Chapter 1: Don
isabel sat with her laptop open, fingers polsed above the keyboard, capturing the latest details of her unpredictable lite here. Typing helped her process everything–the world she found herself in Matteo’s enigmatic ways, and the quiet but shakable influence his presence seemed to have on her. She leaned back, reading a few lines and smiling slightly at the more playful parts of her notes, Matteo was a pale, one she was only beginning to plece together. Each most they spent together left her feeling both intrigued and unsettled as it she was in a par where the rules kept changing
Let in her thoughts, habel almost didn’t notice when Sienna cenered the room, gliding in with her usual polse and offering a respectfulnod
“Isabel,” she said softls, anote of formality in her voice. “Mr. Matteo has requested your company for an outing today.”
Isabel’s fingers stilled on the keys, and she looked up with a curious suulle. “Another adventure already?”
Sienna’s polite expression didn’t wwer yes, Miss. He asked that you be ready within the hour”
belglanced at the clock, shitting her laptop and standing with a feeling of exchement that she couldn’t quite suppress “Thank you, Sienna. I’ll get ready.”
Soon, she was led down to the main entrance, where Maite stood waiting for her by the car. He was dressed impeccably, his usual confidenceradiating in every gesture, and when he saw her approaching, asesotted his expression.
“Beady to step into a diferent world again?” he teased, offering his arm to her as she approached.
Isabel slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, smaking up at him. “Should I be worried this chur?”
Matteo chuckled, his eves ginting with mischief. “Only you don’tinust me.”
“ph, I wouldn’t go that far,” she teased back. “But I’ll admit–1 am getting used to these expected plans of yours.
They settled into the car, and as they drove, the world outside became more lively, shitting from quiet countryside to want city isabel watched the streets with fascination, taking in the blend of history and modernity that seemed to pulse with Ene. As they slowed in front of an elegant, unassuming building, Matteo leaned in, gesturing to the structure with pride.
“Here we are,” he said, his bone wann. “It’s a place I’ve been wanting to show you.”
Isabel looked at him, arching a brow. “And what exactly is it?”
Maneo gave her a sly grin as they stepped out. “You’ll see.”
Inside, the building was alive with a subtle hum, the air thick with energy. Men and women stood in small clusters, taking in low voices, glancing around with a cool confidence. Mateo puded her through the crowd, his hand at the small of her back, introducing her here and there. Despite the ease in his voice, Isabel could teel the weight of the acmosphere, a quiet intensity radiating from everyone around them
She leaned toward him, her voice low. “Sa this your usual crowd?”
Manegaslight laugh, his tone casual but his eyes watchful as they moved through the room “More or less. You seem to be fingin, though.”
“Oh, do 1?” she said, rakong an eyebrow with a hint of a smink.
Matteo shrugged, ghing her an approving look. “You’m good at blending in when you need to. It’s a useful skill ”
Before Isabel could reply, a man in a dark suit approached, leaning close to whisper something in Matten’cer Instantly, Matt’s posture stiffened, the easy wannth in his expression cooling into something harder, sharper. He glanced down at isabel, a hint of apology Ockering in his eyes, though his jaw was set with something far more urgent.
“Thave to take care of something,” he said, his voice low, edged with tension. “It won’t take lang”
bubel caught the concerned looks on the taces of his men as they gathered around him, their movements quick, their eyes sharp. She could tell by the way Matte nodded to them that this wasn’t just a canal request; there was a grantly to his manner that she hadn’t seen before.
“Becareful” she murmured, giving him a searching look
Hesqueezed her hand briefly, his expression softening for a moment. “Just stay close. 1’ll be back soon.”
Then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd with his men, leaving Trabel standing alone in the room’s thrumming energy.
She took a deep breath, trying to appear at ease even as unease prickled at the edges other awareness
She started to make her way through the crowd, trying to look as though she belonged, when she felt a presence on her shoulder. Turning, she saw a man with an angular face, his eyes cold as they dicked over her. Leaning in close enough that only she could hear, he muttered, “You’re out of your depth here, girl”
Isabel’s heart skipped her mind racing as she watched him drill back into the crowd, washing as quickly as he’d appeared. She fought to stay herself pushing down the Ingering discomfort that his words had left in their wake.
“Is everything alright, miis?”
The voice was calm, with a depth that demanded her attention. She formed to find a man standing gearby, his dark eyes steady as they others. He had an air of quiet authority, his presence somehow grounding babel felt a surge of relied, though she kept her expression neutral
“Fine,” she replied, offering a small smile, “ar’s just someone said something strange to me. Kind of unsettling”
The man nodded, his expression thoughtful. “People here have a habit of saying ansetting things. It’s often harmless but not always
The weight of his words settled over her, though something was reassuring in his tone, Isabel studied him for a moment, noting the controlled strength in his stance and the quiet inteliger in his gase
“Thank you,” she murmured, feeling unexpectedly grateful for his presence, “Would you mind if we grabbed a drink?”
Heged for her to follow, leading her through the crowd toward a barnestled at the side of the rooms. They each ordered a drink, and as they settled into a quieter comer, Haberlehension from her shoulders.
*Do you come here often she asked, raising her glass with curious kok
The man chuckled, a low sound that seemed to vibrate with hidden meaning “Trom time to time. Business tends to bring me here.”
thed her head, intrigued “Inever caught your name.
His gaze held hers, dark and thoughtful. “You can call me Don Antonio,”
Chanter 13
#isabella,” she replied, offering her hand.
He took it, his grip firm and warm, and for a moment, they simply regarded one another. There was a subtle challenge in his eyes herself doing the same.
“So, Isabella Don said, his voice casual but watchful. “Are you here for business or pleasure?”
Shelaghed softly, feeling a bit bolder. “I’m not quite sure yet. Matteo hasn’t exactly been clear about what he’s introducing me to.”
Don gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. “With Matteo, that’s often how it is. He enjoys keeping people on edge.”
he were assessing her, and she found
They shared a knowing smile, and Isabel felt a growing sense of camaraderie with this stranger. For all his quiet intensity, there was something about him that she found strangely comforting
“So, Don,” she ventured, “what line of work are you in
“Let’s just say help people find what they need, he replied, his tone evasive but not unkind. “And sometimes, what they don’t realize they need.”
She raised an eyebrow, Intrigued. “Sounds mysterious,”
He chuckled, swirling his drink thoughtfully. “It’s just business, Isabella. But you–what about you? You seem like someone who prefers clear answers.”
“I suppose I do,” she admitted, smiling wryly. “Although, lately, I’ve been learning to appreciate a late mystery.”
Their conversation continued, slipping into a comfortable rhythm, and for the first time since Matteo left her side, Isabel felt at ease again.
