Chapter 38: Approaching my wife

"Fuck! Why are there only male customers there?" Santino cursed, slamming his hands on the table in frustration.

"Boss, there are female customers too, although the number of male customers is higher," Leo pointed out. He lowered his gaze to the laptop before adding, "Besides, you were supposed to finish your work from here today, but you wasted the entire afternoon following your own wife’s movements. I don’t understand why you have to go to such lengths just to keep an eye on her."

Santino turned towards him and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. "Because she’s my wife, that’s why." His expression grew serious as he recalled what had happened on their wedding night. "You saw what happened that night. I’m afraid Soraya could become a target for anyone who wants to hurt me. I can’t take that risk by leaving her unprotected."

Leo lowered the laptop screen and leaned back in his chair. "Then why did you marry her in the first place, Boss, when you knew Madam wouldn’t accept you so easily?"

Santino fell silent for a moment before answering. "She promised me she would become my wife. She just doesn’t remember it."

With that, Santino turned his back to Leo and looked out of the window again. As he watched the activity outside, an idea suddenly occurred to him.

"Leo, I need to visit that bakery too. Get me an oversized coat, a mask, and a hat," he ordered.

"Boss, but—"

"Just do it. I want to see what’s going on inside that bakery," Santino interrupted. "If I show up looking like myself, Soraya will kick me out. Worse, she might stay upset with me for the next few days."

Leo stared at him, struggling to understand how the ruthless head of the Selvaggio Mafia Family had reached the point of disguising himself just to visit a bakery where his wife was working. However, he knew better than to argue once Santino had made up his mind.

Without another word, Leo left to carry out his order.

He returned a short while later with the items Santino had requested.

"Thanks," Santino replied with a smile.

~~~~~

"The rush hour has passed," Claire remarked as she glanced around the bakery. "But I must say, we’ve had far more customers today than we usually do. Is it your charm that’s bringing them here?"

"What?" Soraya chuckled as she continued brewing coffee for the next order. "What do you mean by charm? I’m not even that beautiful."

"Are you serious, girl?" Claire exclaimed, looking at her in disbelief. "You have no idea how beautiful you are! Have you forgotten our college days? Guys from other departments used to find excuses to walk past our department just to catch a glimpse of you. Some of them even tried to approach you, but you were already committed back then, so none of them could get close to you."

Claire continued placing slices of blueberry cake onto plates, preparing them to be served, while Soraya shook her head at her friend’s exaggeration.

She had never paid much attention to the people who used to look at her in college, especially when she had been so focused on her relationship with Emilio. At that time, she had believed that the man she loved was the only one she would ever need.

"Hey, did I make you—"

"No," Soraya interrupted before Claire could finish her question. She placed the freshly brewed coffee on a tray and pressed the service bell. "Order number 105!"

A man waiting nearby immediately approached the counter to collect his order. He picked up the tray and left the bakery, allowing Soraya to return her attention to the remaining orders.

However, another customer entered moments later. His gaze settled on Soraya, and he approached the counter with a smile.

"I must say, you’re beautiful. Can we—"

He couldn’t finish his sentence. A gloved hand suddenly pressed against his cheek and shoved him away from the counter.

Both Soraya and Claire stared in shock at the unexpected scene. The stranger who had intervened was dressed strangely for the weather inside the bakery.

He wore an oversized coat, a hat pulled low over his head, goggles covering his eyes, and a mask concealing most of his face. There was barely any part of him left uncovered.

"Hey! What’s your problem?" the man who had been shoved demanded, glaring at the disguised stranger.

Santino responded with a sideways glance, though his goggles concealed the expression in his eyes. He didn’t bother answering immediately. Instead, he stood there with an intimidating posture that made the other man hesitate.

Although the stranger couldn’t see Santino’s eyes, he could sense that he was dealing with someone dangerous. He thought of not picking up the fight and left the bakery.

"What would you like to order, sir?" Claire asked, trying to remain professional.

Soraya glanced at the oddly dressed man, unable to understand who he was.

’Is he some kind of gangster? He certainly looks like one,’ she thought, eyeing him warily.

Santino ignored Claire’s question for a moment. Instead, he pointed at a random pastry displayed behind the glass counter, indicating that he wanted it without bothering to check what it was.

His attention remained fixed on Soraya, who was now busy serving another female customer.

She was taking the woman’s order with a polite smile, completely unaware that her own husband was standing just a few feet away, disguised and keeping a close watch on her.

’I am going to kill that bastard later for approaching my wife and shamelessly trying to get her number,’ Santino thought.

"Sir, the payment is done over there," Claire said, pointing towards the counter.

Santino quickly took out the money he took from Leo earlier and placed it on the bill counter top. After paying, he took the small tray and took an empty seat.

"What’s wrong with that man? He’s not touching the pastry at all. And I think he’s looking at us," Soraya whispered to Claire after a while.

"Maybe your husband sent someone to keep a watch on you," Claire remarked. "Santino is protective of you," she added with a smirk.