Chapter 9

“A servant attempting to flee?” he voice inquired as he inspected her with a torchlight.

“I was not trying to,” she lied.

“Would you mind explaining what you were doing out here by this time?”

She did not respond.

Soon, he bent down towards her; Julia could not see his face, but she knew he was a guard. She could feel his grasp on her arm as he lifted her up.

“Who is she?” Another man approached them and asked.

“A servant.” The man replied.

When Julia was on her feet, she caught sight of the one that raised her up. He had a cruel expression on his face and a scar on his left eye.

“Take her to the room until the boss requests for her,” he said to the other guard.

***

It was 8 am in the morning. Donatello sat in his office, his face buried in the paper before him but he couldn't concentrate. He had just received a message from one of his men confirming all the things Martin had said.

Marco Morano has taken over his father's business and is now in charge of all its dealings.

Don clenched his jaw from merely thinking about it, he hates competition especially from someone well known to him.

Their history together goes a long way back but power has overshadowed everything. Not even a glimpse of memory could resolve the situation at hand.

Don was still drowning in his thoughts when Marcello entered.

“Boss,” he bowed, “your servant is missing.”

Don looked up quickly. He did not know when he drew a fist.

“How dare you not know where she is!” he thundered.

Marcello kept his head face down.

“Have you checked the whole place?” He asked sternly.

“We have checked most of the rooms but we haven't gotten a clue of where she could be.”

Don shot him an annoyed look.

“How dare you come to me when all the rooms have not been checked!”

“I'm sorry boss.” His assistant said.

With a hand pointing to the door, he bellowed, “Get the fuck out of here!”

***

Julia sat on one edge of the bed. The room was dark, and she could hardly see anything, but she knew her way around despite the inadequate lighting.

The bed was the only thing situated in the room and this made Julia think of why a room had only a bed inside. She knew this was not her room but she couldn't think of where she was.

She had heard the guard order his companion to bring her to the room, and she had assumed it was her room, not realizing that it would be something else.

More surprising, she had no idea there was a room like this. This was new and it baffles her.

Would the boss come to her rescue?, she asked herself, as she wondered if anyone apart from the guards was aware of her disappearance.

Immediately she pushed the thought out of her head. If he really wanted to save her, he would have come since.

Hours have gone by and she hasn't even heard a sound, except her rumbling stomach. No one had even cared to attend to her, she was left alone.

Why would he even care about her? After all, she was just a mere servant, just a servant, and she meant nothing to him.

Not even a bit.

***

Don clenched his fists again.

His servant is missing?

“How dare she try to test me” He muttered to himself, as he took out a cigar from his drawer.

She was nothing more than a distraction, and he knew it. Now he couldn't get her out of his mind.

The paper before him was now useless, something else occupied his mind. Something that could overpower him in an instant.

What was she doing to him? When he thought she was under his directive, she dared to go against his order.

Is she trying to get his attention?

His lips curled up to a smile. Before he could answer, Marcello entered.

“I hope you have good news for me,” Don said as he looked up.

“We have found her boss. She was locked up by the guards early this morning.”

Locked up? Those words rang in his ears.

“Why would they do that?” He questioned.

“They cau–”

“–I need the guards in my office immediately.” he demanded before Marcello could finish talking.

Don stormed out of the office, with a fierce look on his face.