Page 451 of Savage Bosses

“Do you need me to come with you?” Taro asked.

“No, crazy. Nothing should happen to me here.”

I hope.Tati stepped away from the lively Farrina event, her feet aching in her heels. A maid directed her to the guest bathroom, a luxurious space adorned with gold fixtures and a wall-to-wall mirror above the sink.

The rich sure liked to show how rich they were. Tati handled her business in the bathroom, then moved to the sink, where she washed her hands, the warm water soothing against her skin. As she looked up into the mirror, she caught her reflection.

She smoothed her hair down that was beginning to curl thanks to the heat, causing her to sweat out her perfectly laid edges. A sigh escaped her lips when she saw Melinda's reflection entering the bathroom, her presence like a sharp thorn in Tati's side.

"Ugh, that dress," Melinda complained, glaring at Tati through the mirror. "You should be dressed like the help instead of prancing around here like you belong."

Tati offered a tight-lipped smile, refusing to let Melinda's words get to her. She focused on adjusting her hair, each strand carefully placed to frame her face.

"Even all dolled up, you're still just here to serve me and my friends," Melinda sneered, eyeing Tati's attire with disdain. "I can't believe you got so dressed up just to cater to us." She reached out, her fingers grazing Tati's hair.

The instant Melinda's fingers touched her hair, Tati's anger flared. She whirled around and grabbed Melinda's hand, pushing it back as she slammed her rival into the mirror with enough force to make it crack.

Melinda's eyes widened in shock, but before she could utter a single word, Tati wrapped her free hand around the woman’s throat and squeezed.

"Think you're so damn untouchable, huh?" Tati hissed through gritted teeth. "Well, I'm touching you. And there's no one here to stop me."

Melinda clawed at Tati's hand, gasping for air as her face began to redden. As Tati watched her struggle, memories surged through her mind, taking her back to that night that changed everything.

In vivid detail, she remembered the night Marco had attacked her, and how Bryce had come to her rescue. The terror she'd felt that night still lingered deep within her. Sometimes, she could still feel his hands on her and hear his voice in her ear. In the days following the attack, she'd been too scared to leave her home, only finding solace when she learned of Marco's death.

And then there was Melinda. That fateful meeting over coffee had set in motion the chain of events that led to Tati fleeing the country, leaving behind everything she knew and loved. A faint tap on Tati's arm pulled her from the whirlwind of memories, forcing her back to the present. She released Melinda, stepping back as the woman dropped to the floor, gasping for air and clutching her throat.

“You’re crazy,” Melinda gasped.

"Talk shit all you want," Tati spat. "But don't ever touch my hair again."

Melinda's eyes narrowed, but the fear still lingered behind her gaze. Tati turned to leave the bathroom, but Melinda's voice stopped her.

"Just leave," Melinda whispered, her voice hoarse from Tati's grip. "Leave the country again, and everything will be alright. You have that guy with you. You've got a mom who loves you. Leave Bryce to us."

"Us?" Tati asked, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Who is us? The Farrina family?"

Melinda's eyes widened, and for a brief moment, Tati saw something like fear flicker across her face. She swallowed hard before speaking again.

"Just go," Melinda pleaded. "Go far away. And don't let him ever find you. Please."

Tati studied Melinda for a moment, taking in the desperation etched on her features. This wasn't just about Bryce anymore; this was something bigger, something that made even the spoiled Melinda Farrina quiver with anxiety. Tati didn't feel sorry for her at all.

"Be quiet. Your privilege is showing. You can't always get what you want, princess." Tati chuckled and left the bathroom.

Returning to the event, she couldn't shake Melinda's words about leaving Bryce to the Farrina family. Was the Farrina family obsessed with him? Or was there something more going on? Later, after the event wrapped up, Taro drove Tati to the Cattaneo Cafe to return some items from the brunch event, like the chocolate waterfall and a few other things.

They made a few trips from his car to the restaurant before they were done unloading everything. They placed the items on the kitchen counter, the clink of metal echoing softly through the empty space.

"Staff will sort this mess tomorrow," Tati stated.

"Sounds good." Taro nodded as they exited the restaurant together.

Standing by the door, Tati fiddled with the keys, trying to find the right one in the darkness.Found it.With a final click, Tati secured the door and stood beside Taro. As if on cue, two cars screeched to a halt in front of the restaurant, their headlights casting menacing shadows on the pavement. Six masked men hopped out of the vehicles.

"Get back inside! Now!" Taro shouted as he swiftly drew his weapon and began firing at the approaching assailants.

Tati's heart raced as she fumbled with the lock again, her fingers trembling from adrenaline. The door swung open, and she darted inside, making a beeline for the kitchen. The bell above the entrance chimed, signaling that someone had followed her in.

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