. To think I was actually relieved when I noticed he kept to his word and removed my persistent shadow, “bodyguard” indeed.
My entire body feels like a live wire ready to go up in flames.
How did I let myself lull into a fantasy of this man.
Fuck Luca Armani.
44
ARA
Lily is patiently waiting for the cocktails she ordered us beside the bar. When they’re handed to us, I notice they’re pink and sparkling in theme for the charity. As if my mood from today couldn’t have soured any further, my father has brought my stepmother, Sarah, for once. They circulate the room with ease. After the emotional turmoil and stark reminder of my mother, I can’t stand to look at either of them.
The truth of the matter is I hate these events. I’ve especially hated how Sarah so easily replaced my mother. Just like my father, all the adults surrounding me have pretended like she never existed but would often whisper between themselves the tragedy it was. Very few had the balls to claim any suspicion, which they certainly should have.
I hate even more that Luca is standing across the room from me. Women flock to him. It’s no different to the usual but it’s massively pissing me off tonight.
The events haven’t changed.
I have.
Or more specifically I am struggling to cling to the mask I’d hidden behind for years.
After discovering he bugged my office, I left work early for the first time since taking the role. Although I announced it was to get my hand checked out, I actually wanted to search my entire home immediately. Unsurprisingly, I found six cameras. I wasn’t entirely sure if that was all of them.
“Stare a little harder, Ara, you might be able to make it more obvious,” Lily says as she offers me my drink.
