That evening, I got a call from my best friend, Rosa Esposito. For the first time in five years, I actually had time to meet her, and we arranged to meet at Nyx Club.

At 11:00 pm, the ringtone cut sharply through the quiet corner. Glass in hand, I answered my phone—it was Pietro.

The moment the call connected, Pietro's entitled voice came through. "Camilla, is the arms cooperation proposal for next week done? It's due to Don Costa tomorrow. There's been an internal shake-up with the Rinaldi family, and they're pushing to see the contract. Send it to me now."

His voice carried its usual rasp, and there was also a note of annoyance in his bossy, hurried tone.

It made me wonder—had I actually forgotten to send that email to the family group this afternoon?

I couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating chuckle and replied without hesitation, "Are you talking about your own responsibilities? Why are you asking me about your own work?

"Have you had too much to drink? Or did you forget that I'm not even at the level of a basic Soldato in the family? So, I have no authority to touch core tasks."

Pietro probably hadn't expected that response and was caught off guard for a second. There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by a furious roar through the receiver.

"Camilla, what do you think you're doing? Are you trying to rebel? You've always handled these tasks before. Hurry up and send it over—I'm in a rush. Don't play dumb with me. If this gets delayed, you'll face consequences you can't handle."

I scoffed. "Sorry, but I really can't do it. I won't touch tasks that aren't mine anymore. Helping you in the past was a courtesy. Now, choosing not to is my right. Everyone in the family knows the rules, so I can't step out of line."

My smirk grew wider. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to. Goodbye."

Ignoring Pietro's furious shouts on the other end, I hung up and slipped the phone back into my bag.

Rosa and I clinked glasses, sharing a knowing smile, and I felt a deep sense of relief.

The next day, as soon as I settled into my workstation, things began to spiral.

First, Riccardo came over and tossed a mess of firearm and ammunition data at me, along with the figures for an upcoming drug trade, just like he always did.

"Camilla, sort this out properly. We need it for the meeting soon."

Without hesitation, I handed it right back to him. "Riccardo, this detailed work falls under your responsibilities. It's not within my scope to handle."

His expression darkened, and he was practically huffing with anger. Just as he seemed about to curse, he caught the gazes of the other Capos around and forced his temper down.

"Camilla, just do me this favor. I'm swamped today—there's just too much going on."

I spread my hands and shrugged. "I'm busy too, so there's nothing I can do about it."

I put on my headset and started typing, tuning everything else out.

His face shifted through shades of frustration before he finally turned away, muttering under his breath as he left, "Some people are just plain ungrateful."

Less than ten minutes later, Marco approached with his laptop in hand.

"Camilla, take another look—the security personnel placements are still off by just a bit. The elevated points and blind spots keep mismatching with assigned personnel. It's similar to the last issue. Can you adjust it again?"

I simply shook my head without looking up.

He roughly set the laptop on my desk. "It's no big deal. Just fix it quickly. The meeting's about to start. I need to report the deployment to Don Costa soon."

I lifted my head and stared straight at Marco. "Marco, the security deployment is the most critical part of the entire transaction, and I'm not a technician in the security department."

Accustomed to giving orders, Marco frowned and snapped at me, "It's such a small thing. Just take a look and it'll be sorted. Stop dragging your feet. Check it now—the meeting is about to start!"

"I really don't know how," I replied, meeting his gaze with an expression of pure innocence.

The muscles in his face twitched with suppressed anger. Finally, he picked up his laptop and turned away, muttering as he walked off, "She's getting more and more out of line for someone so young."

The strange tension that hung over the morning was finally broken after the lunch break.

Due to a minor upheaval within the partner family involved in the drug trafficking rights deal, they requested an early review of the finalized transaction plan. Thus, the meeting originally set for three days later was suddenly moved to this afternoon.

Renato Clementi, the Capo in charge, was clearly unprepared. He paced back and forth anxiously on the floor, his agitation having reached its peak.

Finally, he stormed over to me and slammed a fist on my desk, the skull tattoo on his arm looking more menacing than ever.

"Camilla, just what exactly are you trying to pull?" he roared, his voice echoing through the office. "You've been handling all the details and content for this deal from the start. Get it done now—don't you dare push back.

"The Abate family has always been ruthless. They're not someone you can afford to cross. Hurry up and get this done. If they aren't satisfied, you won't be able to handle the consequences."

The other Capos' eyes had already locked onto me the moment Renato's roar erupted. I lifted my head and calmly scanned the room. Seeing all those smirks and mocking stares, I couldn't help but laugh.

"This critical transaction has always been under your responsibility. All dealings with the Abate family were handled by you. I have no data, documents, or details. As for the consequences," I paused, taking a sip of coffee, "they naturally fall on whoever is in charge of the deal, no?"

"Bullcrap!" Renato snapped, kicking over a nearby chair in frustration. "You've always been the one doing the work while I gave the orders. Now you're pretending otherwise? You think you can play games with me? Well, you're way out of your depth.

"Get it done now. If this gets delayed, you'll answer for it. Don't think you'll walk away unscathed then."

"Oh, so you knew perfectly well that I was helping you all along. But it was never my obligation. I did it as a favor, not out of duty," I corrected calmly. "Your responsibilities are yours, not mine."

With that, I turned back to my laptop, paying him no further attention.

Renato stood there, breathing heavily in rage. He roughly tugged at his hair before turning and storming off toward Don Costa's office, swearing under his breath.

Ten minutes later, the internal phone on my desk rang, and Francesco's icy voice came through. "Camilla, Don Costa wants you in his office now."

I shut down my laptop and stood up. Then, I smoothed out the creases in my suit skirt before walking toward Don Costa's office under the Capos' varied gazes.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in," Francesco said coldly.

I stepped inside to see Don Costa seated behind his massive, cold marble desk. His expression was blank, but anger simmered just beneath the surface.

Renato stood to the side, hands in his pockets, clearly ready to enjoy the show at my expense.

"Camilla, what exactly have you been doing all day? Why hasn't such an important transaction agreement been finalized? You've always assisted Renato in his work, so why the delay now?

"This deal with the Abate family is worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Why can't you cooperate properly? If this transaction suffers any loss because of you, do you think you can bear the consequences?"

Don Costa's questions came at me rapid-fire, cold as ice, as if I were the first and foremost culprit should anything go wrong with this crucial deal.

I stood perfectly still, listening quietly until he finished.

I couldn't help but chuckle again. Then, in a voice so soft yet clear enough for everyone present to hear, I said, "Don Costa, it was you who personally clarified my role to the Capos just yesterday.

"You stated that I don't handle specific transactions or tasks, that I'm usually not busy and called it a blessing for me. So, how is it that today, this critical billion-dollar deal has suddenly become my responsibility?

"Didn't you say my job was just to run errands, serve coffee, and do odd jobs?"

Don Costa's face shifted through shades of pale and dark, like a palette of humiliation, before settling into a stiff, ashen gray.

He opened his mouth several times, but no sound came out. Every retort he might have made was silenced before it could even take shape.

My words, every one of them true, hung in the air like merciless slaps across his face.

Finally, Renato, unable to stay quiet, blurted out nervously, "Don Costa, look at how stubborn and dismissive she's being. You really need to rein her in. She holds the title of Executive Director, after all."

I couldn't help but let out a sharp, audible laugh this time.

"This position isn't even a recognized family rank. You yourself said my daily work is just serving coffee and running errands."

Don Costa's expression shifted erratically, darkening and then clearing. It was obvious he was holding back with immense effort.

This was likely the first time in his life someone of my standing had dared to confront him so directly.

After a brief struggle to restrain himself, his rage and humiliation completely overwhelmed his reason.

"Camilla, how dare you speak to me like this? This family fed you for five years, yet instead of showing gratitude, you dare to defy me so openly? How insolent of you! If you don't want to work here, then get out! Leave this instant.

"From today onward, you have no connection whatsoever to the Costa family. You are no longer a member, and you will receive not an ounce of protection from us. If you end up dead in some alley someday, you brought it on yourself!"

I watched him calmly until his outburst subsided, then replied with deliberate poise, "Thank you, Don Costa."