Chapter 3: First meeting

Nadia’s POV

I stand rooted to the spot, trying to process what I have just heard. Then I turn to Jaxon. “Is he talking to me?” I ask, gesturing at myself with my finger.

“He definitely is, Nadia.” he responds.

Oh God.

“Well, why are you still standing there, Nadia? Go on and get changed!” The manager suddenly comes out of nowhere and scolds me.

I quickly head to the female locker room and change into my work dress, pulling my hair up in a tight ponytail and arranging my bangs properly.

Stepping out of the locker room, I grab the small apron and tie it to my waist. I let out a deep breath and walk to the counter.

“Okay, my pen and jotter please.” I say to Jaxon. He hands it over and gives me a thumbs up. I walk upstairs, to the private room, gently pushing the door open and stepping inside.

There was three men, all looking mean, not a single smile on their faces. I walk up to them, my heels making short clinking sounds.

“Good day, gentlemen. My name is Nadia, and I’ll be taking care of you today,” I say, smiling softly. Surprisingly, two of the men smiles back at me. Well, except for him.

He is striking, dangerously so—sharp jawline which fits perfectly into his oval shaped face, dark blue eyes, dark hair styled to perfection, even the perfectly tailored Italian suit couldn’t hide his muscular frame.

I blink and smile at him. His face was frost hard, his gaze on me remains unwavering.

Slowly, I tore my gaze from him and brought out my pen and jotter, taking down the order of the two men before turning to him.

“And you, sir? what would you like to drink? “I ask, smiling politely. But he just keeps staring at me, it makes my chest tighten, I am afraid my heart might jump out of my chest any minute.

“Dai, Enzo, non spaventare la povera ragazza.” One of them speaks Italian. I understand a little bit of Italian and I know he is asking Lorenzo not to scare me.

“A bottle of your best whiskey.” He finally speaks. I pause for a moment. That voice. It sounds like something I’ve heard before, his Italian accent so deep it vibrates through the air. I shake my head and wave the thoughts away.

“Alright sir. I’ll be right back with your orders.” I smile at them and turn around, trying to walk steadily, but my knees feel like water.

I can still feel his gaze on me as I walk out the door. I got to the counter and release the breath I’ve been holding in.

“Nadia, are you okay?” Jaxon asks, but I roll my eyes at him.

“Do I look okay, Jaxon?” I whisper, my voice trembling, “that man is very scary.” I start sorting out their orders, crosschecking to be sure I have the right one.

Then I walk back to the private room with the basket. They were in a deep conversation, but the moment I walk in, his gaze lands on me again, piercing this time.

I almost lost balance but immediately regain composure, “i am sorry for disturbing your conversation, your orders.” I settle the basket down, placing the drink on the table in front of them, alongside clean, sparkling glasses.

“Your whiskey, sir,” i say, and drop the bottle of whiskey in front of him, alongside two sparkling crystal glasses. I open the drink and carefully pour into his glass, repeating the same for the other two men before straightening up.

“Is there anything else you would like?” I ask, smiling at them.

“That would be all.” He responds, his gaze still fixed sharply on me. I smile and pick up my basket with shaky hands.

“Please, if you need anything else just ring the bell, and I’ll be right up.” I smile and quietly exit the room.

I did it! Oh! thank goodness.

I rush into the bathroom and my hand flies to my chest, patting gently. God knows it takes strong self will not to pass out in front of him.

I splash water on my face and walk out of the bathroom, hoping today would just fast forward.

I walk back to the counter, the bar is empty since Lorenzo booked the entire place. So I just have to wait until he leaves before customers can start coming in. I fish my phone from my pocket and get busy with it.

About half an hour later, sounds of footsteps echo on the stairs. I lift my head up and Lorenzo was in front, his hands in his pockets, he was the first to come out.

His piercing, icy gaze lands on me again; I quickly turn around and bent my head. I hear the heavy, hurried footsteps of the manager before he even gets to the corner.

“Mr Romano, I hope you enjoyed your stay? “He asks, grinning widely.

“Of course.” He states plainly, his gaze still on me. He stares at me for what seemed like an eternity, then walked out of the bar with the other two men following closely behind him.

The moment he steps outside, several men in black suits rushes over and covers him untill he gets to the car, five different cars later drives off.

“Thank goodness.” I murmur, my hand patting my chest.

“You have done well, Nadia. For that, I’ll give you a bonus.” The manager says, smiling at me.

A bonus means extra money, and that makes me really happy. “Thank you, sir.” I smile at him. He nods and enters his office.

I Walk back to the private room and clean up the residues, clear out the empty bottles and glasses then drop them in the back of the house.

Opening the huge door of the bar, I switch the closed sign to open. The moment I did, customers start flooding in, and the rest of the day was a workload.

I keep working, not realizing the eagle eyes that has been watching me all along from across the street.

* * * *

Lorenzo’s POV

“Are you certain she is a Vance?” I ask my assistant, Viktor. My fingers drumming rhythms on the hump seat.

“Yes, Don. She is Nadia Vance. Frederick Vance’s only child.” He responds.

That bastard had a child. How come I never knew? The fire from five years ago claimed his entire family’s life. So how did she survive.

Her father was present when my little sister was murdered, I saw it clearly in the video, yet he did nothing and fled the scene afterwards.

The hatred has been buried deep inside me for years. But I couldn’t do nothing because I felt his entire bloodline had been wiped off.

But he has a daughter. An insanely beautiful and well endowed daughter, one I would derive so much joy breaking every single day.

Now she owes me, not only for what her father did, but also her uncle’s dept, and she’s going to be the price for all of them.

A smirk crept up my lips as I look down at the tablet in my hand, at the picture displaying on the screen, ‘Lei è mia’ I murmur.

“Prepare, we will pay a visit to the Bennetts tomorrow.” I say to Viktor and gently relax my head on the seat, closing my eyes.

“Have they brought him in?” I ask.

“Si, Don Lorenzo. He is already in the dungeon.” Viktor responds .

“Good.” I say as the driver steps on the pedal, knowing fully well what my response means.

On arriving at the estate at Aspromonte, I got off the car and walk straight to the underground dungeon.

I shed my suit jacket, tossing it to Viktor. I loosen the top three buttons of my shirt, ripping the cufflinks free as I descend the stone stairs, grabbing a heavy iron chain from the torture rack, I step into the cell to see him beaten to stupor.

“Well. well… to think that you’d dare try to run. What? Did you think I would never find you? Stupido.”

Wrapping the iron chain tightly around my hand, I deliver two effortless blows to his face. He crashes down instantly, blood oozing from his nose and mouth. Perfect.

I grab fistfuls of his hair and yank it backwards, then whisper in his ear, “when I am done with you, I will wipe out your entire lineage. I know you sent them abroad, my men already have eyes on them, just one call and your name will be wiped off the book of history. So, will you confess, or—“

“Confessero, la prego, signore Lorenzo. I will confess.” He chokes out, blood trickling down his mouth. I push him to the ground and walk over to the chair in front and sit down.

“Go on.” I say as I listen to him confess, mentioning the one name I had in mind all along. That piece of shit.

“So, what about the package. Where is it?” I ask, his expression flickers, and I knew right away that he will lie.

“I don’t know. I swear, I don’t know.” He sobs. I chuckle and stand up from the chair.

“Marcus. You know, I would have spared you if only you just told me the truth. The thing is, I have already recover that package. And I know you have a hand in that theft.”

I draw the gun from my shoulder holster and level it at him. “But, you lied.” I pull the trigger.

The bullet goes straight to his head. I never miss. His body drops to the ground, blood staining the cold hard floor of the dungeon.

“Take the body out and set it ablaze.” I say to one of my men, then I walk out of the dungeon to the mansion. The housekeeper and the other workers pause and bow the moment they saw me.

“Find out everything about Nadia Vance, I need to know every single thing about her.” I say to Viktor before climbing the stairs to my room.

I have a debt to collect tomorrow.