𝟼. "... 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚒 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚜𝚘"

TRAVIS'S P.O.V

Dim, flickering lights lined the stone walls, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and twist like silent witnesses to the tension in the room. The air was heavy with the scent of cigars and damp stone, creating an oppressive weight that hung over everyone present.

The room itself was a stark contrast to the ancient setting-a polished black table stretched across the center, its surface gleaming under the soft amber glow of a single chandelier. Around it sat the most powerful players in the game, their faces sharp with purpose, their voices cutting through the oppressive silence.

I sat at the center of it all, cloaked in a dark suit that blended into the shadows behind me. The low light caught the edge of my jawline, but my eyes remained unreadable, glinting faintly in the dimness. I leaned back in my chair, a cigar balanced between my fingers, the glowing ember occasionally illuminating my face with a soft red hue.

As the few of the Committee members and corporate leaders hurled accusations and challenges, their voices echoed harshly against the stone walls.

"This is unacceptable!" a man barked, his voice booming across the table. "Your silence speaks volumes, Ferrari. If you think we'll stand by while you manipulate the markets, you're gravely mistaken!"

They kept on throwing their accusations and what hurt them and where it hurts, because they knew I was the only one to fix it.

Still, I didn't react. I remained a figure of shadow and smoke, my fingers occasionally flicking ash into a crystal tray. The soft clink of ash falling was the only sound I made, a deliberate counterpoint to the rising tension in the room.

The more they shouted, the more my silence seemed to tighten around them like a noose. My stillness was unnerving, my calm a stark contrast to the chaos erupting around me.

"Dimmi qualcosa! (𝚂𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐)" one of them demanded, slamming his fist on the table. The sound reverberated through the chamber like a gunshot.

I finally moved, taking a slow drag from my cigar, the ember flaring bright in the dim light. I exhaled a long plume of smoke, the cloud curling and twisting in the air before dissipating into the shadows. My gaze drifted lazily toward the man who'd spoken, and for a moment, the room fell deathly silent.

When I finally spoke, my voice was low and deliberate, like the calm before a storm. "If I had anything to say, you'd already be listening."

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of a distant generator. Outside, the sound of waves crashing against the rocky cliffs above seemed miles away, a faint reminder of the isolation of this place-and the danger of crossing the wrong man.

They finally settled down and took back their seats, all eyes on me now but mine was on the cigar I was sucking from, wondering what made this shit so good?

Looking up at them, they were now attentive, their life literally hanging on the next words that left my mouth. Whatever I said will determine their next course of action.

"A proposal for a vote of confidence has been passed against the Prime minister..." I began and the place erupted in murmurs once again.

I gave them a minute to ride it out because either ways, my Will will be done. They got quiet again and I ashed the cigar before going on with it. "... I expect one tenth of chambers of Senate to vote to the favour of this"

Someone cleared his throat and I turned to see it was Donaldson, "May we know why you have decided?"

I let out a low breath, already tired of explaining myself even before I began. "Cesare has been working towards eradicating us, he signed an agreement with Guardia di Finanza to stop our shippings and to close our ports"

The place erupted once again and I was beginning to wonder if this was a summit with little children or grown adults who could keep their surprises to themselves.

"He was using us to get to the top" Hastings said in disbelief and they all murmured in agreement, causing me to chuckle. That took them aback and they all looked up at me, I learned on the table, looking up at them once again.

About fifty people in the room and not even one was honest, they were all taken aback by my reaction and I took another drag from the cigar, staring at all of them.

"Who isn't here to get to the top? Smettiamo di fingere  (𝚕𝚎𝚝'𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐)" I stated and the place got dead quiet once again. Leaning away, I took another drag of the cigar.

"Dymatrix membership card has been revoked."

"Tu menti! (𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚎) " Valeria shot up from her seat, her voice sharp enough to slice through the tension-filled air, like she was waiting for me to say this.

"We were attacked! The warehouse was blown up-by you! Over millions of our goods destroyed!" Her accusatory finger jabbed in my direction, but my attention wasn't on her.

It was on him.

Dmitri Kaelov, the founder of the Dymatrix. Quiet. Unmoving. His sharp, calculating gaze drilled into me like he was peeling back the layers of my soul.

The room's attention shifted, all eyes settling on me like vultures circling a dying animal. She wasn't wrong—the explosion happened. And no amount of denial could erase that.

But denial wasn't my style.

I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking under my weight, and I spoke with measured calm. "Who do you work for?"

Valeria stilled. Her narrowed eyes flashed with defiance, but her silence betrayed her. I pressed on, the corner of my mouth curving upward in a knowing smirk.

"Lavori per la società o per il sindacato? (𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎)"

Her gaze faltered for the briefest moment, and the room erupted into hushed murmurs, the weight of my words rippling through them. Some shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Others leaned in, eager for the confrontation.

I took my time, savoring the moment. Drawing deeply on my cigar, I let the smoke curl lazily from my lips. The tension thickened as I leaned forward, eyes locked on Valeria.

"I'm well aware of the transactions. The agreement. The ambush on the Committee." My voice dropped, low and deliberate, as if I were delivering their sentence. "Specifically-me. We were blinded by history. Blinded by trust. And we placed all our assets on a single, fragile body."

"How dare you?" Josephine's voice cut through the room like a whip, her chair screeching loudly against the polished floor as she shot to her feet. Her face burned with fury, and her fists clenched against the table.

Donaldson, ever the strategist, turned his icy gaze to Dmitri. "And what do you have to say about this?" he demanded.

Dmitri remained silent, his piercing stare locked onto mine. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face. He wasn't fazed-not by the accusations, not by the weight of the room's judgment.

Finally, he spoke, his voice calm, almost dispassionate. "We admit to being at fault and sincerely apologize for any chaos we've caused." His gaze still didn't waver, holding mine in a silent battle of wills.

Josephine scoffed, her laugh brittle and venomous. "Apologize?!" she spat, her Italian accent thickening with rage. "No! Il Dymatrix deve affrontare tutta l'ira della Society! (𝙽𝚘! 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚢𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚡 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢)" Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table, knuckles white with barely restrained anger.

Dominic, seated across the room, leaned forward, his voice steady but unforgiving. "And the port—along with all goods transported by the Society—will be confiscated. Effective immediately."

I let the weight of their words hang in the air for a moment before exhaling a slow plume of smoke, the faint tendrils curling lazily above my head.

This was a power play, and they all knew it.

"This," I said, letting the silence linger just long enough to make them squirm, "is only the beginning."

And it was. The first sweep of a storm that would raze this entire operation to the ground.

Moments later. The double doors of the room was thrown open and I stepped out first, fixing my cufflinks. Silvano stepped forward, handing me my blazer and I took it, popping another cigar between my lips and he reached the lighter to my lips and lit up.

Letting out the puff of smoke, I surveyed the place, the party outside constrasting sharply with what went down in the other room, moments ago. This was the facade to hide what really went down in the shadows.

My eyes scanned the room, I caught glances of members throwing glances my way, still reeling from the after shock of everything. They were still shook by all that went down, they couldn't believe I came.

My attendance wasn't predictable but this one was for a reason and that reason has been accomplished. "How was it, boss? " Silvano asked, my gaze moving to his.

"Same old" I answered before taking another drag of the cigar. "Ready my flight to Washington"

He nodded, his eyes scanning the room too, keeping an eye out for what I couldn't see. "Vultures on the left, Donaldson" he informed before stepping aside and I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I remained rigid, not even sparing a glance back. Donaldson stepped into my line of sight, his presence sharp and deliberate. "Quite the surprise to see you out here, Ferrari," he remarked, his voice rich with amusement, though there was a subtle edge to it.

"You were hoping I wouldn't come," I answered flatly, the words cutting through the air with precision. He chuckled, but the sound was thick with caution, as if he were measuring each moment carefully. I didn't flinch. I simply watched him, my gaze unwavering.

"I've received the Umbra," I continued, my tone shifting slightly. "You think I've called war on family."

"Well, you made it clear today that you have your reasons," he added, the words laced with the unspoken acknowledgment of the delicate balance we were both trying to maintain. His eyes danced with caution, as if trying not to make a wrong move on the fragile ground between us.

"Though," he hesitated, then forged ahead, "there are still some disagreements regarding your verdict on the prime minister. There are-"

"Are you opposing?" I interrupted, my voice calm but tinged with a dark edge. He faltered, the sharpness of my question catching him off guard. The brief silence stretched between us, as he carefully considered his next words, his gaze flickering with uncertainty.

"I'm a member of the chamber of Senators. We still need to present a solid case before passing that proposition," he explained, his voice now tinged with a calculated formality.

I took another slow drag from my cigar, the smoke curling around us, and then I met his eyes again. "Was my reason not good enough?" I asked, the casualness of my tone belying the quiet threat lurking beneath it.

Donaldson paused, caught in the tension of the moment, then chose his words carefully. "Those are... our reasons. The outside world wouldn't understand," he reminded me, a hint of diplomacy in his voice.

I nodded, considering his statement with deliberate slowness, the weight of the conversation pressing down on both of us. The smoke from my cigar danced in the air, as if it, too, understood the unspoken conflict simmering between us.

"Alright, here's another reason... " I stepped forward, leaning into his ear. "...because I said so"

The silence that follow after that is deafening and he slowly leaned away, his features now grim.

"Keep a close watch on Dmitri," I warned, my gaze sharp and unwavering. "There's more brewing beneath the surface than they're letting on." With that, I turned to the others, my attention snapping to them as they waited for their next instruction, the weight of my words hanging in the air.

After all, it's a summit. We are also here to exchange cards and search for greener pastures. Silvano came back and informed me my ride to the hangar was ready. "Alright gentleman, Ci riuniremo un'altra volta, per stasera è finita per me  (𝚠𝚎'𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎)"

"È stato difficile raggiungerti  (𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞) " one of them went on to complain and I knew it wasn't gonna end there. I exchanged looks with Silvano, boredom evident on my face and only him understood.

He nodded and stepped forward, addressing the crowd and giving me the space I desperately needed. My eyes wandered over the room, flitting past faces, drinks, and laughter, but none of it registered. It was all just noise-a chaotic hum I couldn't care less about.

Until...

Everything stopped.

I saw her.

The laughter, the music, the world itself-it all fell away as my gaze locked on her. My heart stalled, then thundered to life, pounding against my chest with an ache so deep it stole the breath from my lungs. She stood there, impossibly real, like a cruel trick my mind had conjured to torment me.

I froze, my body rigid, as if moving too fast would shatter the fragile illusion. My cigar hung forgotten between my fingers, the smoke curling up like ghosts, clouding my vision, my thoughts. It had to be the smoke. Or the whiskey. Or my goddamn desperation. She wasn't real. She couldn't be real.

The world slowed. Stopped. The air was sucked from the room as if the universe itself was holding its breath.

I blinked, hard, willing the mirage to disappear. My heart thudded against my ribs, a violent rhythm that drowned out every sound around me. But she was still there. She-the ghost I'd chased for for a long time now-was laughing softly, the sound like a knife carving through my chest.

She tilted her head, a smile breaking across her face as she slipped her coat from her shoulders. The fabric slid down, revealing the dress beneath—a shade of black so vibrant it seemed to taunt me. She was vibrant, alive, here.

She flicked her hair over her shoulder, they were long, longer than I last remembered and I don't know why I remembered that so vividly.

She couldn't be real.

I took a step forward, my mind clouded and in doubt. My mind screamed at me to stop, to think, but instinct overrode reason. Before I could take another step, Silvano stepped into my path, his broad frame an unyielding wall.

"Boss," he said firmly, his voice low but pointed, "it's time to go."

My jaw tightened as I tore my gaze from hers to glare at him. "Not now."

But he didn't budge. His hand gripped my shoulder, forcing me to stay grounded, to remember where I was. My eyes darted back to her. She hadn't noticed me. Not yet. She was still laughing, her fingers brushing the arm of the man beside her and for a moment it was like I wasn't there.

As if it all never happened. I couldn't still believe my eyes, it's been...a while, I've searched everywhere but she was right here right now, in this same room with me.

She was in this room. This room with this people. Why this room? Why this place? And she was comfortable, not minding anything.

Did she know I'll be here. How was she?

The room tilted, my pulse roaring in my ears. She was here. She was real. And she had no idea what seeing her again was doing to me, what this moment felt like.

The chaos around didn't matter, my eyes fixated on this woman, she was the only chaos I couldn't withstand, I couldn't get past. A chaos that was all too familiar but right now... I couldn't tell, she was visibly different.

I felt it from across the room, the whole atmosphere had shifted and it felt something heavy has been lifted off my chest.

"Boss..." Silvano called once again and my gaze shifted to his at once, he was oblivious to the chaos swirling in my mind, but he was grounding me, reminding me I couldn't let my guard down here.

PEARL'S P.O.V

Stepping through the double doors, I let out a breath. How typical of every summit ever. It was all champagne and chattering but I knew something even more sinister went down behind those silver doors at the other side.

I was late, of course, I didn't want to spend an hour or two conversing with people I couldn't care less about, they were all here for a reason, they were all playing the game and so was I.

I beamed at the waiter as I grabbed a glass of champagne, I had commanded few attention and glances my way. How typical of every summit ever.

I took a sip from the champagne and sighed. "Miss" someone called and I glanced back, "can I get your coat? " the door man asked and I smiled.

"Not yet" with that I walked deeper into the party, admiring the place a bit at least. I didn't fly all the way to Greece for the wine, this party was more intimate and closed up, with the other side of the wall all glass exposing the view of the wave crashing on the shore outside.

"Miss...Vega" someone called out from behind, the voice holding some sort of hesitation, I paused for a second before turning back to the man standing behind me.

Why didn't it surprise me? Why did it intrigue me and give me some excitement in some way? At least I wouldn't be passing time at the barb all alone.

"Mr Fontana, what a lovely surprise" I answered, taking another subtle sip from the glass. His face still held some kinda confusion, as he took me in fully. "Surprise indeed? "

"What are you doing in Greece?" I asked casually like we weren't all here for the same things. "Business, and you?"

"The alcohol" I joshed, raising my glass and a small smile made way to his lips. "Stai scherzlips (𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐?)"

I chuckled, nodding. "I am, I'm joking and I'm glad seeing a familiar face" I answered and his smile widened. I told you I caught his attention.

And it did intrigue him. In just a few seconds, the entire atmosphere shifted. As the silver doors slid open, every whisper died, every gaze swung toward them, and the room itself seemed to hold its breath. I froze too, caught in the quiet intensity that rippled through the space.

I didn't know what to expect-yet somehow, deep down, I did.

Matteo's voice faltered mid-sentence, his attention stolen as his head turned. And then it happened. He stepped out first. The moment stretched endlessly as I leaned away from the bar, releasing a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My chest tightened, and my heart hammered, each beat reverberating in my ears. I couldn't explain why, but something about his presence unsettled me.

He was magnetic, his aura commanding the space effortlessly. His cold, sharp gaze swept the room like a blade, slicing through anyone who dared meet his eyes. Yet he spared no one a second glance. He didn't need to.

The authority radiating from him was suffocating, and everyone felt it. Without a word, a man stepped forward, offering him a jacket. He took it, his movements smooth and assured, as though the act itself was beneath him but necessary all the same.

One by one, the others followed behind him, their presence formidable yet fading into the background of his shadow. My eyes darted to Josephine, who stood across the room, her satisfied smirk unmistakable. I hadn't given her a firm answer about coming here tonight, and she was clearly surprise to see me here. This moment was her triumph, and she was reveling in it.

But I couldn't hold her gaze. My attention was dragged back to him, as if tethered. He stood there, a cigar now between his lips, casually conversing with the man from earlier. Everything about him-the way he moved, the way he spoke, the way he existed-exuded power. He wasn't just fitting for the position; he owned it. Completely. Utterly. He had settled into it so perfectly that I couldn't tell if the role had shaped him or if he had shaped the role to fit him.

It was overwhelming. This man-this version of him-was a stranger. Cold. Unyielding. Even from across the room, I could feel the difference.

Years had passed since I'd last seen him, yet the weight of those years hit me all at once, he had shed his former self completely. He was colder, harder, sharper-like steel forged in fire. And just like steel, he seemed untouchable now, impossible to reach.

My throat tightened as I watched him, and for a fleeting moment, I wished I could look away. But I couldn't. He commanded my attention, just as he commanded the room. And for the first time in years, I truly realized the distance between us wasn't just physical. It was far greater than that.

"Travis Ferrari" Matteo said and my attention shot back to him, "Who?" I asked like I was oblivious and he smiled, "Let's not spoil the evening" he answered, taking a step closer towards me.

I stole a quick glance at him once again, he was now conversing with Committee members. "I'm wondering why you still have that on" he referred to my coat and I glanced down at it.

"I was cold" I shrugged in response and he smirked, sensing the mischief in my tone. "Well, you're keeping such a pretty sight hidden"

I chuckled at his words, "Alright, since you insist" I answered, moving away from the counter and slowly I slid out of it, revealing the sleeveless dress I had underneath.

It's a black strapless dress with a fitted bodice, flared mid-length skirt, and a sweetheart neckline-simple, elegant, and timeless.

Exactly what got people like him because his eyes glued to my body immediately. "Wow" he heaved, so unfiltered and I laughed once again.

"Sei affascinante (𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐)"

"Sei lusinghiero (𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐)" I replied and he shook his head in disbelief, "I still can't believe you can speak my language"

"You'd be surprised, I've been in Italy for a while now" I answered. "How long?" He asked, locking me between the counter and his tall physique.

"Long enough to know how to speak your language, do you like it?" I asked, even though the answer was clearly written on his face. "Lo adoro (𝙸 𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚝)"

I chuckled at his response, my eyes raking the room till I spotted him once again, he was followed out of the event, his group of associates behind.

Did he see me? What are the chances of that?