6. Serafina
CHAPTER 6
Serafina
N umbers swim before my eyes as I try to focus on the spreadsheets in front of me. It's hard to concentrate when a certain grey-eyed boxer keeps intruding into my thoughts.
The way his unruly raven hair falls over his forehead, the way his muscles ripple beneath his skin as he moves, the way his grey eyes light up every time he smiles. It's all I can think about.
I shake my head, frustrated with myself. Come on, Serafina, focus. You've got a job to do. This business won't run itself. The family is counting on you.
A knock at the door startles me out of my reverie.
"Come in," I call out, straightening and smoothing my flattened and sleek dark hair.
Enzo, one of my brothers, pokes his head in. "Got a special delivery for you, little sis."
"For me? What is it?"
He steps inside, his lean, muscular build from years of playing soccer, holding a large potted plant. My breath catches. It's the variegated monstera I've been eyeing at the nursery for weeks. The one with the delicate, fenestrated leaves and creamy marbling. A true beauty.
"Where did this come from?" I ask in awe as he sets it on the corner of my desk.
Enzo shrugs. "No idea."
I trail my fingers reverently over the glossy leaves. "It's stunning. Grazie."
He nods at my gratitude and slips away, leaving me with the unexpected gift. I study the plant carefully, wondering who could have bought me such an extravagant present. It's clear that this person knows me well, but who could it be? And how? No one knows about my secret visits to the plant store or my aspirations of opening a shop someday.
Even more important, do they really understand, or does the gift carry a more sinister message? One that haunts me with the reminder that I am never truly alone and that my secrets are not safe. Conflicting emotions swirl inside me as I try to appreciate the gesture but also push away the sense of discomfort it brings.
What I wouldn't give to surround myself with lush greenery instead of cold, hard cash and even colder men arguing over territories and power plays. Instead, I'm trapped in a world where I live with the looming threat of being forced into marriage to whoever can offer my family the most power. If my family knew I dream of escaping this reality, they'd stick me in a dank cell and chuck the key into the ocean's abyss.
I sigh, turning back to the numbers that suddenly seem so meaningless. My dreams will have to wait. Right now, there's work to do. I'll have to solve the mystery of my secret plant admirer later.
A knock at the door jolts me from my daydream. I look up to see Dominic, my oldest brother, his wide frame filling the doorframe, while his expression unreadable. "Enzo said you got a delivery."
I nod, gesturing to the plant. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
He arches a brow. "Who's it from?"
"Non lo so." I shrug. "There wasn't a note."
Dominic steps closer, his gaze sharpening. "It better not be from some boyfriend. You know the rules, Serafina."
Heat spreads across my cheeks. "You mean the ones that say I'm not allowed to have a life outside this family?"
"The ones that keep you safe," he counters, jaw clenched. "You know how dangerous it is for a girl like you."
"Oh, spare me the protective older brother act," I snap. "I'm not a child anymore, Dominic. I can take care of myself."
"Can you?" He leans in, his voice low and threatening. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're getting distracted. Losing focus on what's important."
I meet his green hued gaze head-on, refusing to back down. "And what's that? Being a good little soldier? Following orders without question?"
"It's about loyalty," he growls and slams his fists against my desk to intimidate me, but it doesn’t work. "Famiglia comes first. Always."
"Hey, hey, calma." Enzo appears in the doorway, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Let's all take a breath, okay?"
Dominic straightens, smoothing his tie. "This conversation isn't over," he warns me before stalking out.
Enzo, the peacemaker between Dominic and me ever since I can remember, shoots me a sympathetic look. "You alright, Sera?"
I slump back in my chair, suddenly exhausted. "I'm fine. Just..." I wave a hand vaguely. "Tired of all this, you know?"
"I know." He moves to perch on the edge of my desk. "But you gotta be careful, Sera. Dominic's not wrong about the dangers out there. You're more than just a girl; you're a key to the biggest players in Oakland. Gotta play it smart."
"I know, I know," I insist, but even to my ears, it sounds weak.
Enzo sighs. "Just...watch your back, okay? And try not to poke the bear too much." He nods toward the door Dominic just walked through.
"No promises." I flash him a cheeky grin.
He rolls his amber eyes fondly. "Stubborn as always." Rising, he drops a quick kiss on my head. "Holler if you need anything."
"I will. Grazie, Enzo."
As the door clicks shut behind him, I turn my attention back to the mystery plant, stroking a finger down one of its silky leaves.
Who sent you? And why?
Questions for later. With a sigh, I force my attention back to the ledger before me. These numbers won't crunch themselves, no matter how much I might wish it. But even as I work, my mind keeps circling back to the plant ... and the secret admirer who sent it.
After a long day of tedious number crunching, I finally escape the office and head straight to Verde Paradiso, the plant store I frequent on my way to my secret boxing classes. The place is an oasis, a hidden gem tucked away from the chaos of the city streets. As I step inside, the scent of rich soil and lush greenery envelops me, and I can feel some of the tension easing from my shoulders.
I spot a familiar face behind the counter and make my way over. "Ciao, Talia," I greet her with a smile.
"Serafina!" Talia's eyes light up. "How's my favorite plant enthusiast? Here to finally buy that plant you've been eying?"
I shake my head, leaning against the counter. "Looks like someone else beat me to it. I'm hoping you can help me solve a little mystery."
Talia leans in conspiratorially. "Ooh, intrigue! Tell me more."
"Someone sent me the plant at work today," I explain. "That variegated monstera I've been eyeing? But there was no card, no clue who it's from. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
Talia scrunches her face, thinking, "Let me dig around a bit." She starts clicking away on her laptop. "Aha! Found it. Looks like someone paid cash this morning. And from the video, I can tell it was a petite woman."
"Can I see the footage?"
Talia hesitates, then replies with a mischievous smile. "I'm going to step away from my station to help another customer." With a wink, she steps away from the laptop and leaves me alone. I eagerly click play on the video, my heart racing with anticipation. Unfortunately, I don't recognize the woman on the screen.
She's petite and slender with flowing blonde locks; she couldn't be more than twenty years old.
Perhaps someone paid her to purchase it to throw off suspicion—a dead end.
"Any luck?" Talia whispers, breaking through my disappointment.
"No. All good, though; it was a long shot anyway."
"A secret admirer, perhaps?" Talia suggests with a playful grin.
I chuckle, but it rings a bit hollow. If only it were that simple. In my world, an anonymous gift is more cause for concern than celebration. Still, I paste on a smile for Talia's benefit. "Maybe so. Guess I'll just have to wait and see if they make another move."
We chat a bit longer, Talia filling me in on the latest arrivals and care tips. But even as I nod along, my mind is elsewhere, turning over this new puzzle piece.
Who is this mysterious woman? And what angle is the mystery gifter playing?