"What do you think is the cause of this lethargy you've been experiencing lately?" I asked one of the female employees who worked for the Knights.

She was a young employee in her early twenties and was pretty cute with brunette hair, light brown eyes and small, pointy nose. The yellow dress she was wearing complimented her pale skin. And she seemed to have a bubbly personality. I could tell that from the light and life in her eyes.

"I have no clue, you know. You're the psychologist here. No offence, though. I've been working in Knight Corp for a year now. I feel like a robot sometimes. My routine includes waking up, showering, eating, working and sleeping." she rambled.

I smiled at her and nodded my head before writing down these points.

Boring routine. Should take a break. I jotted down.

"You need a break. A breath of fresh air and rest from work." I suggested.

"Ms. Beckett, a human mind needs change every once in a while. Did you know that following a same routine for a long period of time can lead to depression? From what I've gathered, you don't have enough time for yourself. Or time at all, for that matter. Taking your mind off the mainstream routine is the best solution to it. A human being's efficiency gradually decreases if they keep going in circles over and over. Your mind needs to relax for a little while. As a guide to you and as a loyal employee to this company, I would want for you to work with the same enthusiasm and energy you had when you joined so I suggest, you write an email, book your tickets, pack your bags and leave for a vacation." I concluded.

"Would that really help?" she asked looking at me with wide eyes.

From the biting of her nails to to the continuous bouncing of her heels on the floor, her stature screamed impatience, anxiety and excitement. She was sitting on the very edge of the seat and would fall if she moved even half an inch any further.

"Yes, you would come back with a fresh mind and completely recharged energy." I said flashing her a small smile.

"Okay, thank you." she muttered excitedly and left after excusing herself.

I shook my head to myself and looked at the notes. I had dealt with two employees today. Both were females.

I straightened my burgundy button up blouse and stood up. My black heels clicked against the floor as I walked to the window and stood there for a while with my hands tucked inside my black slacks' pockets.

I was given a large office that overlooked the city of Florence through its glass walls. The view was to die for. The office was nothing fancy, I wanted it simple and decent. There was an average sized glass desk with a black leather chair on which I was seated and two couches with a small coffee table. There was a small, built-in bathroom here which I was extremely thankful for.

I hated using public bathrooms even if they were clean.

I had also made the interior team install a small bookshelf in a corner and a big glass bowl of fererro rochers on my desk. Not for me, for the employees.

Just because.

I picked a chocolate and popped it in my mouth after retuning to my desk.

What? I can eat, too.

There was a knock on the door and I quickly chewed the chocolate, swallowing it before I told them to come inside.

Tomaso came barging inside with a distressed expression on his face. I beaks laughed at his dishevelled and frustrated state.

Tomaso was a man in his late twenties with blonde hair and green eyes and was Adrian's personal assistant. The poor lad always got his head bitten off for something as small as bringing a semi warm coffee.

"Ms. Mancini, I think I'm going to quit." he sighed tiringly and plopped on the seat opposite to me.

I concealed my chuckle with a cough and drank a little water to add to the effect, "Why? What did Mr. Knight do?" I asked.

"He.. he's a monster, miss. I just gave him his coffee, the one he takes before lunch, and HE spilled it on the important paperwork yet he yelled at me for 'placing it too near his documents.' he emphasised using air quotations.

From his expressions, I could tell he was not done yet so he continued, "He's insufferable. So rude and ignorant. I think he needs to come see you, as well. The amount of time he gets angry is equal to the amount of time a normal human breathes."

He huffed and I couldn't control it anymore so I bursted out laughing.

"Oh my God." I sighed recovering from my little crazy episode.

Tomaso looked as if he had seen a ghost and I shook my head at him with a small smile, "He's not that bad." I paused to comprehend his expressions and they were priceless. "Your boss's presence can be a bit... overwhelming at times. I understand that but you've been working for him for almost two years. One would think, you'd be used to his... attitude by now. You're frustrated because he's making you feel like it's your fault when it isn't. You feel inferior and oppressed and you want to strangle him in his sleep but you're too loyal to do that." I finished telling him what he wasn't ready to admit himself.

"I don't know, I mean..." he trailed having an inner conflict.

"You do. I told you just now." I smirked.

"How do you deal with him? How can you live with him? He must suffocate you with his possessive, obsessive and protective nature." he half asked, half complained.

The whole company knew we were dating. Well, fake dating but we left that part out. Our parents were somewhat happy, too. They didn't know that fake bit either.

"We're here to talk about you, not me." I pointed with a raised brow and he instantly sobered up.

"Stand your ground, Tomaso. Don't let his anger make you feel you're any less. You're an extremely helpful, efficient and experienced person. Believe me, he feels relieved to have an assistant like you. He can rely on you like no one else." I assured him.

He nodded and I observed that his posture was much relaxed now. All the frustration and anger was gone. He was tired though, his shoulders were sagged.

"Go take the rest of the day off. I'll talk to Mr. Knight about it." I ordered him professionally.

He tried to argue but I waved my hand and dismissed him.

He was going to come in the next session anyways.

My time here was over so I picked up my bag and decided to pay a visit to my supposed boyfriend before I left the building.

I opened the door without knocking and his employees looked at me in shock. I threw them a small smile and closed the door behind me.

His head was buried in the documents sprawled on his desk but the sound of his office door opening had him looking up, ready to yell at anyone who dared step inside without his permission but stopped when he saw it was me.

His blue jacket has long been discarded and he was sitting in a white shirt and blue waistcoat. His hair was messier than usual and I could imagine him running his fingers through it multiple times.

"Hey." I greeted with a small smile.

He finally blinked as if snapping out of a trance and flashed me a small, tired smile.

"Hi." he replied.

I rounded the desk, placing my bag on the chair, and pushed his seat back before straddling his lap.

His arms came to wrap around me as he stared at me softly and buried his face in my neck.

"You're leaving?" he asked.

I nodded my head, combing my fingers through his hair.

"Adrian, have you been having any... anger issues lately?" I asked carefully.

He abruptly pulled back and looked at me with a small frown, "No." he replied.

"Are you sure? Because from what I heard, you've been lashing out a lot, lately, and at small, insignificant things." I probed brushing my thumb on his stubble.

His jaw ticked and grip tightened on my hips, "So they're complaining to you now, huh? They can't take pressure, cowards." he spat.

"See, you're reacting even now. You're angry at them for what? Everyone out there is always on their toes around you and even in your absence. That's how much fear you've instilled in them. They respect you, believe me they do, but there's only so much they can take. Tone it down a little, bambino." I spoke softly and kissed his cheek.

He stared at me intently and I stared right back with determination. His rigid stance relaxed and he eventually nodded. I smiled at him and was about to get up but he firmly planted my butt back in his lap.

"I have to go." I whispered.

He shook his head, "I'll be free in a couple of minutes. You're coming with me." he said and drew his seat closer to the desk before going through various papers.

I rested my head on his shoulder as I looked at his side profile.

The man was painfully handsome from every angle. The way he frowned when he was concentrating on something and then the way he would raise his eyebrows in disbelief and scoff reading something absurd in, what I presumed was a contract, was sexy.

"You're staring." he stated, signing the documents.

"I am." I admitted.

He chuckled and shook his head before we heard a knock.

I struggled to get out of his hold but he wasn't having any of it and shouted, "Come in."

My eyes widened and face flushed red as I looked at him in pure horror and buried my face in the crook of his neck.

The employee, whoever it was, came inside and she toppled over her words in nervousness and probably shame given the position we were in.

I decided to take revenge and licked his neck before blowing on it. His grip tightened in warning but I continued my assault.

He replied quickly to the girl and dismissed her. I could hear urgency in his voice as he told her to leave and nearly laughed.

I laughed throwing my head back as soon as the door shut close but it was cut short as Adrian cupped the back of my neck and made me look at his face.

His eyes were a shade darker and I could tell, I have poked the beast.

His face was stern but his eyes were dancing in amusement and another raw emotion which I couldn't comprehend.

Adrian was a complex man to read. I often faced difficulties studying him.

"Don't start what you can't end." he warned.

I rolled my eyes with a hint of smile and returned to my precious position. A few minutes turned to be an hour and a half and I was famished by the time we left his office.

I haven't eaten anything all day and I felt dehydrated.

His staff was eyeing us with knowing smirks.

News travel fast.

Adrian clutched my hand firmly in his and walked ahead of me as he walked us through the long hallway and towards the elevator.

I sighed in relief as the elevators door shut close and leaned my back against the wall.

"Thanks to you, they now think you were fucking me inside your office." I jabbed my finger in his chest as he raised a brow at me in amusement.

He grabbed my forefinger and pressed a button making the elevator stop.

My eyes widened as I looked at him, "Adrian." I scolded as he invaded my personal space.

My heart rate picked up as our faces were centimetres away. My chest touched his as it heaved up and down.

"That's not such a bad idea, carino." he teased referring to my precious statement.

"Adrian, stop it." I whispered.

"That's what I did." he whispered back, huskily.

He pinned our intertwined hands beside my head and inched forward before leaning down and sucking on my neck softly.

My breathing hitched and my eyes rolled back, "Adrian." I half whispered, half moaned.

Liquid heat pooled between my legs and I attempted to shut them but he was standing between them, making it completely impossible.

I gasped as he bit into my sensitive flesh and my mind went into a frenzy. I began to pant lowly.

He rubbed his crotch on my panty cladded sex and I moaned loudly before digging my nails in the back of his hand. He groaned and bit harder before continuing his assault on my neck and down to my collarbone. His lips were moving slowly yet sensually. His stubble tickled my jaw and I began to squirm in his hold.

I can't take this.

This is too much.

My panties were soaking and my body was on fire. His touch was driving me insane and not only this, his scent, his closeness, everything was pushing me away from my sanity.

"Carino, you smell so fucking sweet and taste even sweeter." he whispered finally pulling back.

His eyes were clouded with pure lust and turned almost black.

My lips parted as I stared back at him. Every cell in my body was on high alert. His scent invaded my senses and I closed my eyes tightly and bent my head down.

He released my hands and my legs wobbled making me almost fall but he caught me by my hips and pulled me closer to him. He then pressed the button once again and the elevator started.

I could feel his heated gaze on my face and so, I buried my face in his shoulder in embarrassment. He chuckled and the elevator dinged.

We stepped out with me tucked in his side and his arm leisurely wrapped around my waist. I nodded to the guard before leaving the building.

"Adrian can we stop at the ice cream parlour down the road?" I asked looking at him.

He hummed and drove straight until we reached there and I hopped out of the car. There wasn't anyone around at this time and the parlor was empty, too.

I ordered myself a mint chocolate chip and him a, blueberry cheesecake one. It was his favorite.

When I got out, I saw him leaning against the hood of the car with his phone in his hands.

I pushed the ice cream in front of his face but it accidentally smeared a little across the side of his mouth. I leaned forward and licked it off before devouring mine.

He was looking at me in amusement as we stood there in silence, eating our ice creams.

There was no one here. Why were we pretending? Or better yet, when did we even pretend? It all felt so real.

My train of thoughts broke when I guard a gunshot followed by Adrian's grunt.

My heart froze.

I gasped as I looked to my left to see Adrian clutching his side and his hand covered in liquid red substance.

Blood.

I threw my ice-cream away and took my gun out.

"Sylvia, get inside." Adrian warned as I saw him aiming at a tree.

Or someone behind a tree.

I aimed in the same direction and we both shot, simultaneously. I missed but we heard a loud thud and I, without looking anywhere, ran straight towards the tree.

There lay a man clutching his shoulder in pain. His face was covered in a mask and I shot his hand which was clutching the gun.

He cursed and I bent down to take his mask off. Before I could do anything further, I heard another gun shot.

No.

I picked him up and hit his head in the tree twice before running back.

I sighed in relief as I saw a dead man lying beside the car and another beneath Adrian getting punched in the face repeatedly.

I ran towards him and shouted his name loudly. The man was unconscious but Adrian had no stop button.

"Adrian please baby, stop. He's out. Please." I begged kneeling beside him.

His hand froze mid air and he looked at my desperate face, "Please. You're injured." I begged.

He gulped with a stone cold expression plastered on his face and took his phone out before dialing someone and telling them our location.

"Adrian, I've to take you to the infirmary. Please, can you walk to the car?" I asked cupping his face.

He nodded but I could see him struggling to contain his pain. We reached the car and he sat in the passenger seat as I drove towards the estate house.

When we stopped at a light, I tied his tie around his wound to stop the bleeding.

My hands were shaking and I could feel slight tremors in my body.

No, no, no.

It can't happen right now.

I started taking deep breaths but one look at his pale, unconscious face had me pressing my foot on the gas, not caring about the fucking light.

We reached there and the guards rushed out to take him to the infirmary.

Zia was hysterical as she saw her son being dragged to the infirmary and zio was trying to calm her down.

My nails dig in my palms as I balled my hands and shut my eyes tightly.

It's all my fault. I shouldn't have asked him to stop at that ice cream parlor.

Why does it always happen when I'm around? Is it me? Am I the problem.

"Sylvia, look at me." I heard zia speak.

I shook my head and stepped back until my back touched the wall. I opened my eyes but I didn't dare look at her.

"It's all my fault." I whispered as I slid down the wall.

"It's not, my child. Its not your fault. Please don't do this to yourself." zia cried kneeling in front of me.

"No zia, can't you see? I'm the problem. I'M THE PLAGUE! Please go and look after him. I don't want to cause any more problem than I already have." I whispered clutching my heart.

It hurt.

She cupped my face and shook her head, "No baby, you're not. Please, come with me. You're turning paler by the second." she pleaded.

"Why does God hate me so much? Why is it always my fault? Why can't I be strong enough to protect the ones I love?" I nearly screamed.

Nearly.

Her facial expressions looked torn and she hugged me close to her chest.

"Its not your fault, babygirl. Its not. Please, come with me. I'm begging you, child." she begged and I stood up.

My heart hurts so bad but I still managed to keep my tears at bay.

My face hurts trying to control my tears and my vision became blurry as we reached an empty, small room.

My head fell back and body hit the floor as the last thing I saw was zia shouting for help.