Lahat ng Kabanata ng Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 13

Vanguard Tower was an imposing structure in the heart of downtown, sleek and modern like Dante himself. The security desk in the lobby stopped me, of course, but one call upstairs had them issuing me a visitor's pass with surprising speed. The elevator whisked me to the top floor, where a receptionist greeted me with a polite smile. "Ms. Caldwell, Mr. Moretti is expecting you. This way, please." Of course he was expecting me. Marcus had probably called ahead the moment I hung up on him. The receptionist led me down a corridor to a set of heavy wooden doors, which she opened with a respectful knock. "Ms. Caldwell to see you, sir." Dante's office was exactly what I'd expected—spacious, tastefully decorated, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a commanding view of the city. He sat behind a massive desk, looking up from some papers as I entered. He didn't seem the least bit surprised to see me. "Vivian," he said, standing. "This is a pleasant surprise." "Is it?" I crossed my arms.

A week passed in something resembling a routine. I continued working at Tom's warehouse, gradually bringing order to his chaotic business operations. True to his word, Dante arranged for visible security—a woman named Ria who looked like she could snap a man's neck without breaking a sweat, but who also had a surprisingly dry sense of humor."You don't look like a typical bodyguard," I'd told her on the first day.She'd smirked. "That's the point. The ones who look the part are the first to get taken out."Ria shadowed me discreetly, always within sight but never hovering. She accompanied me to and from work in the car Dante continued to provide despite my insistence that I could pay for my own transportation once I received my first paycheck."Consider it part of the security package," he'd said, smoothly overriding my objections.I hadn't seen any more threatening notes, and Luca had stopped calling, which should have been a relief. Instead, the silence made me uneasy, like the calm