Cara’s POV
“I don’t like her, I don’t! It’s been more than a week. Why is she still here? Is Antonio that hard to find?” I complained to my companions as we lay binge-watching in the movie room.
It’s been over a week, and Natasha was still around. Her behaviour was beginning to get on my nerves. Not that she had done anything directly, but I just didn’t like her closeness with Adonis.
“But you said she was being mindful of you.” Cecelia chimed in from beside her man. They had been unusually cuddly today, and I made a mental note to ask her if everything was fine.
“Yes, she has been, but ah…” I groaned. “I don’t know how to say it.”
“Then explain it.” Tina piped in from the video call. She couldn’t join us at the mansion due to a late work shift, so we had to settle for a call.
I sat up.
“Okay. Two days ago, after I got back from my check-up, she was sleeping on our living room sofa, and when I woke her up to ask why, she said she came to see Adonis but slept off. I mean, why wait?
“Oh.” Cecelia mused.
“Exactly!” I continued at her encouragement. “Three days ago, I was going to sit beside Adonis for lunch but had to go pee, and by the time I was back, she’d swapped seats with the excuse that they had something to discuss.”
“I was there. They truthfully had something to discuss.” Luca added, and I waved him off.
“So they also had something to discuss when she barged into our floor in a very tight body romper that could barely stop her big chest from spilling out, claiming our gym was more equipped than the one on the second floor? And she has a very large chest, I tell you. A very large one!”
The room erupted in soft laughter at my choice of words, but it wasn’t funny to me. The thought of her being seen by Adonis instead of me had me pissed.
“How come Adonis doesn’t speak up?” Tina asked, this time after the laughter had died down, and I scoffed.
“I think he needs therapy.” They laughed again.
“Honestly, he’s been so obsessed with finding Antonio that he can’t seem to see through her. I thought she was an heir or something. Doesn’t she have an empire to run?” I particularly asked Luca.
“I don’t think you should bother yourself. They might have a history, but Adonis would never cheat on you.” His eyes fluttered to my tiny bump. “Especially when you’re carrying his child. Natasha’s just good at what she does.” He assured me, and Cecelia made a mocking sound.
“What?”
“Nothing…” She drew out in a sing-song voice. I heaved a sigh.
“Look, guys, I have no problem with the things she does. She might actually like wearing exposing clothes and might’ve really wanted to see Adonis or even had something to discuss truly, but I feel like she’s hiding behind a mask. Why does she have to be so shady about those things? It’s unfair that all I do every day is pee, eat, sleep-
“Let’s not forget, throw up,” Tina added again.
“Thank you! While she gets to spend the day with Adonis. The last time I spoke to him about it, he said they were close to finding Antonio. How close Luca?”
He pulled Cecelia closer before speaking.
“We found the place he’d been hiding at since he ran off. It’s the closest we’ve ever come, and it’s all thanks to Cecelia. I think Adonis just needs a channel for his anger and sadness. This is the only way he knows how to mourn. You know him better than we do.”
“I understand, Luca. Trust me, I do, but am I the only one who thinks it’s weird? With all the resources available to the Bernardis, they couldn’t find Antonio after searching for over two weeks, but she came, and in just a week, you’re close? Think about it.” I urged, and he gave me an apprehensive look.
“Her father’s our ally; she’s not capable of doing what you’re thinking, Cara. Natasha knows what’s at stake.”
“Still, I agree with Cara; it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.” Cecelia supported me, and I sent her a thankful look.
I’m sure they all thought I was paranoid or being too analytical, and I could blame it on the pregnancy hormones if I wanted to, but it was more than that. Something about that woman was fishy. Ally or not.
Suddenly, I remembered.
“Cece. The day after the accident I and Adonis had on the estate grounds, you came into the room to check on me, but someone else was there. Who was it?”
Her face scrunched up as she tried to recollect what I was asking about.
“I don’t think anyone was… wait. Natasha was in the room. She’d come with some of their men to lend a helping hand at the mansion when we noticed there was a break-in. How do you know I was there? I thought you were unconscious.”
My eyes widened at the news.
“I was unconscious, but I…” My words trailed off.
Ta.
The syllable I heard. I spent weeks trying to find out if anyone had a name starting with that syllable, but what if it wasn’t the prefix? It could also be the suffix, but I doubted it. The information made sense if I connected it with Natasha.
Was she the spy? Who was the maid that Adonis killed then?
I turned to Luca. “Have you guys noticed anything missing since then? Nothing at all?”
He shook his head negatory.
“Tina, I have to go,” I announced abruptly and ended the call.
“Hey, where are you going? Stop running, Cara!” Cecelia called out, but I was already running down to the elevator.
I had to see Adonis. I had a question to ask.
The moment the elevator opened, I moved towards the study and, without knocking, pulled open the door.
“Adonis I-Natasha?”
She was standing by his side, leaning over Adonis as they went through a document on his desk, her chest was pressed up against his arm.
He didn’t act like I’d caught him doing anything bad, but she placed a hand to her mouth in shock.
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Cara. It’s not what it looks like.”
I drew in a calming breath, willing myself to not throw away the only lead I had on her being Antonio’s spy.
“It looks exactly like it seems. You guys are going through a document. What else?”
She feigned relief.
“Oh. Thank God you didn’t misunderstand. My father sent a new lead on Antonio. He’s been very helpful in the search; that’s why I love him so much.”
I gave her a tight-lipped smile.
“Hmmm. You’re lucky.” My eyes went to Adonis’s, who had gone back to going through his documents.
I know I handled it well but he wasn’t going to say a word in his defense?
“I heard you don’t have parents.” Natasha went on, “It must be so devastating to have never experienced a fatherly love.”
Adonis looked up at that, and I raised an eyebrow in reply.
“Thank you for your unnecessary pity. You do a lot of unnecessary things. I have experienced fatherly and even motherly love. My parents died early, but they were still very nice to me.”
“Really?” She took a step towards me. “But what I heard was quite different.”
“And that is?”
“You were placed in the care of a gambler at a little age. I heard he died early in the year, or am I wrong?”
“Natasha, don’t,” Adonis finally spoke up, and I regarded him with a look of disbelief.
A ringing sound filled my ears. What was she talking about? What did Adonis mean by ‘don’t’?
Their voices faded in the background as the wheels turned in my head.
“You shouldn’t have said that.”
“She wasn’t aware? Oh, my God, I’m so sorry.”
Someone pulled me by the arm.
“I’m so sorry, Cara. Can you hear me?”
The ball dropped.
I looked down to see Natasha holding my hand with a look of concern that didn’t reach her eyes. She’d finally dropped the pretence.
“What did you just say?”
“I’m so sorry-
I shook my head. “No. After that.”
“Can you hear me?”
The sentence triggered a memory.
Cara, can you hear me? Are you awake?
It was her. She’s definitely the one. Natasha was the spy.
I yanked my hand out of hers, throwing a glare at Adonis.
“What is she talking about?”