The Volki

Chapter Eight, Massimo's World

Just then, a knock at the door broke the moment.

"Come in," Massimo called out, his voice switching back to its usual firm tone.

The door opened, and a man entered, holding a folder. "I've already signed this," he said, handing it to Massimo. "All it needs now is your signature."

"Thank you," Massimo replied, taking the document. He paused, then turned to me. "Oh, and this is-"

"I am Ettore Cocci, the chief of operations and your brother's best friend," the man, Ettore interrupted smoothly, extending his hand to me.

I took his hand, smiling politely. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Aliona, Massimo's sister."

Ettore's eyes widened slightly as he studied my face. "Is this really her?" he asked, looking at Massimo.

Massimo nodded. "We found her–or more like she found us, but that's a story for another time."

"Of course," Ettore said with a nod. "Well, I have a meeting right now."

Massimo glanced at his watch, then smirked. "You're already a minute late."

Ettore rolled his eyes but grinned back. "You're being a prick, as usual," he said with a hint of amusement. Turning to me, he added, "I'm glad we finally got to meet, Aliona."

"Nice meeting you too, Ettore," I replied, returning his smile.

After Ettore left, I turned to Massimo. "He's definitely an interesting character."

Massimo chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "That's Ettore for you. Always in a rush, but he's one of the best at what he does."

I nodded, still amused by the brief encounter. "Do you mind if I use the table for a bit?" I asked, gesturing to the large, polished surface in the center of the room.

"No, go ahead, Principessa," Massimo replied, a hint of warmth in his voice as he waved his hand toward the table.

Pulling out my laptop, I settled on the table, trying to block out the noise around me. As I opened it up, the screen lit up with the familiar clutter of open tabs and unfinished tasks. I knew I should focus, but my mind kept drifting to everything I needed to get done. With a deep breath, I forced myself to start typing, hoping that by working for a little bit, I could make a dent in the mountain of things piling up. But even as I tried to concentrate, my thoughts were all over the place, jumping from one thing to the next, making it hard to stay on track.

After a while, I realized I needed a break. "Do you know where the restroom is?" I asked, looking up at Massimo.

He glanced up from his papers and nodded. "My assistant Sofia will show you," he said, pressing a button on his desk phone. "Sofia, my office."

Within seconds, the door opened, and a woman in her mid-thirties stepped inside, exuding both professionalism and warmth. She wore a sleek black dress suit that perfectly matched the polished atmosphere of the office. Her dark hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and her makeup was subtle but flawless, highlighting her sharp features. Despite her composed appearance, there was an approachable softness in her expression. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence and kindness as she smiled warmly. "Yes, Mr. Monti?" she asked, her tone respectful yet warm, clearly accustomed to the fast-paced demands of working for someone like Massimo.

"Sofia, could you please show my sister where the restroom is?" Massimo asked, his tone polite but authoritative.

"Of course. Right this way, Miss Monti," Sofia said, her smile unwavering as she gestured for me to follow her.