NEXT STEP

LUCY

After speaking with Ria last night, we decided to meet for lunch today.

So here I am at a restaurant near my office waiting for her, but she is late.

My break time is almost over and I don't know if I want to wait any longer. Because I just took the afternoon off yesterday because of Sam and I didn't want to irk Mr.Hottie.

Speaking of Hottie, he looked extra hot today.

I sighed, dreamily remembering him.

As I was about to get up, I spotted Ria coming towards me.

''sorry I'm late'' She apologized and sat in front of me.

Okay, now should I tell her that I want to go? She looks like she ran a marathon to get here though.

''It's OK, but my break is over, Ria. I'm afraid I can't talk to you right now.'' I said, looking at my watch.

I'm already 10mins late.

''O-Oh'' she looked like a sad puppy when she said that.

I don't know what to do right now. Wasn't it me who asked for her help? I know that it's her fault that she came late, but since I need her.. I'm going to take an off, officially this time.

''Actually, let me call my boss and take a leave.'' I said and called Hottie.

''You are 13mins late.'' he said.

Jeez, atleast add a Hello.

His voice is so deep though. Sigh.

''Sorry sir, but can I take this afternoon off? It's an emergency.'' Kind of.

''You just took one yesterday Lucy''

''It's you who gave me one, sir. I didn't ask for it. Now I want to take off officially.''

He was silent for a few seconds.

''OK… I'll give you one, if you agree to talk to me. After work.''

I can literally hear my heartbeat now.

''You are abusing your power on me sir.'' I said, trying to sound tough.

He chuckled ''Is that a yes or no?''

I can feel his smirk.

I rolled my eyes. ''Yes''

''Then you can officially take off

Oh and Ms. Vitale, next time don't try to be sassy with me, I might punish you.''He said and hung up.

I blushed at the thought of him punishing me.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

I looked at Ria and she was looking at the.. menu.

Ria ordered Garlic Butter Turkey meatballs and Caprese Chicken. I got chicken Marsala without mushrooms.

''What do you want to know, Lucy? And why?''

''I want to know if they are involved in any illegal activities like gangs, drugs, trafficking because—'' I told her everything that happened 3 years back. About the accident, how they covered up all the traces, about Jay and Vicky's father's involvement in gangs, everything.

''I don't know if I'm doing the right thing or not, but I wanted to confirm whether the Moretti who ordered to cause the accident and this Moretti were the same or not.

If they are the same, I want to get them before they get us. I want to expose them to the world! They should get punished for what they did and are doing!'' I said in one breath.

Ria looked like she was thinking about something.

Did she even pay attention to what I said?

''Um.. Ria?''

''Uh-ah, sorry! I was just processing what you said. I'm almost positive that they are both the same Lucy. According to your theory, they are powerful enough to block roads in particular areas and to change the story of an accident. That's not possible if they aren't involved with the mafia!''

''Mafia?'' This is deeper than I thought.

''Yes Lucy, Mafia. Do you still think you'll be able to expose them? To fight against them?''

I hesitated. Can I?

''I don't know….. But I'm not backing off without giving it a try. I don't think they caused that accident just because of some gang issues. If that's the case, they wouldn't have taken control of an area to cover it up''

''Maybe you are right. Then there is a chance that they know you three are not dead. Since you guys are still alive, maybe their target is not kids, but their father.'' She exclaimed, dropping the fork on her empty plate.

I sighed. Yeah, we would be dead by now. But that doesn't make me any less anxious, because sometimes I feel like I'm stalked. What if they are waiting for the right moment?

''Ria, do you really think they are the mafia?''

''No'' she muttered.

''What? But you said they are involved with the mafia'' I'm confused, isn't that what she said?

''Exactly! They are involved with the mafia. They are not the mafia. The Italian mafia went extinct 70 or 80 years ago. No one knows what exactly happened''

''And you think the Italian mafia can't be reformed?'' I asked her, raising my eyebrows.

She shrugged ''Even if they did reform, they can't be here. Italy is totally under GG's control. They are the unofficial government. Nothing illegal can happen here without their notice.''

Wait. ''GG? I heard Moretti's and GG were partners before and they split 80 years ago. Do you think there is a link?''

''I got that doubt too. I checked every file and document about what happened when they split, but I found nothing other than that they had an argument about investing in some company.''

''Oh''

Ria cleared her throat ''So..where do we start?''

''What do you mean we? You have enough on your plate. Did you forget what happened that day? Now you want to be involved in this too? I get that you are a journalist but-''

''I'm not a journalist and I'm already involved with Moretti's, it's their bodyguards who chased me that day in the shopping mall. I have been stalking them for months.''

I looked at her in disbelief.

''And you still want to help even after you get caught? Why are you so hell bent on exposing them?''

''Because they killed my sister! I asked if you know Ilina, remember?''

I was dumbstruck.

''She was my sister. Our father had a TV network, Newstatic,* it was running successfully. We had everything, we were a happy family until my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our life started to go down from there. Newstatic ratings went down. Our father distanced himself from us when mom died. He became an alcoholic, he was never home and always stayed in his office. He didn't even allow us inside. Suddenly one day there was an article in the newspaper saying that Newstatic is now owned by Moretti's pvt.Ltd. and our dad went missing after that.

He just left us a message saying ''Don't search for me. I'll be back when I want to.'' When we went to file a missing report, the police just brushed it off, saying that he went on his own will according to the message. We don't even know if he is alive or not.

Ilina didn't give up though, saying that dad would never give up on Newstatic, on us, and that the Moretti's did something to him.

She started collecting data about them and following them around for years. I told her to stop if she didn't find anything, but she didn't. She even cut me off from her life. And then one day I got this voice mail from her.'' Ria said, handing me a bluetooth.

I plugged it in my ears and waited for her to play that voice mail.

''Hello? Ria? It's me Ilina! I'm speaking from New York. Listen carefully! I found interesting news about Moretti's! They are more than what we see! You won't believe who I saw today! I'll send you a few pictures! Look at them and dig information about them!''

I pulled out the bluetooth and returned it after hearing that.

''Whom did she see? Whose photos were those?''

Ria shrugged. ''No idea. She didn't send me any photos. She too went missing after that and her body was found near the lake after a few months. She was tortured and raped, Lucy. I couldn't even recognize her properly! That's when I asked her boss to give me her job. At first he didn't want to, since I don't have enough experience, but I somehow convinced him'' Her voice is quivering at the end with rage.

She took a glass of water and gulped it down. ''I know she thinks that Moretti did something to our dad, but I don't think it's completely true. After mom died, he became entirely a different person. After all, she was his love. And again, aren't we the result of their love? How could he abandon us like that? Sometimes I feel, is it really worth it? Finding love? When all it does is make you feel miserable at the end?''

I also wonder the same thing. Like how Jay's father started abusing him when his mother died.

Of course, not everyone turns out like that, but it still makes me sad. I reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. Hope it helps her a little. I'm not good at consoling people.

''What's our plan then?'' I asked when Ria got herself together.

*~○~ ~○~*

NICCOLO MORETTI POV

''What's our plan then?''

''At 1st I thought about entering NewView and finding where their meetings are held. The thing is, we don't have any solid proof that they are involved in any of the illegal activities. We need evidence against them and for that, I should be inside NewView.''

''Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!''

''It's not that easy Lucy! It costs my six months salary to get a room there for two weeks. Not to mention that I-I lost my job because that camera broke and I paid for it from my savings, which I saved for NewView!''

I smirked. Her boss didn't even blink an eye when I told him to fire her.

''Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about money, I'll help you to get there. We are definitely going to take Moretti's down''

I pressed the off button on the receiver and called Max. He disguised himself as a waiter in that restaurant and attached a microphone under their table. They never learn. First her sister and now her.

I thought she would give up if she got fired from her job. She practically lives in trash. But no, she has to go and make acquaintances. Now I have to deal with two people! As I said, they never learn.

''Who is the other girl Max?''

''Her name is Lucy Vitale, Sir. She works as an assistant for Alessandro Ganovese''

I cut the call and took a deep breath.

Fucking Great!