Chapter 7 - The Proposal Nobody Saw Coming
The next morning, every major news outlet reported that Lorenzo Vukov had disappeared.
His companies issued no statement.
Markets panicked.
Competitors circled.
The police said they had no comment.
In private, the city whispered that the Vukov empire was collapsing.
Lorenzo sat in a safe house with Isabella.
He looked almost relaxed.
"You don't seem worried."
"I am."
"Then why are you smiling?"
"Because Viktor believes I'm reacting."
He placed a folder on the table.
"We're not."
"What are we doing?"
"Ending this."
He opened the folder.
Inside were bank transfers.
Photographs.
Messages.
A complete digital map of Viktor's network.
"Mael found these?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Isabella looked closer.
She recognized the handwriting.
"Adrienne."
Lorenzo nodded.
"What?"
"He turned."
"Why?"
"Because Viktor promised him money."
"And?"
"Then Viktor decided not to pay him."
She laughed bitterly.
"My husband got betrayed by the man he betrayed me for."
"Yes."
She looked at Lorenzo.
"Poetic."
"For once."
He stood.
"There is one problem."
"What?"
"Viktor has one piece left."
"The identities?"
"The original proof."
"And he has Rafael."
"Yes."
They spent the day preparing.
By sunset, Isabella was wearing a plain black coat.
Lorenzo handed her a ring box.
She frowned.
"What is this?"
"Open it."
Inside was a ring.
Not delicate.
Not enormous.
Simple.
Elegant.
Her heart began to pound.
"Lorenzo."
"We need the city to believe you're under my protection."
"You can say that."
"I could."
He looked at her.
"But they would believe a wife before a secretary."
Her expression changed.
"A wife?"
"The engagement will be announced tonight."
She stared.
"You want me to pretend to marry you."
"Yes."
"To catch Viktor?"
"Yes."
She looked at the ring again.
"And if I say no?"
"Then I find another way."
"Even if it puts you at risk?"
"Yes."
She studied him.
"Why?"
He was silent.
Then:
"Because somewhere between the day you started working for me and the night I found you alone at Christmas dinner, you stopped being an employee."
"What became I?"
He stepped closer.
"Mine to protect."
She looked up at him.
"And only to protect?"
The silence between them became enormous.
"No."
His voice was low.
"Not anymore."
She stared at him.
He lifted the ring.
"Isabella, this is a terrible idea."
"Yes."
"Possibly dangerous."
"Definitely."
"Possibly reckless."
"Almost certainly."
He smiled.
"But I have spent years being careful."
She extended her hand.
"Then perhaps it's time you weren't."
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
His thumb brushed her hand.
Something changed.
Neither of them looked away.
Then Mael entered.
"I hate to interrupt."
Lorenzo sighed.
"You're becoming very talented at it."
"Viktor made contact."
"When?"
"Ten minutes ago."
"Where?"
"The old theater."
Isabella looked at Lorenzo.
"We go tonight."
They entered the theater at nine.
The seats were empty.
Dust floated in the stage lights.
Viktor stood center stage.
Rafael sat tied beside him.
Adrienne was behind them.
Lorenzo walked forward.
"Release them."
Viktor laughed.
"You brought her."
Isabella stepped forward.
"Where is the evidence?"
Viktor smiled.
"In the ring."
She froze.
Lorenzo looked at her.
The ring began to vibrate.
A hidden device.
Signal tracker.
The trap was not the meeting.
It was the ring.
Viktor had planted something inside it.
Lorenzo grabbed Isabella's hand and ripped the ring off.
A small red light blinked beneath the stone.
"It's a transmitter."
Viktor smiled.
"Now we know where your safe house is."
Isabella looked at Lorenzo.
He seemed strangely calm.
"Yes," he said.
Viktor frowned.
"What?"
Lorenzo smiled.
"You just told me exactly what I needed to know."
Viktor's men began firing.
The theater erupted.
Mael's team entered from the rear.
Lights exploded.
People shouted.
Rafael ducked.
Adrienne ran.
Viktor escaped backstage.
Lorenzo grabbed Isabella.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Isabella!"
"I'm not waiting."
She followed him.
They reached the backstage corridor.
Viktor was gone.
Only Adrienne remained.
He held Rafael at gunpoint.
"Stop."
Lorenzo raised his hands.
Adrienne looked at Isabella.
"You ruined everything."
She stared at him.
"You did that yourself."
"I loved you."
"No."
Her voice was steady.
"You loved what I could give you."
Adrienne's eyes filled with tears.
"I never wanted you dead."
"But you wanted me destroyed."
He had no answer.
Lorenzo approached one step.
"Put the gun down."
Adrienne looked toward the exit.
Then toward Isabella.
He lowered the weapon.
Mael rushed forward and secured him.
Rafael was free.
But Viktor was still gone.
Lorenzo looked at Isabella.
"We're not finished."
She nodded.
"No."
May you like
She closed her hand around the ring she had removed.
"Not yet."
