Chapter 9 - The Assistant Who Became His Equal
One year later, Greco Tower had changed.
The private clubs were gone.
The criminal businesses were gone.
Lorenzo had transformed the legitimate companies into an international logistics and security firm.
No illegal shipments.
No hidden accounts.
No secret meetings.
I was no longer his assistant.
I was his business partner.
My office was next to his.
Not below.
Beside.
When someone called me “Mrs. Greco,” I corrected them.
“Not yet.”
Lorenzo always smiled when he heard that.
He had changed too.
The city still feared him.
But the people who worked for him didn't.
He started showing up at employee birthdays.
He learned names.
He increased salaries.
He funded shelters.
He donated to hospitals.
Especially Saint Verena.
We rebuilt the hospital.
A plaque was placed at the entrance.
Dedicated to Elena Romano and Isabella Greco.
Two women who had protected their children by sacrificing everything.
My relationship with Lorenzo grew slowly.
No dramatic declarations.
No forced promises.
Just ordinary days.
Coffee.
Arguments.
Late-night work.
Grocery shopping.
Laughing.
It was the normal life I had never thought someone like him could give me.
One evening, I found him cooking.
I stopped in the doorway.
“You're burning the pasta.”
He looked offended.
“I am not.”
Smoke filled the kitchen.
“You definitely are.”
He turned the stove off.
“You criticize everything.”
“It's my job.”
“You quit.”
“I changed positions.”
He smiled.
Then he walked toward me.
“I have something for you.”
He handed me a small box.
Inside was the brass key from the roses.
The black rose was gone.
He had polished the metal.
On the back was a new engraving.
Choose.
I looked at him.
“What is this?”
“My mother's key.”
“You said it belonged to her.”
“It did.”
He took a breath.
“She gave it to me when I was fourteen.”
“I thought you didn't remember.”
“I remembered eventually.”
“What did it open?”
“A small box.”
“What was inside?”
“A photograph.”
“Of who?”
“You.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
His smile softened.
“My mother met you when you were a baby.”
I stared.
“She held me?”
“She did.”
“She knew?”
“Yes.”
“So she and my mother were connected before the hospital.”
“Yes.”
I laughed through tears.
“Our mothers planned everything.”
“Apparently.”
He reached into his pocket.
There was another box.
This one was smaller.
He opened it.
A ring.
I stared.
“Lorenzo…”
He dropped to one knee.
I covered my mouth.
“The first time I saw you, you were standing in my lobby holding a file.”
“You were terrifying.”
“I was.”
“You still are sometimes.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“But I was already in trouble.”
“Why?”
“Because you looked at me like I was a man.”
“And not a mafia boss?”
“Exactly.”
He reached for my hand.
“I don't want to own your life.”
“I know.”
“I don't want to control your choices.”
“I know.”
“I don't want you because of the trust.”
“I know.”
“I want you because every version of my future has you in it.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“Will you marry me?”
I laughed.
“You finally asked.”
He frowned.
“You knew?”
“You're terrible at hiding things.”
He smiled.
“So?”
I knelt beside him.
“Yes.”
He laughed.
Then he kissed me.
The next day, Kiara screamed when she saw the ring.
“I KNEW IT.”
“You knew what?”
“That he was obsessed with you.”
“He's not obsessed.”
She looked through the glass at Lorenzo.
“He's staring at you right now.”
I turned.
He was.
I smiled.
She pointed.
“See?”
Lorenzo called me into his office.
I entered.
“You wanted me?”
He nodded.
“Close the door.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Because I want to kiss my fiancée without an audience.”
I smiled.
“That's the first sensible thing you've said all day.”
He pulled me close.
For once, there were no secrets.
No lies.
No threats.
Just love.
Until my phone rang.
My mother's number appeared.
I froze.
Lorenzo saw it.
“Answer.”
I did.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then my mother's voice.
“Julia.”
I started crying.
“Mom?”
“I need you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don't tell Lorenzo yet.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because someone from the old Circle survived.”
My smile disappeared.
“Who?”
She whispered a name.
Then the call ended.
I stared at Lorenzo.
“What?”
I couldn't speak.
He took my hand.
“Tell me.”
I did.
His expression changed.
The same darkness returned to his eyes.
But this time I wasn't afraid.
May you like
Because we had survived worse.
Together.
