"Throw him out!" Luca barked, giving Asher one last hard shove toward the lobby doors. The two security guards in black suits caught Asher by the arms before he could stumble, gripping him firmly.
Asher twisted against their hold with his veins standing out on his neck. "Luca, you’ve already taken everything from ! Tell them, tell all your fucking employees what you really are!"
Heads were turning. Whispers rippled through the open-plan office. Phones were already out, a few people angling for a better shot, eyes wide with the thrill of workplace drama.
Sara felt her stomach drop.
She’d been standing near the reception desk, watching the whole ugly scene unfold, and now she moved fast. If Asher started screaming the truth about Luca’s real identity here, in front of half the company, everything he had built could co crashing down.
"Let him go," Sara said calmly as she reached the guards.
The n hesitated, glancing at Luca for confirmation. Luca’s frown deepened, dark eyes narrowing at his wife in confusion and irritation. "Sara—"
She didn’t look at him yet. Just held the guards’ gazes until they loosened their grip and stepped back. Asher straightened his rumpled jacket, breathing hard, staring between her and Luca like he couldn’t believe his luck.
Sara finally turned to her husband. "We don’t need a spectacle in the lobby," she said for his ears only.
Fabio quickly addressed all the employees that had gathered there. "Everyone, please get back to work."
She faced Asher squarely. "Follow ."
Without waiting for an answer, Sara turned and strode in the opposite direction, toward the quieter wing of executive eting rooms. Asher hesitated only a second, then fell in behind her.
Luca’s eyes darkened; he wasn’t about to let his wife be alone with this man, not even for a minute. He followed her closely.
Sara pushed open the door to the smallest conference room, where the curtains already drawn against the afternoon sun.
She bit her bottom lip out of habit, then let the words out in a rush.
"What the hell was that out there?" Her voice shook just slightly. "I thought we were done. I let you walk away after everything you did to ."
Asher let out a bitter laugh. "Let walk? You didn’t stop him, Sara. You stood there while Luca ruined , bankrupted my family, stripped us of everything. That’s why I ca here today. To let every single person in this building know exactly what kind of monsters you both are."
Sara rolled her eyes just as Luca stepped fully into the room behind her.
"Get the fuck out," Luca growled.
Asher’s smirk only widened. He pulled his phone from his pocket and held it up like a weapon. "Tell your husband to shut his mouth, or I swear I’ll burn everything down." The screen glowed with a paused video. "I’ve got it all right here. One tap and it goes live, every social platform I have. The whole world will finally know Luca’s a mafia boss hiding behind this shiny legitimate business."
His eyes flicked between them and an ugly grin stretching across his face.
Luca’s lips curled in disgust. "You think I’m going to beg?" He took a deliberate step forward like a predator. "You think that little video scares ?"
"Luca—" Sara started. "Calm down. I’m handling this."
He didn’t even glance at her.
Asher’s thumb hovered over the screen. "I’m serious. One more step and I hit send."
Luca didn’t break stride and challenged him, "Then do it."
Asher was about to share the video when Luca kicked his wrist and the phone fell onto the floor. He caught Asher’s arm instantly, twisted it and slamd his hand on the conference table.
It all happened so fast Sara barely had ti to react.
She dropped to one knee, snatching the phone from the floor. Her thumb hovered over delete, but she didn’t press it.
Instead she looked up.
Asher’s face was crushed against the white tabletop with one eye visible. Luca lood over him as his body pinning the smaller man down.
"Luca—let go!" Asher’s voice ca out muffled and strained, nowhere near the shout he wanted.
Luca leaned in closer. "I can show you exactly what a real mafia does to bloodsucking leeches like you. I gave you one chance to stay the hell away from Sara, from . You just threw it away." His fingers tightened until Asher hissed in pain. "Doors of hell are wide open to welco you. I’ll send you there."
Asher forced a ragged laugh. "Do it, then," he growled. "Let your wife watch the monster she married. Go on, you criminal—"
"Luca," Sara cut in. "Let him go."
Luca didn’t even stop at her demand. "No, Sara. Last ti I went easy because you asked to. This ti he brought it on himself."
"Luca," she said again, "let Asher go. Please."
Luca’s eyes flicked up to Sara’s. Slowly and reluctantly, his fingers uncurled from Asher’s arm. He stepped back, letting the man go.
Asher staggered upright, rolling his shoulder with a wince, rubbing at his wrist. A smug little chuckle escaped him as he straightened his tie.
"See?" he said, voice hoarse but dripping with satisfaction. "Your wife still listens to ."
"Shut your mouth," Sara cut in sharply. She’d already deleted the video, then tossed the phone toward him. It thudded against his chest; he fumbled but caught it, clutching it like a lifeline.
"You think blackmail’s going to get you anywhere?" she asked, shaking just a little with old anger. "Don’t forget what you did to , Asher. You almost buried Falcone Industries. You lied, you sched, you dragged everyone associated with it through hell. They all paid for it. It was your turn."
She took a breath, holding his gaze without flinching.
"Show a real proof that Luca ruined your company out of revenge. If you’ve got nothing but your wounded pride, then keep quiet. Because what you pulled today shows what kind of man you are?" Her lip curled with disgust. "Storming in here, making a spectacle... Didn’t make you look cool, but a fool."
Asher’s smirk faltered. "Don’t lecture , Sara."
"I’m not lecturing you," she said softly, almost sadly. "I’m showing you a mirror of your traits." She stepped closer. "You could’ve gone straight to the dia with your little video. Posted it from your ho. But no, you had to co here, shout it in front of everyone, make sure I’d see you do it. You wanted the drama. You wanted to hurt one more ti."
Her eyes glistened with tears.
"And since you’ve opened this door again... You should know I’ll walk right through it. I’ll file the official complaint for fraud. For everything you did. I have the evidence, Asher. I just chose to let you go because in my eyes you’ve got the punishnt, but I think I was wrong." She snickered at the end.
"So if there’s even a scrap of conscience left in you, you need to stay away from . Threatening with Luca’s na won’t pave a way for you. You know more than what my husband can do to you. And as I said before the fraud you committed with Frida, you still haven’t paid for it."
Sara felt this was the best way to handle the situation in a more professional manner.
"Sara, I never wanted to do that," Asher said, his voice suddenly dropping, losing its edge. He rubbed his wrist, eyes flickering with sothing that almost looked like regret. "Frida just—"
"I don’t want to hear it," Sara cut him off, quiet but firm, her gaze locked on his. "Not about Frida. Not about anything you did to . What we had... It was my mistake. A huge one. You’re the one person I want completely erased from my life."
Asher’s face tightened, but he didn’t look away. "Frida and I are done. You really think Luca’s going to keep you happy?" His tone turned bitter again before turning sharper. "He’s mafia, Sara. One day he’ll have to choose between you and his business. And you won’t win. That’s the world he lives in. He will sacrifice you for his line."
Sara didn’t flinch at his statent.
"I love him. I don’t need explanations from people who never really knew him. I know the man he is. He’d burn the entire world down for before he’d ever sacrifice ."
She took a small step forward, close enough that Asher had to et her eyes.
"You’ve got your answers now. So walk out that door and keep walking. If you ever pull sothing like this again, if you even think about coming near us, I’ll file that complaint. Everything you did will co out, and no one will stop you from ending up behind bars."
Asher’s brows drew together. He held her stare for a long second.
Then he turned, and glared at Luca before leaving.
He didn’t look back as he walked out of their sight.
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