My pulse shot to an abnormal rate. I tried to read his eyes as I collected the slip from him, but it was completely neutral.
It was almost hooded, and that sent shivers down my spine.
"T-Thank you," I muttered in a barely audible voice as he led me down the hallways.
He said nothing.
"You know, if you'll be my personal bodyguard for the next couple of days, I'd have to know your name," I mumbled, lost in thoughts.
His face was gard as he stared ahead for a long moment before answering, "Ricci."
I forced a smile. If I was going to be stuck with this man for who-knows-how-long, I'd have to at least talk to him and try to dig up some things he might now. He was connected to Ivanov after all, and Ivanov appeared to be an important person in this mission for the time being.
"Nice to meet you, Ricci. I'm Marta. Why have I not seen you around the mansion for a while?"
He face seemed to grow distressed by the second. It was almost as though he would rather be anywhere where and do anything but be with me or talk to me.
"I work underground," he stated in a dismissive tone. With that, he pulled open the door of my room and almost threw me in.
I forced a smile on his direction before slamming the door.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips. I always thought Luca was a smart person, but his decision to make his mole my guard had me thinking twice.
Ricci just got under my skin. Since the time I caught him at the ball, being inches away from him made my hair stand on their ends. The fact that Luca had not even found him out meant that he was probably really good at hiding his tracks.
After undressing, I sat on the ground in the closet to read the message Trevor had passed to me.
Ricci didn't look like he had opened the letter. At least, his body language had not revealed that he did.
I couldn't even imagine what would have happened if he had.
'I need all intel you've got between now and six pm tomorrow. East Qing.'
I wiped a dot of sweat off my brows and headed to the box under my bed, where I stacked all evidence I had gotten from Luca out of sight.
My heart sunk at the thought of the lost recording device but soon leapt for joy. I caught sight of the now arranged dresses hanging in my wardrobe and quickly ransacked it.
There, in the very dress that Luca had locked me up with for days, I recovered the recording device. I covered my mouth to muffle the joyful scream that threatened to escape my lips. Finally!
Now, I could show that I wasn't just a junior, immature, good-for-nothing agent.
Wrapping it in a piece of cloth, I shoved it into the box.
Just as I stepped out of the closet, I almost jumped out of my skin to see Sofia standing just outside the door.
A roller coaster of emotions swirled across her face as she stared at me, including some that made me wonder.
"Sophia!" I broke the awkward silence. "I never thought I'd see you again." I stated honestly.
She shrugged, her head bowed. "I brought you some treats, ma'am." She nodded in the direction of a tray lying on a food cart.
I stared at her in confusion. "Oh. But I just had breakfast."
She shrugged. "It's to tender my apology. I shouldn't have gotten so frightened and left you without an explanation. I'm sorry, ma'am."
Her words sent a thrill of relief down my spine and, strangely, something more.
"It's fine, Sophia. I can only imagine that working for Luca has more downsides that up. I don't expect to see everyone so happy."
She sniffled and trudged closer to me. I paused for a moment as she stared into my eyes. But when she pulled me in for a hug, I sighed and patted her back.
I guessed everyone was going through a lot.
We spent the next thirty minutes talking about various things, making me realise just how much I had missed her. I noticed how hard she avoided the topic of Luca or anything that had to do with him. She only asked about my stay and how I was doing.
"Enough about me. Let's talk about Sophia," I teased.
She froze, a tiny movement that was almost invisible, but I saw it. "There's not much to know about me. I'm just a maid to the don." She stared at her nails like they were the most fascinating things on the planet.
I shook my head, turning her face back to me. "That's all you keep telling me, but I refuse to believe that that's all about you. You're more than just a maid. How did you end up with Luca?" I pressed.
She shifted uncomfortably, looking like she was arguing with herself, before releasing a defeated sigh. "I was born a maid to Luca." She vaguely mumbled.
My brows furrowed on their own accord. "I don't understand."
She took a deep, long breath. "My grandparents were loyal servants to Luca's grandparents, and since then, it's just been the destiny of every of the children born into my family to be a servant."
My heart broke for her. She looked so hopeless and defeated, and her eyes were moist with unshed tears.
At a loss for words, I pulled her into a hug, and she sobbed into my shoulders. We remained still for a long moment.
When she pulled away, her eyes were red and puffy, but she had a small smile on. "You know, no one had ever asked me about myself before. I feel so honoured. Thank you, ma'am."
I sighed and rolled my eyes in feigned annoyance. "It's Marta."
She chuckled, a soft sound that was almost so beautiful. "Thank you, Marta."
Eyeing the baked treats on the tray, I stretched one to her and took one for myself. "Have a cookie. It works like magic to make you happy."
She let out a small, cracked chuckle. "I made them for you. Why should I take my gift back from you?"
I smiled, staring at her. It was so nice to see her actually free. She looked beautiful. In other circumstances, I'd have loved her to be my best friend.
I rolled my eyes. "I insist!"
After staring for a long while, she finally sighed, her shoulders slumping in fake defeat. "If you say so!"
But she had barely picked up the cookie when the door flew open. My eyes widened at the sight of who it was..