Page 73 of Stolen By the Enemy

I like the activities that we’ve been taking part in together, but I’m not sure that all of the sex we are sharing is giving Grazia the best message.

I look back at the piece of paper in front of me, realizing that I’m getting distracted and worrying about things that I don’t need to worry about just yet.

***

I watch Grazia’s lips moving as she’s describing her ideas.

We’ve spent several hours going over the plan I came up with, but when she gets an idea, she has this odd little move she does with her bottom lip.

It’s both alluring and fascinating, and the later it gets, and the more I drink, the more I find myself staring at it.

“My darling Grazia you are a genius.” I kiss her lips and she smiles.

This is exactly why I feel like this woman could be my perfect match. As innocent as her eyes look, she’s got a fire behind them.

And her mind has been shaped watching her family do business for her entire life.

She might not need to deal with any of the dirty work, but she’s showing me now that she would be fully capable if she needed to.

We’ve spoken a lot about her grandmother, who was a strong and powerful woman, and I can see that this has been passed on to Grazia.

This new plan was brilliant before I came here, but she has only helped me make it better by closing up loopholes and creating contingency plans in case things don’t go to plan.

I can’t help but think about how my planning would have gone if she wasn’t here to help.

I’ve always prided myself on my plans being watertight, but maybe they never really were.

Maybe I’ve just been lucky.

"You've got a flair for this, Grazia," I admit, genuinely impressed. "I didn’t realize how well we complement each other in the business arena." I look down at the plans, my handwriting next to hers, and then back up to her.

Her laughter fills the room, a sound that brings positivity and joy to the atmosphere. "Maybe we've been too focused on what could tear us apart instead of what could bring us together."

I agree with her and fetch us more wine.

I can’t tell how much we’ve had, but there’s been food consumed alongside it so neither of us is very drunk.

And the ideas are flowing with the alcohol, so I’m all for drinking some more.

Grazia has enjoyed some wine but is not drinking as fast as she was last night, which I am glad about.

We continue to go over the plan and lay out a business proposal for the following year—because having trade routes is useless if you don’t know what to do with them.

While we go over the plan, I think about Carlos. He’s my only family, and this new deal is going to run a lot of his men off the road.

He might eventually forgive me for it, but it will take a while. I have to be sure, before I make my first move, that I am willing to give up the only family I have, just for money.

If you had asked me that question a couple of weeks ago, I would have said I was, no question.

But having Grazia here has shown me a different side of life, and taught me that I don’t necessarily need to be a cold and heartless person to become a success.

Although with everything on the line now, I’m not about to become a big softy either.

I will hold on to my territories, and make sure that no one comes to take them from me.

***

I’m not sure how Grazia is still going. She’s been awake all night and she looks like this is just a normal day for her.

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