Isla didn't wake up till the next day. Soft light filtered through tje curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Isla let out a loud yawn, her lashes fluttering before her eyes slowly opened. For a moment, she just lay there, still caught between sleep and wakefulness.
When she turned her head, Enzo's side of the bed was empty.
"Enzo?" she called softly.
No response.
She pushed herself up, tossing the blanket off her as she climbed out of the bed. Barefoot, she walked towards the door, rubbing her eyes lightly.
She found him downstairs at the dining table. He was already dressed and busily talking on the phone.
"Je te rappellerai," Enzo told the person on the phone and hung up immediately he saw Isla.
"You didn't wake me," she said softly.
His gaze completely softened.
"You were sleeping."
"You look like you're going somewhere," she said with a slight frown.
There was a small pause, then Enzo nodded.
"For a few days."
"For a few days? Why?" Isla pouted. Enzo leaned back slightly in his chair, studying her reaction.He hated that disappointed look on er face.
"Work." He simply said.
"You'll be gone long?" she asked quietly and Enzo exhaled slowly.
The trip was longer than he expected, longer than he was comfortable with because he already knew, he wouldn't like being away from her.
Not even a little.
"Don't worry. I'll still see you," he held her shoulders and pulled her towards a chair beside him.
"How?"
Enzo reached beside him and picked something up from the table. It was a sleek box. She looked down with curiousity as he opened it, revealing a brand new iPad.
Isla's eyes widened slightly.
"Woah....it's so pink and pretty," she said her voice filled with awe.
"It's for you."
Isla looked at him.
"For me?"
"Yes. So that you can call me anytime. Anytime."
Isla's lips parted. "Anytime?"
"Anytime."Enzo nodded.
Isla hesitated for a moment, then carefully touched it like it might disappear.
"So I can see you?"
Enzo nodded once.
"You won't have to miss me."
That made her smile widen and Enzo felt his heart beat faster watching her smile like that.
"And also..." Enzo added, because he wasn't done.
He took his phone and tapped a few times before turning the screen to her.
There were multiple frames, different angles, different rooms.
"Hey, that's the hallway," Isla yelled, pointing to the screen.
Enzo felt a small genuine smile form on his lips.
"Why do you have pictures of the house on your phone?" She asked him curiously.
"So I can see you all the time," Enzo didn't even hesitate.
"All the time?" Isla asked, processing what he said.
"Yes."
"So if I call you....you'll already be watching?"
"Kind of," Enzo's lips twitched slightly.
Isla looked at her new iPad, then at Enzo's phone
"Okay."
Just like that, she accepted it because in her head, it wasn't control. It meant he wouldn't really be gone and that was enough.
There was a short silence before Enzo spoke again.
"Don't go anywhere alone or without your iPad."
"Okay," Isla nodded.
"Answer when I call."
"Okay."
"If you need anything....."
"I'll call you," she finished softly.
"Good," Enzo nodded once.
"Boss,the car is ready," a voice interrupted their silence.
Enzo nodded once and the guard left immediately.
"I have one more thing," Enzo said as he stood up.
"Another thing?" there was a hint of curiosity in her soft voice.
"A surprise," Enzo nodded.
"What is it?" Isla asked, eagerly.
Enzo didn't answer, instead he glanced towards the entrance.
"Come in."
Isla turned her head and froze. A woman stepped in, older and familiar
"Lena," Isla yelled in excitement as she run towards the woman, hugging her tightly.
"Oh my baby..." Lena wrapped her arms around her just as tight. "Look at you." she murmured.
Ezno stood back and watched, without interrupting the moment.
"I thought you weren't coming back," Isla said, breaking the hug to look at Lena as if she couldn't really believe she was there.
"I'm here now," Lena smiled, cupping her face gently.
Isla nodded, grinning widely.
Then she turned to look at Enzo.
"You brough her here for me?"
Enzo held her gaze. "Yes."
"Thank you."
The happiness in her voice made Enzo's heart jump, so he didn't repond immediately.
Instead, he just nodded.
"She's staying till I get back," Enzo said, checking his watch.
"Thank you, I'm so happy."
"Listen to her," he said, his tone shifting slightly to being firm. "Don't make things difficult."
"Okay," Isla nodded obediently.
Enzo's gaze lingered on her for a second, then he turned and started walking out.
"Bye!" Isla yelled, behind him but he didn't stop because he knew if he looked at her one more time, he wasn't sure if he'd make his trip."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two days later
France.
The room was dimly lit and smelt of tobacco. Two men in expensive tailored suits sat around a polished table discussing contracts and expansions. These things usually held Enzo's undivided attention without effort.
But not today.
"Our profit margin will increase significantly if we move the diamond shipment by the end of the quarter. We'll make a profit of at least..."
He paused, his gaze shifting to Enzo.
"Mr. Marcelli?"
Enzo didn't respond because he hadn't heard a word. His body was present but his mind wasn't. He had his phone in his hand, screen dim but not off.
"Enzo," A slight tap on his shoulder pulled him back.
He slowly lifted his gaze to the man across him.
"Continue," His tone was flat, controlled as if he had been listening the whole time.
The man shot him a questioning look which only lasted for a second before talking.
But Enzo's attention slipped again, almost immediately.
Not to the deal the two men were talking about but somewhere else entirely.
Home.
The hallway.
He could see it clearly.
He saw the way her eyes darted around whenever she was walking around until she spotted it.
The hidden cameras. But not hidden enough.
Once she found them, her face would lit up immediately.
"Hi!" she would wave with the biggest smile.
Enzo's jaw tightened at the memory as he watched her sleep. Because that did something to him, something he had tried to ignore several.
"I'll need confirmation tomorrow. Send me all the necessary details," Enzo said his eyes fixed on his phone that just buzzed with a notification.
Camera 3: Motion detected.
There she was.
Isla.
Standing in the living room, wearing a pink pajamas covered with a cartoon character with ridiculously long yellow hair.
Her eyes had already found the camera.
They alwayd did.
She smiled widely and lifted her hand, waving happily like she knew he was currently watching.
Enzo felt his heart jump, something it had learnt to do since Isla came into his life. His fingers tightened around the phone slightly as he stared at her now being scolded by Lena.
A deep chuckled escaped his throat without before he could stop himself.
France disappeared.
The meeting didn't matter and the voiced faded into the background.
Across the table, the two men exchanged confused looks because the man who never lost focus was no longer in the room with them.
When the meeting finally ended, Enzo didn't wait. The two older men invited him to their club but he didn't even acknowledge them.
The hallway was quite because they were up in a private space. He took a private elevator which took him to the secret garage where his car was packed.
Stuff like these were common in his world. Most of their dealings were done in secret because if they didn't, they wouldn't last long.
Most of their dealings were illegal by nature and the law enforcement is constantly monitoring organized crime, which is why most of the crime bosses have legitimate businesses on the side.
Not to talk of the rivals who wouldn't miss an opportunity to sabotage operations in order to steal territories.
Enzo's phone was already in his hands as soon as he stepped out of the elevator.
He tapped the call button without hesitation.
She didn't let it ring twice.
"Hi!" her voice was immediate, soft and happy.
Enzo's step slowed slightly, his shoulders easing slightly as he let out a deep breath.
"Hi," the word felt foreign on his tongue but he liked it.
" Are you done working?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Was it boring? I can tell from you face."
Enzo chuckled, opening his car door.
"Yes."
She frowned a little, then pouted. "Did you miss me?"
The question came out so simple, so natural but what Enzo felt in his chest was far from natural.
He didn't answer immediately but his eyes never left the screen either.
"Yes." He answered truthfully, no deflection.
"I miss you very much too,"she said with a sad pout. " I waved at the camera today," she added, a smile replacing the earlier pout.
"I saw."
Her eyes lit up, her cheeks turning pink. " You did?"
Enzo nodded in response.
"But Lena said I shouldn't do that. She said not to bother you" she glanced briefly behind her as she said it.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Nothing," she shrugged. "Waiting."
"For what?" Enzo asked, suddenly alert.
"For you to call."
A small silence followed.
"I'll be back soon bunny," he said, his a faint smile threatening to reveal itself.
"I'll wait."