“I’ve already told my bodyguards to move your things to my mansion,” Enzo said as the Maybach sped through the silent streets.

I blinked. “How do you even know where I lived?”

His arrogant gaze met mine. “I’m one of the richest CEOs in Venice. Information gets to me in minutes. I have people for that.”

I stared out the window, quietly seething.

“I was surprised though,” he added, voice tinged with concern. “What happened to your estate house?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” I said, dryly. “Your bank took it. Collateral for debts my mother couldn’t pay.”

A smirk tugged at his lips. “Bet you regret turning me down five years ago.”

Fury blazed through me. “Never. You had dreams, big, wild ones, but no money. I was supposed to be your sponsor, not your partner. You didn’t love me. You were a dream I couldn’t afford.”

His expression darkened. “And now you’re a debt I’ll collect.”

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palm, but said nothing.

---

“This will be your room,” he said.

It was gorgeous; walk-in closet, marble bathroom, floor-to-ceiling windows. But it felt like a cage.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

I showered, changed, and headed downstairs, stomach rumbling. The doorbell rang just as I reached the kitchen.

I opened it.

Verena Gonzales.

The gala speaker. The one who’d barely looked at me then. She eyed me like I was dirt, then pushed past.

“I see you’ve settled in nicely,” she said, throwing her designer tote at me. “Take this to my room.”

What? I blinked. She lived here?

She scoffed. “Why are you staring like that? Are you deaf ?”

I threw her bag to the floor. I wasn't going to take insults from this strange woman. “Who do you think you are, barking orders at me like I’m your maid?”

“Because she is,” Enzo chimed in as he descended from the stairs.

They kissed, right there in front of me.

“Babe,” she moaned.

“You had a long day?” he asked, cupping her cheeks.

“Yes. I’m starving.” She looked at me like I was invisible. “Make us omelets and mashed potatoes. Bring it to our room.”

Our room?

Enzo looked at me, his eyes cold. “Pick up her bag.”

I dropped to the floor before I could stop myself, muttering, “Sorry.”

“How long will she be staying here?” Her face screwed in disdain.

“Six months. And for that six months she's more or less your maid.” He replied.

Her smile was vicious. “So she’s more slave than wife, huh?”

“This is Verena, my actual fiancée,” he announced, looking at me, “the woman I’ll marry after our six-month contract ends.”

Then he faced her. “Verena meet Nerissa, our ticket to owning the Fabonacci Dynasty.” He said in a derisive tone.

“The board are extraordinarily pleased with this particular conquest.” An inky smile spread across her thin lips as she gave me a condescending scan from head to toe.

“Great,” she beamed. “I was looking for a P.A. Can you cook?”

I nodded stiffly.

“Perfect. Go drop my bag. Then cook.”

They walked off, laughing, while I stood rooted in place.

How had my life become this?

I made their food in silence, hands trembling. When I brought it up, their voices were low and suspicious, drifting through the door.

“…already told the police to drop the investigation into her mother’s accident,” Enzo was saying.

“We don’t want her finding out you were involved,” Verena replied.

I knocked, heart hammering.

“Come in,” she said sweetly.

I walked in with the tray, keeping my face neutral.

“Enzo… I need permission to do something,” I said, bowing slightly.

He frowned. “What did you just call me?”

Panic gripped me. “Sorry, sir. I meant sir.”

He chuckled darkly. “What do you want?”

“I want to see my mom in the hospital. I know it's late but you can send a bodyguard.”

A shadow crossed his face. “Fine.”

---

A quiet peace washed over me as I saw my mother lying peacefully in the ward. Her features were mangled by the accident but the surgery saved her life and I was so thankful.

However the calm I felt inside was stripped away when the doctor called me aside.

“Well as you can see, the surgery was successful.” His voice was complacent but the apprehensive look on his face made my heart replace. “However, it does not end here. For your mother to fully recover, she'd have to go into an extensive therapy, so she can be able to walk and talk again.

My heart was thudding in my chest so hard, my ears started to sing.

I thought the worst was over.

He dropped the bombshell. “It's going to be a very expensive treatment and will span six months.”

I closed my eyes and let it sink in. My plan was that if she recovered, we could both work out the money for her surgery and pay Enzo off. But now she would be immobilized for the entire six months and I would still incur more debts in his hands.

“Doctor…” words failed me.

He looked square in my eyes. “ This treatment is urgent of you want her to recuperate soonest and should not be in anyway prolonged.”

“Oh God.” I groaned inwardly. This contract was only the beginning of my debt. I was with my mother throughout the night, unable to sleep as thoughts filled my head.

……

The next morning, a bodyguard shook me awake.

“Lord Caprero wants you prepped for the Fabonacci board brunch at ten.”

What?

I dragged myself up. Christ. I haven't even recovered from last night's trauma and yet another meeting? Was this what being a wife of a billionaire entailed?

Two hours later, I arrived at the tallest building in Venice: Titan Tower. My heels clicked against the floor as I stood frozen in front of the meeting room. I couldn’t see Enzo.

I was about to leave when—

“Hey,” a voice whispered in my ear.

I jumped.

Zayn.

He steadied me. “You looked like you were about to faint. Let me walk you in.”

“I can handle myself, Zayn,” I said, jaw tight.

His eyes sparked with fury. “This games you're playing I can never understand it. You played me to play him and now you're suddenly back to him.”

“Let go of her!” Enzo’s voice boomed through the space. The elevator had just dinged open and he was standing in it, with Verena on his heels.

Zayn didn’t flinch. “See you later, Nerissa,” he whispered.

Enzo reached me in a heartbeat . “What was that?”

I smirked. “Jealous much?”

He stepped closer. “I don’t like people touching my property. And that’s what you are now.”

That word, property, made my smile crash.

Verena laughed behind him. I brushed past them.

“I need the restroom,” I muttered.

Inside, I splashed water on my face. Footsteps echoed in. I slipped into a stall. Someone slammed their handbag on the sink.

“That girl is a threat,” Verena hissed.

“You’re overthinking it,” said another, older voice.

Verena's voice pitched with urgency. “I'm not letting her wear that ring and take the Fabonacci name like it means nothing. Mom, you promised me the seat next to him when he becomes the MD of Fabonacci Dynasty.”

“Nothing has changed Verena.”

“What if he falls in love with her again?”

The reply was fierce. “Then you win him back. By any means necessary.”