Time seemed to move faster than usual at the Della Torre's mansion. A week had gone by already. Nika was slowly adjusting to this strange atmosphere.
She learned that they always had meetings after breakfast—which she was never invited to. Theo turned out to be more friendly than she expected. He was quite the opposite of his brother.
Scarlett on the other hand also ensured Nika always felt less lonely. She'd join her at the pool in the afternoons where they usually talked about anything and everything.
As for Nico and Giana?
She barely saw them. They didn't show up for breakfast and they always came back at midnight. She'd sit by her balcony and watch his car drive in, with Giana inside.
Although she had company now, she still felt the need to have a job. She'd gather up the courage and talk to him about it. The problem was...he was never around.
A soft knock on the door intruded her thoughts.
"Come in."
Rosa walked in with a sealed envelope in her hands.
"What's that?" Nika looked at the envelope, confused.
"It's for you ma'am." She handed it to her.
Nika took it from her and unwrapped it, holding out the content in her hand. It was an invitation.
"We're going for an auction tonight?"
"Yes ma'am. Master already has a dress picked out for you." She replied.
"Is he around?" Nika asked, hopefully.
"Yes. He's in his room. I don't think you should go there," she cautioned.
"Why not?" Nika stood up from her bed and dropped the card on her dresser. She ran her fingers through her hair, watching her reflection.
"No one ever goes there."
Nika burst out into laughter, bending over and holding her sides. "Is he a serial killer or what?" Rosa kept mute.
"I'll be on my way. If you don't mind," she left the room.
That was weird. Why did no one ever go there? It was supposed to scare her off or something but it only made her more intrigued.
Her intrusive thoughts won eventually and there was no backing out. She was definitely going there. She walked out of her room determined.
Halfway through the hallway, confusion crept in. She didn't know which floor he was staying at. She could ask but that wasn't an option. That place was off limits and no one would lead her there.
She entered the elevator and pressed the button to the top floor. She exhaled deeply, rubbing her palms on her plain skirt. The lift came to a stop and the doors opened.
The floor was eerily quiet. Only the sound of her slippers against the tiles echoed. Unlike other floors, there were only two rooms on this one.
The second room probably belonged to Giana.
A sick feeling washed over her but she ignored it.
Standing at the first door, she placed her hand on the door handle, exhaling sharply. She twisted the handle open and poked her head in slowly, before entering the room.
A small gasp escaped her lips. The room was extremely large. She could hear the sound of the shower running. Someone was inside here.
She sat on the bed, waiting patiently for him. The sound of the shower filled the room, steady and distant. It should have been enough to make her leave. It wasn't.
Her eyes drifted around the room again, taking in the stillness, the order. Nothing was out of place. Nothing felt lived in. Just as she was about to stand, the bathroom door opened. Nika turned sharply, her breath catching.
It wasn't him.
Giana stepped out, her movements slow, deliberate. Her hair was damp, falling over her shoulders, but there was nothing soft about her expression.
And then—
Nika froze.
A gun was pointed straight at her.
"What are you doing here?" Giana's voice was calm.
Nika's mind went blank for a second.
"I..." she swallowed, forcing herself to stay still, "I'm looking for Nico."
Giana didn't lower the gun. Didn't even blink.
"Are you?"
There was something in her tone. Something that made it clear she didn't believe a word. Nika straightened slightly, even though every instinct in her body was telling her to run.
"Yes."
Giana's eyes slowly moved over her, from head to toe, taking in what she was wearing.
Her lips curled, just slightly.
"What are you wearing?" she asked, her voice dropping.
Nika frowned, confused. "What?"
"Are you trying to get into his pants?"
The words hit harder than she expected, catching her off guard. For a moment, she just stared at her, taken aback.
"I didn't—" she stopped, shaking her head slightly, "that's not why I'm here."
Giana took a step closer. The gun never wavered.
"You shouldn't be here," she said quietly.
There was no anger in her voice. Nika felt her chest tighten.
"I was just—"
"Stay away from him."
The words cut through hers effortlessly.
Giana tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp, unreadable.
"And know your limits."
Silence settled heavily between them. Nika didn't move. Couldn't.
"I think you already know what I'm capable of," Giana added softly with a small smile. That did it. Whatever courage Nika had walked in with, disappeared instantly. She nodded, once, stiffly. Then she turned.
Her steps were quicker now, her composure barely holding together as she walked out of the room. She didn't stop. Didn't look back. Not even when she felt Giana's gaze lingering on her.
By the time she reached the elevator, her hands were trembling. She pressed the button repeatedly, like that would make it come faster. Her heartbeat was loud in her ears.
Too loud.
The doors finally slid open and she stepped in immediately, exhaling shakily as they closed behind her. Only then did she allow herself to breathe.
That was a mistake. A big one.
By the time she got back to her room, she shut the door behind her quickly, leaning against it for a moment longer than necessary.
Her mind replayed everything. The gun, the words, the warning—
That wasn't normal.
Her fingers curled tightly at her sides. Whatever this was, it was far more dangerous than she had thought.
She spent the whole day locked up in her room until the evening approached. A maid was sent earlier to her room to deliver her dress for the night.
She sat up on her bed staring at the dress blankly. Her thoughts were occupied with the concern and fear of Nico finding out what happened.
She got up, shaking the thoughts from her head as she got dressed. The dress was a black satin gown with a turtle neck. It was a backless gown. It felt a little too revealing for an auction.
Her room door swung open taking her by surprise. Nico walked in, his hands folded casually in his pockets. Nika's breath caught the moment he walked in.
She turned back to the mirror, avoiding eye contact with him.
"You should have knocked at least." She muttered, her voice barely audible.
He walked closer, standing right behind her. She could feel the heat radiating off his body. His tall frame made her feel smaller.
"I own this place." He deadpanned.
"Right." She lowered gaze.
Suddenly, his hand wrapped around her hair.
"What are you doing?"
"Pack it up." His eyes met hers through the mirror.
Nika exhaled deeply, grabbing a hair tie from her dresser. She held up her hair, twisting it into place as she pulled her hair into a messy bun.
"Done." She turned to face him. "Let's go."