Cries of His Heart (Italian Billionaire's Heart BWWM)

Chapter 9: The Betrayal

"I need you to do some digging for me. Find out everything you can about Armando's recent activities and his connections. I'll come by later to discuss the details with you," Dante responded in a hushed tone.

"Consider it done, Dante." Maria replied before ending the call.

Dante felt a sense of relief, knowing that Maria was on the job. She had always been his go-to girl for getting information, and he knew she wouldn't let him down. Dante's hand trembled as he grabbed his car keys off the rattan table in the foyer. He took a deep breath, opened the front door, and trudged out into the humid evening air. His heart raced as he walked to his car, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity about Armando's potential betrayal. He drove the familiar route to his father's office, all the while replaying Salvatore's words in his head.

As Dante pulled into the parking lot of his father's office, his mind was racing with various scenarios of what he might find out about Armando. He parked his car and took a moment to gather his thoughts before going inside. He entered his father's office to find an employee occupying the desk. Dante's face burned with rage as he stared at Harper. "What the hell are you doing in my father's office?"

His voice boomed through the walls, shaking the foundations, and leaving everyone in his father's company stunned. Everyone knew the rule: no one was supposed to be here except for his mother, him, his brothers and of course, his father. "I'm sorry, Mr. Marchetti, but I was searching for the accounts payable reports."

Her voice trembled with fear as her mind raced to find an escape from this intimidating situation. Sweat trickled down her neck and she could feel her heart pounding against her chest. With trembling hands, she gestured towards the stack of documents, hoping he would believe her feeble excuses. Dante's eyes narrowed as he approached the desk, towering over Harper's petite frame. He picked up the stack of papers and flipped through them, his mind racing with suspicion.

"Is that all you were doing here? Searching for some reports?" Dante's tone was laced with disbelief. "Because you were snooping around where you don't belong."

Harper's mind was a whirlwind of fear and anxiety. She knew she had to come up with something convincing or she might lose her job or, worse, be at the mercy of Dante Marchetti, a man whose reputation preceded him.

"Please, Mr. Marchetti, I promise I wasn't trying to snoop around. I was just looking for some files that were misplaced, and I thought they might be in here," Harper said, her voice shaking with fear.

Dante leaned in closer, his breath hot against her face. "Don't lie to me, Harper," he growled. "I can tell when someone is lying to me. It's not a good idea."

Harper's heart raced as she tried to keep her composure. She could feel the heat of Dante's body against hers, and it sent shivers down her spine.

"I'm not lying, Mr. Marchetti," Harper said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to locate the documents and work on them before your father arrives." Dante stared at her for a moment, his eyes piercing through her. Harper held her breath as she waited for his response. Finally, Dante straightened up and stepped away from her.

"Fine," he said, his voice cold and hard. "But if I catch you lying to me again, there will be consequences."

Harper let out a sigh of relief as Dante walked out of the room. She couldn't believe how close she had just come to being caught. If Dante had found out what she was really doing in his father's office, he would have fired her on the spot. But Harper had to find those documents, no matter what the cost.