Chapter 5 - The Fire
Smoke filled the warehouse.
Luca found the emergency exit.
Locked.
Sophia searched the walls.
"There."
A red panel.
She opened it.
Nothing.
"No release."
Luca looked around.
"Fire system."
"Disabled."
They were running out of time.
Ethan kicked at the door.
Nothing.
Sophia looked at the control panel.
"I can override it."
"How?"
"I learned a few things at my old job."
She entered a sequence.
The lights flickered.
The doors unlocked.
Everyone ran.
The warehouse exploded behind them.
Outside, police and firefighters arrived.
Luca turned toward Sophia.
She was covered in soot.
He grabbed her shoulders.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
He checked her anyway.
She looked at him.
"You were scared."
"Yes."
"For me?"
He didn't answer.
She smiled.
"Fake boyfriend."
"Fake girlfriend."
"Right."
But neither sounded convincing anymore.
The next morning, Luca found Sophia sitting alone in the penthouse kitchen.
He placed coffee in front of her.
"Sleep?"
"No."
"Eat."
"No."
He pushed a plate closer.
She smiled.
"You order everyone around."
"Not everyone."
"Who doesn't obey you?"
He looked at her.
"You."
She laughed softly.
Then silence.
"Do you regret it?"
"What?"
"The gala."
He looked at her.
"No."
She lowered her eyes.
"Me neither."
He reached across the table.
His fingers touched hers.
Neither moved.
Then Sophia's phone rang.
A hospital.
She answered.
Her face changed.
"My sister."
"Is she alive?"
"Yes."
"Then we go."
They went to the hospital.
Ethan's sister, Rebecca, had been rescued.
She told them everything.
Nathan's network had a second leader.
Someone inside the Moretti family.
Someone who had access to Luca's finances.
Someone who had sent Sophia into his company.
Luca's CFO.
Marco Bellini.
Luca stared.
"My right hand."
Rebecca nodded.
"He paid Nathan."
"Why?"
"Because Nathan promised him the empire."
Luca's face hardened.
He called Marco.
"Come to my office."
Marco arrived.
Sophia watched him.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
Luca shut the door.
"You've been working with Nathan."
Marco smiled.
"That's what she told you?"
Sophia froze.
"What?"
Marco pulled out a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Sophia meeting Nathan.
Sophia taking money.
Sophia standing beside the people she claimed to have escaped.
Luca looked at her.
His expression changed.
"Explain."
She stared.
"They're fake."
Marco smiled.
"Of course."
He pressed a button.
A screen appeared.
Video.
Sophia handing Nathan an envelope.
Luca's jaw tightened.
"Is that you?"
She stared.
The footage looked real.
But she knew it wasn't.
"It's edited."
Marco laughed.
"And now you understand."
He walked toward Luca.
"She was never your secretary."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"Then what is she?"
May you like
Marco looked at Sophia.
"A woman sent to destroy you."
