Nikolai
Before I could retreat to my room, Gabriel’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
“I wonder what you must have done to make Adrian react in such manner.
He seem like a really calm fellow.”
I had no response to that.
As much as I thought about it, Adrian was the one who seem to always cause my flaring up.
“You shouldn’t concern yourself with such details.”
“So what are your plans now?”
I heaved in a deep breath, “Isn’t there a better option than the Moretti’s?”
Gabriel’s countenance changed, “It should be Adrian.” He responded.
“You think he is better than his father?” When I asked- Gabriel seemed to be silent for a moment then he responded –
“It doesn’t matter.” He walked towards the kitchen, “What do you intend to do now?”
“Leonardo wouldn’t seat tight, seeing he might lose this opportunity with the Mancini’s.
That is my punishment for Adrian.”
I was looking forward to every bit of it.
Knowing how Leonardo treats Adrian, I trust what happened today would come with a better punishment than mainly stepping on his knuckles.
I sat in my study, organizing a week old files I’ve yet to sort.
When the doors opened Gregory greeted.
“How did it go?”
“I was able to plant someone in the Moretti’s residence.”
Perfect!
“And Adrian…” he muttered and I pursed my lips.
My hands skimming through the pages stopped halfway when he continued-
“He was beaten with a rod and told to kneel outside until they receive a call from the Mancini’s.”
My lips curled into a smile.
I wondered how he looked right now.
Boastful?
Earlier he had such a demeanor that managed to turn my stomach.
“Was that all?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not enough!”
Leonardo is not as deadly as I expected.
‘I bet I should give him a simple lesson.
Adrian, watch out for what’s coming.’
Just as I was about to retreat to the room, the thundering sound from the sky caused my muscles to pulse.
When I looked out the window, heavy rain poured down.
When the cold air grazed my skin, I wondered if Adrian was still outside kneeling in the storm.
He isn’t a muscular person.
His lean body wouldn’t be able to take such amount of cold.
I frown, “That has nothing to do with me.”
Turning to the other side of the bed, I kept writhing on the bed.
I couldn’t sleep.
I picked up a book and tried reading but my mind kept drifting towards Adrian.
He occupied my mind for more than half the hours in a day.
I frowned.
Yet, all I could still think of, was if he knelt all through the storm.
“Good for him.” I muttered but my heart tightened.
I took a glass of wine and stood by the terrace, when I took a sip, a memory of him flickered before my eyes.
‘The pants.’ he had ordered.
I scoffed, “Such guts.”
My teeths gritted.
I emptied the glass and shut the terrace door, forcing myself to sleep, when I still couldn’t, I grabbed a magazine and laid on the couch as I read through a page repeatedly.
Thankfully, my eyes soon became tired and darkness took over.
The cold morning air caused a shiver to rush down my body, and instantly I woke up.
It was past 8 am, and the rain still tapped the windows…
I sat up staring out the window, the sound of the wind as it collided with the windows made a sound that I would normally enjoy, but today, didn’t seem to amused me.
A knock came from the door, and Gregory entered.
“Good morning.”
“Anything urgent?”
“I found the one who cut the rope of the chandelier.”
I shot him a deadly glare.
He walked towards me and handed over a picture.
It was no other than the blonde man with Adrian yesterday.
“Who is he?” I roared.
“Franklyn, he worked in the cake shop until recently he quit.
He wasn’t working as of yesterday, but he was present for the engagement.
Someone must have ordered him.”
Someone?
“Who was his target?” I asked praying it shouldn’t be Isabelle.
“At first I thought it was Isabelle, but it seems that Adrian was his target.”
My eyes raised and my brows furrowed.
“Adrian?”
I’m not sure why, it didn’t had anything to do with miss Isabelle, so I came to show you first, and also ask if I should investigate further.”
My fist clenched tight.
“Con…” I held back my words realizing it shouldn’t matter if Adrian’s life is at stake.
So instead I asked, “What do you want to do?”
Gregory flustered.
He hesitated a bit, and my heart felt as though it stopped waiting for his response.
“I think I should investigate further, if that is okay sir?”
I felt my nerves relaxed but when he asked for my permission I rolled my eyes and threw the picture back to him.
“Do as you please.”
I walked passed him and headed downstairs still in my pyjamas.
Liliana seemed to be pacing round the living room.
“Everything alright?”
“Nikolai, I heard from Gregory that Adrian spent the entire night out in the cold.”
So he did?
Interesting.
“Do you care?”
“Nikolai, kindly make your decision.”
“Gabriel wants him as his son in law, I don’t have much say regarding that.” I walked gently down the stairs.
“I will give the Moretti a call now.”
Gregory walked passed me and a picture from the file he was holding fell on the floor.
I looked down, only to see that it was Adrian and Franklyn at the engagement party.
Gregory picked it up, when he noticed my stare, he asked, “You didn’t see this?”
“I have now.”
“I will find out more about their relationship and inform you.”
“What possibly could they be?
He is trying to kill him, obviously they are enemies.”
“Adrian might think otherwise, he could consider him a lover.”
His words sent fury through my body.
“Is Adrian gay?” I asked him.
“No.
But he could have hidden it well.”
I scoffed.
Then perhaps, if Franklyn was his boyfriend, then I guess he has such poor taste.
I turned back upstairs.
“Uncle Nikolai, no breakfast?” Isabelle’s voice screamed at me.
“You can have my share.” I lost my appetite.