Chapter 2 - The Doctor's Visit
The west wing of the Rossi manor was strictly off-limits to everyone except Julian and his innermost circle. It was a sanctuary of dark wood, leather, and silence. Julian guided Sophia to a plush leather sofa, making sure her burned arm rested carefully on a velvet pillow.
Dr. Aris, a discreet physician who had patched up more bullet wounds than he could count, arrived less than three minutes later. He worked quickly, applying a cooling, medicated salve to the angry red blisters forming on Sophia's skin, followed by a sterile gauze wrap.
"Second-degree burns," Dr. Aris noted, packing his black leather bag. "She's lucky she was wearing long sleeves, or it would have blistered straight to the muscle. Keep it dry. I'll leave painkillers."
"Thank you, Aris," Julian said, dismissing the doctor with a nod.
Once they were alone, the vast room felt suffocatingly quiet. Sophia kept her head bowed, staring at the polished floorboards. She was still shaking, though whether from the pain or the adrenaline of what had just transpired, Julian couldn't tell.
"You don't need to apologize," Julian said, anticipating her words.
Sophia swallowed hard, looking up through her dark eyelashes. "Mr. Rossi, I... I just lost you your fiancée. I'm going to lose my job. My family..."
"You didn't lose me anything," Julian interrupted, his tone surprisingly gentle. He sat in the armchair opposite her, pouring a glass of water and handing it to her. "Victoria Sterling was a strategic alliance, one I was already questioning. Her actions tonight simply provided the clarity I needed. As for your job, you aren't fired."
Sophia blinked, her hands gripping the glass tightly. "But... she's a Sterling. Her father is a state senator. Won't they retaliate?"
Julian’s lips curved into a dark, predatory smile. "Let them try. The Sterlings think they are untouchable because they wear nice suits and pass laws. They forget who built the streets they walk on." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Why are you working here, Sophia? A girl with a master's in finance pouring coffee for mobsters?"
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Sophia froze. "You read my file?"
"I read everyone's file," Julian stated. "Your father owed a debt to the Lupertazzi crew. You dropped out of the corporate world to pay it off working in my house. The debt is forgiven. As of tonight, you work directly for me."
