I tried to push past Sophia, but she was too strong. She grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin.
"Let me go," I demanded, trying to shake her off.
Sophia just laughed. "You're not going anywhere until you hear the truth," she said.
I struggled against her, but she was too powerful. She dragged me back into the room, slamming the door shut behind us.
As I stumbled backwards, I saw the photographs on the wall again. Rico and his business partner. Rico and me.
Suddenly, it all clicked into place. The secrets, the lies, the danger.
"Rico is involved in something big, isn't he?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Sophia nodded, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Yes, he is," she said. "And you're right in the middle of it."
I felt a wave of fear wash over me. What had I gotten myself into?
As Sophia began to explain, I realized that Rico's business dealings were far more complicated than I had ever imagined.
"He's involved in a massive money-laundering scheme," Sophia said, her voice dripping with malice. "And you're the perfect pawn in his game."
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Rico, the man I thought I knew, was involved in something illegal?
As Sophia's words hung in the air, I knew I had to get out of there. I had to confront Rico and demand the truth.
But as I turned to leave, Sophia's eyes locked onto mine. "You're not going anywhere," she said. "Not until you've seen the evidence."
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But Sophia's words were like a challenge. I had to see the evidence for myself.
As Sophia led me to a computer, I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me. What was I about to see?
The computer screen flickered to life, and I saw a series of documents and photographs. Documents that implicated Rico in the money-laundering scheme.
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. It was all true. Rico was involved in something illegal.
As I looked at Sophia, I saw a sly smile spreading across her face. "Now you know the truth," she said.
But as I turned to leave, I realized that I wasn't alone. Rico was standing in the doorway, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Vivienne, what's going on?" he demanded.
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "I know the truth," I said. "I know what you're involved in."
Rico's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing into slits. "You don't know anything," he said.
But I stood my ground. "I know enough," I said. "And I'm not going to let you get away with it."
Rico's eyes flashed with anger, but he quickly composed himself. "Vivienne, let me explain," he said, his voice calm and measured.
But I wasn't having it. "Explain?" I repeated, my voice rising in indignation. "You're involved in a money-laundering scheme, Rico. How can you possibly explain that away?"
Rico's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with a hint of steel. "I'm not involved in anything illegal," he said. "Sophia is just trying to frame me."
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Frame you?" I repeated. "Why would Sophia do that?"
Rico's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze burning with intensity. "Because she's trying to take me down," he said. "She's been trying to sabotage my business dealings for months."
I felt a wave of confusion wash over me. Who was telling the truth? Rico or Sophia?
As I looked at Sophia, I saw a sly smile spreading across her face. "Rico is just trying to spin this to his advantage," she said. "But the evidence speaks for itself."
I turned back to Rico, my eyes searching for answers. But his expression was unreadable, his eyes giving away nothing.
Suddenly, I heard a noise behind me. I turned to see Marco, Rico's bodyguard, standing in the doorway.
"Boss, we have a problem," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Rico's eyes flicked to Marco, and then back to me. "Vivienne, I need to take care of something," he said. "But I promise you, I will explain everything to you. Just trust me."
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But as I looked into Rico's eyes, I saw something there that made me trust him. For now, at least.
"Okay," I said finally. "I'll trust you. But you need to promise me one thing."
Rico's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze burning with intensity. "What's that?" he asked.
"You need to promise me that you'll tell me the truth," I said. "No more secrets, Rico. I deserve to know what's going on."
Rico's expression turned serious, his eyes glinting with a hint of steel. "I promise," he said. "I'll tell you everything. Just trust me."
As Rico turned to leave, I felt a sense of uncertainty wash over me. Had I just made a huge mistake?
Rico turned to Marco. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Marco hesitated. "It's the police, boss. They're on their way here."
Rico's eyes narrowed. "What do they want?"
Marco shook his head. "I don't know, but it can't be good."
Rico turned to me. "Vivienne, I need you to stay here with Luca. I'll go and deal with the police."
I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. What did the police want?
As Rico turned to leave, Sophia spoke up. "Rico, don't think you can just brush this under the rug. The police are going to find out what you've been up to."
Rico's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked away, Marco following close behind.
Luca stepped forward, his eyes locked on Sophia. "You need to leave," he said, his voice firm.
Sophia smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll leave," she said. "But this isn't over."
As Sophia turned and walked away, Luca turned to me. "Don't worry, Vivienne. Rico will take care of everything."
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief.
---
Rico's POV:
As I walked out of the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The police were on their way, and I had no idea what they wanted.
I turned to Marco. "Find out what's going on," I said. "I need to know what the police are looking for."
Marco nodded and pulled out his phone. "I'll take care of it, boss."
As Marco walked away, I couldn't help but think about Vivienne. She was in danger, and I needed to protect her.
I turned and walked back into the room, my eyes locking on Vivienne's. "I'll be right back," I said. "Just stay here with Luca."
Vivienne nodded, and I could see the fear in her eyes. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her that everything would be okay. But I couldn't. Not yet.
As I turned and walked away, I knew that I had to take care of this situation. For Vivienne's sake, and for mine.