Chapter 23


    LORENZO POV


    “Can you tell me why you are here?” Leigh-Ari intoned from the seat opposite mine. The dinner table was


    the only barrier between us and the light from the candles danced, causing ghost shadows to flicker on


    her face. Her eyes would flutter close when she blinked, she would asionally wet her lips by swiping


    her moist tongue on her bottom lip then bite on it when she was lost deep in thought.


    I took my wine ss and took a small sip, savoring the taste of highly fermented grapes which took years


    and years to reach the savory taste. I ced it gently on the table and looked back at her:


    “I told you, I am the sponsor of the workshop. And in the business world, sponsors are present during the


    workshops. We just want to see that we gave out money for a good course, to something that would


    bring u s profit. Because as harsh as it may sound, business people care about nothing, except profit!” I


    exined briefly bringing my arms to the table, then ced my fist into the palm and watched as she


    digested my words.


    “Okay! If you came here for the workshop, why am I sleeping in your penthouse? And that man who


    collected me from the airport, I bet he is your man.” She pointed out and I chuckled, she was such a


    clever fox.


    “Well, since you werete and were left behind, I just thought it would be nice for me to offer a little help.”


    “A little help? The first-ss cabin was also your doing right?” Her eyes thinned as she stared at me with


    her soul-piercing eyes.


    I just shrugged in return. I wasn’t going to tell her that I tampered with her ne ride, made sure that it


    took off before the scheduled time so that she was left behind, and then went ahead by arranging the


    seat i n the first-ss cabin. That was my secret and Verzi’s.


    “Oh my Goodness!” She heaved out reclining back into her seat, annoying evident at her face. I saw that


    oneing. Leigh-Ari was an independent woman who was inclined and hell-bent on doing her shit all b


    y herself. Whoever meddled in her business was in for the kill. And with what I did, I knew that I had


    taken her freedom of doing things. But I wasn’t regretting anything.


    “Are you mad at me for making your trip merry?” I arched a brow and yed oblivious to the reason why


    she was mad.


    “No, I am not mad at that. The least you could have done was tell me. Now there I was thanking my


    guardian angels and lucky stars for miracles on earth and unicorns while it was all your doing.” She


    made sure that her annoyance and displease were well on the table for me to see.


    “Okay okay! I am sorry I didn’t tell you. But all I wanted was for you to have the best ride, and arrive here


    safely. Especially when you missed your flight. If I hadn’t intervened, you would still be stuck at the


    airport trying to find flights with empty seats. And with that, you wouldn’t even make it to the workshop.” I


    put forth causing her to chew on her bottom lip as my words sunk in. she nodded a few times before


    rising from her seat:


    “I’ll be back in a few.” With that, she sashayed towards the washroom leaving me with my mind. I smiled


    a t my “lucky star” for giving me such a staggering gateway. I mean, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity


    justnded right in myp and I wasn’t going to waste any minute of it.


    I stealthy slipped a white pill inside the untouched wine ss and shook it slightly so that the pill


    dissolved and blended with the wine. I brought the rim of the ss closer to my mouth and sniffed it, and


    when I caught nothing but the sweet and sour taste of grapes, I smiled and ced the wine ss down 1


    I took my phone and typed a message, after hitting send, Leigh-Ari was already settling in her seat.


    She took the wine ss and chugged down a big swig, then ced it gently on the table.


    “Let’s say I forgive you for giving me the best ride. How do you exin the penthouse?” She asked with


    furrowed eyebrows causing me to chuckle.


    “Let’s just say I can’t live without you.” I winked yfully and she doubled up. Perfect!


    “Okay! So where are you going to sleep?”


    “The bed is big enough for the both of us.”


    “There is no way I am sleeping on the same bed with you.” She refuted shaking her head hysterically.


    “Oh yeah? Come on, Tesoro. I won’t do anything that you don’t want me to do. If you want me to touch


    you, I will explore every inch of your body and make all of your wishese true. If you don’t want me to


    touch you, then you won’t even feel that I’m lying next to you.” I voiced out and watched as she winched


    a little, then leaned back into her seat and massaged the space between her brows.


    “Hey! Are you okay?” I asked concern dripping from my voice.


    “Yeah, I am okay. Just a little lightheaded.”


    “Want me to get you some water?” I looked around to see whether a waiter was lurking around.


    “No, no! I am fine. I have to take my meds.” She informed searching inside her handbag.


    “Shoot! They are at the hotel. Can we go now?” She looked up and then pinched her eyes closed.


    “Yeah sure.” I got up and called the waiter, settled the bill, and stood a foot away. I watched as she


    struggled to stand firmly on her feet and went in by grabbing her arms.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    “Here. Let me carry you.” She nodded slightly and I scooped her in my arms and left the restaurant


    building.


    VERNERO POV


    The soft ping on my phone pulled me out of my daydream. I powered it on and found a text message


    from


    Enzo.


    It is done.


    It said! My lips tugged up in a lopsided smirk as the realization of what was happening settled in. It took u


    sover a decade to find her. Now we were going to have her in our home. I nced at the clock on my


    dashboard and counted the minutes. It wasn’t going to take long before the drug knocked her out. And


    from how heavy it was, she wasn’t going to wake up until a dayter; and that would make our next trip


    smooth sailing.


    I was seated in my Mercedes Benz Coupe SUV 2014 3D, a ck shiny beast with highly tinted windows.


    Mercedes Benz was our signature car and if you saw it ck, just know it was ours. The Turantello


    Familia. Lorenzo came out of the restaurant building with ady scooped in her arms, like they were


    leaving the church after exchanging their vows. He took delicate steps as if he was holding a ss that


    would shatter into millions of pieces at any moment as he walked towards the car.


    I got out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door for him; heid sleeping Leigh-Ari gently and then


    closed the door. I stopped his hand and stepped forward, then took in the sight of my baby girl sleeping


    soundly. I couldn’t believe she was truly right in front of my eyes, .


    “It’s her!” I intoned in a soft voice, to particrly no one. The reality was too good to be true and I found it


    hard to believe that I finally had her, and this time; for good!


    “It’s indeed her. Il nostro Tesoro! (Our treasure)” Enzo replied beside me, a small smile tugging on his


    lips. I stepped backward and then closed the door, stepped into the driver’s seat. Then drove off to the


    airport!