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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I'm sitting in my office at Romano Secure Tech, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and the air is tinged with the faint smell of expensive cologne mixed with the sterile scent of freshly printed documents. My mind races through the myriad of challenges I've faced recently, each one demanding my attention and focus. Just as I’m lost in thought, Evangeline, my secretary, enters with a look of concern etched across her face.
“There’s someone waiting for you,” she says, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of urgency. “Her name is Amelia.”
I raise an eyebrow. Amelia—Chiara’s colleague, recently fired, and someone who has never quite hidden her disdain for Chiara. “Let her in,” I reply, my tone clipped, bracing myself for whatever this encounter might bring.
Amelia steps inside, her demeanor dripping with smugness. There’s an unsettling glint in her eyes, as if she’s relishing the moment. “Gabriel,” she begins, her voice oozing with mockery, “you really trusted Chiara, didn’t you? So easily manipulated.”
Anger flares within me. “Get to the point, Amelia,” I say, my patience wearing thin.
She chuckles, a sound devoid of any warmth. “Chiara wanted to write an expose on you,” she states, her words like venom, each one carefully chosen to inflict pain. “And you fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. You were so blinded by your feelings that you didn’t even see it coming.”
My heart sinks. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “I don’t believe you,” I reply, but the uncertainty creeps in, twisting in my gut.
“Of course you wouldn’t,” she laughs, a cruel sound that echoes in the sterile office. “But I’ve got proof.” With that, she pulls out her phone and plays a voice recording. My breath catches in my throat as Chiara’s voice fills the room, clear as day. She speaks of wanting to expose me, of using her closeness to gain information.
Devastation washes over me, a tidal wave of betrayal crashing into my heart. How could she do this? The woman I loved with every fiber of my being had manipulated me, had played me for a fool. As Amelia turns to leave, her smirk lingering, I feel my world shatter.
After a few minutes, I finally stand, my legs heavy as I move toward the window overlooking the sprawling skyline of New York. The vibrant city I’ve fought so hard to control feels alien now. My mind races with confusion and hurt.
Just then, Chiara enters the office, her presence filling the void in my heart, even if it feels like it’s been punctured. “What happened? What’s wrong?” she asks, concern written all over her face.
I turn slowly, my heart heavy, and give her an icy glare. She flinches at the coldness in my expression. “What happened with the expose?” I ask, my voice low, barely containing the storm inside me.
Her eyes widen in shock. “I decided not to write it,” she stammers, confusion swirling in her gaze.
“How long are you going to pretend and lie?” I shoot back, my voice rising with anger. “I know the truth, Chiara.”
I pull out my phone and hit play, letting her voice fill the air. “I wanted to write an expose,” she had said. Each word feels like a dagger, twisting deeper into my heart.
Chiara’s face pales, and she opens her mouth to respond. “I wanted to, but—”
“But what?” I interrupt, my voice hard. “Was it fun? Watching me trust you? Did you enjoy it? Satisfied? Got your revenge?” My words are laced with fury, each accusation a blow. “You’re just like every other woman who would do anything to climb the ladder.”
Her expression morphs into one of hurt. “Is this really what you think of me?” she asks, voice trembling slightly.
I sigh, the fight draining from me as doubt creeps in. “I don’t know who to trust anymore,” I admit, the vulnerability stinging my pride. “Give me one reason to trust you.”
In that moment, her frustration bubbles to the surface. “You should trust me because I love you, Gabriel!” she exclaims, her voice rising in intensity. “I haven’t loved anyone like this since my father. You became my home!”
Her confession hangs in the air, the weight of her words crashing down around us. Shock courses through me, disbelief mingling with an intense yearning. “You… love me?” I repeat, trying to process what she just said.
“Yes!” she insists, tears glistening in her eyes. “I wanted to write that expose at first, but then I realized how much I cared for you. I couldn’t do it after learning your side of the story. I couldn’t betray you like that!”
“Gabriel, I was so caught up in my own fears and ambitions that I almost lost the one person who means everything to me. I never intended to betray you; the thought of writing that expose was a moment of weakness. You are my light in this chaotic world, my safe haven. I love you more deeply than I ever thought possible, and losing you would shatter me. You’re not just a part of my life—you are my life, my home. Please believe that my heart belongs to you, now and always.”
As the truth washes over me, a tide of regret floods my heart. I realize I should have asked her before jumping to conclusions, before letting anger dictate my actions. I kneel before her, my heart laid bare. “I’m sorry,” I confess, my voice cracking under the weight of emotion.
“I should’ve trusted you. I love you, tuono. I’m so deeply in love with you.I let my insecurities cloud my judgment, and I lashed out when all I really wanted was to hold you close. You’ve become my world, the reason I wake up each day with purpose. I love you more than words can express, and it terrifies me to think I almost pushed you away. You deserve my trust and my heart fully. Let’s leave the past behind and build something beautiful together, because you are my everything.”
She drops to her knees in front of me, her eyes wide with surprise. “I’m sorry too,” she whispers, the sincerity in her gaze piercing through the storm of emotions swirling around us. “I should have told you sooner, but I was scared.”
I reach out and pull her into an embrace, our bodies fitting together perfectly as the world around us fades away. The anger, the confusion—it all melts into the warmth of our connection. We break apart just enough to look into each other’s eyes, the love and understanding shining brightly.
“You know,” she teases lightly, a mischievous smile creeping onto her lips, “only I could make the big bad mafia boss kneel down. That’s the third time, by the way.”
I chuckle, shaking my head in amusement. “Actually, it’s the fourth,” I correct her, warmth spreading through me.
Before she can fully process it, I lift her into my arms, and she squeals in surprise. I carry her toward the elevator, and as we step inside, I notice the stunned expressions of my staff. They’ve never seen this side of me before—the side that openly cherishes and adores the woman I love.
As the elevator doors close, I can’t help but feel a sense of hope for the future. This moment, this connection, is something I’ll fight to protect at all costs. We step into the elevator, the very place where we first met, where everything changed.
“Who would have thought we’d end up here?” I say, glancing down at her, the memories flooding back.
“Funny how life works,” she replies softly, a smile lighting up her face.
As we ride down, I hold her tightly, feeling the warmth radiate from her body. She’s my light in this darkness, my home in a world filled with chaos. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew we would face them together, side by side. And in that moment, nothing else mattered. Only her. My tuono.
