Unlovable Beyond Smoke

Alicia looked at Sophia’s young, delicate face. The pride and malice in her eyes were obvious. Her heart felt like a cold hand was squeezing it.

She did not know how much time had passed. Finally, she forced out a pained smile.

“It will. It definitely will.”

Sophia smiled in satisfaction. She stood up. “Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

She suddenly seemed to remember something. She pulled out a few photos and tossed them onto the desk. “Oh, and here are some pictures from our bed. Look at them. They might help you understand the case.”

The photos showed a man and a woman entwined. The man’s handsome face shone with decadent desire.

It was Matteo.

Sophia left. Her high heels clicked on the floor. Each tap seemed to strike Alicia’s fraying nerves.

The office was empty except for her.

After a long while, Alicia opened a drawer. She pulled out a box of slim cigarettes she had not touched in a long time.

She took one out and lit it.

Her slender fingers trembled ever so slightly.

Pale blue smoke rose. It blurred her calm, beautiful face.

She smoked slowly and stared at the indecent photos on the desk. Her thoughts drifted far back into the past.

She was twenty-eight at the time. She was already Monhattan’s most sought-after mergers and acquisitions lawyer.

A Vitale family port acquisition triggered a federal investigation. The first time Matteo sat across from her in her office, his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. His eyes were razor-sharp.

She removed the traps set by the prosecutors. She saved the deal that would decide the transfer of power in the family.

After that, Matteo began seeing her under the guise of a client. He soon grew tired of being just her client.

He dropped off hot coffee when she worked late. Sometimes, he waited downstairs to make sure she got home safely.

The first time a gun was pointed at her, he stepped in front of her.

Later, the old Don became seriously ill. The family erupted into internal conflict.

Alicia handled his personal assets, his trusts, and his legitimized corporate empire. She stayed with him through the most dangerous days.

When Matteo officially took control of the Vitale family, he removed his gloves and placed a ring on her case file.

“Marry me. I’ll love you forever.”

At that time, she had truly believed him.

She thought they had entered marriage after fighting side by side. Now she realized that promises were even less trustworthy than contracts.

The cigarette burned down to the end. Alicia snubbed it out.

She swallowed the sharp pain in her chest and opened her computer. Her fingers typed quickly on the keyboard. Soon, a clear and well-organized divorce agreement was ready.

She pressed the intercom button. “Jenna, please come in.”

The intern, Jenna Carter, entered the office quickly.

Alicia handed her the printed agreement. “Take this divorce agreement straight to court and file it.”

Jenna looked surprised. Alicia said before she could respond, “Both parties have agreed to the divorce.”

Jenna did not ask anything further and took the papers. “When the divorce documents are ready, I’ll call both parties to pick them up.”

“No need.” Alicia stood and picked up her coat. “Just call me when it’s done.”

She said nothing more and walked straight out of the office.

It was the end of the workday, and people streamed past the office building.

Alicia had just stepped out of the building when she saw the familiar black car and the striking man leaning against it.

He wore a simple black shirt and stood tall. His handsome face carried a languid smile.

He drew the attention of many women walking by.

Some approached him for his number, but he politely refused.

When he saw Alicia, he immediately walked forward. He took her bag as if it were no big deal and spoke in a familiar, intimate tone.

“I saw a necklace today. I thought it’d look perfect on you, so I bought it.”

He handed her a delicate velvet box from the car.

People around them shot envious glances at her.

Alicia smiled faintly but did not respond.

Matteo seemed not to notice her mood. He leaned close to her ear. His breath carried the playful, bad-boy charm he always had.

“Alicia, tomorrow is the weekend. I booked a suite at the hotel tonight. The one you said you liked last time. We can relax there.”

He was young, strong, and playful.

Every time he hinted at something like that before, Alicia’s ears would heat up. She would blush, push back a little, and allow him to have his way.

But this time, hearing the same intimate words, a chill ran down her spine.

She looked up at his handsome face that was so close to hers and asked softly, “Didn’t you say I smelled old?”