"So, there's good news and bad news, sir."

"What is it?" I asked as I looked through a folder with my daughter and Enzo's brother in it.

"The good news is that we found her."

"And the bad news?" I asked, putting both photos in an envelope.

"Enzo stopped the investments."

"Did he at least call and tell us?" I asked as Rhea walked in.

"No."

"Well, I'll deal with him," I said, walking around my desk. "You take this to him. Tell him that this is something that he'll want to have a look at."

"Yes sir."

Looking at my daughter, I try to think of every reason why she'd betray her family. I have given her everything that she could possibly want but all she does is work with the enemy. The family that took my son and her mother. See, I never told Rhea what actually happened to her mother because I knew that she'll forever be in pain that she'll never recover from, so I had to lie, but I knew the truth. I knew what Liam had done behind my back and I love my daughter dearly and knowing the fact that she'll do anything to protect our enemy, killing them will kill her.

"I'm late for work, father," She said, texting someone. "Can we make whatever you're doing quick?"

"I can't see my daughter before she goes off to work with the enemy."

"Look, you were the one who insisted that I work for Enzo. It's bad enough that I have to lie to him."

"Let's see if we're on the same page, Rhea," I said. "What are you supposed to find?"

"Anything that will take him down," She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Father, it's almost seven. I'm going to be late."

"Just know that if you don't do what you're supposed to do, there are consequences that you have to face."

"Whatever." She said walking out.

Rhea may be my daughter, but there are secrets that she must know to why Enzo's family is our enemy. After all, it was his mother's fault who started all of this.

...

After my father had wasted my time talking to me, I knew I was going to be late to work. Making it to work just ten minutes late, I hurried into the elevator and up to Enzo's office. Waking out I saw the panic in Laya's eyes. Stumbling over to me as she helped me out of my coat, taking my bag, and rushing me over to my office, she then took a deep breath.

"You're lucky that Enzo is late," She said, handing me a stack of files. "Next time make sure to be here by ten minutes before seven. If you need anything, I'll just be a phone call away."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," She said. "I'm sure that you got a calendar of everything you need to do."

"Laya," I said, taking her hand. "Breath."

"Okay," She said, breathing. "I'll be outside if you need anything."

"You mentioned." I giggled.

After talking to Laya, I logged into my computer and started working. After doing my first task on the computer, I got up and headed out of the office to make Enzo his coffee. Completely black. Putting it on his desk, I headed over back to my office to work on the next task they needed to be done. A few minutes later, Enzo's voice sounded from my desk phone.

"Rhea, can you have a black coffee on my desk by the time i come up?"

"It's already in there sir." I said, while i stayed focused on my work.

"Thank you."

Trying to stay focused, I thought about what had happened last night. I knew I wasn't myself and was tired, but I hated the fact that Enzo didn't want to tell me what happened. I know we're trying to get back to the way that we were, but how can I when he can't trust me to tell me what goes on in his life when I'm not there with him?

Clearing my mind from him, I separate the files that were given to me into two different piles. The two piles both had different colors. Red and blue. The red ones were new clients that Enzo had to look through and sign and the blue ones were of old clients that wanted to do some kind of business with him. What was it? I had no idea. Would Enzo tell me? I doubt it.

Standing up, I walked through the door to get inside Enzo's office to where I saw him looking out the window as he drank his coffee. Just looking at him, this is what I wanted. This is who I wanted. I wanted to wake up to see him every morning. I wanted to be in his arms. I wanted to be around him, but the past always has its way to rip precious things away.

"Um, you have files to look over and sign, Mr.-"

"Why do you do that?" He asked, without looking away from the window.

"Do what?"

"Call me sir and by my last name like we dont fuck or in live with each other?"

"I thought this was business and-"

"You can mix pleasure with business," He said, turning around. "But this - us - it isn't pleasure. Its love, right?"

"Enzo, we can't-"

"Because of what happened yesterday," He asked, sitting his coffee on his desk. "Because of you what you did?"

"No. Because you can't trust me."

"So, this has to do with my injuries?" He asked.

"You know what,'' I asked, sitting the files down. "Look through both files. When you're done, let me know so I can send them out. I have work to do."

"Work that you have a choice in doing, Rhea," He said, grabbing my hand. "Work can wait. Us talking about yesterday cant."

"What happened yesterday has nothing to do with me, remember,'' I asked, taking my hand back. "Something that you couldn't trust me to tell me."

"I had Zack killed." He said, as I stared at him.

Zack was one of the reasons why I came back. The last reason that I had to tell Enzo. So, now that Zack's dead and Enzo knows what my father is planning, there's no point in me being here.

"I didn't want to tell you because you'd try to leave just like you're thinking about now to do," He said, pulling me to him. "But stay. I want you to."

"Enzo, I can't," I said, pulling away. "I'm sorry but I can't."

"Well, you should've read the contract before you signed it."

"It was just a fake marriage and being your personal assistant."

"Did you read the fine print of the fake marriage contract?" He asked, as he walked over to his desk.

"What did you do, Enzo?" I asked as his phone went off.

"I would love more than to tell you what I did, but I have a meeting to go to and I'll be gone for the rest of the day," He said as he stood up and threw his jacket on. "A friend of mine arranged a meeting for you and it goes into detail of what you signed. Laya will tell you when his sister is here to take you over. Once the meeting is over and you signed the contract, you're free to do whatever."

"I never signed up to be in this fucked up toxic relationship with you, Enzo," i said as tears pricked my eyes. "Fuck the contract and hate me all you want. I'm leaving."

I knew that I had crossed a line by leaving him years ago, but I never thought that my actions would turn out to be this outcome. Maybe he's doing all of this so he can make sure that I don't leave, but he doesn't really have to go this far. He doesn't have to go to the point where he has to own me. I'm my own person and I could care less what any man says. But do I deserve this? I mean, I hurt him. He just lost his first love and fell hard for me. I never thought any man would, but he did.

Thinking about this, I knew that what we had could never be fixed nor what we were starting to have. Maybe by being his and him using me for whatever can kind of fix the pain I had caused on him and his family.

Before I could say anything, Massomo tossed an open file onto the coffee table next to me and in it were pictures of Dima and I hugging.

"How do-"

"You don't get to ask questions," He said, coming up close to me. "You don't get to leave me, stay gone for years, and then get all close with my brother. It doesn't work like that."

"Massomo, that's not what it looks like," I explained. "We were just talking and I got a little emotional. That's all."

"What were you talking about?"

How am I supposed to tell this man about our child being killed in front of me and me staying with the guy who killed her? My child's death hurt me. I can't imagine how it'll hurt Enzo.

"I...I can't tell you." I whispered, looking down.

"Are you fucking him," He asked. "Is that why you came back?"

"No," I said looking up at him. "I came back to-"

"Then why can't you tell me," He asked, as he walked up towards me, backing me up against the table. "Why can you tell my brother but can't tell me?"

"Because I don't want to hurt you." I said as he caged me with his arms.

"It's a little too late for that, baby girl," He said, running his thumb across my cheekbone. "I wanted to go slow with you. With us. I wanted what we had before but before. I don't want to make you my slut, but the fact that you go behind my back and tell my brother something that you can't tell me, I just might have to do that."

"Massomo", I started, reaching out to talk his face. "I'm sorry."

"The contract lasts for one year," He said, pulling away. "Once it's done, leave. Leave and don't come back for whatever reason."

When I first met Massom, I told myself that I wasn't going to let him make me cry, yet here I made. On the verge of tears. Filled up with pain. The pain and hurt that I deserve. I guess this makes us even. But hey. It's only a year. A year to do whatever he wants from me and then I can leave.

After telling me that I'll be getting a call later, the look in his eyes showed me that he hated what he did but he had no choice. As soon as he walked out, I fell onto the floor and cried. My heart broke because I thought that things were fixed between us. That we were good, but Massomo is still hurt and I don't blame him. I would do the same thing if I were him.

Crying for who knows how long, I got the call that Enzo was talking about. Before I could answer the call, it quickly hangs up but then sends a text saying to head downstairs to a black SUV. Guessing that this was the person that Enzo was talking about, I dried my tears, grabbed my bag, logged off the computer, and walked over to the elevator as I slipped my coat on. I have no idea who this person is nor who her brother is, but I just want this day to be over already.

Arriving in the lobby, I blew out a nervous breath; trying my best not to break down again. Walking out into the cold outside, I looked up and down the street, but there was no black SUV in sight. Reaching into my bag to grab my phone, a bodyguard that seemed all too familiar to me walked over to me. Motioning me to follow him, he leads me to the black SUV. When he opened the door my jaw dropped to the floor.

"Anika?"

"Oh my," She gasped. "I thought you were killed."

"I thought you were too."

Remember when I mentioned a friend that was supposed to make Enzo feel better but I went in for her? Yeah. That was Anika. We've been friends since the day we were born. We did everything together. The last time I saw her was when A year after Mike had killed my child, some guys kidnapped us and took us from each other. Not knowing if my friend was dead or alive, I managed to escape but made myself a promise that I'll find Anika. Well, good news. I don't have to do that anymore.

"Love, please get in," She said. "It's freezing outside."

"It is," I said, laughing, as I climbed in and as the bodyguard closed the door behind me. "So, am I supposed to call you Mrs now or something?"

"Of course not," She said, taking my hand. "I am not Enzo and we are close friends. So you better not be formal around me."

"Yeah." I sighed.

"I was a little nervous when Enzo told me that he wanted my husband to set up a meeting so he could talk to you about... things," She said, looking over at me. "Oh no."

"Yeah." I said, looking down.

"Did you at least tell him about what Mike did?"

"I wanted to but I didn't want to hurt him," I said, keeping strong. "I told Dima though, but Enzo somehow got a photo of Dima and I hugging and he thought that I was doing something with him."

"I am so sorry, my love," Anika said, hugging me. "I wish that there was a way that I could take you as far away from these things, but know that things will get better. Believe me."

"Did you sign a one year contract and then be told that once that time comes to leave and never come back?"

"Rhea, I've known Enzo and I know for a fact that this isn't him," Anika said, lifting my chin up. "He's just upset and stressed. He'll get after it."

"If only you saw how he was." I sighed.

"Okay," She said, straightening up. "Now enough of this negative shit. Tell me what happened to you and him."

"You know things?" I asked.

"My husband is a good friend of his. I know everything that goes on if I want to know."

"Well-"

Before I had the chance to tell her, Anika's phone ranged. Looking down at it, she immensely answered. Not wanting to listen to her conversation, I just stared at the window, but I felt someone looking at me. Looking up, I happened to make eye contact with the same bodyguard as before. There was something off with this guy and I couldn't put my finger on it. I had this bad feeling and it wasn't good.

"I'm so sorry about that love, but it looks like we're here." Anika says as the car stopped outside a restaurant.

Climbing out, Anika held my hand and led me past a large line of people that were waiting. Getting to the front, we were met with a nervous waitress before we were escorted off to a table in the back. There waiting for us was Dima and a man that I assumed was Anika's husband.

"Hello my love," She said with open arms. "How was work?"

"Same as always," He said, standing up to kiss Anika. "You must be Rhea that I've heard so much about."

"Good things, I hope."

"Please. Sit down." He said as I sat right in front of Dima.

"May I speak, my love?" Anika asked.

"Yes."

"Rhea doesn't know your name. Shouldn't you tell her or would you like it if I introduced you to her?"

"I will," He said. "I'll assume that my lovely wife told you that I had her husband, but my name is Nick Rorri."

"It's nice to meet you." I said.

"What are we waiting for," Dima asked. "Because there's things that I have to do."

"We're waiting for Enzo. He won't be long," Nick said, as he stared down at me like a hawk. "But I have a question for you, Rhea."

"Okay."

"I've known Enzo for the longest and never once has he come to me to make him a contract of... sorts. I would have thought that I was for one of his bratty sluts, but all he said was that it was for something else. What did you do to have him want to make this?"

At this point, I was lost. I looked over at Anika for help, but it seemed like she didn't know what Nick was talking about either. Nick seemed like a very dangerous man and I was afraid that anything I said would be wrong and he'd get upset.

"You're scaring my women, Rorri," Enzo said, next to me, with hands in his pockets. "I don't like it."

"It was just a harmless question," Nick said, standing. "Come down."

As the two hugged each other like brother's, Dima stood up, but Enzo caught him.

"I already helped our sister," He said, sitting next to me. "Stay. I'm sure you're hungry. Are you my love?"

"I'm not." I said, looking down.

"Um," Nick said, bringing out a folder. "Should we start in detail with the contract to make sure your... woman understands?"

"Yes," Enzo said, looking at his watch. "No. She'll take the folder home with her and she'll sign it then."

"Okay then," Nick said as he handed it to me and as Anika stood up. "If you have any questions, you can let Enzo know."

"Okay." I said as Enzo held his hand out for me.

Leaving, Enzo and I walked hand in hand out the door and I was somewhat happy, but when I realized that he was leading me back to the SUV with the same creepy bodyguard waiting, I stopped.

"Rhea," Enzo said, looking back at me. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm sorry." I said instead of telling him about the man.

"I am too but you lied to me."

"What?"

"Rhea," He said, walking up to me. "What do I have to do in order for you to tell me why you're actually here?"

"Enzo, what are you talking about?"

"My guys traced where my money was going and when I saw where they were going, I didn't want to believe it but it made sense with the timeline and you coming here."

"You can't think that it was me." I said, pulling away.

"Look, maybe I was hard on you back at the office. I mean, I was. And this contract," He said, looking down at it between us. "I never meant it to get this far. I'm... used to it, but I want you to tell me the truth. Are you working with your father?"

"No," I said, pulling away. "I mean, he thinks I am but I'm not. And believe it or not, I would never-"

Before I could finish, Enzo spun me around and crashed his lips against mine. I wanted to stop him, but I knew I couldn't. I wanted this. I even missed this. I missed us and I'd do anything to get us back to the way things were no matter what.

"I know you won't but I need to know what your father is actually planning." He said, out of breath.

"I don't know what he's planning to do. All I know is that he's working for someone."

"Can you find out who?"

"I already have Seth working on that."

"Thank you," He said, kissing the top of my head. "For now, I need you to hang out with Anika until I figure something out. I don't know what it is, but I feel that something's wrong."

Smiling, Enzo walked us over to the SUV where the bodyguard waited and like before, I stopped.

"Love." He asked. "What is it?"

"Something's off about him," I whispered. "He stared at me the whole time in the car."

"Then I'll drop you off." He said as he led me in a different direction.

"Wait. I want to be with you."

"Would you like us to continue the contract?"

"Yes but-"

"Then I need you to read everything in it and tell me how exactly you feel about this," He said as we walked up to his black BMW. "I'll come over tonight. I just have to do a few things."

"Okay."

Climbing into the car, Enzo held my hand for the whole ride. Was there actually a chance where we could really have something good or was I getting my hopes up too high?

................................................................................................................................................................

Author's Note:

Hey guys! I hope that you all are loving this book as much as I do. Anyway, before I typed this book up, I had to first write it. Because of that, there's a bit of delay of publishing on here because I have to edit the chapter, type it up, and publish it on here, so please don't get upset when you'll have to wait here but I promise you that I'll get the chapter published as soon as I can. I love you all. 

- Latasha Thomas <3