After they finished their meal, Emily leaned back in her chair, satisfied.
"If I keep eating like this, I'm going to need a new diet when I get home," she joked, lightly stroking her stomach.
Matthew laughed, taking her hand.
"You're perfect just the way you are. Besides, you deserve to pamper yourself a little after everything that happened."
She smiled, touched by his affection, but she noticed that there was something different in Matthew's gaze. There was a mix of concern and determination that she couldn't quite decipher.
"Matthew... is everything really okay?" she asked, squeezing his hand lightly.
He hesitated for a second before nodding.
"Yes. I'm just thinking about how to keep you safe. I don't want anything like that to happen again."
Emily sighed, understanding the seriousness in his tone.
"I trust you. I know you'll do whatever it takes."
Matthew leaned over and kissed her softly on the forehead.
"Always, love."
A little while later, the couple decided to explore the mansion's surroundings a little more. Matthew suggested a stroll through the extensive garden, and Emily readily accepted, wanting to clear her head.
As they walked among the trees and decorative fountains, Emily commented,
"You really spared no effort in this mansion. It's like a piece of paradise."
"Only the best for my wife," he replied with a smile.
"It still sounds so surreal to hear you call me that... wife," Emily said, chuckling softly.
Matthew paused for a moment, holding her hands.
"You shouldn't. You're the woman of my life, Emily. Always have been and always will be."
She blushed, looking away for a moment before smiling.
The two continued walking, enjoying the moment of tranquility. However, while they were talking, Matthew felt his cell phone vibrate in his pocket again. He hesitated before quickly checking the message, realizing it was an update from his men about Emily's captor.
Without her noticing, he typed a short reply: "Move forward with the plan. I want more details in an hour."
Putting his phone away, he turned his attention back to Emily. They walked along paths decorated with exotic flowers and marble sculptures. The sun was already beginning to set, dyeing the sky orange as the two talked about the future. Emily seemed relaxed.
After a while, they decided to return to the mansion. Emily suggested they rest a little before dinner, but Matthew was restless. As soon as Emily went up to her room, he went to the office he had set up in the mansion. The room was spacious, with a large solid wood desk, shelves full of books, and a window that offered a stunning view of the garden.
Matthew called one of his men who was responsible for coordinating the capture of the man who attacked Emily.
"What's the situation?" Matthew asked, his voice firm.
"Sir, we've captured him. He's in custody in a secure location. We're awaiting your orders for the next steps."
Matthew took a deep breath, trying to contain the anger that was building in his chest.
"I want you to question him. Find out who sent him and why. This kind of thing doesn't happen without a reason."
"Understood, sir. We'll keep you updated," Henry replied before ending the call.
Matthew looked out the window, his hands resting on the table.
A little while later, Matthew went upstairs to find Emily. She was already ready for dinner, wearing a casual dress that highlighted her natural beauty. He admired her for a moment before approaching and kissing her on the forehead.
"Ready for dinner, my love?" he asked, offering his arm.
"Anytime, as long as it's with you," she replied with a warm smile.
Dinner was served in an elegant dining room, with a table decorated with candles and flowers. Emily seemed excited, talking about her career plans and how she wanted to use her time in Florence to explore new roles.
"I'm thinking about accepting a script I recently received. It's a psychological drama, something completely different from anything I've done before," she explained.
Matthew listened to her attentively, admiring her passion for the profession.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, I'm sure you'll rock it, as always," he said, taking her hand.
"Thanks, Mat," she replied, squeezing his hand lightly.
After dinner, Matthew received another message, "the man doesn't want to talk."
Matthew raised an eyebrow, intrigued, before sending a text on his cell phone: "Hold on, I'll come over in person."
Turning to Emily, he casually commented, "I need to go out for a moment, love."
Emily raised an eyebrow, smirking, "And are you by any chance meeting another woman?"
The provocation took Matthew by surprise. He choked on his wine, coughing.
"W-what? Of course not!"
She laughed, clearly amused by his reaction. "Okay, go now, but come back quickly."
Matthew smiled with relief before approaching her and gently kissing her forehead.
"I promise you won't even notice I'm gone."
Emily waved, still laughing, as Matthew grabbed his keys and walked towards the mansion's door.
On the way, Matthew called his team.
"I'm on my way. Prepare the interrogation room."
He arrived at a discreet building, far from the city, surrounded by armed security guards. As soon as he rolled down the car window, two men at the entrance recognized him and allowed him to pass.
Inside the building, the elevator was silent, except for Matthew's casual whistling as it went up. When he reached the designated floor, he was greeted by Henry, the security guard responsible for rescuing Emily during the attack.
"Is everything ready?" Matthew asked, adjusting his jacket.
"Yes, boss," Henry replied, handing him a tablet.
"Any news on the man?" Matthew asked, studying Henry's face.
Henry began to present the information while Matthew examined the tablet.
"His name is Daniel Salvatore, 42 years old, technology technician. We discovered that, in the last three months, he has been absent from work regularly. In addition, the places he frequented coincide with events and places Emily has been."
Matthew frowned, absorbing the details.
"Anything else?"
Henry nodded, sliding to a folder with social media screenshots.
"We found his profile. He commented on almost all of Emily's public posts in the last few months. In addition, he arrived in Florence two days before she was attacked and was seen near the hotel where the production is staying."
"Obsession? Or something else?" Matthew murmured, handing back the tablet.
"We need to know why he attacked her."
Henry nodded, opening the door to the interrogation room.
"The rest is up to you, sir."
Upon entering, Matthew saw Daniel handcuffed to the chair. The man was bald, a little overweight, with a smug look that didn't match the situation. As soon as Matthew entered, Daniel gave him a sarcastic smile.
"Good evening, Daniel," Matthew said, his tone cool and controlled. "I hope you're comfortable."
Daniel scoffed.
"Well, Mr. Lancaster. It's not every day I get questioned by someone so powerful."
Matthew arched an eyebrow, but didn't let himself be fazed.
"So you know me. Good. That'll save you time."
He sat down across from Daniel, adjusting his watch before asking, "Why have you been following Emily?"
Daniel didn't answer, just kept his insolent smile.
Matthew sighed and waved at Henry, who was watching from outside. The security guard came in, positioning himself next to Daniel.
"I'll ask again," Matthew said calmly. "Why have you been following Emily?"
When the silence remained, Matthew simply made a subtle gesture. The security guard punched Daniel hard in the face, making him almost fall out of his chair. He spat blood, along with a tooth, but still laughed, as if it were all a joke.
"Do you think violence will make me talk?" he mocked.
Matthew crossed his arms, expressionless, and motioned for another blow. This time, the impact was so strong that Daniel fell to the ground. He tried to get up, but he was dazed.
"Last chance, Daniel," Matthew warned, his patience running out.
Still, the man remained stubborn.
Matthew gestured to Henry, who entered the room with a small device. He attached the device to Daniel's neck, squeezing it tightly. Henry then handed Matthew a remote.
"This device is designed to convince you to cooperate," Matthew explained, with a slight tone of sarcasm. "Now, I'll ask you one more time: why are you following Emily?"
"Do you think this will change anything?" Daniel teased, between painful laughs.
Matthew took a deep breath, controlling his anger. He looked at Henry and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Outside, Matthew watched Daniel through the glass.
"Keep him, but I want answers by dawn. Use any means necessary."
Henry nodded.
"Consider psychological reinforcement, sir?"
Matthew thought for a moment.
"Yes. Bring the specialized team. He will talk."
While Henry organized the next steps, Matthew sent a discreet message to a trusted contact in the technology area. He wanted them to investigate Daniel's digital connections in depth, from financial transactions to recent communications.
Back in the car, Matthew relaxed for a moment before driving back to the mansion.
When he arrived, the bedroom light was still on. He entered quietly, finding Emily sitting on the bed with a book in her hands. She looked at him and smiled.
"You took your time. Got it?" she asked, putting the book aside.
Matthew forced a smile, sitting down next to her.
"Almost. Just a company issue."
Emily tilted her head, studying him.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
He stroked her face, looking into her eyes.
"You always will be."
She smiled softly, but she knew there was something he wasn't telling her. Still, she chose not to press.
As Emily turned out the lights and settled into bed, Matthew lay awake, watching her.