What We Left in the Dark

Twenty One

The office was already buzzing with activity when I arrived, the hum of voices and the clatter of keyboards filling the air. I moved through the familiar space, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of the morning and focus on the tasks ahead. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't completely push Giancarlo from my mind.

I made it through most of the day on autopilot, throwing myself into my work with a single-minded determination. I reviewed contracts, attended meetings, and responded to emails, all while a knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. The memory of Giancarlo's visit—and the tension that had crackled between us—refused to leave me alone. His presence still lingered, shadowing every thought, every action.

By the time afternoon rolled around, I was running on fumes. I retreated to my office, closing the door behind me and allowing myself a moment to breathe. I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes as I tried to focus on anything but the thoughts that had been plaguing me all day. But as much as I wanted to forget, Giancarlo's words echoed in my mind, haunting me.

"I'll find you later, and we'll have a proper chat."

The weight of that promise hung over me like a dark cloud. I had no idea when or where Giancarlo would reappear, but the uncertainty was gnawing at me, making it impossible to relax. I knew better than to think he'd let this morning be our last encounter. Giancarlo never did anything halfway, and I had no doubt that he had plans for me—plans I wasn't sure I wanted to uncover.

I was lost in thought when there was a knock at my door. I straightened up quickly, smoothing my hair as I called out, "Come in."

The door opened, and Matt stepped inside, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Hey, Cat," he greeted me, closing the door behind him. "You've been hard to track down today. Everything okay?"

I forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil beneath the surface. "Yeah, just busy with work. You know how it is."

Matt nodded, but his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than usual, as if he could sense that something was off. "I wanted to check in, see how you're doing after last week. I know it was... intense."

I bit my lip, my mind flashing back to the incident with Jason, the way Luca had come to my rescue, the way everything had spiraled from there. "I'm okay," I said, though the words felt hollow. "Just trying to move past it."

He studied me for a moment, then nodded again. "Good. If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Matt," I replied, genuinely grateful for his concern.

He gave me a small smile, then turned to leave. "Don't work too late," he called over his shoulder as he exited the office.

As soon as the door clicked shut, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The brief interaction had pulled me out of my thoughts, but it hadn't erased the anxiety that was still gnawing at me. I needed to get a grip, to focus on what was in front of me, not the what-ifs that I had no control over.

But just as I was about to dive back into my work, my phone buzzed on the desk. I picked it up, my heart skipping a beat as I saw an unknown number flashing on the screen. A feeling of dread washed over me, but I couldn't ignore the call. With a deep breath, I swiped to answer.

"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

There was a brief pause, and then the familiar, smooth voice that sent chills down my spine. "Hello, Cat."

Giancarlo.

My heart lurched in my chest, the sound of his voice pulling me back to that morning in Luca's apartment. "How did you get my number?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.