ONE MONTH LATER...
As the first golden leaves of autumn began to drift lazily from the trees, marking a month since the day everything changed, the world around me seemed to have moved on in its usual, unremarkable rhythm.
The sun still rose and set, the streets buzzed with the usual clamor of city life, and people went about their daily routines, oblivious to the profound shift that had occurred in my life.
Inside, however, time seemed to have fractured, each day stretching out endlessly as I grappled with the reality of my new life.
Aurelio's voice echoed through the office, breaking through my thoughts.
"Belle, the papers!" His words jolted me back to reality.
I stood at my desk, separated from him by just a glass partition. Through it, I could see his hazel eyes fixed on me, piercing through the glass as he observed me typing on my cell phone.
But I wasn't his assistant, so I retorted, "Come and get them yourself!"
I remained comfortably seated, unwilling to budge. One thing that hadn't changed between us was this cat-and-mouse game of coexisting and yet hating each other, while simultaneously maintaining our friendship, tethered together by an unspoken bond.
I watched as he stormed toward me, his expression determined. As he reached my desk, he snatched the papers from my hand with a growl.
"You're the worst assistant ever," he grumbled.
"I'm your consigliere, not your errand girl," I shot back, my tone sharp.
He loomed over me, a glint of mischief in his hazel eyes.
"Sometimes, I just wish I could snap you out of it," he said, his hands mimicking the action, a half-grin on his face.
Over the past month, his hair had grown slightly, and he now preferred to keep it in a bun at the back of his head, with the sides almost shaved. He wasn't bad to look at, and I often wondered why he was still single. Perhaps it was for the same reason as Apollo and me; destined to be together, but fate decided to test us a little longer before we found our paths converging.
Although numbers were never my forte, at least I was organized. In just a month, I had absorbed all the secrets of Aurelio's club operations, and it went well for me as I managed it along with everything else, including the secret stashes of vodka behind the bar.
This always brought a smile to my lips, as it explained why all mafia bosses preferred whiskey – they'd replace vodka with water, betting that no one in their drunken state would notice.
It was a clever, if slightly amusing, strategy.
Yet, day by day, my thoughts always lingered on Apollo. I hadn't heard from him since the night he was shot. I kept calling Elena, asking about his memory, and hoping for better news, but our conversations never ended well. All she said was that he still hadn't married Sabrina, and on the rare occasions when he let his guard down, usually under the influence of alcohol, he'd mention my name.
I still hoped, deep in my heart, that this was all just a test, and that one day it would all be revealed as a bad dream.
Aurelio stood up, his smile spreading across his lips as he held up the paper, I had given him.
"I could kiss you right now," he exclaimed.
"Look at these numbers!" he said, slapping the paper with his hand.
"I know, I was the one who crunched them," I retorted, feigning annoyance.
He paused, rubbing his nose, irritated by my behavior.
"Remind me why you're still here?" he asked suddenly.
"You had a crush on me in high school," I said, laughing at him.
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.
"No, Belle," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe I still do."
His confession hung heavily between us. He was so close I could smell his expensive cologne of lime and basil, but I rolled a chair back, maintaining my distance.
"Well, I'm not available," I said firmly. "I am still married."
His smile was tinged with sadness.
"To a guy who doesn't remember you," he echoed softly.
"Ouch," I muttered, feeling a sting at his words. "Asshole."
He raised his brow and walked away to his table. I could swear he showed me a middle finger while walking away, but it could have been my mind playing a twisted hate game.
The phone's ring sliced through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present. Aurelio insisted on old-fashioned phones that still had numbers in circles and cables that could stretch across the office.
They used untraceable lines, and only I answered to them, which was funny as I used it only to speak with Frank, Apollo's consigliere. He didn't know I was his wife, let alone that he didn't remember who I was. He always thought I had an annoying crush on the Beast of New York, and he promised me to let me know when the Beast would be ready for visitations.
And to my luck, this was one of those calls.
"Belle," he greeted me, his tone serious, "The boss is hosting a dinner tonight."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Why now?" I asked, trying to mask the sudden anxiety in my voice.
"It's about an engagement," he said, and my heart sank.
"Is everyone invited?" I pressed, struggling to keep my composure.
"Everyone except Giovanni," Frank replied. "We can't risk him spoiling the evening."
Giovanni, still very much alive despite our best efforts, was like a dark shadow looming over us all. But lately, they just saw him as a clown, not inciting him for important evenings and meetings, which only fueled his anger more. But we didn't mind at all, as he didn't dare to touch us.
"Understood," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "We'll be there."
Hanging up, I got up and walked towards Aurelio's desk. He sat down, and as I walked, he followed me with his hazel eyes. I sat at the table, locking my eyes with his.
"Frank called. We're invited to a dinner at Apollo's tonight."
Aurelio's expression remained stern, but there was a glint of concern in his eyes.
"We can't go," he repeated firmly.
"But we must," I insisted, my voice unwavering. "It's time, and you know it."
He sighed heavily, his frown deepening.
"No one knows you're my consigliere, Belle. They don't even know you're Apollo's wife, let alone the most wanted woman by five crime families, well, four if you don't count mine."
"Yes, I'm aware," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "But I'm willing to risk it all to see him."
Aurelio studied me for a long moment, his gaze searching mine for any sign of hesitation or doubt.
Finally, he nodded, albeit reluctantly.
"Alright, we'll go. But if you try something funny, you will spend your night locked in the car, understood?"
I nodded eagerly, feeling a surge of excitement mixed with nervousness coursing through me as I stood up and walked out of the office. The prospect of seeing Apollo again, of potentially breaking through the barrier of his amnesia, filled me with both hope and apprehension. But I was determined to take the chance, no matter the risks.
***
The night was slowly descending, yet my excitement still hung in the air. I was unaware of the butterflies in my gut until thoughts of Apollo made them dance, instantly raising my body temperature by thirty degrees.
He had a way of making me simmer with desire, my longing for him consuming my entire being.
I carefully selected the perfect dress and heels for the evening. Clad in a floor-length red dress that left my chest bare, it clung tightly to my curves with elegant precision.
Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, a rare sense of contentment washed over me. For a prolonged moment, I managed to escape my past, suppressing the darkness and rediscovering beauty in the little things, despite the struggle to hold back tears.
A smile graced my face as I applied a coat of red lipstick, smacked my lips, and fashioned my hair into a perfect bun with a few strands falling gracefully.
I felt genuinely beautiful.
Aurelio entered the room, his recent habit of neglecting to knock apparent. Leaning against the doorframe, he scrutinized my appearance. As I spun around, I inquired, "What do you think?"
"You look amazing," he replied, a chuckle escaping, "though it might be a bit much."
I turned to him, perplexed. "What do you mean?"
"It's just a dinner, Belle," he explained. "You might want to tone it down a bit."
Raising an eyebrow, I half-smiled. "So, you're suggesting a suit instead?"
He chuckled, resting his fist on his jaw as he circled around me. "All black would do."
In mock frustration, I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him, watching as it bounced off him and landed on the floor.
With a laugh, he exited the room, leaving me to change.
Entering the closet, I retrieved a black suit. As I removed the dress and donned the suit, I left on the red lipstick as a testament to the defiance of who I wished to be.
Once ready, I made my way outside.
Aurelio awaited me in the hallway, holding a yellow envelope containing documents.
"Deliver these to Frank tonight," he instructed.
I silently nodded in agreement.
"The family will likely gather in the main dining room, while the consiglieres convene in the library," he continued. "I understand your eagerness to meet Apollo tonight, but perhaps you'll have better luck after dinner."
"No," I retorted sharply, "I need to see him."
"Belle, he doesn't remember who you are," Aurelio reminded me.
"You're right, but I still want to see him," I insisted.
"It amazes me how you're willing to jeopardize everything just for a moment with him," he said, frustration evident in his voice.
"I must," I declared firmly. "He means a lot to me."
"If you fall this time, I won't extend my hand," he warned, his tone tinged with anger.
"I never asked for your protection," I countered.
"You're such a brat," he said tersely.
"And you're such an asshole," I echoed, stepping outside.
"Belle, my only wish is to prevent you from getting hurt," he expressed with concern.
"I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself," I asserted confidently.
***
In front of Apollo's villa, a line of cars stood parked, signaling the gathering of all five families from New York tonight. As the car door opened, Ivan and Boris approached, dressed in black suits.
"Donna, we'll stay close for safety," Ivan assured me, while Boris gave me a silent nod.
"Aren't we all like 'men in black'," I said, turning to Aurelio, eliciting a chuckle from him as he moved ahead of us.
Entering the villa, the familiar hallways tugged at my heartstrings, reminding me that it had been a month since I last walked them with Apollo, who now didn't even remember those moments.
I missed it all, and with each passing second, my heart raced at the thought of us being under the same roof, uncertain if I'd even catch a glimpse of him.
The unfamiliar faces among the staff left me wondering if Jimmy would be present and why he hadn't informed Apollo. I longed for his advice; his words still held a special place in my heart.
A new maid escorted me to the library, where, fortunately, there were no other people—just rows of old-fashioned books and tales waiting to be explored. I couldn't help but wonder if one day I would write my own story.
A smile graced my lips as I settled into a chair. I used to like to say that my world belonged to books, that my home was inside every book I read.
It felt like I had lived thousands of lives before even starting to live mine. But lately, even my own life was hard to read, so I just gave up, hoping I would rediscover my world again.
Standing up again, I ran my fingers along the bookshelf until I found a thick tome with brown covers.
Suddenly, my breath quickened as I heard a familiar voice outside the door—Apollo, engaged in an argument with someone. His footsteps grew louder as he approached the door.
The butterflies in my gut were replaced by a thousand knives as the fear of seeing him again rushed through me.
'What would I even say to him? Would he recognize me?'
Thousands of thoughts raced through my mind, and just as the door was about to open, he stopped, closed the door, and walked away.
The book slipped from my grasp, falling to the floor, as I hurried toward the door in the hope of catching even a glimpse of him walking away.
But the moment I opened the door, no one was there.
"Am I losing my mind?" I asked myself.