14. To Understand More Deep Her Feeling

VINCENT. I left her there, sitting on a wooden bench overlooking the sea. Amber. The girl looked fragile in the morning sun, her hair blowing in the sea breeze in a way that made her look like a living portrait of melancholy. There was something about her that made it hard for me to look away-not only because she was now my responsibility, but also because she brought something foreign into my life. I walked back into the mansion, my steps heavy but measured. There was something holding me back from being around her for too long. Amber needed time to herself, that much was clear. But I also knew that if I stayed there for too long, the strange feelings that had recently started to emerge would be even harder for me to ignore. My private study was on the second floor of the mansion, at the end of a quiet hallway. Only me and a handful of my confidants knew how important that space was. A place where all major decisions are made, including those concerning the business I've built with blood and sweat over the years. I opened the door, and the distinctive scent of mahogany wood that made up the walls of the room immediately greeted me. The room wasn't large, but it was spacious enough for a desk, a bookshelf full of important documents, and a black leather sofa that looked almost untouched. The large window behind the desk gave me a view of the ocean, though I rarely had time to enjoy it. From the corner of the room, a familiar voice greeted me. "Vincent." It was Marco, my right-hand man. He stood beside the desk, carrying a thick folder in his hand. With a black suit that always seemed too small for his broad shoulders and a serious face that hardly ever changed, Marco was the person I trusted to handle things that I didn't even have time to take care of myself. "What do you have for me?" I asked directly, taking my place behind my desk. Marco stepped forward and placed the folder on the table, opening the first page with a quick motion. "Distribution at the port is going according to plan. The last shipment has arrived on time, and the goods have been dispersed to the designated locations. There are no significant obstacles." I nodded slowly, my eyes skimming over the numbers and reports he showed me. Everything looked good, but I knew better than to just trust numbers on paper. "What about security? Any reports of activity from the other side?" Marco shook his head. "No suspicious movements so far. But I've stationed some extra men at the harbor, just in case. We can't relax too much." I raised an eyebrow, feeling satisfied with his anticipatory move. Marco always knew how to carry out his duties without needing too many orders. That was why he had remained in this position for so many years. However, my mind wasn't entirely on the report. Part of me was still thinking about Amber, sitting alone in the backyard, trying to find peace in the lapping waves. I could see the image of her face in my mind, how her normally bright eyes now looked dim, full of unhealed wounds. Marco seemed to realize I was daydreaming, but he didn't say anything. He just closed the folder after he finished explaining, then looked at me with his sharp eyes. "Anything else you want to ask, boss?" I sighed softly, leaning my body against the chair. "No, I don't. That's enough for now. Just make sure things keep running smoothly. And Marco..." He waited, his expression remaining calm. "Add one more person to keep this mansion safe. I don't want any gaps, especially with the... current situation," I said, my voice lower than usual. Marco nodded. He didn't need to ask what I meant. He knew, as usual. After he left, I sat alone in the room, staring at the window overlooking the sea. From here, I couldn't see Amber, but I knew she was still there. And for reasons I didn't fully understand, I felt the need to make sure she was safe. I'm not a man who is easily moved by emotions. All this time, I've lived by a clear rule: control is everything, and emotions would only be a weakness. But with Amber, things are different. There was something about her that made me want to protect her-not just because I felt responsible, but because I really wanted her to feel safe. I clenched my fists, trying to tamp down the feelings that were getting harder and harder to ignore. She was the last thing I needed to mess up my already chaotic life. But now, I wasn't sure if I could ignore her anymore. *** This meeting room was not much different from other rooms where the mafia gathered. It was dark, full of cigar smoke, and with lavish decorations that looked more like status symbols than aesthetics. A crystal chandelier hung in the center of the room, reflecting a dim glow that could barely mask the cold, tension-filled aura here. I sat in one of the large leather chairs surrounding the long table. Across from me, three men sat in different attitudes. There was Alberto, a middle-aged man with greying hair but still sharp in his every word. Next to him, Diego, who was younger and more reserved, usually preferring to listen rather than speak. And finally, there's Massimo, a man who always feels bigger than he actually is. He's the kind of person who loves power games, and while that makes him useful on some occasions, his arrogance often brings more problems than solutions. This meeting was supposed to be all about business. We were talking about the distribution of goods in each other's territories, setting boundaries, and making sure no one overstepped the agreed-upon rules. But, as always, there was tension in the air. In this world, trust is something that almost never exists. "So, Vincent," Alberto said, his voice deep and full of experience. "Your last shipment went smoothly. But I hear your port is getting more and more heavily guarded. Are you worried something might happen?" I leaned my body against the chair, looking at him calmly. "I'm just making sure everything stays under control. You know as well as I do that we can't afford the slightest opening." Diego nodded in agreement, but Massimo, who was sitting at the other end of the table in his droll manner, grinned. "Vincent, always too careful," he said, lighting a cigar and smoking it with exaggerated gestures. "Sometimes I wonder, do you ever get to relax?" I didn't respond. I knew better than to waste my time replying to such comments. Massimo liked to provoke a reaction, and I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction. We continued our discussion on the territorial arrangements and profit sharing. I led the negotiations, making sure everything remained fair and favorable for all parties. However, when the atmosphere started to die down, Massimo, as usual, couldn't stop himself from opening his mouth with something stupid. "By the way, Vincent," he said, blowing out smoke from his cigar. "I heard you had a special guest at your mansion. A young girl who is... well, quite a looker, I guess." I knew immediately where he was going with this. My face remained flat, but my hands under the table clenched into tight fists. "Don't start, Massimo," I said in a low, firm voice, warning him. However, as usual, he didn't know when to stop. Instead, he grinned wider, his eyes flashing with provocative intent. "Come on, Vincent. You know I'm just joking. But, seriously, if you ever get tired of her, you know I'm always open to... sharing, right?" I felt my blood boil in an instant. The sound of the waves from the backyard of the mansion, which usually calmed my mind, now seemed to be swallowed up by the rumbling in my head. Massimo had overstepped the boundary that he shouldn't touch. I stood up quickly, my chair sliding back with a loud thud. Everyone in the room immediately stopped talking. Even Diego, who was usually calm, looked at me with dilated eyes. Massimo was still smiling, though I could see a hint of tension on his face. "Hey, take it easy, Vincent. I'm just joking," he said, but his tone of voice began to change, no longer as aggressive as before. I leaned towards him, looking him squarely in the eye. "You think I'm joking, Massimo?" my voice was low but threatening. "If you mention his name again, even in jest, I won't hesitate to make you regret it." The room was silent, only the sound of our breathing could be heard. I knew they all knew I wasn't messing around. When I say something, I do it. And Massimo, despite being a jerk, wasn't stupid enough not to realize that. He raised his hands, as if giving up. "Alright, alright. I misspoke. Take it easy, Vincent. There's nothing to make a big deal about." I stared at her for a few seconds longer, making sure she really understood that this was the final warning. Then I turned around, picked up the coat I'd placed on the back of the chair, and put it back on. "The meeting is over," I said firmly, leaving no room for further discussion. "We will continue this conversation at another time."