Chapter 10
Marco’s instincts told him to tread carefully, but Arianna’s advice had proven valuable. Every move she suggested yielded results. Slowly, she began to weave herself deeper into his operations, becoming more than just a consultant.
Marco told himself that Carmen’s departure was nothing more than a distraction he didn’t need. If she wasn’t strong enough to stand by his side, he couldn’t let it derail him. Besides, Arianna’s involvement was giving him the edge he needed against the De Lucas.
Still, a nagging thought persisted. What if Carmen’s reasons for leaving weren’t as simple as pride?
…
Meanwhile, across the city, Arianna sat in a dimly lit private room of an upscale restaurant. The ambiance was quiet yet sophisticated, the low hum of other diners providing a muted backdrop to her meeting.
Enzo, a burly enforcer with sharp eyes that belied his otherwise brutish demeanor, leaned forward, suspicion etched on his face. “You’ve been cozying up to Venetti for weeks now. What’s your endgame, Arianna?”
She smiled, picking up her wine glass and swirling its contents lazily. “Patience, Enzo. Marco Venetti is a proud man, but pride makes people predictable.”
Sofia, a wiry woman with piercing eyes that missed nothing, watched Arianna carefully. “Predictable how?”
Arianna set her glass down, her tone cool and measured. “Marco thinks he’s using me. He believes I’m under his control, a pawn in his game. But the truth is, I’m the one pulling the strings.”
Enzo raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. “You’re sure he trusts you?”
Arianna let out a soft laugh, the sound as smooth as silk. “Trust is irrelevant. Marco is angry, distracted, desperate to maintain his grip on power. I’m giving him exactly what he thinks he wants—control over me. That illusion is all he needs to let me deeper into his world.”
Sofia exchanged a glance with Enzo, her lips pressing into a thin line. “And when he figures out what you’re doing?”
Arianna’s smirk widened. “By the time he realizes, it’ll be too late. He’ll have already handed me everything.”
The two De Luca associates sat back, their skepticism slowly giving way to understanding. Arianna had always been a master of manipulation, and it was clear she had Venetti right where she wanted him.
Enzo grunted. “For your sake, this better work. If it doesn’t, you know what happens.”
Arianna’s eyes glinted in the low light, her confidence unshaken. “It will work. Trust me.”
As their conversation drifted to specifics, Arianna’s phone buzzed silently on the table, a missed call from Marco flashing briefly on the screen. She ignored it, her focus unwavering.
In her mind, the pieces were already in place. Marco Venetti might think he was the king, but he was just another piece on her board.
Arianna leaned back in her chair, swirling the wine in her glass as a smug smile played on her lips. “And with Carmen finally out of the way,” she said, her tone dripping with satisfaction, “there’s no one left to stand between me and my plan.”
Enzo raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued. “You’re sure she’s gone for good?”
Arianna let out a soft chuckle, leaning forward as if sharing a secret. “Oh, she’s gone. Trust me. Carmen’s always been too proud for her own good, and Marco’s just blinded enough not to see what he’s lost.”
Sofia tilted her head, her sharp gaze studying Arianna. “She was a strong one, though. Smart. Tough. You think she’ll stay gone?”
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Arianna replied, her voice cold and assured. “Carmen leaving was inevitable. All I had to do was fan the flames Marco lit himself. Their little marriage was already hanging by a thread. I just gave it a reason to snap.”
Enzo smirked, finally seeming to relax. “You’ve been busy, haven’t you?”
Arianna smiled, savoring her moment. “Busy? Oh, Enzo, you have no idea. Carmen’s departure was necessary—she was the last real obstacle. With her gone, Marco has no anchor, no voice to counter mine. He’ll lean on me now, and when the time is right, I’ll take everything.”
Sofia arched an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “And if Carmen comes back?”
Arianna’s smile didn’t waver. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “If she dares to come back, I’ll make sure she regrets it. But she won’t. Not after what Marco’s done to her. She’ll stay gone.”
Sofia nodded slowly, seemingly convinced, while Enzo gave a low grunt of approval.
As Arianna’s laughter filled the room once more, her phone buzzed again, Marco’s name glowing on the screen. Without sparing it a glance, she waved it off with a flick of her wrist, her focus fully on the De Luca associates in front of her.
“Marco’s playing right into my hands,” she said, a glint of triumph in her eyes. “His trust, his empire… it’s only a matter of time before it’s all mine.”
She raised her glass, her confidence unshaken, and toasted to her plans. “To patience,” she said softly, her smile widening. “And to a world without Carmen Venetti.”
Her laughter echoed like a warning through the room, lingering long after the clink of her glass faded into silence.
