☆Chapter 10 – The Devil’s Apprentice☆

Lorenzo De Luca had one rule.

No distractions.

Work was sacred.

It required precision. Ruthlessness. Focus.

But today…

Focus was impossible.

Because sitting across from him in his office, swinging her legs and doodling on important documents, was Seraphina.

☆☆☆

"Explain."

Lorenzo's tone was calm. Too calm.

Seraphina blinked up at him innocently, her small hands carefully coloring in a flower she had drawn right on top of a confidential contract.

"Explain what?"

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

"How did you get here?"

Seraphina tilted her head.

"I took the car."

"My car."

"…Yes."

Lorenzo's eye twitched.

"How."

Seraphina smiled sweetly.

"I snuck in."

Lorenzo exhaled sharply.

"You're grounded."

"I know."

"You're supposed to be at home."

"I know."

"So why—"

"You didn't say I couldn't leave if I wasn't caught."

Lorenzo froze.

Matteo, who was standing by the door, coughed to cover a laugh.

Lorenzo's cold gaze snapped to him.

"Not. A. Word."

Matteo immediately straightened, but Lorenzo could see the faint amusement lingering in his eyes.

Lorenzo's jaw clenched harder as he turned back to Seraphina, who was now adding hearts to her masterpiece.

"Seraphina."

"Hmm?"

"Get. Up."

Seraphina blinked up at him, her wide, innocent eyes doing nothing to ease his headache.

"Where are we going?"

Lorenzo's lips pressed into a thin line.

"To work."

☆☆☆

Lorenzo never brought distractions to his meetings.

But today, Seraphina sat right beside him.

Swinging her legs.

Humming.

Tapping her fingers on the table as if she owned the place.

Lorenzo didn't speak as he went over the details of the Rosetti aftermath with his underbosses.

But his cold, piercing gaze occasionally flickered to the small figure beside him.

Seraphina was too quiet.

Too observant.

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes.

She was learning.

☆☆☆

Seraphina watched closely.

The way Lorenzo spoke.

The way his tone was sharp and calculated.

The way he didn't waste words.

She noticed how his men barely blinked before obeying.

How they hung onto every command.

Seraphina's eyes gleamed.

"Seraphina."

Lorenzo's cold tone pulled her out of her thoughts.

She blinked and looked up at him.

"Yes, sir?"

Lorenzo's brow twitched.

"Sit still."

Seraphina nodded… but her wide grin didn't go unnoticed.

Lorenzo sensed trouble.

She's plotting something.

☆☆☆

By the time they returned to the De Luca mansion, Lorenzo's headache was worse.

Seraphina was skipping beside him, far too pleased with herself.

"Behave."

"Of course, sir."

Lorenzo's brow twitched.

She's up to something.

He didn't have to wait long to find out.

☆☆☆

"Ah, my dear Seraphina!"

Don De Luca, Lorenzo's grandfather, greeted them with open arms as they entered the study.

"How was your day?"

Seraphina's wide smile was too sweet.

"It was educational, sir."

Don De Luca raised a brow. "Sir? I told you to drop the formalities, child."

Seraphina tilted her head.

"You told me to… but did you order me to?"

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

Oh, no.

Don De Luca blinked, surprised by her words.

Lorenzo felt Matteo's silent amusement from across the room.

"Seraphina." Lorenzo's tone was low, aq warning.

But Seraphina…

Ignored him.

"I believe, sir, that orders should be clear. Ambiguity leads to misunderstandings." Her tone similar on how Lorenzo talk.

Lorenzo's hand twitched.

Don De Luca stared at her.

"Where did you learn that?"

Seraphina's innocent smile was deceptive.

"From Father."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

Little traitor.

Don De Luca chuckled. "Is that so?"

Seraphina nodded.

"He's very efficient. Cold. Direct. Ruthless."

Lorenzo's eye twitched.

Stop talking.

"And most importantly…" Seraphina clasped her hands behind her back, her expression serious.

"He always gets what he wants."

Matteo coughed.

Lorenzo…

Was losing his mind.

☆☆☆

Don De Luca's laughter echoed through the study.

"You're learning well, child."

Seraphina's smile widened.

"Thank you, sir."

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

"Seraphina."

She turned toward him, blinking innocently.

"Yes, sir?"

Lorenzo's eye twitched violently.

"Stop."

"Stop what, sir?"

Matteo's barely contained laughter was now painfully obvious.

Lorenzo shot him a deadly glare.

"Matteo."

Matteo straightened immediately, though the corners of his lips twitched.

"Yes, sir?"

Lorenzo's fingers twitched.

"All of you."

His cold gaze swept across the room.

"Out."

Matteo moved quickly.

Don De Luca chuckled, but didn't argue.

Within seconds, Lorenzo and Seraphina were alone.

☆☆☆

Lorenzo exhaled slowly.

"Seraphina."

She blinked.

"Yes, sir?"

Lorenzo crouched down, his cold eyes locking onto hers.

"Stop calling me sir."

Seraphina's lips twitched.

"Why, sir?"

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

"Seraphina."

"Yes, sir?"

A long, tense silence.

Then—

"Grounded."

Seraphina's eyes widened.

"Again?!"

Lorenzo stood up, towering over her.

"Indefinitely."

Seraphina's jaw dropped.

"That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair."

Seraphina glared at him.

Then, under her breath—

"Cold. Direct. Ruthless."

Lorenzo's eye twitched.

"What was that?"

Seraphina crossed her arms, looking away.

"Nothing, sir."

Lorenzo exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose.

This child is going to kill me.