Lexy works on the final touches in Scorpia's office with Dino. She hangs big pictures on the wall and laughs at it. Dino chuckles behind her and says: "She's going to love that. The sweet picture with the little ones, the one with me and Bruno and the one with all of us on top of her. You have done such an amazing job Lexy. It's like I'm looking into her heart."

Lexy turns around to him with a huge smile on her face and says: "I hope she feels the same way." Dino nods and looks around the space with her; white furniture and black chairs. A red accent here and there. One of them being red boxing gloves in an open cupboard. There are pictures of Scorpia and her family everywhere. There are two picture frames on her desk with a zoomed-in picture of her tattoo and Logan's.

Scorpia gets a big white desk at the back of the room, with to her right french doors, that open up to a small terrace with a big lounge sofa and a coffee table. When you walk into the office, Manon's desk is the first you see, she can announce everyone coming in that way. And ask them to sit down in one of the leather chairs in the corner to wait until Scorpia is ready to see them.

The open cupboard blocks the view from the door to Scorpia's desk a little. And Bart has a desk behind Manon. He has some extra screens to watch security footage, weather, and traffic on. He also has a small cupboard to hold all the keys and he's gotten the responsibility for the entire fleet of vehicles.

A round, white table dominates the middle of the room, the perfect place for meetings. A beautiful bouquet of red roses, presented in a white vase rests in the middle of it.

The entire space breathes Scorpia. Her power, her passion, her love. The miniature Harley Bruno once gave her is sitting in the open cupboard, next to a bottle of Scorpion Vodka.

Manon and Bart walk in and look around with surprise written all over their faces.

Lexy smiles at them and Bart says: "Wow. What a beautiful office. And are all those screens really for me? And what are all those car keys doing here?"

Dino walks up to him and says: "You are responsible for our entire fleet now. When someone needs a van or a car, they need to ask for your permission. You will have to keep track of which cars are gone and why. You will also have to take care of the maintenance of all the vehicles, so you're going to be pretty busy. But Scorpia always comes first, okay?"

"Yes of course. Does she know about all of this?"

Dino grins and says: "Yes. She has demanded that you would get that responsibility because she trusts you."

Manon sits down at her desk and runs her hand over the surface. She looks at the phone with a lot of buttons and swallows.

Lexy notices her nervousness and says: "You will get the hang of it in no time. Phonecalls and e-mails for Scorpia will have to go through you first. You need to filter them by importance. And you can only put them through if they really need to talk to Scorpia herself. Annette cleared her schedule this afternoon to teach you how that phone works. But Scorpia is convinced you can do it, so believe in yourself."

She looks at Bart and asks: "And you both understood how things are with Ciro and Dani, right?"

Bart walks up to them and says: "I've made a deal with all the other employees that Manon and I will receive a message on our phones when one of them is in the building and again when they're outside of Ciro's office. But I don't think that lawyer will be here much. I've told Ciro that it would be better if he visited her office.

Bart grins at Dino, who winks at him. Lexy studies the young man curiously and Dino says: "He's quite young. But he can handle himself just fine. He is loyal to Scorpia and an excellent driver and bodyguard."

Lexy smiles, looks at Bart and Manon, and says: "Yes, that's clear to see. I am glad that she has you two."

Manon says: "And we're grateful for the chance she's giving us. She really sees us."

Bart nods and Lexy says: "That's because she doesn't look with her eyes, but with her heart."

──────

Scorpia is sitting on the couch in one of Logan's shirts and enjoys her coffee, feeling perfectly relaxed. Logan insisted on getting croissants but gave her coffee first. Last night was amazing. She didn't think it was possible to love him any more, but she was wrong. Her heart is bursting from all the love for him and just thinking about him makes her heart beat faster.

He comes running up the stairs with the bag of croissants and sits down next to her. He kisses her and says: "Warm croissants for my bonnie lass."

She bites his bottom lip playfully and says: "Finally. I'm hungry."

He smiles and says: "Mmmm, that makes me hungry too."

She chuckles and takes the bag from him to pull a croissant out. She takes a bite and moans softly, while Logan stares at her with star-filled eyes. "I still feel like I'm dreaming. Like I can wake up any minute and you'll be gone."

Scorpia looks into his eyes and runs her fingers through his hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Logan. But I get what you mean. I thought I would have to live without you too. But let's be honest here, we can't live without each other."

Logan strokes her leg and says: "Yes, I need you. I have to see you, touch you, talk to you, kiss you, be close to you. I feel literally sick without you."

Scorpia nods and takes another sip from her coffee. She sees her phone light up and picks it up from the table. Lexy sent her a message and she reads it.

Sweet sister.

Your office is done!

Do you need Bart to pick you up?

Or are you coming over with Logan?

She replies that she will come over with Logan, but that she's not dressed yet. Logan shoots her a questioning look and she says: "Are you coming with me to see my new office? Lexy and Dino are done."

Logan gets up from the couch and says: "I'd love to. I'm curious about it all." They walk into the bedroom and Scoria lingers in front of the closet. She puts red lingerie on with black stockings. She picks out a short, black skirt, a white top, and a leather blazer. She sticks her feet in short, black booties with a red heel.

She walks into the bathroom to do her make-up, where Logan is shaving. He looks at her from head to toe and a blush appears on his cheeks. "Wow, Bonnie. That style looks way too good on you. It's making me shy and excited at the same time."

She smiles and focuses on putting her make-up on.

"Scorpia? Do I have to dress up too?"

"Why?"

"Because we're going to your office and they will see me there for the first time. And you're the boss."

"Exactly. I'm the boss. And this boss prefers you without any clothes on, but not when others are around. So wear what feels good to you. You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not. I'll gladly introduce to everyone there, whatever you're wearing. Ti amo."

She kisses him softly, before applying red lipstick.

She grabs her briefcase and phone and takes a few more bites from her croissant. Logan comes out of the bedroom in black jeans and a black dress-shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Scorpia looks at his feet and sees he's wearing his red sneakers. She smiles wide and says: "We match perfectly!"

Logan hugs her and says: "Inside and out Bonnie. Come, let's see if Lexy and Dino did a good job."

They take Logan's jeep to the hotel, where Bart is already waiting for them outside. He opens the car door for her with a smile. "Good morning boss."

"Good morning Bart." Logan gets out too and walks around the car. "Bart, this is Logan, the love of my life. Logan, this is Bart. Driver, bodyguard, and friend."

Bart blushes a little from Scorpia's words and Logan shakes his hand. "Nice to meet you, Bart. Take good care of my girl, okay?"

Bart nods seriously and says: "Yes sir. I promise."

"Hold it! I'm pretty sure you get to call Scorpia by her first name. So could you please stop calling me sir? Just call me Logan, alright?"

Bart laughs softly and says: "Okay, Logan." Bart walks them into the building and Logan doesn't know where to look first. Scorpia walks over to reception to talk to Annette and the girls.

"Logan?" The young girls blush as they stare at the tall Scot coming over "Ladies, this is Logan. The love of my life. I don't have to explain to you that he doesn't need an appointment to see me, right?"

Logan shakes their hands and Annette says: "Scottish, right?" Logan grins and nods. "Yeah, I thought so." Scorpia shoots Annette a curious look and she says: "My exes are all Scots. I have an eye for them."

Scorpia pulls Logan away from the reception desk and yells: "This one's mine Annette!" Annette and the girls laugh and Scorpia makes her way towards her new office. 

Bart is waiting by the door and Scorpia walks straight in. She finds Manon behind her desk and the girl greats her with a smile. "Good morning Miss! And erm sir. Do you have an appointment?"

Scorpia sees the effect Logan has on Manon and barely manages to suppress a chuckle.

"Manon, you remember Logan, right? He doesn't need an appointment."

Logan smiles at the girl and says: "Good to see you again, Manon."

Her face turns bright red and she stutters: "Y-yes. G-good to see you t-too."

Logan looks at the open cupboard full of items that represent a piece of Scorpia's character.

Scorpia walks over to her desk, puts her briefcase down on it, and looks at the pictures on the wall. Logan comes closer and looks over her shoulder. "The one with Enzo and Pia is cute. You look so relaxed there."

"I was."

Logan looks at the picture next to it and laughs. "Were the big boys jealous?"

Scorpia laughs too and says: "Yes. The big boys are a lot heavier though. But the smaller men came to save me." 

She looks at the frames on her desk and shows them to Logan.

"Ah, I was just thinking that I'm not in any of the pictures."

Scorpia stares at the picture of the tattoo on his chest and says: "Anything more than this and I want to go straight home." Logan chuckles and kisses her neck softly.

Scorpia turns around to face Manon and says: "Before I forget, I have every Wednesday afternoon off. That's non-negotiable. And could you get me some coffee?"

Manon scribbles something down and says: "Of course, coffee is coming up."

"Manon? Bring something to drink for you and Bart too." The girl smiles shyly and rushes out of the office.

Scorpia walks over to the opened french doors and checks out the comfy terrace, where two bright faces look up at her from the lounge sofa. She runs over to Lexy and hugs her tightly. "Lex! It's all so beautiful. Thank you! Ti amo!"

She hugs Dino too and says: "Thank you, Dino. The youngest, annoying brother, really turned into someone I can depend on. Ti amo!"

Dino kisses her cheek and says: "I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy."

Scorpia sits down on the sofa and smiles wide. "This is a wonderful spot. I feel at home here. And I'm glad Bart and Manon are in the same office as me. I can just speak up when I want to talk to them. I didn't like it one bit that they were stuffed away in those tiny offices. And this gives Bart more room for his new responsibilities."

Lexy says: "Yes, he's a very impressive young man."

Logan steps out onto the terrace and says: "Yes, a great man to trust my girl to."

Dino nods and says: "And the only one who beat my score at the shooting range."

Logan looks at him and asks: "Seriously? He had to fight too, right?"

Bart walks up to the door and asks: "Too?"

Scorpia says: "Sit down with us Bart."

Bart sits down next to Lexy and Logan says: "I was forced to fight for Salvatore at fourteen till I was nineteen years old. Well, more like I had to lose for him."

Bart stares at Logan and says: "You look good. I mean..."

Logan nods and says: "I know what you mean. I still have bad moments, but I met a woman who really saw me. I think you might know her." He winks at Bart, who carefully smiles back at him.

Manon walks into the office with thermoses filled with coffee and tea and a plate of muffins. Scorpia turns around towards the open doors and says: "Come join us, Manon. We can drink something out here."

The girl nervously puts the tray on the table and says: "I can sit at my desk, I don't mind."

Scorpia waits for the girl to look at her and says: "Who is the boss here?"

"You."

"And what did I just tell you?"

"To join you."

Scorpia smiles at her and keeps looking at her until she sits down next to Dino. Dino looks at her and asks: "How are you doing Manon? Did the wound heal okay?"

The girl nervously looks at all the people present and Scorpia asks: "Wound?"

Dino says: "Dear Manon, this is the place to feel free to talk about it. Because we've all been victim to Salvatore in one way or another."

The girl looks around in shock, to finally look Scorpia in the eyes. Scorpia nods and Manon softly says: "Salvatore stabbed me in the stomach because I didn't..." Scorpia gets up quickly and pulls Manon into her arms for a hug. The girl cries against Scorpia's chest and Scorpia rubs her back.

Lexy pours tea in a mug and hands it to Manon the second she sits back down. "T-thank you. I wish I was as strong as you all are."

Scorpia sits back down too and says: "Honey, listen carefully. Salvatore raped me when I was fifteen and I wasted ten years of my life to recover from it. I am going to do everything it takes to make sure it doesn't take you that long to rise above."

The girl stares at her boss with her mouth wide open and Lexy softly adds: "I'm a victim of rape too."

"B-but you are r-really st-strong women."

Scorpia says: "So are you Manon. You became the boss' assistant for a reason. We can face all of the bastards in this world together."

Manon nods and whispers: "Wow. Now I'm even happier to be working for you."

Bart softly adds: "Me too."

Scorpia says: "Good! Now pour me a coffee already!" Manon laughs and pours something to drink for everyone. She holds the plate of muffins up and says: "These were made in the kitchen here and the chef made me take them."

Logan says: "Wait a minute. You have a chef here?"

Scorpia laughs and says: "A restaurant with a chef and a couple of young people helping him. I hired a few older workers who were out of work because of their age and they teach the young people."

Logan smiles wide and says: "That's really smart."

And Dino says: "And we end up with extremely motivated, loyal staff."

Scorpia enjoys her muffin and says: "This tastes really good. Again. I haven't eaten anything here that disappointed me. I'll show you around Logan and I'll thank the kitchen brigade for the wonderful muffin."

Lexy gets up and says: "I'm going by the salon, before racing home to relieve Bruno. He's alone with Pia and Enzo. We'll see each other on Sunday sis."

Scorpia hugs Lexy and says: "Thank you so much for everything. I'll see you Sunday!"

Lexy walks over to Logan and looks down at him: "Get up and hug your big sister." Logan hugs Lexy warmly and she whispers: "I'm so glad you're back together. Love you."

Logan says: "I love you too."

Dino gets up as well and says: "I'm going too. I'm glad you're happy with it all sister. When you walk into the office it's like looking into your heart. Lexy did an amazing job." 

Scorpia nods and hugs her brother.

Logan hugs Dino too, before grabbing a hold of Scorpia's hand.

──────────────────

Finally, right?

I know it's been a while. I needed to be in a certain state of mind to do this book justice.I used Curved Edges and Musical Musings to get back into writing mode again.

With all the hate in this world, I needed a bit of time.
I'm still shaken up by it, but found comfort in this wonderful world In The Shadows.
It is giving me peace and joy again. :)

I hope you enjoyed this one!

Thanks for sticking with me.
XO Hankie.