"Do you think it was a mistake?" I asked, leaning closer and pulling her waist toward me.
Her nipples pressed against my chest through the sheer fabric of her nightgown, her skin flushing and her breath hitching as she looked down to avoid my gaze.
...
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EVREN
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We spent the next four days in Italy. On the first day, I accompanied her while she explored the city, mostly out of guilt for how rude I had been when she'd only asked me a simple question.
The following days, we kept our distance. She didn't want me around, and frankly, I didn't want to be. Two bodyguards shadowed her everywhere for security, given the ongoing threats to our family. We saw each other only at breakfast and dinner at the hotel, but even then, we sat at different tables to keep the peace.
I had an online meeting with a client. I quickly got dressed, knowing that even though it was virtual, first impressions still mattered. I put on a crisp shirt, brushed my hair, and made sure the lighting was just right, professionalism was the key.
Considering it was an important meeting, Derin had also joined from the office, along with our father. We were discussing the details of the upcoming shipment deals for the next quarter, going over projections and logistics. Everything was progressing smoothly until my phone buzzed with an unusual notification sound, the one I'd set specifically for urgent or threat-related alerts.
My heart skipped a beat as I quickly grabbed my phone, unlocking it with urgency. The message flashed across the screen in bold letters:
Michele Bianchi is in Rome.
I froze. What the fuck was he doing in Rome? He lived in Milan, and Rome had never been his concern. Him showing up here, now, couldn't be a coincidence. My mind raced as I considered the possibilities—none of them good.
Without wasting another second, I messaged the bodyguards following Fria, asking for a status update. They replied almost immediately:
She's fine, eating pizza in one of the local shops.
I exhaled, but the knot in my stomach remained. Fria might be okay for now, but Michele Bianchi's presence was unsettling. He wasn't just any businessman, he had ties with families we had long severed ties with, dangerous ties.
I stood abruptly, interrupting the meeting. "I need to step out for a minute," I said, my voice tight. Derin and my father exchanged glances but didn't question it. They knew when something serious was up.
