Bridging Hearts

15. Perfect

Him

As I was reviewing some documents in my office, my phone buzzed on the desk. I reached over, expecting a routine message, but what I saw made my lips curl into a smirk. A set of coordinates, nothing more, nothing less. But I knew exactly what they meant. One of their warehouses. They'd been found there.

Perfect.

The timing couldn't have been better. I knew that if I wanted to catch them, I had to leave tonight. No delays, no second thoughts.

I stood up, tucking my phone into my pocket, and headed straight for Arjun's cabin. He looked up from his work as I walked in, a question already forming in his eyes. He knew me well enough to sense when something serious was going down.

"I need to leave tonight," I said without preamble, keeping my tone neutral but firm. "It's important."

Arjun studied me for a moment, his expression turning grave. He didn't ask for details—he didn't need to.

"Understood," he replied, nodding slowly. "I'll handle everything here. You do what you need to do."

"Thanks," I said, and for a moment, our eyes met, a silent acknowledgment passing between us.

I didn't linger any longer. There was no time to waste. As I left his cabin, my mind was already racing ahead, planning out the night. This wasn't just a mission—it was an opportunity. One I couldn't afford to miss.

Tonight, I would find them. And when I did, there would be no escape.

Her

I was deeply engrossed in creating mood boards and preliminary sketches for Mr. Grump's office, carefully considering what might actually suit him. I couldn't help but smirk as I played with ideas that felt a little more vibrant and lively—something that would challenge his brooding personality, but still match the sophisticated vibe he seemed to carry.

As I arranged swatches of fabric and selected color palettes, I imagined how he might react. Would he appreciate the subtle elegance, or would he dismiss it as too bold? Maybe he'd hate it outright, but a small part of me wondered if he might secretly like it, even if he'd never admit it. After all, there was more to Dante Marchetti than met the eye—at least, I hoped so.

After a while, I realized I needed some more measurements from his office to finalize the sketches. Gathering my materials, I headed to his office, half expecting to find him there, brooding over some paperwork or typing away at his laptop.

But when I arrived, the office was empty.

Strange. Dante was usually there, drowning in work, barely looking up from his screen. I hesitated at the door, glancing around as if he might appear out of nowhere. When it became clear that he wasn't going to magically materialize, I decided to head to Bhaiya's office. He'd know where Mr. Grump had disappeared to.

"Bhaiya," I called as I stepped into his office, finding him buried in paperwork as usual. "Where's Dante? His office is empty."

Arjun looked up, a little surprised. "Oh, he had to leave for Milan. An important meeting came up last minute. He'll be back in two or three days."

Milan. That explained the empty office. But I wasn't expecting the sudden pang of disappointment that settled in my chest. It was ridiculous, really. It was only a couple of days, but the thought of not seeing him... well, it was just strange.

I forced a smile. "Right. Thanks, Bhaiya."

"Need anything else?" he asked, but I shook my head.

"No, I'm good. Just needed to check something."

I turned and walked back to my workspace, trying to shake off the odd feeling. It wasn't like I looked forward to seeing him every day, right? I mean, we mostly just bickered, or he'd make some snide comment about my work. Yet, somehow, not having that around felt... off. But never mind that.

There was work to be done, and whether he was here or not, Mr. Grump was going to get the sophisticated, vibrant office of his dreams—or nightmares. I'd make sure of that.

Writer's perspective

They drove straight to the warehouse, an old, decrepit building on the outskirts of town. From the outside, it looked abandoned, a perfect hideaway for those who wanted to remain unseen. But Dante knew better. They had been tracking them for months, and this was their last known location.

As they arrived, Dante's heart pounded with a mix of frustration and anticipation. He stormed inside, Brian and Natty close behind. The warehouse was empty, save for a few scattered crates and piles of dust-covered furniture. The unmistakable feeling of being too late settled in.

Dante's mood darkened as he searched every nook and cranny. He knew they'd been here recently; the signs were too obvious. But there was no trace of them now. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. His anger grew with each passing minute.

"Fuck it," he muttered under his breath. He kicked over a crate in frustration. There was no use in wasting more time here. They were gone, and there was no way to track them down until they decided to resurface.

Determined not to leave empty-handed, Dante decided to make sure the warehouse wouldn't be used by anyone else either. He motioned to Brian and Natty, who quickly understood his intent. With practiced efficiency, they began setting up a few well-placed charges. Dante watched with a scowl as the preparations were made.

He grabbed a lighter from his pocket and, with a final glance around, ignited the fuses. The flames took hold quickly, spreading with alarming speed. The warehouse was soon engulfed in a blazing inferno. Dante could feel the heat from where he stood, a stark contrast to the chill of the night air.

It wasn't just about destroying property ; it was about sending a message that he was now the one who was in control.

A message that Dante wouldn't be silenced.

"Let's go guys, our work here is done...."

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