A Don's Pet No Longer

After sitting back down, I immediately saved the encrypted number.

Just then, someone knocked on my desk. I looked up to see Nico. I slammed my laptop shut instinctively.

He paused, frowning. "What are you so jumpy about? Hiding something I shouldn't see?"

I shook my head, my tone distant. "You startled me, Mr. Carbone. Is there something I can help you with?"

My coldness clearly irritated him. But with others present, he reined in his temper, his voice turning icy. "I was wondering if you've finished analyzing the data for that shipment."

"I'm still working on it. I'll send it to your secure server before dinner."

"Good. Make it fast. I'm taking Bianca to an important family dinner tonight. I can't be late."

With that, Nico turned and walked back to his study.

The moment the door closed, Jenna let out a long breath. "God, that was terrifying. Mr. Carbone looked like he was going to kill someone. I've never seen him like that."

I managed a small, bitter laugh. "Like what?"

"So arrogant!" she whispered. "He's always like that with us, but he's always been so gentle with you, hasn't he? And I've never seen him give you any real work. Your job has always been—"

"Handled by us, you mean?" a smirking associate at a nearby desk suddenly cut in, his voice dripping with mockery. "For the past three years, because the Don had a thing for you, most of your work landed on our plates."

"Now that he has a new favorite, you've been knocked down to doing grunt work with the rest of us. It's been a while, Ava. Still remember how to cook the books? If you've forgotten, you can always come ask me for a little refresher."

"You—" Jenna glared at him, but I stopped her.

I swept a sharp gaze over the gawking associates and said slowly, "If you're unhappy with the work assignments, take it up with Mr. Carbone directly. But if you don't have the guts, I'd be happy to pass the message along."

They exchanged glances, and the jeering stopped. I knew they wouldn't dare bet on whether Nico had truly cast me aside.

After all, if I mentioned this to him, given his past affection for me, they might just find themselves taking a permanent swim in Lake Michigan.

Once, an associate, green with envy, "accidentally" knocked over a restoration fluid while I was appraising antiques. Nico had shattered the man's hand on the spot and made sure he'd never work in the Chicago underworld again.

But now...

I picked up the flash drive, and my confidence wavered. Taking a deep breath, I began to sort through the data on the illicit art pieces.

In less than an hour, I had sent the files to Nico's email.

He seemed surprised by my efficiency, sending a quick message: "So fast. Get someone to help you?"

In that instant, all the suppressed bitterness in my chest overflowed.

Even if everyone else thought I'd gotten my position through connections, Nico knew better than anyone that my skills brought real value to the family.

I stormed toward his study, ready for a confrontation, but froze when I heard him talking to Bianca.

"Mr. Carbone, I finally see why Miss Sloane is the family's chief appraiser. This analysis is impeccable."

Nico snorted. "Chief appraiser? If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have even made it through the door. The Carbone family has never lacked talent, only people I find... amusing. She probably slapped this report together in five minutes."

I felt as if I'd been struck by lightning, my legs barely holding me up. So from the very beginning, I had never truly belonged.

I remembered how other members used to ostracize me. Back then, when I was disheartened, Nico had pulled me aside and comforted me. He said one day I would prove my worth with my own abilities.

Because of those words, I had secretly worked my ass off, even when I had no assignments.

It wasn't just for my reputation; it was to live up to his "trust." I never thought it was all just a lie.

I chain-smoked on the estate's balcony until my fingers went numb. When I finally stubbed out the cigarette and returned to my office, I saw Nico and Bianca emerging from his study.

In front of everyone, he draped his coat over her shoulders. My colleagues all looked up, then cast smirking glances my way.

I wanted to pretend I didn't care, but my legs felt like they were filled with lead. I couldn't even lift my head.

However, Bianca wasn't going to let me off that easily. She walked up to me with a faint smile. "Ava, the information you compiled was quite good. I'll have to learn more from you."

I couldn't be bothered to respond. Nico frowned at my silence. "Miss Sloane, did you not hear Miss Russo speaking to you?"

Jenna shot me a shocked look, clearly stunned he would speak to me that way.

I suppressed the bitterness in my chest and looked at Bianca. "Thank you for the compliment."

Bianca nodded, then enthusiastically took my hand, her smile widening. "In that case, can I just have you handle all my work from now on? After all…"

She turned to Nico, her voice soft and cloying. "I've been feeling so weak lately. I just don't have the stomach for all that dirty work."

Every word was a slap in the face, igniting a fire in my chest.

Just as I was about to refuse, Nico's firm voice cut in. "Of course. It's a superior's duty to take care of their subordinates."

In that moment, all desire to argue vanished. I just felt utterly ridiculous.

After they left, I ignored the smirks and whispers around me, shoved my laptop into my bag, and fled the estate.

The moment I stepped out the main gate, the tightness in my chest eased slightly. It's okay, I told myself, all you lost was a man. It's not the end of the world.

Just as I had finally calmed down, I caught a glimpse of a familiar armored car parked not far away. Inside, a man and a woman were locked in a passionate kiss.

Nico's eyes were closed as he held Bianca's face, looking both gentle and utterly captivated.

I stood frozen, rooted to the spot. In three years, Nico had kissed every inch of my body—everywhere except my lips.

Even if I stood on my toes to kiss him, he would always turn his head, claiming he didn't like kissing.

So, it wasn't that he didn't like it. He just didn't like kissing me.

A wave of dizziness washed over me. So, was I not even worthy of a kiss? Or was Bianca something more to him? Either answer was unbearable.

Heavy snow suddenly began to fall again, and Nico finally broke the kiss, slowly looking up.

Just before our eyes met, I stumbled back a step and ran blindly into the snowstorm.

On the way back to my apartment, I bought myself a birthday cake and clutched it to my chest.

The moment I stepped inside, I collapsed, not even having the strength to open the box.

The delicate cake was smashed to pieces. My body was on fire, my head was spinning, and I couldn't even find the strength to crawl to bed.

Just then, I recalled Nico promising me an unforgettable 25th birthday months ago.

He had probably forgotten, but he was right. This one would be unforgettable. A bitter smile twisted my lips.

I lay on the floor as time slipped by, until an encrypted notification popped up on my phone. It was a message from the Grimaldi syndicate. "Congratulations on passing the initial screening, Miss Ava Sloane. Your video assessment is scheduled in three days."

Reading the message, I felt a flicker of defiance. At least there was one piece of good news.

Lying on the cold floor, I managed a faint smile and drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I was in my bed. Nico, who hadn't been home all night, was sitting beside me, gently wiping the sweat from my forehead.