Working for Francesco Pazzi was the last place she expected to find herself. She expected even less to grow to like the job. Falling for him was the biggest surprise of all.
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Word Count: 1110
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Over the next few days, I served as Francesco's shadow. To keep our deal a secret, we never interacted, but I learned his routines and acquaintances. Much like I used to do for Sforza, I was the invisible presence there to gauge the mood after he left. I listened carefully to what was said after a conversation took place, watching for signs that the average man would miss.
I did not discover much that Francesco did not already know himself, but it pleased him still every time I told him something I learned. He enjoyed confirming my deductions and praised me for my abilities.
"You're going to do great things for me, Alice," he would say. "Once you learn a bit more and get comfortable here, you'll help me see and hear things I couldn't on my own."
His approach was wholly different from Sforza's. The Duke had thrown me into deep water, ordering me to swim or drown. If I couldn't swim, and I didn't drown, he would hold me under himself till I died. As for Francesco, he showed me how to swim first and encouraged me along the way. I almost didn't know how to handle his praises, but my shock only seemed to amuse him more.
I arrived at his house early one morning to meet him as we usually did. I would wait in a nearby alley, then join him on his way out.
However, Francesco didn't leave his house at the usual hour. When an hour had passed, I assumed that he had banking business to attend to, so I snuck around to the Pazzi bank windows in search of him.
But Francesco wasn't in the banking offices either.
I was luckily wearing a plain skirt and blouse that day, so I could walk into the bank without arousing too much suspicion. Since I still had my account in Adriana Moretti's name, there was always that ruse to fall back on if someone noticed me, but I doubted anyone would.
Inside, the home was silent save for the scribblings of the banker in the office. Then a slam sounded further within, echoing through the halls. I ventured a little deeper into the home, following the echo until I heard voices.
"Francesco!" came the voice of Jacopo Pazzi. "Where's Guglielmo? There are rumors he's run off with a girl. What do you know? Speak!"
"I— I'm not certain, but I suspect he's gone away with Bianca." I recognized Francesco's voice immediately. After following him around for days, I would know his voice anywhere.
