I was inside the car of Antonio De Luca - the person I would now be living under his roof and was my dad''s boss.


    27 years old, wealthy, owns businesses yet have no wife sounds weird. No man would have such enormous wealth with a woman by his side - or so I thought.


    I stared at him from behind as he drove. Too bad I couldn''t talk to him... at all.


    I am mute. When my dad died, he told Antonio to take care of me. There was so much unspoken words in the air. Could Antonio sense it too?


    Upon arrival at his Estate, we''re we met with security guards taking care of the gate entrance. We went through some background checks before going through. Me and being mute, what''s going on?!


    "This is normal."


    Finally, I heard Antonio speak. 8 turned to face him as he continued.


    "Hope they didn''t scare you or anything. They are simply doing their job."


    I stared at him before replying. Could I sign at him or write on Notes?


    Deciding to write on my Notes app, I told him,


    "Thank you for explaining. That puts me at ease."


    Giving me a small nod, he then gestured me to get inside and then, drove inside the Villa. It is gigantic, luxurious, stunning and as they call it, ''off-the-charts'' or ''one-of-a-kind'' type of Villa.


    The drop-off point had a shed and even a drive in, but I was glad he didn''t do that. After the door was opened by other staff, I stepped out and took in my surroundings. I caught sight of the lily flower and hydrangea flower. It felt too good to believe that he never has a wife but I could sense that they were planted for a certain someone.


    As we got inside, I looked at the reception. Surprised, I asked,


    "Where is the house? Won''t I get lost while heading to and from home to work?"


    Antonio fell silent before signing,


    "No you won''t. I will show you the ins and outs."


    Then he ended with the words,


    "And don''t worry, I will always be there for you."


    I looked at him stunned. I wouldn''t have separation anxiety no matter what he does.


    "Thanks for the concern," I wrote.


    We then walked into the main house. I opened my eyes in shock and admiration. My dad and I lied in a mansion, but not this big and stunning.


    Antonio continued walling, leaving me behind as I gawked at the house.


    "Rea?" Antonio called out, bursting my little bubble.


    I walked to him quickly and we both were met with more staff in the house greeting him. He then introduced me to them.


    "Welcome Rea De-"


    "Oooh," the staff said, realizing what he was about to say.


    "Rea Bianchi."


    They faced me and welcomed me. My anxiety went up again. I couldn''t speak. Would they understand sign language? Will they see me as weird?


    "Word of caution," Antonio said, capturing everyone''s attention.


    "Although Rea can''t speak, she can hear. If I hear anything from any one of you..."


    Even I - although I never worked for him before knew what was to come next for a disobedient worker - loss of employment and a permanent job ban.


    They agreed and went to work. Jackie, who seemed to be more closer to Antonio, was assigned to take care of me.


    I felt like a child whenever people did that but unlike the others, Jackie took me as a real person.


    And the best part is that she knows sign language!


    "Rea Bianchi, right?" she asked.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Yes. Jackie?" I replied, asking her the same question.


    "Yes. If you need anything, I am a... phone call away."


    I laughed. Since I can''t speak, the only to ask for help is by calling.


    "Thank you, I will," I replied as I walked upstairs.


    My belongings were not that many since I never bought a lot of things. I got to my room and it was ten times bigger than mine back home.


    I have always wanted to know what my father wrote to Antonio before his death. Whether he truly said that he must take care of me or if there was a catch to it.


    Antonio had this cold exterior that makes him untouchable, unreachable. It had been mostly said that those with cold exteriors are actually the soft ones.


    I wanted to see Antonio''s soft side.


    I lied on my bed, contemplating what to do. I had to sleep early for work. I was a pyschiatrist at the Deluca Hospital. It was the biggest and known as the best in the country.


    Until the next morning...


    "What?!" I signed, showing shock and confusion.


    There were times I wished I could talk... this was the time.


    "How can you make me stop working?!"


    "It''s for the best, Rea," he said, adding no further reasons.


    "I can''t believe this..."


    I could hear chuckles from the others. I switched from signing to play voice audios of my text.


    "Being a psychiatrist is my life Antonio! It kept me going!"


    "For danger reasons, you won''t be allowed to go," he said.


    "Can you at least give me one?" I asked.


    "It''s... not easy to explain."


    "There has to be some reason."


    "Rea, tell me, when last did you get proper sleep?"


    "Yesterday."


    "How many hours?"


    "..."


    One thing - annoying thing about Antonio was that he loved being persuasive. He could turn your words against you.


    And he knew that being a psychiatrist sometimes meant working for the entire night.


    "Don''t turn my words against me."


    "Just take a rest, for some few months."


    "Months?!" I exclaimed, "I don''t have months, Antonio! Kids need my expertise... they need my help."


    "I have put a substitute in your place."


    "Excuse me...?"


    "See you later Rea."


    He then walked out, leaving me with mixed emotions. I turned to look at the others who were somehow clapping hands.


    I looked at them, confused.


    "What''s going on?"


    "No one has ever spoken up to Antonio before, so it''s pretty impressive. Well done!"


    "Thank you," I said smiling a bit.


    I spent the rest of my day in my room, trying to heal my broken heart. He never spoke to me about it and he goes on to make decisions. Just because I am mute, doesn''t mean I can''t hear.


    Thinking about it did break my heart a bit, but I had to know why Antonio made me stop working. I took my laptop and searched ''Deluca Hospital'' and showed me its website. Opening it, it gave me it''s history, the best doctors - my name included - and then moved on to the owners.


    I then saw Antonio.


    Yes.


    Antonio De Luca. Owner of the Deluca Hospital and of many hospitals around the world. Everything finally clicked. No wonder it was so easy to replace me so quickly. He was the owner.


    And some misconceptions were cleared up. I always thought he was in the mafia since he always had mysterious phone calls and alway busy with ''work''.


    Shutting down my laptop, Antonio''s words came back to me.


    "When last did you get proper sleep?"


    "Since last month to be honest, I could barely sleep yesterday."


    ***


    ANTONIO''S POV


    "So, how is Rea?"


    "She okay, although she doesn''t seem affected by her father''s death."


    "See? She is a strong woman."


    "Not the point uncle," I said, Anyway, from today, she won''t be coming to the hospital."


    "Why? Are you scared that a woman is working?"


    "No, it''s called safety precautions."


    "You took away her beloved career, moves in with you after her father''s death, and is unable to say a word because she is mute. She might think you are an emotionless human being who doesn''t even consider her emotions."


    "Like I said - precautions. People are always after me, who knows if they might target her?"


    "Who?"


    "..."


    "Antonio?"


    "The people looking for Ronaldi Bianchi."


    I had to keep Rea safe at all costs - especially when her father''s enemies are after him.


    ***


    It was evening, I knew Antonio would be coming home soon. Putting on my simplest, yet nicest outfit, I came downstairs. I was about to go prepare something when Antonio walked inside.


    It was my first full day being in the Villa. Was I supposed to do anything for him?


    Jackie pushed me to him, and he looked down at me, considering our height difference.


    "Do you want to say something?" Antonio asked.


    Cold as always...


    "No," I said, moving back and heading upstairs.


    Of course... there was nothing to talk about.


    ***


    ANTONIO''S POV


    I was on the kitchen counter, concentrating on the work I was doing... being owner of the hospital and of all the De Luca businesses my father left me with was hard work - who would get things done apart from me?


    I then heard faint steps coming down the stairs. Stopping, I turned to see Rea walk past and head to the fridge, looking for something to snack on.


    "Your meals are in the microwave," I said.


    She quickly turned around to face me. Her eyes so clear, yet felt unreachable. Has she always been this shut down with her feelings?


    "Thanks," she signed as she closed the fridge and took her meals from the microwave.


    She was about to head upstairs but... I needed a companion to stay downstairs with me, so...


    "You can sit here," I gestured at the empty seat beside me, "Why go through all that hassle heading upstairs?"


    ***


    I was surprised at him wanting me to sit beside me, so I reluctantly did. I ate my meals beside him while he was busy with his work. Taking care of the hospital and other businesses was not an easy type of thing to manage but Antonio De Luca was great in being a boss.


    After I finished my meals, I cleaned it and headed to my room.


    "Good night Rea."


    I then headed upstairs, and into my room. Before I could turn in for the night, I then received a message from an unknown number.


    "Keep your eyes open tomorrow Rea..."


    "Because it is the day Antonio might say his last words."


    I then received a phone call from the same number.


    "Rea Bianchi."


    "..."


    "You won''t be mute by the time Antonio hits underground."


    I widened my eyes.


    "Tick tock, tick tock."


    With that, the call was dropped and I stood in place, staring at my phone.


    Antonio... will die tomorrow?