CHAPTER 106: EVERY WOMAN IN THE OFFICE

As the awkward dinner finally concluded, Sara quickly made her escape, heading straight for the kitchen. Luca, however, blocked his mother’s path before she could leave the dining room.

"Why did you bring up my private affairs with Sara at the table? What exactly were you thinking, Mom?" Luca demanded, glaring directly into his mother’s eyes.

"Why do you always have to view your mother as a villain?" Michael intervened, stepping between them. "She was simply wanting to know how your relationship with Sara is progressing."

"Oh, please, Dad," Luca scoffed, the sound laced with cynicism.

"Why does she have to make my wife uncomfortable with such a question?" Luca demanded, his voice tight. "What does she even want to prove? That I established a cold contract between us? That I can’t ever make this relationship work?" He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "This is exactly why I hate coming back here."

"You always consider me as a bad person," Vinni finally said, her voice cutting through his anger. Her eyes looked cold, yet they were visibly filled with disappointment.

"Can’t I even ask about the relationship you two are trying to build? Sara is already insecure about being with you. If you don’t know this, then ask her yourself. She doesn’t want a mafia as her husband. Did she know you’ve taken the lives of people in the past?"

"Vinni, let’s not bring that up now," Michael interrupted, stepping forward quickly. He firmly held his wife’s hand and walked her away, leaving Luca alone, fuming with barely contained anger.

As Luca almost turned on his heel to leave, he saw Sara approaching, carrying a water carafe. She walked directly up to him and quietly forwarded the jar. He silently took it, his fingers brushing hers, as she brushed past him, seemingly heading to their bedroom.

Luca was quick to follow her. "It was necessary," he stated urgently, referring to his mother’s accusation.

"Why?" Sara asked, her voice surprisingly calm as she turned to face him. "Whom did you kill? I thought you never hurt anyone with your gun. Was it the same gun with which you were practicing that day?"

"No," Luca clarified immediately. "And no, they weren’t innocents. They were cruel, seasoned gangsters hired by one of Grandpa’s rivals. It all happened a long time ago. I don’t do anything unlawful anymore, especially when it involves innocent citizens. That time it was crucial or I would be dead."

Sara curled her fingers tightly at his admission of past violence, but she didn’t stop walking until they finally reached their bedroom.

"Don’t let yourself get harmed," Sara stated simply, taking the water carafe from him and placing it onto the bedside table. "You’re clearly not ready to leave that business, and I know I can’t change your views on it. The best I can do is ask you to stay unharmed. It’s highly unlikely that your enemies will simply stop seeking you out."

"Aren’t you upset that I—" Luca began, needing her emotional reaction.

"No," Sara cut him off. "As far as I understand that world, to survive, you often have to eliminate the threat. No one is truly ’good’ there." She stepped closer, her tone reflecting a grudging respect for his position. "I don’t know what kind of legacy your grandfather has truly left for you, Luca, but if it is worth risking your life for, then keep fighting to protect it and keep it alive."

Luca’s harsh expression softened immediately as he absorbed the fact that Sara had decided to be surprisingly understanding, even pragmatic.

"However," Sara continued, her voice regaining its earlier firmness, "you must tell me what exactly happened that forced you to fight. You mentioned bloodshed earlier. I expect you to tell me, one by one, the full truth about your past, the things I was always unaware of." She held his gaze straight, demanding transparency.

"Hmm," Luca murmured, acknowledging the heavy promise he now faced.

"And about earlier, your shirt had a lipstick mark," Sara added, the tension breaking slightly as she shifted topics. "I think that’s why your mother asked that inappropriate question about our consummation." She opened her duffle bag, located the night dress she had packed, and picked it up.

"I’ll change first," she stated simply, before walking toward the bathroom.

Luca watched her leave, then quietly lowered himself onto the lower edge of the bed and picked up his phone. While he booked a place for them on the coming weekend, he saw a message from Remo.

"Mathias was spotted meeting Diego."

Luca’s gaze darkened as he closed his phone. "Turns out Diego isn’t ready to change. I hoped he would use this chance well. And I know his target will be to harm Sara."

~~~~

The next morning, both Sara and Luca left the house and drove to the important meeting that had been scheduled early. Once they finished their business obligations, Luca immediately drove Sara to ’The Gilded Labyrinth’.

As soon as they arrived, Sara rushed to the women’s locker room to change into the brightly colored sports dress she had picked up earlier. After lacing up her athletic shoes and tying her hair into a secure ponytail, she stepped out. Luca took the duffle bag from her, slinging it over his shoulder.

"I already missed one game," Sara said, her disappointment evident in her voice.

"It’s fine, Sara. There are many more games scheduled today," Luca replied, completely unbothered.

"But they may find it weird that their CEO has suddenly decided to show up," Sara murmured, glancing around at the bustling venue.

"I’m not here as the CEO of the Augustino Group today," he clarified to her, meeting her gaze with a firm, affectionate look. "I’m here as your husband, who will cheer up for you."

"Now, go," Luca said, giving her a brief, encouraging squeeze. "And most importantly, don’t get hurt."

Sara nodded in acknowledgment and rushed ahead toward the courts, while Luca walked toward the raised spectator area. Men and women were already seated there, ready to cheer enthusiastically for all the competing secretaries.

Remo suddenly appeared, his energy high, juggling two large, brightly colored poster boards in his hands. "Here! I brought them," he stated triumphantly, lowering himself into the chair immediately next to Luca.

Luca watched as Sara finished conversing with the other competitors for the first round. The challenge required them to pass some physical obstacles in a limited time, with the lowest time determining the winner.

As the siren rang sharply for the official start of the second game, loud, echoing cheers erupted across the space. Finally, it was Sara’s turn. Remo suddenly yelled her name with booming enthusiasm.

She looked up and instantly spotted both him and Luca, holding brightly colored poster boards in their hands.

"What is that?" she murmured to herself, a genuine smile breaking through her focus. The sight gave her a momentary lift. She took a deep, centering breath just as the toy gun was fired, signaling her start.

She darted forward. Her first move was a sprint before she leaped over a wide gap to reach the initial set of ascending parallel bars, which she scaled with surprising speed.

Next, she scrambled under a series of tight ropes, flattening herself to the ground. She could hear everyone’s frantic shouts of encouragement, driving her forward. She approached the final challenge: a narrow, elevated beam, which she crossed with careful, quick balance, pushing through the finish line and pressed the red buzzer button.

Sara stood panting for air for a few moments, then started walking toward the recovery area on the left where several colleagues immediately patted her back.

"You did amazing, Sara! Why were you saying you weren’t good at this game?" Fabio chuckled, clearly impressed.

"I honestly didn’t know I would actually be able to play it that well," Sara admitted with a genuine smile, still catching her breath.

"I think you ran quite fast! You finished the game in under three minutes," a cheerful young woman standing beside them said. "Oh, I’m Marina Cruz, by the way. I’ve heard about you. It must be hard for you fighting all the demons around you."

Sara didn’t expect such a candid and sympathetic comment from an unknown colleague. She found she genuinely liked the unexpected empathy.

"Marina, it’s your turn next," Fabio reminded her gently.

"Yeah, I know. Don’t make me nervous!" Marina said, taking several deep breaths to focus. She leaned toward Sara and added, nodding toward the spectator area, "And just so you know, the CEO is definitely cheering for you. I used to have a huge crush on him. Not just me, but practically every woman in the office," she remarked with a wink before heading to the starting line.

"Marina is a kind woman. She is an assistant in human resource department. You can consider befriending him," Fabio opined.

"Sara! Will you join me for three-leg race next?" Suddenly a man approached her and hung his arm casually over her shoulder.

Luca, who had his only on hers immediately rose to his feet.

"What the fuck he’s doing?" He cursed, not caring for the spectators around him.