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Ich verliebte mich in einen Mafia-Boss und alles änderte sich [DEUTSCH]
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00:00:00The champagne tasted of lies. I stood at the edge of the rooftop terrace and watched as Chicago's skyline, brimming with a thousand promises, unfolded before me.
00:00:08glittered, which she would not be able to hold.
00:00:11Below, the city echoed with anticipation. Strangers counting down to midnight, convinced that turning the page of a
00:00:20Calendar page could somehow change her life.
00:00:23I knew better. I had learned that lesson the hard way, in a tiny studio apartment facing eviction.
00:00:33and a degree in nursing that didn't save my mother from cancer or me from drowning in her
00:00:40had saved medical debts.
00:00:42Irene, you're brooding again. My best friend Cassie appeared at my elbow. Her sequined dress caught the light of the
00:00:52Strings of lights that someone had woven through the terrace railing.
00:00:56It's New Year's Eve. You should mingle with Chicago's elite, not think about jumping. I'm working. I'm mingling.
00:01:06not among the people.
00:01:07I adjusted the empty tray, which was balanced at my hip, acutely aware of the black waiter's uniform that served as my aid.
00:01:16and did not identify himself as a guest.
00:01:18And I don't overthink it. I calculate how many champagne refills it takes before someone tips more than three dollars.
00:01:27Cassie had gotten me this catering job through her cousin and promised there would be easy money by serving food.
00:01:35Drinks at a private New Year's Eve party in one of the most exclusive buildings on the Magnificent Mile.
00:01:42What she had forgotten to mention was that the host owned half of Chicago's commercial real estate and allegedly had connections
00:01:51to organizations that do not file tax returns.
00:01:55Stop being so serious.
00:01:58Cassie grabbed two champagne flutes from a passing waiter and pressed one into my hand.
00:02:04The woman who hired us said the staff were allowed to have a drink at midnight, live a little.
00:02:10I took the glass to calm her down and let the bubbles tingle against my palm.
00:02:17Around us, Chicago's rich and powerful laughed too loudly, their designer clothes and expensive watches a bitter reminder that
00:02:26In their world, I existed only as background noise.
00:02:30A brunette in a dress that cost more than my rent shrieked with laughter and bumped into my tray when
00:02:37She stumbled past me on heels that could have served as weapons.
00:02:42"Careful," I murmured, stepping aside.
00:02:46She didn't notice me. I could just as well have been a piece of furniture.
00:02:51"Five minutes to midnight!" someone shouted, and the crowd surged to the edge of the terrace.
00:02:57Champagne spilled over the top. Perfume filled the winter air.
00:03:01I retreated to the shade near the roof entrance, my practical flat shoes silently on the heated stone.
00:03:10This was my preferred position, close enough to refill drinks, far enough away to escape the spectacle.
00:03:19Watching people who had everything celebrate getting another year to have even more.
00:03:27You are not participating in the festivities. The voice came directly behind me, deep and textured like smoke over whiskey.
00:03:36I turned around, and my breath caught. Not a gasp, just a brief pause, which I hoped was just that—a pause.
00:03:43didn't notice.
00:03:45He stood in the doorway I had been guarding, somehow materialized silently.
00:03:51Tall, broad-shouldered, under a suit that fit as if it had been sewn onto his body, with dark hair that came from
00:04:00had been stroked back on a face,
00:04:02that was more striking than pretty, sharp cheekbones, a mouth that looked as if it didn't smile often,
00:04:10and eyes so dark that they seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
00:04:16But it wasn't his looks that made my pulse race.
00:04:21It was the way he stood. Completely still. Totally present.
00:04:27As if he could wait forever for my answer, and time itself would bend to accommodate him.
00:04:34"I'm working," I said, lifting my tray slightly as proof. Staff were given permission to work at midnight.
00:04:43celebrate.
00:04:44He came closer, and I noticed his scent. Cedar and something darker, like the air before a thunderstorm.
00:04:51I should know. It's my party. Heat rushed to my cheeks.
00:04:57Mr. Sala. I didn't know. I'm sorry. I can go back.
00:05:02Enrico. He held out his hand, and for a heartbreaking moment I thought he was going to touch me.
00:05:10Instead, he took the empty tray from my hands and placed it on a nearby table.
00:05:15And I asked you a question, not an apology.
00:05:20Why aren't you celebrating? The honesty tumbled out of me before I could stop it.
00:05:25Because changing the date doesn't actually change anything.
00:05:29Tomorrow I will still have 40,000 in debt.
00:05:32A landlord who is threatening eviction.
00:05:35And a job that pays just enough to make me too proud for welfare, but too poor for stability.
00:05:43Champagne won't fix that.
00:05:45His facial expression did not change.
00:05:47But something in those dark eyes changed.
00:05:51Recognize, perhaps.
00:05:53Or interest.
00:05:54You don't believe in new beginnings?
00:05:57I believe I can earn them.
00:05:59I lifted my chin.
00:06:00Suddenly defensive.
00:06:02Don't drink to it.
00:06:03Two minutes.
00:06:04The crowd's countdown had begun.
00:06:07Their voices grew louder in drunken excitement.
00:06:11Enrico Sala looked at me as if I were a riddle he had decided to solve.
00:06:17Up close I could see the subtle scar that cut through his left eyebrow.
00:06:23The shadow of stubble on his jaw, despite the late hour.
00:06:27He couldn't have been much older than 35.
00:06:30But he carried himself with the authority of someone who never had to ask twice for anything.
00:06:35What's your name?
00:06:37Irene.
00:06:38My voice sounded stronger than I felt.
00:06:41Irene Volkov.
00:06:43Russian?
00:06:44My grandfather.
00:06:46He came here in the 70s.
00:06:48He opened a bakery in Bridgeport.
00:06:50She closed when he died.
00:06:53Why did I tell him that?
00:06:56Something about the way he listened.
00:06:58Completely focused.
00:07:00As if nothing else existed at this moment.
00:07:02Let the words flow out.
00:07:05One minute.
00:07:06The crowd pressed closer to the railing.
00:07:09People held up their cell phones to capture the fireworks that would arch over Navy Pier.
00:07:16Cassie was somewhere in that mass of sequins and despair.
00:07:21She probably kissed some banker she'd been flirting with all night.
00:07:25I should move, should grab my tray and slip back into invisibility where I belonged.
00:07:33Stay!
00:07:34Enrico's hand found my elbow, a gentle but unmistakable command.
00:07:39Please.
00:07:40That last word shouldn't have thrown me off balance, but it did.
00:07:45Men like him.
00:07:46Men.
00:07:47They radiated power like heat from asphalt.
00:07:50They didn't say "please" to women like me.
00:07:53They failed to recognize that we existed beyond our function.
00:07:57Thirty seconds.
00:07:59I should, you should stay exactly where you are, Irene Volkow.
00:08:04His thumb brushed along the inside of my elbow.
00:08:07A touch so light it could have been accidental.
00:08:11Except that nothing about this man seemed accidental.
00:08:15Because I will kiss you at midnight.
00:08:17And I would prefer it if you didn't run away.
00:08:20The world narrowed to the space between us.
00:08:23You don't even know me.
00:08:25I know enough.
00:08:26His free hand came up.
00:08:28Fingers brushed my jaw with devastating gentleness.
00:08:33You are brave enough to tell the truth in a room full of liars.
00:08:38You carry grief like a weight you refuse to put down.
00:08:42And you haven't stopped trembling since I touched you.
00:08:47Twenty.
00:08:48Nineteen.
00:08:49Eighteen.
00:08:49That's insane.
00:08:50But I did not withdraw.
00:08:52Could not.
00:08:53Yes.
00:08:54His smile was brief and transformed his face from stern to stunning.
00:08:58That's it.
00:09:00Ten.
00:09:00Nine.
00:09:02Eight.
00:09:03"I don't kiss strangers," I whispered, as my body leaned towards him.
00:09:08Then ask me anything.
00:09:10Seven seconds to stop being a stranger.
00:09:13Six.
00:09:14Five.
00:09:14Why me?
00:09:16The question just burst out of me.
00:09:19This rooftop terrace is full of women in designer dresses who actually belong at your party.
00:09:24His thumb traced my lower lip and my knees almost buckled.
00:09:29Because you're the only one who knows she doesn't.
00:09:34Four.
00:09:35Three.
00:09:35That's not an answer.
00:09:37Two.
00:09:37One.
00:09:38It's the only one I have.
00:09:41Happy New Year, Irene.
00:09:43His mouth found mine as the first firework exploded over the lake and the world ceased to exist.
00:09:49I had been kissed before.
00:09:52Clumsy encounters with college friends.
00:09:55A few disappointing dates after my mother died.
00:09:59This was different.
00:10:01Enrico kissed, just like he did everything else.
00:10:04With absolute certainty and devastating concentration.
00:10:08His hand closed around my neck.
00:10:10His fingers dug into my hair, while his other arm wrapped around my waist and held me tightly against him.
00:10:17moved.
00:10:17He tasted like whisky in winter, and when his tongue brushed against my lower lip, I opened myself to him without thinking.
00:10:26Around us, people cheered and shouted, kissed their partners, and toasted to the new year.
00:10:33We were surrounded by witnesses, yet completely alone.
00:10:37His kiss was patient and demanding at the same time.
00:10:40A slow exploration that somehow promised things for which I had no words.
00:10:47When he finally withdrew, my hands were clenched in his jacket, and my breath came in short gasps.
00:10:55So.
00:10:56His voice had become rough.
00:10:58That's a promise that was kept.
00:11:01You've decided to kiss the temporary worker?
00:11:04I tried to use humor, but it sounded shaky.
00:11:07I've decided to kiss the most interesting woman at my party.
00:11:13His thumb stroked my cheek.
00:11:15The fact that you have worked makes you more interesting, not less.
00:11:21Someone behind us dropped a glass.
00:11:23The sharp clang of breaking crystal made me flinch, and reality flooded back.
00:11:30I was standing on a rooftop terrace in the arms of Enrico Sala and had just been thoroughly kissed by a man,
00:11:38whose name appeared in the business sections of newspapers and, if the rumors were true, on the FBI's watch lists.
00:11:48I resigned.
00:11:50His arms loosened, but didn't let go of me completely.
00:11:54I have to get back to work.
00:11:55My voice sounded strange, breathless.
00:11:59Thank you for.
00:12:00That was.
00:12:02Irene waited until I met his gaze.
00:12:06Give me your number.
00:12:07Why should I do that?
00:12:09Because you felt what just happened.
00:12:12Because I'm taking you out to dinner tomorrow.
00:12:14And you will say yes.
00:12:16The presumption should have angered me.
00:12:19Instead, it sent heat deep into my stomach.
00:12:22You seem very sure of yourself.
00:12:23I know what I want.
00:12:27His fingers slid down my arm and grabbed my hand.
00:12:32And I want to see you again.
00:12:33Without the uniform.
00:12:35Without the quantity.
00:12:37He moved closer.
00:12:38His breath warm against my ear.
00:12:41Without looking for the nearest exit.
00:12:44I'm not.
00:12:45You've been calculating escape routes ever since I approached you.
00:12:48The freight elevator is behind me.
00:12:50The main elevator is to my left.
00:12:52The stairwell behind the bar.
00:12:54He retreated just far enough to catch my gaze.
00:12:58You're always looking for the exit, aren't you?
00:13:01The observation was too profound.
00:13:03I tore my hand away.
00:13:04This is a survival strategy.
00:13:06Not a character flaw.
00:13:08I didn't say it was a mistake.
00:13:10His expression softened.
00:13:12I said I noticed it.
00:13:14There is a difference.
00:13:16Mr. Sala.
00:13:18A man in a steel-grey suit emerged from the crowd.
00:13:21His accent was Italian and urgent.
00:13:24Un momento, per favore.
00:13:26Something hardened in Enrico's face.
00:13:29Not now, Luca.
00:13:30It's about the delivery.
00:13:32I said, not now.
00:13:34The words were spoken quietly.
00:13:36But they struck like a physical force.
00:13:39Luca turned pale and immediately withdrew.
00:13:41I used the break to put more distance between us and grabbed my tray that I had left behind.
00:13:48I really need to.
00:13:50Dinner.
00:13:51Morning.
00:13:527 a.m.
00:13:54Enrico took a business card out of his inside pocket and pressed it into my hand before I could refuse.
00:14:01My driver will pick you up.
00:14:03You don't know where I live.
00:14:05The corner of his mouth lifted.
00:14:06I'll know by tomorrow morning.
00:14:08That should have scared me.
00:14:11Instead, it sent a shiver down my spine, which I absolutely refused to investigate.
00:14:17That borders on stalking.
00:14:19That's thoroughness.
00:14:21He stepped aside and finally gave me the exit, which he had correctly identified as my destination.
00:14:28Wear something comfortable.
00:14:29I'll take you somewhere you'll actually like.
00:14:33How do you know what I like?
00:14:36I don't know.
00:14:37Not yet.
00:14:38His gaze held mine.
00:14:40But I will learn it.
00:14:42Happy New Year.
00:14:43Irene Volkow.
00:14:45He disappeared into the crowd before I could reply.
00:14:48And left me standing there alone with a business card that simply said Enrico Sala and a phone number.
00:14:55The card felt heavy and expensive between my fingers.
00:15:00Oh my God.
00:15:01Cassie appeared.
00:15:03Her eyes glittered with champagne-induced excitement and shock.
00:15:07Did Enrico Sala just kiss you?
00:15:10That's Enrico Sala for you.
00:15:13I pressed my fingers to my lips, still feeling the spirit of his mouth on mine.
00:15:19I think so.
00:15:21You really believe that?
00:15:23Irene, the man owns half the city.
00:15:26He appears on the Tribune's list of most eligible bachelors every year.
00:15:30And he just kissed you in front of everyone.
00:15:33She grabbed me by the shoulders.
00:15:35That's insane.
00:15:37That's unbelievable.
00:15:38"That's a mistake," I finished the sentence and shoved his card into my uniform pocket.
00:15:44It was just a New Year's kiss.
00:15:46It means nothing.
00:15:47But while I spent the rest of the night refilling champagne glasses and dodging questions from the inquisitive staff who had witnessed the kiss
00:15:59had witnessed
00:16:00I couldn't stop touching that card, couldn't stop replaying the certainty in his voice when he said
00:16:08He said he wanted to see me again.
00:16:10The party ended around two in the morning.
00:16:14As Cassie and I walked to the freight elevator, our arms full of empty bottles for recycling, I threw one last...
00:16:21a look back towards the terrace.
00:16:24Enrico stood by the railing, the phone pressed to his ear, his profile sharply against the city lights.
00:16:31Even from a distance, even surrounded by lingering guests, he radiated something that took my breath away.
00:16:39Power, yes. Danger, certainly, but also loneliness. A profound isolation, similar to my own.
00:16:49As if sensing my gaze, he turned around. Our eyes met across the busy room.
00:16:55And even at a distance of 50 feet, I felt the impact as a physical touch.
00:17:02He didn't smile. He didn't wave. He only held my gaze for three heartbeats.
00:17:08Before he returned to his phone call. You're going to this dinner, aren't you?
00:17:14Cassie asked as we stepped into the elevator. I touched the card in my pocket again.
00:17:19I don't know. But in my mind, I was already going through my wardrobe, trying to figure it out.
00:17:26what to wear to a dinner with a man who kissed you at midnight and promised to
00:17:32to learn what you like. The elevator went down and took me back to my real life.
00:17:40My one-room apartment with the constant rattling of the radiator. The pile of bills on my
00:17:46Kitchen counter. The Monday morning shift at the nursing home, which started in six hours. But in my bag
00:17:53This map seemed to be on fire. A door to something else. Something dangerous. Something I
00:17:59wanted to. Despite every practical instinct screaming that I should throw the card away and forget about it,
00:18:06that Enrico Sala existed. The taste of champagne and lies was replaced by whisky and winter.
00:18:12I was replaced. And I had twenty-four hours to decide if I was brave enough.
00:18:18or was stupid enough to take another sip. I didn't throw the card away. Instead, I spent
00:18:25I spent most of Saturday morning holding them and writing the simple black text.
00:18:31I studied as if he might reveal secrets. Three times I picked up the phone to call and that
00:18:39I cancelled dinners I hadn't even RSVP'd to. Three times I put them back.
00:18:45My mother's voice echoed in my memory. Irina, you think about it too much.
00:18:51after what could go wrong. Sometimes you have to take the plunge. Easier said than done for her. She was in the
00:18:57My marriage to my father collapsed. A jazz musician who had desperately loved her. Until that day,
00:19:04where he left when I was six. She had jumped into entrepreneurship and had a small
00:19:10A bakery opened that devoured our savings before it closed within a
00:19:16The year ended. She had even resorted to refusing treatment when her cancer reached its third stage.
00:19:23She returned. Convinced that positive thinking and holistic medicine would save her. I
00:19:32I had spent my whole life catching them and then catching myself,
00:19:36After she was gone. I didn't jump. I calculated, planned, and survived. So why?
00:19:44I stood in front of my wardrobe at 6:30 pm, wearing the only decent dress I owned,
00:19:50a simple, dark blue sheath dress that I had bought for my mother's funeral,
00:19:55and fought against the urge to both vomit and sing? My phone buzzed.
00:20:03Unknown number. Hello? Miss Volkow, this is Markus. I'm Mr. Salas' driver. I'm downstairs.
00:20:11Whenever you're ready. My stomach slumped. How do you know? Mr. Salah asked me,
00:20:17I'm supposed to pick you up at 7 pm. Should I wait? Or would you prefer I come back later?
00:20:23Through the only window of my apartment, I could see a black sedan idling at the curb.
00:20:30They saw their exhausts forming small clouds in the January cold. Now there was no turning back. Either they went
00:20:39I went downstairs and got into that car, or I became the woman who was taken by Enrico Salah at midnight
00:20:47I was kissed and was too afraid to see what happened next. I'll come down immediately. I
00:20:54grabbed my only winter coat. Black wool, three years old, with one button missing.
00:21:01which I had never replaced, and I set off before my courage failed me. Markus was exactly the same,
00:21:08Just as I expected. In his fifties, built like a boxer, with warm eyes that probably
00:21:15He had seen things I couldn't have imagined. He opened the car door without a word.
00:21:21my coat, or the peeling paint and the chain-link fences of my neighborhood.
00:21:28Mr. Salah wanted me to tell them they looked beautiful, said Markus, as he entered the
00:21:34Traffic merged. Heat flooded my cheeks. He hadn't even seen me yet. It doesn't matter.
00:21:41Role. He knew it would be them. We drove north, leaving the liquor stores and
00:21:46Check-cashing stations in my neighborhood were behind us, and we reached tree-lined streets and
00:21:53Sandstone houses with flower boxes. I had expected Markus to take me to one of the trendy ones.
00:21:59would bring restaurants in the city that I had passed by but never entered,
00:22:05where a single main course cost more than my food budget. Instead, we stopped in front of
00:22:12a small Italian restaurant located between a bookstore and a wine shop in Lincoln Park
00:22:19I was trapped. Warm light spilled from the windows, and I could see red and white through the glass.
00:22:25Checkered tablecloths were visible. A sign above the door read, "Nonnas." That's not it.
00:22:32"That's what I expected," I admitted. Markus smiled. Mr. Sala said they would do something.
00:22:37To appreciate authenticity. This shop belongs to his family. Well, his family. His grandmother.
00:22:44He opened it in 1962. His grandmother, Anna Maria Sala. She's 94 and still comes every day.
00:22:52Sunday was over, time to criticize the sauce. Markus opened my door. He's waiting inside. That
00:22:59The restaurant smelled of garlic and tomatoes, warmth and time. Only four tables were occupied. And I was...
00:23:06It quickly became clear that the entire place had been cleared out for... Irene. Enrico rose from a
00:23:13Corner table and my breath caught in my throat, just like last night. He was wearing dark jeans and an anthracite-colored
00:23:20He was wearing a sweater instead of a suit. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it.
00:23:26He drove through it. Somehow he looked even more stunning that way. Less unapproachable.
00:23:33Echter. You've come. Relief flickered across his face before he hid it.
00:23:40I wasn't sure if you would. Your driver knew my address. That was creepy.
00:23:46Enough that curiosity overcame common sense. His mouth twitched.
00:23:52I apologize for the creepiness, but not for making sure that
00:23:57That you'll get here safely. He pulled my chair back. Sit down. Please. Nonna has been cooking since
00:24:03Four o'clock. Your grandmother is cooking? For me? For us. She insisted the moment I told her
00:24:12I told him I was bringing someone special. Special. The word hung between us.
00:24:18as I sat down, acutely aware of his hand briefly touching my shoulder,
00:24:24before he took his own seat. I'm not special, I said. You don't know me.
00:24:30I know you left my party without asking for anything. In my world
00:24:35That makes you exceptional. An older woman came out of the kitchen carrying a basket of bread,
00:24:41That was like the sound of heaven. Ah, Nonna, that's Irene. Anna Maria Sala was small and plump and radiated joy.
00:24:50She exuded a kind of grim energy that made generals nervous. She put down the bread and scrutinized me.
00:24:57with dark eyes that missed nothing. "You're too thin," she announced in a heavily accented voice.
00:25:04English. And too pale. When was the last time you ate a real meal?
00:25:09Nonna. I'll ask the girl, not you, Enrico. She fixed me with a look,
00:25:15which demanded honesty. Now?
00:25:18Thursday, I admitted. I had frames. She made a sound of disgust. Salt and
00:25:24Sadness, that's all it is. Sit down. Eat. I'm bringing you something substantial.
00:25:31She disappeared back into the kitchen before I could answer. Enrico handed me a glass.
00:25:36Red wine. I apologize. She's wonderful, I finished the sentence. She's wonderful. His
00:25:44Her expression softened. That's her, even though most people find her frightening. I
00:25:50I work with elderly patients. I'm immune to intimidating grandmothers. I took a
00:25:57A sip of wine, surprised by its smooth richness. This is really good. Chianti from my winery.
00:26:03Uncles in Tuscany. Nonna serves nothing else. He leaned back and looked me over.
00:26:08with the same intense concentration that had made me so nervous last night.
00:26:14You said, Tupo. You're a nurse? A certified nursing assistant. In a
00:26:21A facility for dementia patients in Pilsen. I broke off a piece of bread. The crust cracked perfectly. I
00:26:27I work mainly with Alzheimer's and dementia patients. It's tough, but… I shrugged.
00:26:34They deserve dignity. Someone to remember them. Even if they no longer remember themselves.
00:26:40You can remember it yourself. Is that why you do it? For the sake of dignity? My mother had early-onset [disease/disease].
00:26:48Alzheimer's before cancer. I watched her disappear piece by piece. And the only comfort was...
00:26:55Knowing that her caregivers treated her as if she mattered. The words came more easily,
00:27:01than they should. So, yes, the part about dignity. Enrico was silent for a moment. Then… It does.
00:27:11I'm sorry about your mother. Thank you. I met his eyes. But you didn't bring me here.
00:27:17to talk about my tragic backstory. Why am I here, Enrico? Because I
00:27:23I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since you told me that champagne has no problems
00:27:29solves. He refilled my wine glass. Because you're the first person in five years to make me feel like
00:27:36looking at a man. Not like an opportunity or a threat. And because, when I saw you at midnight
00:27:43When I kissed her, something inside me awoke that I hadn't felt for a very long time.
00:27:50What is it? Hope. He said it simply. Without drama. Hope that someone can see me clearly.
00:27:58and doesn't run away. I don't know what I see. Honesty forced me to. I see a man,
00:28:05The one who kissed me at his party. The one who knew where I lived until morning. The one who owned an entire restaurant.
00:28:11He cleared out. Just to eat with me. I saw power and mystery, and I gestured vaguely.
00:28:20Rumors say you're associated with the kind of people who don't pay taxes. The rumors
00:28:27That's right. No hesitation. My family has been part of the organization in Chicago for four generations. I have
00:28:35I took over the management when my father died eight years ago. We have legitimate businesses. Real estate,
00:28:42Restaurants, construction. But we have other interests too. Things I won't lie to you about.
00:28:48I will. But I won't explain it in detail. Unless you specifically ask for it.
00:28:55Honesty should have made me flee. Instead, it strengthened something within me.
00:29:01Why are you telling me this? Because I don't want you to later claim you didn't know.
00:29:07who I was. What I am. He reached across the table. His fingers found mine. Because you deserve it.
00:29:15To choose with open eyes. If this leads anywhere. If anything leads anywhere. This.
00:29:22His thumb brushed against my ankles. You and I. Whatever this is. Nonna returned with two
00:29:30Plates of pasta that smelled of childhood, safety, and all things warm.
00:29:35Bucatini alla matriciana. Eat it before it gets cold. For the next hour we ate and talked about...
00:29:43Everything and nothing. He asked about my favorite books. And I confessed a secret
00:29:48Obsession with Agatha Christie. I asked about his work. And he described the headaches.
00:29:54in the administration of building permits in Chicago. Without admitting to bribing anyone.
00:30:00have. Although we both knew he probably had. He was being funny about it.
00:30:06A dry, understated manner. And when he smiled, really smiled, not just a quick smile.
00:30:12A flash of memories from last night transformed his entire face. "You don't smile enough," I said.
00:30:19before I could stop myself. I don't have much reason to. That's sad. That's life.
00:30:26He pushed his empty plate aside. My world isn't conducive to happiness, Irene. It's about
00:30:32Control, loyalty, and survival. Smiling is a luxury. So why are you smiling now? Because you're here.
00:30:39You are. Simple. Direct. Devastating. Nonna brought tiramisu and espresso. And when we were finished,
00:30:48It was after ten. The restaurant had completely emptied, so only we and the
00:30:53The muffled sounds of clattering dishes in the kitchen remained. Do you walk a little way with
00:30:59Me? Enrico offered me his hand. Outside, the Chicago January cold bit through my coat. Without
00:31:06To ask, Enrico slipped off his leather jacket and draped it over my shoulders. She swallowed it up.
00:31:12I smelled of cedar and of him. "You'll freeze to death," I protested. "I've got worse."
00:31:19I survived the cold. He led me along the sidewalk. His hand rested on my lower back.
00:31:26Besides, I like seeing you in my jacket. We walked in comfortable silence. The city was
00:31:32Silence surrounded us. A light snow had begun to fall, dusting the sidewalks and
00:31:38It nestled in my hair. Why did you really kiss me last night? I asked.
00:31:45The truth. This time. He stopped under a streetlamp. Snow swirled around us.
00:31:52around. Because I've spent the last eight years building walls. And you me.
00:31:58You managed to make me want to tear it down in thirty seconds of conversation. Because you looked at me,
00:32:04Like a problem that needs solving. Not like a prize that you win. And because… He
00:32:10He took my face in his hands. And I noticed they were ice cold. Because I'm tired of...
00:32:17To be alone. And you looked just as lonely as I felt. I am lonely. That
00:32:26The confession hurt. I'm 28. I'm drowning in debt. I work a job that barely pays the rent.
00:32:33I lost my mother two years ago. And she was everything I had. Most of the time.
00:32:40I'm just surviving. Not living. Just existing. Then let me change that. His forehead touched
00:32:48Mine. Let me take you out to dinner again. Let me learn what makes you laugh. Let
00:32:55I want to see if we can be lonely together, instead of alone. I know nothing about your world.
00:33:01Good. I don't want anyone from my world. I want you. The kiss was softer this time. Gentler.
00:33:09as if he were giving me space to withdraw. I didn't. Instead, I stood on the
00:33:15I stood on tiptoe and kissed him back. My hands gripped his sweater for balance.
00:33:22to hold on. Snow melted on our faces and the city disappeared. And for a moment, allowed
00:33:29I can't believe that a man like Enrico Sala would want someone like me for more than just one night.
00:33:36He might want to. As we separated, he smiled. That genuine smile that he
00:33:42transformed. I'll take that as a yes to a second dinner. Presumptuous. Hopeful. He kissed mine.
00:33:50Forehead. Come on. Markus is freezing to death in the car. The drive back to my apartment was silent. My hand was safe.
00:33:58In his neighborhood. At my house, he escorted me to the door despite my protests. This is not a good area.
00:34:05"For your sake," I warned. "Someone might recognize you." "Let them." He gently pushed me against the door.
00:34:11Another kiss. For happiness. This kiss was different. Harder. More possessive. A promise and a
00:34:19A demand, too. When he finally let go of me, my knees were trembling. Dinner tomorrow. His voice
00:34:27had become rough. With me. I'll cook. You cook. The nun insisted that all her grandchildren eat it.
00:34:34Learn. Say yes. Yes. His smile could have powered the city. Send me yours.
00:34:41Work schedule. I follow it. He waited until I was inside before going back to the car. And I
00:34:48I watched from my window as he drove off. My lips tingled. My body buzzed. And to
00:34:55For the first time in two years, I felt something other than grief and exhaustion. I felt
00:35:01Alive. My phone buzzed with a text message from an unknown number. Sleep well, beautiful. Tomorrow.
00:35:08It can't come soon enough. I fell asleep with my phone in my hand, with a smile on my face.
00:35:14And hope, which blossomed dangerously in my breast. Morning came. And then the next day. And the
00:35:21The next one after that. Dinners became regular appointments. Enrico cooked. Really cooked. He refused to
00:35:29to let me help him while he, with surprising grace, worked in his penthouse kitchen
00:35:34It moved us. We talked until the early morning about everything. From philosophy to our dearest friends.
00:35:40Childhood memories. He asked questions and actually listened to the answers. His concentration was focused on...
00:35:48He was completely me in a way that was both exciting and frightening. He never pushed for more than
00:35:55Kissing, even though the tension between us increased with every touch, every passionate glance. It was,
00:36:03as if he were waiting for something. Permission, perhaps. Or the assurance that I wasn't
00:36:09would run away. After three weeks, he took me to the Art Institute after closing time. That
00:36:15The entire museum was empty except for us and a security guard who called him Boss. We stood in front of
00:36:21Surats, a Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte. And he told me about his mother,
00:36:28who loved Impressionism and died when he was twelve. She called me every Sunday
00:36:34Brought here, he said. His hand found mine. She imagined stories about the people on
00:36:41from the paintings. Gave them life and dreams and a future. You miss them every day. He drew me in.
00:36:49closer to herself. She would have liked you. She always said I needed someone to challenge me.
00:36:56instead of just agreeing with everything I say. I definitely do. You do too. He kissed my temple.
00:37:05That's one of the things I like most about you. After four weeks, I learned more about his
00:37:11I knew the family. Cousins, uncles, business partners, whose exact roles I didn't ask about. They
00:37:18They treated me with warmth and respect, although I noticed the scrutinizing glances when they thought,
00:37:24I wouldn't look. Enrico Sala didn't bring women to family meals. Whatever this was about,
00:37:31It meant something. It should have scared me more than it did. After five weeks, it was urgent.
00:37:37Reality hit me. I was just leaving my shift at the nursing home when I saw him. My ex-boyfriend.
00:37:44Tyler. He was leaning against a familiar, battered Honda Civic, in which I had once spent too many hours.
00:37:50I had spent time with her. We had been together for nine months two years ago. Shortly before my mother
00:37:57died. He had promised to support me through her illness. Then he disappeared into
00:38:02the moment it became real work instead of abstract participation. Irene. He pushed off from the car,
00:38:10I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets. A long time ago. Not long enough. I tried to walk past him.
00:38:16But he blocked my way. Come on. Don't be like that. I was thinking of you. Thought,
00:38:23We could maybe go for a coffee, talk about old times. We don't have any old times.
00:38:30We have nine months in which you pretended to care and then proved you didn't.
00:38:36that it wasn't so. His expression hardened. That's not fair. The illness
00:38:43Your mother was hard for everyone. She was hard for me. You just couldn't bear it.
00:38:49Being with someone whose life wasn't Instagram-perfect. I avoided him.
00:38:56Goodbye, Tyler. I heard you're spending time with Enrico Sala. Those words made me feel like...
00:39:01I stood rooted to the spot. Is that right? Are you dating a gangster now? I turned around.
00:39:09Slow down. Who I spend time with is none of your business. It just looks odd. That's all.
00:39:15Two months ago you could barely pay the rent. Now you're riding in limousines with one of the best
00:39:21The connected guy from Chicago. His smile was ugly. What did you do, Irene? What did you have to do?
00:39:28What can you do to get his attention? The insinuation hit me like a ton of bricks. You must
00:39:34Go. Now. I'm just saying, a girl like you doesn't usually move in those circles. There
00:39:41One has to wonder what's really going on. Tyler, does he know you're using him? That you...
00:39:46probably just looking for someone to pay off your student loans, which are why you're always
00:39:51You were whining? Rage flooded through me. White-hot and cleansing. You had three seconds.
00:39:58Time to go before I make you regret this conversation. He laughed. You? Do you want to?
00:40:05Make me regret something? Come on, Irene. You're a caregiver,
00:40:10who earns 15 dollars an hour. You're not exactly threatening. But I am.
00:40:16Enrico's voice came from behind me, and Tyler went pale. I whirled around. Enrico was standing.
00:40:22ten meters away. Markus and another man I didn't know flanked him. All three of them
00:40:29They carried mines that could have frozen fires. Mr. Sala. Tyler's voice rose by one.
00:40:35Octave. I didn't. We were just talking about what Irene had to do.
00:40:41to get my attention. Enrico stepped forward with deadly grace. I heard it. Let
00:40:48Let me clarify this. Irene caught my attention by being intelligent,
00:40:53He was honest and kind. Three qualities you obviously lack. He stepped between me.
00:41:00And Tyler, a wall of controlled rage. And if I ever hear again that you're with her
00:41:06If you talk to them, talk about them, in any context, you will learn exactly why the
00:41:12People fear my name. Have we made ourselves clear? Tyler nodded so vigorously,
00:41:19I thought his neck might break. Fine. Get lost. He practically ran to his car.
00:41:25The tires squealed as he sped out of the parking lot. I let out a breath, from which I
00:41:31I didn't know I'd stopped him. You didn't have to do that. Yes,
00:41:36I had to. Enrico turned to me. His face softened. Are you okay?
00:41:43I'm fine. He's just… I shook my head. An ex who couldn't handle reality.
00:41:49Not important. He made innuendos about your character. That's important.
00:41:55His hand cupped my cheek. And wrong. So incredibly wrong.
00:42:01How did you know I was here? Marcus drives past your workplace.
00:42:06When your shift ends, make sure you get to your car safely.
00:42:10He must have seen my expression, because he quickly added, "No surveillance."
00:42:16Protection. This area isn't safe after dark. I would have been furious.
00:42:22They were supposed to be concerned about this intrusion into my privacy. Instead, a comforting warmth radiated through.
00:42:27My chest. You let Marcus look after me? For three weeks. Not a hint of apology.
00:42:35his tone. I know you can take care of yourself. But letting you do it alone,
00:42:41Having the means to keep you safe felt wrong.
00:42:47Enrico, come with me tonight. The request came suddenly. Intensely. Not because of, I mean,
00:42:54Unless you want to. But that's not why I'm asking. I just don't want to right now.
00:42:59That you're alone. Come home with me. Let me cook. Let me prove that you're not alone.
00:43:05That's what he said you are. I know I'm not what he said I was. Then let me
00:43:10to prove that I know it too. I looked into his eyes. Dark. Serious. Longing. And dared to...
00:43:17Another jump. Okay, yes. His exhalation was the personification of relief. Thank you.
00:43:24Marcus drove us to Enrico's penthouse, where he made carbonara while I worked on the countertop.
00:43:31sat and told him more about Tyler. About my mother's illness. About the months of mourning,
00:43:38who had completely consumed me. He called me during her funeral service.
00:43:43I heard myself say. He broke up with me via voicemail because he hurt my emotional state.
00:43:49I couldn't cope with her needs at that moment. I scattered her ashes and he took his
00:43:54Emotional range protected. Enrico's jaw hardened. But his hand remained gentle.
00:44:01while he was plating the pasta. Some men aren't strong enough to put someone through the pain.
00:44:06to love through it. That's her failure, not yours. And you? The question came up,
00:44:13before I could stop her. Are you strong enough? He put the plates down and stepped between them.
00:44:19My knees. His hands slid across my hips. I spent eight years in a world,
00:44:26in a place where showing weakness kills you, where trust is a currency and love is a risk.
00:44:33I learned to be strong because anything else meant ending up like my father.
00:44:40Betrayed by someone he trusted. Shot in the head and lying in an alley.
00:44:45calmly. My breath caught in my throat. Enrico, but with you? His forehead touched mine. With you I want to
00:44:54To be weak. I want to tell you when things are difficult. I want to lean on someone.
00:45:00being able to do everything myself. And that terrifies me, because I don't know
00:45:05How to be that kind of person. But I want to learn. For you. I want to learn. Then I kissed him.
00:45:13deep and desperate. And he answered immediately. His hands tightened on my hips and
00:45:20They pulled me closer. And I wrapped my legs around his waist. The kiss became hungry. Urgent.
00:45:26Months of tension finally found an outlet. Irene. My name was a moan on my lips.
00:45:34Tell me to stop. Don't stop. I pulled him closer. Don't you dare stop.
00:45:41Are you sure? I've never been so sure of anything. He carried me into his bedroom. A
00:45:47A huge room in shades of gray and navy. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of Chicago.
00:45:54A glittering skyline was unobstructed. The bed was enormous. The sheets were dark blue and obviously expensive.
00:46:00But when he laid me down, there was nothing cold or businesslike about the situation. He touched
00:46:07me, as if I were precious. Kissed every inch of skin he revealed. Whispered in Italian,
00:46:14I didn't understand it, but I felt it in my bones. We fell in love slowly,
00:46:19Carefully. His eyes never left mine. And when I burst in his arms,
00:46:25He held me tight. His own climax followed moments later with my name on it.
00:46:30his lips like a prayer. Afterwards, wrapped in his arms with my head on his
00:46:37On his chest, I traced the scars I had discovered. A gunshot wound near his
00:46:44Shoulder. Knife cuts along his ribs. A burn on his stomach. War wounds.
00:46:50he said softly. Reminders that my world is dangerous. Are you trying to...
00:46:56scare him away? I'm trying to be honest. His fingers were fighting through my hair because I was in
00:47:02I'm falling in love with you, Irene. And I need you to know what that means. Being with me,
00:47:09It comes with risks. People who would hurt you to get to me.
00:47:15Decisions I make that you might not agree with. A life,
00:47:21That's never quite safe or normal. I don't need normal. I kissed the scar near his.
00:47:29Collarbone. I need the real thing. And this. Us. This feels more real than anything.
00:47:37The best I've ever had. His arms tightened around me. Then stay. Not just tonight. Stay with me.
00:47:44Me. Move in. Let me look after you, just like you look after everyone else. It'll be quick.
00:47:52I'm 36. I've dated enough to know when something's different. You're different. This is...
00:48:00different. He lifted my chin and forced me to meet his eyes. I want you here,
00:48:05When I wake up. I want to come home to you. I want to. He paused. Seemed with the
00:48:12wrestling with words. I want a life that's more than just survival. With you, I see this.
00:48:18Option. I should have said no. I should have insisted on taking things slower.
00:48:24to tackle it. To preserve independence. To protect myself. Instead, I said,
00:48:31Okay. Yes. I'll stay. His kiss was an answer, a promise, and a beginning all at once. I pulled on this
00:48:41I spent the weekend in his penthouse. My few possessions looked absurd in his enormous space.
00:48:46Rooms. But Enrico treated each piece with reverence. My mother's cookbook. Mine
00:48:52Nursing textbooks. The worn-out mug I'd had since college. It created space. Not just in
00:48:59not just in his home, but in his life. He freed up drawers and closet space. He added
00:49:05he added my name to the security list of his building and introduced me to his doorman as someone
00:49:10Important things came before. The next two months were a dream, waking up in his arms. Together
00:49:17Cooking breakfast before my shifts. Coming to his house, as he was with food and
00:49:23He was waiting for conversations. He attended a fundraising event at my nursing home and
00:49:29He donated a sum that brought tears of gratitude to my supervisor's eyes. I learned more from his
00:49:35I know the family, including his fearsome Uncle Salvatore, who treated me like a
00:49:41He studied the exhibit before announcing that I had good bones and strong blood. Whatever.
00:49:48That meant... But beneath the happiness, I carried the weight of his world. The phone calls he made on
00:49:55Italian led. As he stepped out of the room, with tension in his shoulders. The nights,
00:50:01in which he came home late, with a violence in his eyes that he tried to hide,
00:50:07before he kissed me. The partners who came to visit and fell silent when I entered the room.
00:50:15"I don't need to know the details," I told him one night after a particularly stressful week.
00:50:22But I need to know that you're safe. I'm always safe. He pulled me onto his lap. I
00:50:28I now have too much that makes life worth living. Enrico, I love you. The words were whispered.
00:50:35That's intense. I know it's only been three months. I know time flies. But I love you.
00:50:41Irene. And that means I will do everything necessary to keep coming back home to you.
00:50:48I'm coming. Tears burned in my eyes. I love you too. So much that it scares me. Good.
00:50:56He kissed me gently. Fear means you understand what's at stake. But let yourself
00:51:02Don't let it paralyze you. Trust me to protect us both. I truly trusted him. That was
00:51:09The scary part. March arrived with a late winter storm and an unexpected development.
00:51:16I was pregnant. I stared at the test in my bathroom. Enrico's bathroom. Ours.
00:51:22Bathroom. Panic and joy battled in my chest. We had been careful. Mostly.
00:51:29But obviously not carefully enough. Or perhaps just not very careful.
00:51:35as we had convinced ourselves. I was twenty-eight. Working a job,
00:51:41who barely paid enough to support myself. In a relationship that simultaneously the
00:51:46It was the most stable and dangerous situation of my life. I was in no position to have a baby.
00:51:52But the thought of not having it, of not having that part of Enrico and me combined,
00:51:58That was unthinkable. Irene? Enrico's voice came through the door. You've been in there for 20 minutes. Are you okay?
00:52:06Good? I opened the door, the test in my hand, unable to form words. He stared at the two.
00:52:13Pink lines. Then onto me. Then back to the test. You're pregnant, my voice broke. I am
00:52:20pregnant. The silence stretched over three heartbeats. Four. Five. Then he sank down.
00:52:27He knelt before me. His hands framed my still-flat stomach. And he looked up at me with eyes
00:52:34Full of wonder. And fear. And hope. We're having a baby. No question. A fact. A
00:52:42Truth. We're having a baby. Are you… Is that… I couldn't finish the sentence. Am I
00:52:51Happy? He stood up and pulled me into his arms. Irene, I'm terrified. I am
00:52:58Unprepared. I have no idea how to be a father. But yes. God, yes, I am happy. He
00:53:05He kissed me. Deeply and thoroughly. We're having a baby. The relief almost made me faint. I
00:53:12I thought maybe you would. I didn't know if you... Wanted that? Wanted you. Wanted us. He took
00:53:22My face in his hands. I want everything with you. Every chaotic, scary, beautiful thing.
00:53:31A piece of it. His hand returned to my stomach. Including this part. Especially this part.
00:53:37Here. We told his family that weekend at Sunday lunch at Nonna's. She cried,
00:53:45He blessed me in Italian and immediately threw himself into plans for a children's room. His uncle
00:53:51Salvatore looked pleased. As if I had passed some test I didn't know about.
00:53:57that I did it. His cousins toasted with Prosecco, which I wasn't allowed to drink. Their acceptance was
00:54:03Warm and genuine. For the first time since my mother's death, I felt like I was somewhere.
00:54:10To belong. As if I had a family again. I should have known it couldn't last.
00:54:16April brought spring and complications. Someone, a partner of Salvatore, explained Enrico
00:54:24Cautiously, the family had revealed what a delivery cost them and almost cost Enrico his life.
00:54:31He had been ambushed in a warehouse. He came home at three in the morning with blood on his face.
00:54:37His shirt. Not his, he assured me. And murder in his eyes. I cleaned the wound on his arm,
00:54:44while he was making phone calls in Italian. His voice was expressionless and cold, in a way,
00:54:51which reminded me exactly who he was. What he was capable of. "That's not certain," I said.
00:54:58when he finally hung up. Your world. Our baby. We will be protected. Steel in his
00:55:05Voice. I swear to you, Irene. Nothing will touch you or our child. You can't.
00:55:11Promise. Watch me. He pulled me towards him. I've already increased security. Markus will
00:55:18You drive to and from work. We're installing cameras throughout the building. And anyone who sees you
00:55:24Anyone who even looks at it askance will regret it. Enrico, that's non-negotiable. Absolute certainty. You
00:55:30You are carrying my child. That makes you the most important person in my world and the greatest goal for anyone.
00:55:37who wants to hurt me. So safety isn't optional. It's mandatory. I wanted
00:55:44I disagreed. But the fear in his eyes, stillness, genuine fear, held me back. Okay,
00:55:52I whispered. Okay. He held me tight that night, as if I could disappear. And I felt the
00:55:59The first real crack in our perfect bubble. May arrived with heat and morning sickness,
00:56:05which left me exhausted. Enrico handled it with a patience I hadn't expected.
00:56:12I held my hair back, kept ginger, an awl, and crackers ready. I canceled meetings to be with me on the
00:56:18Sitting on the bathroom floor when it was particularly bad. I'm sorry, I gasped after a
00:56:25Especially a hard morning. That's disgusting. That's you, the way you carry our child. He wiped it off me.
00:56:31Wipe your face with a cool cloth. Nothing about it could be disgusting. But the sweetness of these moments.
00:56:38was undermined by growing tension. Enrico worked longer hours and came home later. His phone
00:56:45He kept calling because of problems that tensed his jaw and hardened his eyes.
00:56:52I asked what was wrong, he kissed my forehead and said, "Business. Nothing to worry about."
00:56:58You would have to do it. The rejection hurt. But I understood. He was protecting me on the
00:57:05The only way he knew, by keeping me away from his darker world. The final one.
00:57:11Bruch came at the end of May at a charity gala that I had reluctantly agreed to attend.
00:57:17I was twelve weeks pregnant, finally out of the danger zone of the first trimester. And
00:57:24Enrico had insisted that I be seen by his side. Show everyone,
00:57:30"That you belong to me," he had said, "that you will be protected." I was wearing an emerald green
00:57:36A dress that hid my slight bump, and I felt out of place among Chicago's elite in
00:57:43her diamonds and designer labels. Enrico held me close, his hand possessively against me.
00:57:49I was at my waist and introducing myself to business partners and family friends. That's when I saw him.
00:57:56Tyler, of all people, was standing at the other end of the room in a suit that I knew existed
00:58:02that he couldn't afford it, and spoke with a man I knew from the newspapers,
00:58:07the underboss of a rival family.
00:58:10Enrico. I grabbed his arm. My ex is here. Tyler, he's talking. The Luke Man. His voice
00:58:17He turned ice-cold. Stay here. What? No? Enrico! But he was already moving. Markus and two others
00:58:25Men flanked him. I watched as they approached Tyler. Saw my ex turn pale. Saw that
00:58:33A quick conversation, which I couldn't hear over the music in the ballroom. Then Tyler turned around. His
00:58:40Eyes found me across the room. And he smiled. He began talking to Deluka's partner about me.
00:58:45I approached, and my heart pounded wildly against my ribs. Something was wrong. Very wrong. They were holding
00:58:52Tyler stood three meters away. His smile widened. Irene, you look… different. Radiant, even.
00:59:01His gaze slid to my stomach, and I instinctively pressed a hand to it, protectively. Oh my God,
00:59:08Are you pregnant? That's none of your business. I looked past him at Enrico, who was pushing his way through the crowd.
00:59:14paved the way. His expression was murderous. You have to go. I just find it interesting. That is
00:59:21Everything. The last time we spoke, you could barely pay the rent. Now you're letting
00:59:27Get pregnant by Chicago's notorious Mafia boss. Wear designer clothes and live in a penthouse.
00:59:34He stepped closer. His voice grew louder. I suppose you still have your ticket to the
00:59:40Found prosperity. You have to leave, I said quietly. Right now. Or what? Your friend
00:59:47Does that make me do that? I'm under Delukas's protection now, Irene. Sala can't touch me.
00:59:54without starting a war. His eyes glittered maliciously. So let me say,
00:59:59What I have to say. Everyone here knows exactly what you are. A gold digger looking for the richest
01:00:05The guy she could find spread his legs and got pregnant to have him with her
01:00:11to bind. You. Finish this sentence and you will regret it. Enrico's voice was death itself. He
01:00:21I stood behind Tyler. Every line of his body exuded violence. Around us was the ballroom.
01:00:27Silence fell. Everyone watched. Tyler spun around. Fear and bravado battled on his face.
01:00:33I'm just stating facts. She got pregnant incredibly fast for someone who...
01:00:39whom I love. Enrico walked past Tyler. His hand found mine and pulled me protectively against
01:00:46His side, which carries my child, which is under my protection in every respect. His free
01:00:53His hand rested on mine, on my small bulge. A gesture that was both intimate and
01:00:59was possessive. And if you ever speak of her again, Deluca's protection will protect you.
01:01:06Not saving you. Do you understand? Tyler's smile turned ugly. He looked at my stomach again.
01:01:13Then Enrico. Your child? Really? How can you even be sure that it… He finished
01:01:21never said the sentence. Enrico moved with terrifying speed. His hand closed around
01:01:27Tyler's throat was clamped down, and he was pushed back until he slammed into a pillar. The entire ballroom gasped.
01:01:34for air. That's my son. Enrico's voice was barely more than a whisper, but it carried far and wide.
01:01:41Audible. Mine. And anyone who claims otherwise will find out how far I'll go.
01:01:47To protect what's mine. Enrico. I touched his shoulder. He's not worth it. He
01:01:55He treated you disrespectfully. He treated our child disrespectfully. His grip tightened.
01:02:02Just a little more. It's all worth it. Starting a war over it isn't. I moved closer.
01:02:08Closer. My hand covered his. Please. For me. Let him go. The muscles in his jaw.
01:02:16worked. Then he slowly let go of Tyler, who slumped against the pillar, gasping for air. Enrico
01:02:23He turned to me, took my face in his hands, his back to Tyler and everyone else.
01:02:30You're right. He's nothing. You and our baby. You're everything. He raised his voice and turned
01:02:37to the room. Let me make this clear for everyone here. Irene Volkow is the mother of my
01:02:43My child. She is under my complete protection. Anyone who harms her, threatens her, or even...
01:02:50Anyone who speaks disrespectfully about her will have to answer to me personally. Say it.
01:02:56Onward. Then he kissed me. Deeply, possessively, demandingly. In front of the most powerful families.
01:03:05Chicago's. As he withdrew, his gaze held mine. I love you and I claim,
01:03:13which is mine. Applause erupted around us. Really, I thought, even if perhaps only out of relief.
01:03:20about the fact that violence had been avoided. Tyler had disappeared, and Enrico's hand remained protective.
01:03:27over my stomach as we made our way out of the Gala. I stopped the trembling in the car.
01:03:33Finally, I said, "I'm sorry." Enrico pulled me onto his lap. I wouldn't have been able to control it.
01:03:39I'm allowed to lose. But when I heard him hint that our baby wasn't mine,
01:03:44His jaw tightened. I saw red. You had claimed us. My voice was small.
01:03:51Above all. I have that. No excuse. Because you belong to me, Irene. You and our son. And
01:03:58I need every family in Chicago to know that touching you means war. You have a son.
01:04:04I said. I touched his face. How do you know that? His smile was brief, but genuine. I know.
01:04:12No. But I hope so. A son with your heart and my stubbornness. A child we'll do better.
01:04:20We could raise them, like we were raised. A family. He pressed his forehead against mine. I
01:04:26I love you. More than I knew I could love anyone. And I will for the rest of my life.
01:04:33Spend time proving it. I love you too. I kissed him gently. Even if you
01:04:40You're terrifying. Especially when I'm terrifying. His hand rested
01:04:46flat on my stomach. Because that's when I protect you both. We drove through the spring night.
01:04:53from Chicago back home. And I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, we could.
01:05:00We could create that. That love could bridge the gap between his world and mine. That
01:05:08That our child could grow up safely despite everything. I was wrong about the part regarding safety. But
01:05:15I was right about love. That would prove sufficient. June arrived with heat and
01:05:21unexpected complications. I was folding laundry on a Saturday afternoon when the cramps started.
01:05:27began. Sharp. Deep. Wrong. When Enrico dropped me off at the hospital, I was sobbing in pain.
01:05:36and fear. The baby, I kept saying. Please, the baby. Everything is alright. The emergency doctor was
01:05:43Calmly and efficiently. But you're having contractions. We'll stop them. But you have to be prepared for the foreseeable future.
01:05:49You will need to stay in bed from now on. Your pregnancy is now considered high-risk.
01:05:58Bed rest. The words hit like bullets. Enrico's hand squeezed mine while the doctor discussed complications.
01:06:06He explained the medication and monitoring. When we finally got home, he carried me despite
01:06:12My protests led me to bed and I began to orient our entire lives around keeping me in a horizontal position.
01:06:19to keep. I'll call your supervisor at the nursing home, he said, already dialing. You're taking time off.
01:06:28Enrico, I can't just quit. Not quit. Vacation. Paid vacation. His tone tolerated
01:06:36No objection. I've already spoken with the management. They'll gladly come and see us.
01:06:41towards me. You have with my… I struggled to sit up. And he gently pushed me back down.
01:06:47back. You can't just make decisions about my job. I can, if your job...
01:06:53and puts our baby in danger. His expression softened. Irene, please. Let me do this. Let me
01:07:01I'll take care of you. I wanted to disagree, but exhaustion and fear won out. Okay. But that's
01:07:09Only temporarily. Of course. He kissed my forehead. Temporarily. Bed rest was her whole
01:07:16My own hell. I had spent my life taking care of others. To be the one,
01:07:22The care she needed felt wrong. Suffocating. Enrico hired a nurse.
01:07:27who looked after me during the day while he was at work, furnished the bedroom with books and
01:07:33I turned off my laptop and even set up a television when I admitted to watching reality shows out of sheer boredom.
01:07:41to watch. I feel useless, I told him one night as he was serving me dinner on a
01:07:47He brought a tray. You're helping our child grow. That's not useless. He sat down next to me and
01:07:54fed me pasta as if I were incapable of holding a fork. And even if you didn't
01:07:59If you were pregnant, you could never be useless to me. You are everything. Flatterer,
01:08:05Truth teller. He kissed me gently. I know this is hard. But it's temporary. And in the end...
01:08:12We'll have our son. Or our daughter. His smile was gentle. Or our daughter.
01:08:19who will be as stubborn as her mother and twice as beautiful. The weeks crept by. July arrived.
01:08:26with oppressive heat and a baby who liked to kick my ribs. Our ultrasound in the
01:08:33The twentieth week confirmed that we were having a boy. Enrico's prediction was correct. And
01:08:39He promptly commissioned a children's room that looked like it came straight out of a home decor magazine.
01:08:44"That's too much," I protested from my forced position in bed, as he showed me photos.
01:08:51He showed off hand-carved furniture from Italy. Nothing is too much for him. For you. He let
01:08:57He lay down beside me. His hand found my now clearly visible bulge. I want to,
01:09:03That our son has everything. Especially everything I didn't have. What didn't you have? His
01:09:14A father who came home in the evening. He looked at me. I want to be better than my father was.
01:09:20But I don't know how to do that. And still remain who I am. Be precise.
01:09:27The one who you are. I covered his hand with mine. A man who is relentless when he has it.
01:09:34He must be. And gentle when it matters. A man who protects his family above all else.
01:09:41That's what our son needs. You have too much faith in me. I have exactly the right thing.
01:09:47Measure. I pulled him down for a kiss. And stop being so melodramatic. You'll become a
01:09:54He was a fantastic father. He wanted to believe me. I could see it in his eyes. August brought
01:10:01Another complication. His family. Nonna showed up at our door with enough food to feed an army.
01:10:09to provide for her and the determination to prepare the girl for motherhood. For two weeks.
01:10:15She practically moved in with us. She taught me family recipes. She told me stories about Enrico as a child.
01:10:23and gave advice ranging from brilliant to bizarre. "You need to eat more," she emphasized, and
01:10:29I ladled soup into a bowl. The baby needs to be strong. I'm constantly eating. I feel like a
01:10:36Whale. Whales are magnificent creatures. Powerful. Beautiful. She sat down next to me. And you're wearing the
01:10:44Next paying heir. That makes you a nobleman in this family. I am not a nobleman. I am a
01:10:50A caregiver who became pregnant. Her hand covered mine. You are the woman who gave birth to my grandson.
01:10:57Loves. The woman who taught him to smile again. That makes you more valuable than anyone.
01:11:02Title. She drew closer. But between you and me? The pregnancy helped. This family needs
01:11:09New blood. Fresh perspectives. You're good for us. It should have felt like pressure. Instead...
01:11:16It felt like acceptance. Uncle Salvatore also came to visit, bringing his wife Rosa.
01:11:23and her three children with her. While the children played in the living room, Salvatore looked me over with
01:11:29those scrutinizing eyes. "My nephew is different with you," he finally said. "Softer." That could be in
01:11:37In our world, this is interpreted as a weakness. Should I apologize for that? I encountered
01:11:44His gaze was direct. His smile was brief. No. Because this softness is only visible in you.
01:11:50With everyone else, he's tougher than before. More focused. More dangerous. He leaned back.
01:11:57Before. Love doesn't make a man weak, girl. It makes him deadly, because now he has something to do with it.
01:12:03has to protect him. I don't want him to be deadly. I want him to be safe. In our world,
01:12:09The same thing. He stood up. Take care of him and the baby. You're part of the family now.
01:12:16After they left, I cried. Hormones, feeling overwhelmed, and a strange sense of relief.
01:12:23of belonging. September arrived with cooler temperatures and an unexpected gift.
01:12:30Enrico took a week off. The first time since I'd known him. A week? I could see my
01:12:37Don't hide the shock. You're taking a whole week off to be with yourself before the baby arrives.
01:12:44He came. He sank down onto the bed and pulled me against his side to prove that you
01:12:50You are more important than the business. We spent the week talking and reading baby books together.
01:12:56to read and to argue good-naturedly about names. He wanted Alessandro. I wanted something less.
01:13:03Traditional. We agreed on Alexander, with permission to call him Xander for short.
01:13:09"Alexander Sala," Enrico said, testing the name. "It's strong. Classic. It's perfect." I kissed him.
01:13:18Him. Just like his father. His father is far from perfect. His father is perfect for me.
01:13:25I took his hand and placed it where our son was practicing kickboxing against my ribs.
01:13:31Do you feel that? He is strong. Amazement resonated in his voice. Just like his mother. It will be us
01:13:39Things will go well, won't they? The question surprised me. Despite everything. Your world. My fears. All of it.
01:13:46Complications. We'll manage this. We'll manage more than this. He turned around like this,
01:13:53that we were face to face. We are going to build something incredible. A
01:14:00Family. One life. One life in which our son knows every single day that he is loved.
01:14:07Promised? I promise. He kissed me gently. You, me, and Alexander against the rest of the world. It sounded
01:14:16Like an oath. I chose to believe it was one he could keep. October brought
01:14:22My examination was in the 34th week and I was cleared for limited activities. After months
01:14:29During bed rest, I felt as if I had been released from prison. Very slowly,
01:14:36Enrico cautioned me as I moved around the penthouse and relearned how to exist vertically.
01:14:42The doctor said to limit activities. Going from the bedroom to the living room,
01:14:47It's a limited activity. But I let him have his way and secretly enjoyed his concern. We
01:14:54We ventured out for the first time in months. Just a walk around the block. But it felt...
01:15:01It felt like freedom. The city had transformed while I was resting in bed. Autumn was with
01:15:06its splashes of color and the cool air, which felt like a blessing after the summer heat.
01:15:13I missed that, I admitted. My hand in his. Just being outside. Being normal.
01:15:21We'll do this every day now. He pulled me closer to him.
01:15:26I want you to remember how it feels. To be more than just a shell for
01:15:32Our child. I never felt like just an empty shell to you. Good. He stopped and turned me around.
01:15:38to
01:15:39turn around. Because it's not you. You are Irene. The woman who challenges me. Who loves me.
01:15:46Even though she knows what I am. The one who's about to make me a father. He kissed me there on the sidewalk.
01:15:52Chicago teemed around us. You are everything. I cried as he pulled away. Hormones. Love. He
01:15:59He wiped away my tears. Come on. Let's get you home before you catch a cold. Home.
01:16:05His penthouse had become our home. The place where we would bring our son. The place,
01:16:12on which we would build our impossible lives. I allowed myself to believe that it would be enough.
01:16:18would. November arrived with the first snow and winds that took us to the hospital at two o'clock in the morning.
01:16:25let them speed. It's too early, I gasped, as Enrico practically carried me to the car. He's only just arrived in the
01:16:3236th week. That's mature enough. He was calm and composed. But I felt the trembling in his
01:16:39Hands. You'll be okay. He'll be okay. I've got you. The birth lasted 23 hours full of
01:16:48Pain, fear, and exhaustion. Enrico never left my side. Let me crush his hand.
01:16:55Wiped the sweat from my brow, whispered words of encouragement in English and Italian. You are
01:17:00"So strong," he kept saying. "So perfect. You can do it. I can't. It hurts. You can do it."
01:17:08You're doing it right now. Breathe with me. Exactly like that. Perfect. At 3:00 PM, 9:40 AM on November 2nd, [he] entered
01:17:18Alexander
01:17:18Enrico Sala, driven from his warm home, shouted his displeasure at being driven out of the world.
01:17:24to be. He's perfect, the doctor said, placing him on my chest. Congratulations. I looked
01:17:32down at my son. Red-faced. Furious. Absolutely beautiful. And I felt my heart leap up.
01:17:41expanded in a way I hadn't thought possible. Hello, little one, I whispered. We have been on
01:17:48You were waiting. Enrico was crying. I looked up and saw tears running down his face as he held our son.
01:17:54stared. Enrico? He's real. His voice broke. He's here and he's real. And he belongs to us. He
01:18:05It belongs to us. I reached out my hand to him. Come and meet your son. He approached,
01:18:13It was as if Alexander might break. His hand trembled as he touched our baby's tiny fingers.
01:18:20Hello, Alexander. I'm your dad. And I promise you. I swear on everything I am. I will...
01:18:27Protect. Always, Alexander yawned, unimpressed by the explanation. And we both laughed through our tears.
01:18:35My sister took him with her to the hospital for measurements, and Enrico kissed me. Softly, reverently, full of emotion.
01:18:43"You're incredible," he said. "You just gave me everything." We gave each other everything.
01:18:50I touched his face. Now we just have to keep him alive. I can do that.
01:18:57Confidence returned to his voice. Keeping people alive is my specialty.
01:19:04We brought Alexander home three days later to a penthouse that had been turned into a fortress of baby safety.
01:19:11had been transformed. Security had been doubled, and Enrico had attacked me.
01:19:16Protesters hired a night nurse. Only for the first month, he emphasized. So that you...
01:19:23You could rest. But I couldn't rest. I spent hours watching Alexander sleep.
01:19:29to watch and admire his tiny perfections. Enrico's nose, my mouth, a temperament,
01:19:37who seemed determined to keep us on our toes. "He's going to cause trouble," Enrico said one night.
01:19:44as we took turns carrying a crying Alexander through the children's room.
01:19:49I can tell you right now. He's your son. Of course he'll cause trouble. Our son. He took me
01:19:55Alexander calmed him down immediately. And he's perfect. Seeing Enrico with our son,
01:20:03He broke and healed something within me at the same time. He was gentle, patient, and attentive in a way that...
01:20:11whom I had never seen before. The ruthless mafia boss disappeared and was replaced by a man.
01:20:17He replaced the one who sang Italian lullabies at three in the morning and changed diapers without complaint.
01:20:25December arrived with holidays and an unexpected visitor. I was breastfeeding Alexander.
01:20:32I was just in the living room when the doorman called. Miss Wolkow, this is Cassie Thompson.
01:20:38who wants to visit her. Cassie, my best friend, whom I hadn't seen since
01:20:43That New Year's Eve party where it all started. Send her upstairs. She came with apologies.
01:20:51and excitement alike. I'm the worst girlfriend ever. I know.
01:20:57I had an insane amount of work and… Oh my God. Is that your baby? That's Alexander. I moved
01:21:04She adjusted him so she could see his face. He is three weeks old. He is beautiful. She
01:21:10She sat down next to me. Her eyes filled with tears. "Irene, I'm so sorry. I should have
01:21:17We should be here. I should have… You're here now. I squeezed her hand. That's what matters. We
01:21:24We spent the afternoon exchanging ideas. I told her edited versions of the past
01:21:30Years. Meeting Enrico, falling in love, the pregnancy and Alexander's birth. She told
01:21:38I told her about her promotion, her new apartment, and the guy she was dating who might finally be the one for her.
01:21:45"For once, I was being decent. You seem happy," she finally said. "Really happy. Truly happy." That
01:21:54That's me. The realization surprised me. Despite the fact that everything is complicated and frightening.
01:22:01It is. And not at all how I had planned it. I'm happy. Good. You deserve it.
01:22:07She looked around the penthouse. It's all so surreal, you know. Last year you could hardly
01:22:13Pay the rent. And now you live in a penthouse with Chicago's most eligible bachelor.
01:22:20and a baby. "Once coveted," Enrico's voice came from the doorway. "Hello Cassie. Mr. Sala." She jumped
01:22:29I didn't know you were home. I live here. He stepped over to where I was sitting and kissed my
01:22:35forehead, before he reached for Alexander. And you can call me Enrico. Every friend of Irene belongs to the
01:22:42Family. I watched him with our son, then looked into Cassie's stunned face and felt
01:22:49That same surge of impossible bliss. That was my life now. Complicated.
01:22:57Dangerous. Unorthodox. Perfect. The new year arrived quietly. Just Enrico, Alexander, and me in our
01:23:06Penthouse, while we watched the fireworks over the lake. Last year at this time I
01:23:12"I kissed you at my party," said Enrico. Alexander was asleep on his shoulder. I had no
01:23:18I had a feeling you would change everything. I could say that too. I leaned against him. A kiss and
01:23:25My whole world has changed. Regret? Not a bit. I looked at our sleeping son. The
01:23:33A man who had somehow become my everything. And you? I just wish I hadn't met you sooner.
01:23:41I have. He kissed me while fireworks exploded outside. Happy New Year, my love.
01:23:48"Happy New Year," I whispered back. Down below, Chicago was celebrating new beginnings. Inside, we held fast to...
01:23:56The beginning, which we had already established. Chaotic and complicated. And more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.
01:24:05I can imagine. The new year began with a kiss. Just like the last one. But this time I wasn't
01:24:13Alone. This time I had everything.
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