She was worried that if he saw how strong and close her relationship was with William, he might end up killing him just as he had killed Reporter Joe. She couldn't let that happen.
Although she knew her plan to distance herself from William was wrong and far from ideal, Olivia had no other choice. It was the only thing she could think of. Pushing away the knot of unease in her chest, she forced a faint smile at James before slipping out of the office.
Her steps slowed as the words she had overheard echoed in her mind. Lorenzo is here… and the detectives are with him.
So Detective Mike had taken her words seriously after all. A flicker of relief ran through her—quickly followed by dread. She had wanted this, but now that it was happening, her pulse quickened with unease.
Olivia headed toward Lorenzo's office, only to see his assistant, Enzo, stationed at the desk nearby. His sharp eyes swept the hallway, leaving her no chance to linger openly. She had no way of overhearing what was going on inside.
Biting her lip, Olivia slipped into a shadowed corner of the corridor. She would wait. When they came out, she would speak to them then Olivia thought.
Inside the office, the atmosphere was thick with tension.
Lorenzo leaned back in his leather chair, exuding calm authority, though his eyes were sharp and cold. On the couch to the side, Dominic—his loyal second-in-command—sat quietly, his mere presence enough to remind anyone not to overstep.
Across from Dominic, Detective Mike and his partner, Detective Wilson, sat watching Lorenzo closely, assessing his every move.
Lorenzo was the first to break the silence, his voice low and edged with frost. "Why are the detectives looking for me? I heard you went to my house… and even showed up at my company last week. Care to explain why?"
Detective Mike met his gaze, steady yet cautious. "Mr. Ricci, I hope you'll spare us a few minutes of your time. We're here to ask you some questions about the murder of Reporter Joe. I'm sure you've seen the news—it's been all over the media this past week."
As Detective Mike spoke, his eyes never left Lorenzo, watching every flicker of expression, every subtle movement.
Lorenzo's expression didn't change, but a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. "Oh, I see," he said coolly, taking a pen from the table and spinning it between his fingers with lazy precision. "But that's unfortunate.
I was out of the country on business when it happened, so I haven't seen any news. Tell me, Detective—what does the death of some reporter have to do with me?"
Detective Mike didn't flinch. "We received a report suggesting you might have been involved, Mr. Ricci," he said steadily.
Before he could continue, Dominic—who had been silent until now—suddenly burst into laughter. The sound was sharp and cold, echoing through the office. Everyone turned to him in confusion.
After a moment, Dominic wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still grinning. "Sorry," he said mockingly. "It's just too funny. You're saying he might be involved in the death of some unknown reporter?
And what made you think that, Detective?" His tone was calm, but there was a hint of menace beneath his words. The air grew heavy. Even Detective Wilson shifted uneasily under Dominic's piercing gaze.
Detective Mike straightened his back, refusing to show weakness. "We just want to be thorough," he said firmly. "If Mr. Ricci truly has nothing to do with it, this investigation will clear his name."
Dominic leaned back in his chair, a mocking glint in his eyes. "As far as I know," he said coolly, "my friend Lorenzo has never committed any crime. So why would his name need to be cleared in the first place?"
Detective Mike's gaze shifted toward Lorenzo, who was still spinning his pen lazily between his fingers. His face remained cold, unreadable—almost bored. It was clear he didn't regard the detectives as worth his attention.
Clearing his throat, Detective Mike spoke again, his tone steady. "Mr. Ricci," he said, "would you mind asking your friend to step out for a moment? We'd like to speak with you in private."
Dominic chuckled darkly. "Well then, Enzo," he said, standing up with a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes, "the detectives think I'm a nuisance. I'll give them their space."
Before Dominic could move, Lorenzo's deep voice cut through the tension. "No need," he said coolly. "We still have business to discuss later. They won't be here long."
He stood, his movements precise and unhurried, and walked over to the couch near Detective Mike. Checking his wristwatch, he said coldly, "You've already wasted ten minutes of my time. I'll give you five more. Say what you need to say and leave—I have work to do."
Detective Wilson's face flushed with anger, but before he could say a word, Detective Mike raised a hand, forcing a polite smile. "Alright, Mr. Ricci," he said evenly. "Let's not waste your time. Where were you between six and ten last Wednesday night?"
Lorenzo leaned back on the couch, his tone calm and detached. "By that time, I was already on my private jet," he said. "You can confirm it with my staff. I left for a business trip and only returned yesterday." His voice carried no hint of guilt—only quiet authority.
The room fell silent again, and for a moment, even the air felt heavy.
Detective Wilson narrowed his eyes. "And how do we know you're not lying? Was anyone with you that night?"
Lorenzo's gaze turned icy as he looked at Detective Wilson, then shifted calmly to Detective Mike. "I just said you can ask my staff," he said coolly. "You can also ask my assistant and my associates — they were on the jet with me."
Detective Mike nodded slightly. "Were there any CCTV cameras at the location?"
"No." Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, his tone indifferent. "I prefer privacy in everything I do. There might be one or two cameras near the runway or the boarding area, but none inside the hangar or the jet itself."
He rose to his feet, buttoning his suit jacket with calm precision. "Your five minutes are over," he said coldly. "Today, I'm in a generous mood, so I answered your questions. Next time, I'll give you my lawyer's number instead. I won't allow this kind of visit to damage my company's image."
Turning to Dominic, he said, "Let's go. We can't let our business be delayed by unnecessary interruptions."
Dominic flashed the detectives a faint smile — one that didn't reach his eyes — before following Lorenzo out.
Moments later, Enzo approached the two detectives. His expression was blank, his voice clipped. "My boss asked me to see you both out."
Detective Wilson's hands trembled with restrained fury. He wanted to argue, but Detective Mike shot him a warning glance to stay calm.
Grinding his teeth, Detective Wilson turned and left the office, his face dark with suppressed anger.
Detective Mike followed behind more composedly, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. Just before stepping out, he paused and turned to Enzo. "You're his assistant, right?" he asked with quiet curiosity.