I raise an eyebrow. “And what makes you think I’m happy?”
“Well, for starters,” she says, turning back to the stove, “you asked the maids to move Eleonora’s things into your bedroom. And now you’re sharing a bed with her. Having a woman in your bed seems to agree with you. It's about time.”
I shake my head. If anyone else spoke to me like that, they’d be bleeding on the floor. But Lea… she’s the only one who can get away with it.
“You gossip too much,” I mutter, taking a sip of coffee.
“Well, it’s not gossip if it’s true,” she replies cheerfully.
Before I can respond, I feel her presence behind me. I turn around and there she is, Eleonora, walking into the kitchen wearing nothing but one of my black shirts.
It completely swallows her, the hem falling to mid-thigh, sleeves too long and rolled up at the cuffs. She looks soft and so fucking beautiful it makes my chest ache.
I’ve never loved the sight of a shirt more in my life.
She pauses when she sees me, a shy little smile tugging at her lips.
“Good morning,” she says softly, a little shy.
Lea turns from the stove with a warm smile. “Good morning, dear. Coffee?”
“Yes, please,” Eleonora replies.
She walks straight to me, and I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her against my chest. She tenses slightly, glancing toward Lea.
“We have company,” she whispers, cheeks flushing.
I tilt her chin up and kiss her deeply. She melts against me after a second, hands fisting in my shirt.
When I pull back, I lean in close to her ear.
“What did you expect when you walked down here wearing my shirt?” I murmur, voice low. “You look so fucking beautiful in it. It fits you better than it ever did me.”
Lea clears her throat, amusement clear in her eyes as she hands Eleonora a steaming cup of coffee.
Just then, one of my men walks into the kitchen.
“Boss,” he says, nodding respectfully. “I went to retrieve those documents from the office like you asked. This came in for Miss Caruso.”
He holds out an envelope. I take it and glance at the name on it. It’s from her sister.
I turn to her, holding it out. “It’s from Camilla.”
Her eyes widen, as she takes the letter. I lean in and press a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll leave you to read it. I need to go speak with Marco.”
Eleonora
As Nico walks away, I stare down at the envelope in my hands, my heart beating fast. I’m so curious I can barely breathe.
I turn to Lea. “I’ll have breakfast a little later. I just need ten minutes.”
She gives me a warm, understanding smile. “Of course, dear. Take your time.”
I leave the kitchen and head toward the living room. As I walk, I notice something different. The guards I pass nod at me with respect instead of the cold indifference they used to show. The maids lower their eyes slightly and offer soft greetings. No one looks at me like I’m just a prisoner anymore.
They’re treating me like the lady of the house.
The realization makes my steps falter for a second. But I quickly put the thought aside and I find a quiet corner in the living room and sit down, carefully opening the envelope. Camilla’s familiar handwriting fills the page.
