Page 25 of Secret Revenge

Her eyes widened in surprise before gratitude washed over her features. “Thank you,” she breathed, her relief palpable.

I reached out and gently cupped her face, my thumb brushing against her soft cheek. “But promise me something, Liliana,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion. “Promise me that you’ll be careful and never take unnecessary risks. I’ve already lost too much, and I can’t bear to lose you too.”

She nodded solemnly, her deep brown eyes filled with resolve. “I promise, Nicholas.”

“Let’s get some rest,” I suggested, my voice thick with exhaustion. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”

Liliana nodded, her fingers intertwining with mine as we made our way to our bedroom. As I drifted off to sleep, I wondered how this woman I’d only known for a few short months had become such an indispensable part of my world.

Chapter 12

Nicholas

Liliana met me outside my office at nine sharp. “The first rule of working for me is you will obey my instructions without question. I expect the same from everyone else, and I’m holding you to the same standard. Is that clear?”

“Perfectly,” Liliana replied, her eyes gleaming with determination. “But don’t you mean working with you? We’re partners.”

We stepped into my study, the dark wood furnishings and heavy velvet curtains casting a somber atmosphere upon the room. The weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders as I gestured for Liliana to take a seat. She did so gracefully, her gaze never leaving mine.

“Let’s start by reviewing our current standing,” I said, opening my leather-bound ledger.

“Profits have been steady, but there are areas where we’re losing money,” I informed her, my voice measured and emotionless. “We need to identify the weak links and rectify them.”

“Of course,” Liliana agreed, her fingers drumming on the table as she scanned the ledger, her expression focused and calculating. “What about potential threats? Anyone we should be particularly concerned about?”

I hesitated for a moment, torn between protecting her innocence and including her in the darker aspects of our world. But ultimately, she had made her choice, and it was my duty to prepare her for what she might face.

“Rival families are always a concern,” I admitted, my jaw tightening at the thought of those who sought to bring us down. “They’ll stop at nothing to weaken our hold on the city.”

“Like the Bianchis,” she said, disgust in her tone.

“Yes, but there are other families we need to worry about as well.”

“Understood,” she said. “I won’t let you down, Nicholas.”

“Your first task,” I began, my voice laced with authority, “is to analyze these records. We need to ensure our profits remain high while mitigating any potential losses.”

“Of course,” she responded, her dark eyes meeting mine with determination.

The rain pattered against the window, a somber backdrop to the task at hand. I glanced over at Liliana, her delicate fingers sifting through stacks of financial records, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Three hours later she handed me a typed report summarizing the records I gave her, noting profits, losses, and most importantly, her suggestions for improvements. I read through the report before setting it on my desk. “Very thorough. Your suggestions are similar to the ones I got from my finance team.”

She smiled. “Good. What else can I do?”

“Coordinate with our suppliers and manage communication with our contacts,” I instructed, watching as she nodded solemnly. “Remember, Liliana, this is no ordinary business. Every decision has consequences.”

Her gaze never wavered, a testament to her unwavering resolve. “I understand, Nicholas. I won’t disappoint you.”

As the day wore on, I observed her from my desk, my chest tightening with a mixture of pride and trepidation. Her intelligence and resourcefulness shone through each task, her efficiency exceeding even my own expectations. Yet, with every success, I grew more uneasy.

“Nicholas,” Liliana called out, snapping me from my thoughts. “I believe I’ve found a pattern in the financials that suggests a possible threat.”

“Show me,” I demanded, leaning in to examine the records she presented. The numbers danced before my eyes, forming a sobering picture of vulnerability.

“Remarkable,” I murmured, my heart swelling with admiration for her keen insights. “How did you catch this?”

“Attention to detail,” she replied, a glimmer of pride lighting up her features. “And an understanding of our enemies’ tactics.”

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