Two days later, Isabella was going crazy.
After the break-in, Matteo had turned the mansion into a fortress. Guards patrolled every hallway. The windows remained shuttered. No one came or went without his personal approval.
And Isabella wasn't allowed to go anywhere alone.
"This is ridiculous," she said to Mrs. Russo as they prepared lunch. "I can't even go to the bathroom without someone following me."
Mrs. Russo glanced nervously at the guard stationed outside the kitchen. "The master is just being careful, dear."
"I feel like a prisoner."
"Better a living prisoner than a dead free woman," Mrs. Russo said quietly.
Isabella knew she was right, but that didn't make the situation any easier. She felt suffocated, trapped in a world she didn't understand.
After lunch, Matteo summoned her to his office. When she entered, she found him with a man she had seen once before. He was tall and muscular, with dark hair and serious eyes. Something about his posture suggested military training.
"Isabella, this is Rafael," Matteo said. "He's going to be your personal bodyguard."
Isabella looked between the two men. "I thought Rafael was your right-hand man."
"He is. Which is why I trust him to protect you."
Rafael stepped forward. "Miss, it's my job to keep you safe. That means I go where you go, I stay where you stay. Twenty-four hours a day."
Isabella felt her temper flare. "Absolutely not."
"It's not a request," Matteo said firmly.
"I said no! I won't have some stranger following me around constantly!"
"Isabella"
"No!" She turned on her heel and stormed out of the office.
She made it halfway down the hall before she realized Rafael was right behind her.
"Miss, please wait."
Isabella spun around. "Stop following me!"
"I can't do that, miss. Boss's orders."
"Then I will talk to your boss."
She marched back to the office, Rafael trailing behind her. But when she burst through the door, Matteo was gone.
"He left for a meeting," Rafael said. "Won't be back until tonight."
Isabella crossed her arms. "Fine. Then I'm going to my room."
"As you wish, miss."
Rafael followed her upstairs, taking position outside her door when she slammed it shut.
Isabella threw herself on her bed, frustrated beyond words. Through the door, she could hear Rafael talking quietly on his phone.
An hour later, she crept to the window. Rafael was still outside her door – she could see his shadow under the crack. But the window in her room overlooked a section of roof.
Isabella smiled for the first time in days. If Matteo wanted to treat her like a prisoner, she'd act like one.
She quietly opened the window and climbed out onto the roof.
"Where is she?"
Isabella heard Matteo's voice echo through the mansion as she hid in the laundry room. She'd managed to evade Rafael for three hours, slipping through service corridors and hidden passages that Mrs. Russo had shown her.
"I've searched everywhere, boss," Rafael replied. "She just... disappeared."
"People don't just disappear from my house!"
Isabella grinned, enjoying the sound of Matteo's frustration. But her satisfaction was short-lived.
The laundry room door opened, and Mrs. Russo entered with a basket of clothes. She saw Isabella crouched behind the washing machines and shook her head.
"Child, what are you doing?"
"Hiding from my babysitter," Isabella whispered.
Mrs. Russo set down the basket and looked at her seriously. "You shouldn't be playing games. These men are trying to protect you."
"I know, but"
The door opened again. This time it was Rafael, and he did not look happy.
"Miss Isabella," he said calmly. "We need to talk."
Isabella sighed and stood up. "How did you find me?"
"Mrs. Russo texted me."
Isabella looked at the housekeeper in betrayal. "You have his number?"
"Of course I do, dear. Now go with Rafael. And no more games."
Rafael escorted Isabella back to Matteo's office. The entire walk was done in tense silence.
Matteo was pacing behind his desk when they entered. His hair was messed up, like he'd been running his hands through it.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" he demanded.
"I was in the house the whole time," Isabella said defensively.
"That's not the point! Rafael is there to protect you, not to play hide and seek!"
"I don't need protection! I'm perfectly safe in your fortress!"
"You're safe because we make you safe!" Matteo slammed his hand on the desk. "Those people who broke in aren't gone, Isabella. They're waiting. Watching. Looking for any opportunity to get to you."
Isabella felt some of her defiance fade. She knew he was right, but she hated feeling so helpless.
"I just wanted some space," she said quietly.
"Space is a luxury you can't afford right now."
Rafael cleared his throat. "Boss, maybe I could train her."
Both Matteo and Isabella looked at him.
"Train me for what?" Isabella asked.
"Basic self-defense. How to recognize threats. How to move safely." Rafael shrugged. "If she's going to be stuck with me anyway, might as well make it useful."
Matteo considered this. "You think she can learn?"
"Everyone can learn to protect themselves."
Isabella stepped forward. "I want to do it."
"Isabella"
"Please, Matteo. I hate feeling helpless. I hate being afraid all the time. If Rafael can teach me to defend myself, maybe I won't feel so... useless."
Matteo studied her face for a long moment. "Fine. But you still don't go anywhere without Rafael. And no more disappearing acts."
"Deal."
Rafael nodded. "We'll start tomorrow morning. Six AM sharp."
"Six AM?" Isabella groaned.
"Self-defense isn't a hobby, miss. It's survival."
As they left the office, Rafael fell into step beside her instead of behind her.
"You're pretty good at hiding," he said conversationally.
"Thanks, I think."
"Most people would have given up after an hour. You lasted three."
Isabella glanced at him. "Were you really looking for me the whole time?"
Rafael smiled, the first genuine expression she'd seen from him. "Miss, I knew where you were after the first hour."
"What? Then why didn't you"
"Because you needed to prove something to yourself. And frankly, the boss needed to worry a little. He's been taking you for granted."
Isabella stopped walking. "You let me hide on purpose?"
"I let you think you were hiding. There's a difference." Rafael's expression became serious. "But don't do it again. Next time, I won't be so understanding."
They reached Isabella's room. As Rafael took his position outside her door, Isabella realized something.
"Rafael?"
"Yes, miss?"
"You said you knew more about me than you were letting on. What did you mean?"
Rafael was quiet for a moment. "Get some rest, miss. Tomorrow's training will be hard."
"That's not an answer."
"No," Rafael agreed. "It's not."
He closed the door gently, leaving Isabella more confused than ever.
She sat on her bed, thinking about everything that had happened. Matteo's protectiveness. Rafael's mysterious comments. The intruders who wanted her dead.
Everyone in this house knew more about her than she did. But tomorrow, she'd start learning to protect herself. And maybe, if she was lucky, she'd start getting some real answers.
She fell asleep thinking about six AM training and wondering what Rafael would teach her first.
In the hallway, Rafael settled into his chair and pulled out his phone. He sent a quick text: "She's safe. Training starts tomorrow."
The response came immediately: "Good. It's time she learned the truth about who she really is."
Rafael deleted both messages and settled in for the night watch, his hand resting on his gun.