Chapter 17

It had been a week since the kiss in the rain, and Isabella was more confused than ever. Every time Dominic came for his meetings with Don, he would walk past her without a glance, acting as if nothing had happened. This drove her insane, and she had picked at her cuticles until they were raw.

One day, as Dominic exited the study, chuckling at something Don had said, Isabella stood up, unable to take it any longer. "Papa, I was wondering, can I go with you guys on your rendezvous?" she asked quietly.

Don sighed, glancing at his watch and then at Dominic, who remained expressionless. "I guess it is the safest you can be. Come on," he said.

Isabella smiled, falling into step beside her father. They walked down the grand staircase, the echo of their footsteps filling the silent hall. Outside, the rain had stopped, leaving the ground wet and glistening under the overcast sky.

They entered the SUV, with Don and Dominic taking the front seats while Isabella slid into the back. The ride was filled with the low rumble of the engine and the murmur of conversation between Don and Dominic.

“Russo is making moves again,” Don said, his voice tinged with frustration. “He’s been meeting with the other families.”

Dominic nodded, his gaze fixed out the window. “We need to be proactive. Waiting for him to strike isn’t an option.”

Isabella listened intently, her eyes drifting from the passing scenery to the back of Dominic’s head. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers tapped restlessly on his knee.

They finally arrived at Dominic's mansion, a sprawling estate that exuded power and wealth. As they entered, Dominic turned to her. “Ms. Marino, can you stay out here? These details only include your father,” he said, winking.

Isabella was stunned but managed a nod. The door shut and locked behind them, leaving her standing in the hallway. She grunted under her breath, muttering insults as she walked away, looking for something to occupy her time.

As she descended the staircase, she bumped into a young woman with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. The woman had a distinct northern accent. “I am so sorry, love!” she squealed, picking up the items she had dropped.

“It’s okay,” Isabella said, eyeing the woman curiously. “You must be new. I haven’t seen you before.”

The woman smiled, placing her hand in Isabella's. “Kory! My name is Kory. I am actually here due to my fiancé. We just got engaged!” she squealed with excitement.

Before Isabella could respond, Dominic appeared, reaching his hand out to help Kory up the stairs. “That is Isabella Marino,” he said.

Kory's eyes widened, realizing she was shaking hands with one of the most dangerous women in their world. “Ms. Marino. This is my fiancée,” Dominic announced.

Isabella's heart sank. She was shocked and hurt. How could he be engaged when he had just kissed her? Swallowing the lump in her throat, she forced a faint smile. “Ah, congratulations.”

Before they could say anything else, Isabella turned and headed down the stairs. Dominic's voice echoed through the hall, “I am sure I will see you at the parties this weekend?”

She looked up at him, frowning. “I wouldn’t miss it,” she replied before exiting the mansion.

Isabella stood outside, the cold night air biting at her skin. The rain had ceased, leaving a damp chill in its wake. She lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag as she stared at the mansion's imposing façade. The flickering glow of the cigarette provided little comfort.

She was upset. Upset that no one had told her, upset about everything, and she hated everything. The thought of Dominic proposing to someone else gnawed at her. Did she like him? No. She actually hated him. She couldn’t understand why he had kissed her if he was just going to propose to some prissy girl the next day.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the mansion's door opening. Don walked out, his eyes immediately finding his daughter. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice softening with concern.

Isabella shook her head, trying to avoid his gaze. She began to walk towards the SUV but stopped, turning back to face her father as he approached her on the gravel path. “When did he propose?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Don shrugged, a puzzled expression on his face. “I guess last night. He said something occurred and to get his mind off things was to do this,” he replied, opening the car door for her.

Isabella threw herself into the car, slamming the door shut. The realization that Dominic had proposed to Kory to forget about their kiss was like a punch to the gut. She felt a mix of frustration and betrayal that she couldn't shake.

As she sat in the back seat of the SUV, her mind raced. The cigarette between her fingers burned down to the filter, forgotten. Her fingers drummed against the seat, her anger building with each passing second. The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Dominic, the man who had kissed her with such intensity, had turned around and proposed to another woman.

Her thoughts churned, replaying the events of the past week over and over. The tension between her and Dominic had been palpable. The kiss in the rain had been unexpected, intense, and had left her reeling. And now, he was engaged to Kory, a woman who seemed to be everything Isabella was not.

The SUV's engine roared to life as Don settled into the driver’s seat. He glanced back at his daughter through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with concern. “Isabella,” he began, but she cut him off with a wave of her hand.

“Just drive, Papa,” she muttered, turning her head to stare out the window. The scenery blurred as they sped down the driveway, the mansion growing smaller in the distance.

The ride home was silent, filled only with the hum of the engine and the occasional swish of windshield wipers clearing the remnants of rain. Isabella leaned her head against the window, the cool glass soothing her throbbing temples. Her mind kept drifting back to Dominic's face, the way he had looked at her before he kissed her. It made no sense. None of it did.

When they finally arrived back at her family’s estate, Isabella felt a sense of relief. The familiar surroundings brought a modicum of comfort. She climbed out of the SUV, her legs feeling weak beneath her. Don didn’t follow her inside, giving her the space he knew she needed.

Inside her room, Isabella paced back and forth, the events of the day replaying in her mind. The rain continued to patter against the windows, adding to her sense of isolation. She was still fuming when a knock came on her door.

“Come in,” she called, her voice tinged with frustration.

The door opened to reveal a younger guard, Mason. He was newly hired by her father, and his boyish good looks contrasted sharply with the hardened expressions of the other guards. He had sandy blonde hair, piercing green eyes, and a lean, athletic build.

“Ms. Marino, is everything okay?” he asked, his voice soft and concerned.

Isabella smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You can make everything okay,” she said, walking over to him.

Mason looked taken aback, his eyes widening slightly. “Ms. Marino, I don’t want to lose this job,” he whispered, as she planted a kiss on his cheek.

“You won’t,” she assured him, her voice smooth and persuasive. “All you have to do is attend parties with me this weekend.” She smiled, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.

Mason hesitated, his eyes searching hers for any sign of deceit. Seeing none, he nodded slowly. “Okay,” he agreed, his voice barely audible.

Isabella’s smile widened as she stepped back, satisfied. “Good,” she said. “Now, go and get some rest. We have a busy weekend ahead.”

Mason nodded again, turning to leave. As he closed the door behind him, Isabella returned to her pacing, a sense of anticipation bubbling within her. The upcoming weekend promised to be interesting, and she was determined to make the most of it.