As we race away in the car, a storm of anger and fear swells inside me. How could she be so reckless? How could she risk everything like that?
When the empty road stretches before us, I slam on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I throw the...
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The café was bustling with its usual charm, the clatter of cups and the murmur of conversations blending into a soothing hum. I sat by the window, absently stirring my coffee as I gazed out at the passing cars. Fiona sat across from me, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she observed my sullen demeanor. Gabriel was in Italy, and though I understood the reasons behind his trip, it didn’t make it any easier to be apart from him. I missed him terribly.
“Chiara, you’re practically turning into a coffee shop decoration,” Fiona teased, her grin widening as she leaned forward. “Are you sure you’re not just here to wallow in your coffee?”
I shot her a sidelong glance, pouting. “Well, it’s not exactly a vacation for me, Fiona. I miss him.”
She rolled her eyes, clearly amused by my melodrama. “You’re such a sap. It’s only been a few days.”
“It feels like forever,” I muttered, taking a sip of my coffee. “Besides, I’ve been dealing with a lot. Amelia has some evidence against Gabriel, and she’s planning to use it against him. I need to do something about it before it becomes a bigger problem.”
Just as Fiona was about to respond, Antonio walked in, his tall figure making him stand out in the crowd. He spotted us and made his way over, a friendly smile on his face. I waved him over, relieved to have him here. I had invited him specifically for a reason.
“Hey, Antonio,” I greeted, motioning for him to sit. “Thanks for coming.”
“Anything for you,” he said, taking a seat. “What’s up?”
I took a deep breath, glancing at Fiona before turning my attention back to Antonio. “I need a favor. Amelia has some dirt on Gabriel. She’s holding evidence that could be dangerous, and I need you to help me get it before it becomes a problem. Also, I need to find a way to get her out of the magazine. She’s a threat, and I don’t want her to cause trouble.”
Antonio raised an eyebrow, nodding thoughtfully. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do about the evidence. As for getting her out of the magazine, I’ll look into it.”
Fiona, ever the observer, couldn’t resist teasing me. “Look at you, all dutiful and concerned. Such a good girlfriend.”
I glared at her, a blush creeping up my cheeks. “I’m not his girlfriend, Fiona.”
She laughed, leaning back in her chair. “Not yet, you mean.”
Antonio gave me a knowing look, his gaze softening. “I’ve never seen Gabriel this happy. It’s because of you. Just make sure you handle this situation carefully.”
“I will,” I assured him, though my mind was already racing with thoughts about the upcoming expose. The idea of writing an expose had been dropped completely, but the lingering uncertainty about how to handle the situation with Gabriel was still there.
Antonio chatted with us for a while longer, discussing various topics before finally taking his leave. Fiona and I headed back to my apartment, chatting about trivial matters and sharing a few laughs. Once we were home, we settled on the couch, ready for our usual ritual of watching our favorite K-drama, *Vincenzo*. It was our comfort show, something we turned to whenever we needed a break from reality.
As the opening credits played, I noticed Fiona’s phone buzzing on the coffee table. The screen lit up with a message from Matteo. Fiona’s cheeks flushed as she reached for her phone, trying to hide her embarrassment.
“What’s this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I leaned over to glance at the message.
“Nothing,” Fiona said quickly, her blush deepening.
I grinned, knowing I had hit a nerve. “Come on, Fiona. What’s going on?”
She fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s just a message from Matteo. We’ve been talking.”
“Talking, huh?” I teased. “I see. Are you two getting cozy?”
Fiona glared at me, though the playful smile on her face betrayed her amusement. “Maybe. I don’t know. It’s just...talking.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Well, if you’re not careful, Matteo might start getting ideas.”
Fiona rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything more. Just then, my phone buzzed with an incoming video call. Seeing Gabriel’s name on the screen, my heart skipped a beat. I quickly excused myself, heading to the bedroom to answer the call.
The room was dimly lit, and I sat down on the edge of the bed, my nerves tingling with anticipation. I answered the call, and Gabriel’s face appeared on the screen, his expression lighting up as he saw me.
“Hey, tuono,” he said, his voice warm and familiar. “How’s everything going?”
I smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “Hey. Everything’s alright. Just missing you, that’s all.”
Gabriel chuckled, his gaze softening. “I miss you too. Italy’s been...busy. But I’m getting things done. How’s the city?”
“It’s fine,” I said, trying to keep the conversation light. “Just hanging out with Fiona. We’ve been watching *Vincenzo* again.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Still obsessed with that show, huh?”
“Absolutely,” I replied with a grin. “It’s our comfort zone.”
We continued to chat about our day, exchanging stories and laughing at each other’s antics. I could tell Gabriel was tired, the lines of stress etched on his face, but he tried to hide it behind his usual charm. As we spoke, my thoughts drifted back to the conversation with Antonio earlier.
I needed to tell Gabriel about the expose I had considered writing. I had dropped the idea a while ago, but with Amelia’s threat looming, the situation was becoming more complicated. I had to find a way to bring it up without jeopardizing what we had.
“So,” Gabriel said, breaking into my thoughts, “what’s the plan for tonight?”
“We’re just going to relax,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “Maybe watch a movie or something.”
He nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “Well, I’ll call you again tomorrow. Make sure you’re staying safe.”
“I will,” I promised. “You stay safe too.”
As we wrapped up the call, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. I knew I had to talk to Gabriel about Amelia and the potential threat she posed, but I wasn’t sure how to do it without making things worse. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was doubting him or his decisions.
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts. Gabriel’s trip to Italy was important, and I didn’t want to distract him with my worries. But at the same time, I needed to be honest with him. He deserved to know about Amelia and the evidence she had, and I had to find a way to address it without causing unnecessary tension.
As I pondered the situation, I realized that I needed to be strategic about how I approached the topic. I couldn’t just drop it on him without a plan. I needed to find the right moment, the right words, and I had to make sure that my concerns didn’t come across as an accusation or an attempt to undermine him or betray him.
With a deep sigh, I resolved to talk to Gabriel when the time was right. For now, I would focus on the present—enjoying the time with Fiona and trying to keep my mind off the looming threat. It wasn’t easy, but I knew that staying strong and supportive was important.
As I drifted off to sleep, I hoped that by the time Gabriel returned, everything would be resolved, and we could continue building what we had without any more obstacles in our way.
