Page 248 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

‘Yes, sir. I can arrange for a driver to give you time t—’

‘No. I told you only to ensure that my car is there. I will drive.’ Enzo had only ever been driven in Perlano once, and that was when he left six months ago. He trusted no one but himself to tackle those winding roads. He didn’t need time to prepare. He would get them to the estate faster than any driver and then sort this mess out himself.

‘Understood.’

‘See to it that everything is ready in an hour. I will have no delays.’ His tone was brusque, and he saw a wince cross Celeste’s face.

‘Yes, sir.’ Enzo watched her leave his office.

Dio mio!He had to calm down. While he was thankful that Celeste was so unquestioningly efficient, Enzo didn’t talk to his employees like that. It hadn’t even occurred to him until now that Celeste might need more than hour to getherselfready to fly. As his PA she should be ready to go with him at the drop of a hat when the need arose, but he was behaving like a brute. It was unacceptable and not the kind of behaviour that earned him the loyalty he had with his employees. He couldn’t lash out at everyone when only Emilio deserved his ire.

He wasn’t acting like himself, and it was because he knew how hard it would be to see his home again, even if his brother wasn’t there. Perlano ripped open his scars. He didn’t know how to prepare himself for that.

CHAPTER TWO

WHY, IHAVEnothing going on in my life and would love to drop everything to fly halfway across the world. Thanks for the consideration, Enzo.

Charlotte did, in fact, have no plans but it was his lack of consideration that irked her. He was lucky that she lived such a hermitic life. Knowing she could not say anything so revealing aloud, Charlotte simply pushed her glasses—that she did not need—up the bridge of her nose and ensured that the plane was fuelled and ready.

She glanced at her watch with annoyance. It would be incredibly tight to make all their arrangements plus get home in time to pack a bag for an unknown amount of time away and still be at the airport within the hour.

But not having much of a life and very few, mostly essential possessions meant that she was able to perform the miracles that Enzo needed. Just as he had ordered, an hour later, they were seated in the De Luca private jet and taxiing down the runway.

This wasn’t the first time Charlotte had taken an international trip with Enzo, but it was always a source of great stress for her. The one place she couldn’t lie about her name was in immigration. She constantly feared that it would be on one of these trips that her father finally found her. So far, her luck had held out. She clung to that knowledge now because there was nothing she could do while in the air. Nowhere she could go. No plans she could make. She would only know if she had to run again once she landed.

It hurt that she had to run from the man who should have wanted to love and protect her, but her father’s only interest was in his business. That was why he had arranged her marriage to Grant Campbell, a crooked businessman in Perth who could get her property-developer father any land he wanted at any price. He was a slimy character who had been involved with her father for years. Had known her for years. Wanted her despite how young she was.

At twenty-five, Charlotte had already been in hiding for two years. Trying to remain safe from the two most unscrupulous and powerful men she knew.

‘Please! I don’t want to marry him!’

‘I don’t care. I won’t let you cost me business.’

‘Is Grant more important than me?’

‘Yes.’

The memory that both angered and hurt her was never far from her mind. Always there ready to plunge a knife in her chest. It also motivated her to keep hiding.

Charlotte had done everything she could not to arouse suspicion. She had cleared her bank accounts when she left and split the money over several new accounts with several banks so none of them seemed conspicuous. Even her socials had been abandoned as they were when she left Perth. She had deleted the apps from her phone to never be tempted. She even avoided taking selfies because she knew how many millionaire heiresses had had their pictures stolen from the cloud.

Her life would have seemed extreme if anyone had seen how she lived, but Charlotte’s goal was that no one ever would. Not when she couldn’t trust anyone. Not when her tormentor had so many resources.

A breath-stealing ache in her stomach had her reaching for the antacid she always kept nearby.

It was always like this. Charlotte wished she could have just one day, one trip, when she didn’t feel like she had to look over her shoulder.

The only bright side was that Enzo wasn’t around to see her like this. While normally they would have spent most of the flight working closely, this time he had shut himself away. His corporate jet was huge, with a private office and a bedroom, as well as numerous public sections—a conference area, a lounge, guest bathrooms. But Charlotte had chosen to sit at a table by the window, always the quietest spot on the plane. Three luxurious cream leather seats sat empty around her, which was perfect. No one had to witness her falling apart just slightly. Not the cabin crew and certainly not Enzo. Not that he would notice.

It was the point of her disguise...but it made her miserable at times. Enzo was a smart man. How wonderful it would be to have an honest interaction with him! What would he think of her? Would he remain as calm and in control as he always did? He never allowed anything to get under his skin. Well, not until now. He had never snapped at her like he did in his office. Something was eating at him. There was another reason it was probably for the best that he wasn’t around her, because she might have asked him what was wrong. And she couldn’t do that. She shouldn’t want to know more. Distance meant safety.

A soon as the plane levelled off, Charlotte pulled out her laptop. If her mind was going to race, she would at least try to give it something to focus on.

And it worked. She didn’t notice the drink placed on the table for her and certainly not when her meal arrived. She had worked so long and so hard that she only took a break once her eyelids began to droop. She saved her work and looked out the window seeing nothing but an illuminated wing.

The cabin was dimly lit when Charlotte blearily blinked awake. Having no idea how long she had been asleep, she lifted the window blind she had no memory of closing and instantly regretted it. The bright sun was an assault on her senses. She turned away for a second and rubbed her eyes before attempting to look out the window again.

They flew over green hills—closegreen hills. They were obviously going to land soon, and she had missed her opportunity to freshen up. She stood to get her bag and felt a blanket fall from her lap, something she didn’t remember being draped over her. Enzo’s crew was always attentive, but they’d gone above and beyond today. They’d never packed away her laptop before.