Dogs Among Withered Roses - Chapter 6

“I said I’m not. I’ve never once wanted to meet a woman.”

“Yes, of course.”

“You don’t even look like you believe me! What do you mean by ‘like that’ in the first place?”

“I mean the kind of dating where you only get involved with a man who’s handsome, worth your time and money, and offers something to gain.”

“…Isn’t that obvious?”

Berenice raised her brows like she’d just heard the most absurd thing in the world.

“Why would you date someone who isn’t worth it?”

“….”

“Money doesn’t just pop out of the ground, and everyone only gets twenty-four hours in a day. If I’m going to spend mine, I should spend them all on a man who’s worth every second. Are you telling me to sit across from some ugly nobody and eat pasta with him? Just imagining it kills my appetite. Why would I? At least volunteering or donating money feels good. But this…?”

“That’s not what I meant. I meant you’re not sincere.”

“How am I not sincere?”

Berenice didn’t understand Erkin’s question.

“I’ve always been sincere, no matter who I was with.”

“Don’t tell me your idea of sincerity is….”

“If you mean a genuine purpose like, ‘Let’s see how far Russo Gucci goes, and since he’s trying to use me, I’ll use him right back,’ then yeah. That’s exactly what I mean. You knew that already, so why even ask?”

Tilting her head curiously, Berenice flashed a bright, playful smile that filled her face. Maybe realizing that it was best to shut up now, Erkin closed his mouth firmly.

Then, after a moment of thought, his eyes widened briefly before returning to normal. Though the answer had been unexpected, his gaze flickered with a peculiar light—as if he’d just understood something important—before it vanished again.

Finding that brief flicker suspicious, Berenice leaned back slightly. She’d unconsciously leaned too close, and instinct screamed at her that getting any closer would be dangerous.

As if he’d read her mind, Erkin, who had been standing far too stiffly the whole time, bent forward slightly.

“If a man’s reasonably good-looking, not a waste of your time, and has something you can gain from, then he’s all fair game as a dating partner?”

“Why do you even care?”

“Is it strange that I’d want to know more about the lady I’ll be serving?”

“Yeah, it’s strange.”

Just in case Erkin decided to close the distance between them, Berenice cut him off coldly, her voice firm. The expression he wore as he asked those questions, pretending calm but clearly fishing for something, felt oddly familiar, like….

No way. Absolutely not.

Erkin, using charm? Impossible.

Berenice immediately erased the word that flashed through her head. Just thinking it made the back of her neck prickle, and she almost shuddered in front of him.

Just imagining it was unpleasant enough. Even though she knew perfectly well nothing like that would ever happen, the kind of experiences she’d had over the years made it hard to shake the ‘what if’ that crossed her mind.

Her lips pulled down as if she’d just tasted spoiled milk, and she gave a small shake of her head.

“If it’s you, it’s even weirder. If you’re curious, go ask Ricardo. Though I doubt he’ll answer.”

Her tone made it clear she was drawing the line; he wasn’t her chosen bodyguard, after all. Erkin gave a short hum in response.

“It’s unfortunate that I ruined the plan by not knowing you were aware, but both the boss and I were sincere.”

“….”

“You already know the Family’s preparing to expand its influence and start a new business soon. Adding more guards was inevitable.”

“And?”

“If you deliberately fed Russo false information, you should’ve expected the possibility of retaliation.”

“I did. That’s why I swallowed my pride and brought you in.”

“Coming from the person who told me to get out and walk, that’s not exactly convincing.”

Erkin tilted his head slightly, as if to say that part needed correction.

“Anyway, under those circumstances, the boss decided he couldn’t just sit back and watch an informant from another Family contact you asking to meet again. Especially since, unlike usual, you’d been hiding the fact that you were seeing Russo for a while.”

“Oh, so I was supposed to report my love life in full detail?”

“He thought you were especially ‘sincere’ about Russo. And what kind of brother would stand by while his sister dates a man like that?”

“My, such deep meaning behind it all.”

“I didn’t mean it sarcastically.”

“…You’ve got quite a tongue for someone who doesn’t talk much, huh?”

Responding halfheartedly and without much thought, Berenice muttered as if surprised. Realizing she was right—that he had indeed spoken more than usual—Erkin pressed his lips together.

The pointless, drawn-out conversation was beginning to feel tiring. The silence that arrived right on time was almost a relief. Not only had the talk gone on too long, but even these trivial exchanges hadn’t gone the way she wanted.

She’d stopped him to give a warning, but it had been a complete waste of time.

Warning or not, it wasn’t like he was the kind of man who’d listen anyway. It would only tire her voice. Swallowing back the rest of what she wanted to say, Berenice waved her hand as if shooing away an annoying insect.

“Get out. You’ve done enough for today.”

***

The door was thick enough that it was hard to tell how far Erkin’s footsteps had gone. Pulling her ear away from the door, Berenice lifted the vase sitting on the dining table and turned it upside down over the sink. Along with the still-fresh flowers, a small key the size of a finger fell into the basin.

While she was at it, she replaced the water in the vase, set the flowers back in, and headed straight for her bedroom. Taking the second key she had taped beneath the nightstand, Berenice lifted the carpet and revealed a built-in safe embedded into the floor.

The safe, custom-installed when she moved into the penthouse, only opened when the dial was aligned perfectly and two different keys were turned in their slots at the same time.

With a click, Berenice exhaled quietly as the safe opened.

Inside the thick walls of the safe were gold bars, diamonds, ready cash, checkbooks, multiple forged passports under different names, and various valuables.

And that wasn’t all.

There were also rolled-up film reels, tapes clearly used for wiretapping, and several thick document envelopes. After adding the materials she’d gathered from tracking and investigating Russo Gucci, Berenice calmly pulled out another bag from inside the safe.

Inside were small but sharp-bladed boot knives, several pistols, ammunition, sunglasses, wigs, scarves, and more. Checking each one carefully, Berenice crouched down and stared blankly into the open safe.

“Still not enough….”

It was everything she had quietly collected over two years since the death of her father, Antonio Abel Valentiera, the former boss of the Family. Considering two years wasn’t a long time, it was quite a bit, but still, it didn’t satisfy her.

At least she no longer had to worry about being caught, unlike the days she’d lived and slept in the Valentiera mansion. Living alone meant no one would stumble upon her secrets.

If only she could drive, that would make things perfect.

Gazing motionlessly at the contents of the safe, Berenice slowly gathered her thoughts one by one. When her legs began to cramp, she let out a small groan, shut the safe, and locked it securely.

Not now, but someday, definitely.

Repeating the same vow she always made whenever she checked and organized the safe, Berenice limped slightly as she made her way toward the bathroom.

***

The next morning, Erkin rode the elevator down with Berenice and Andre, who had come out right on time to head for the office.

“…Berenice, what’s going on?”

Michele, standing by the roadside, widened his eyes as soon as he saw her.

“What?”

“Your shoes. They’re high.”

Michele pointed with his eyes at Berenice’s tall, slender stiletto heels. Berenice lifted her toes slightly and set them back down, as if to say, ‘So what?’

“You have to go to the office today and then to Wetherford afterward, right? You put those on even though you hardly ever wear them.”

“You’re the one driving, so what’s the problem? It’s fine.”

“If you fall later, don’t expect me to carry you.”

“Michele, are you crazy?”

When Michele’s nagging went on for a few more lines, Erkin, who had been walking toward the back seat, turned his head slightly and looked at Berenice standing behind him.

Her hair was styled with meticulous care, her long neck adorned with a double strand of pearls draped over her chest, a short, tailored jacket without a defined waistline, a skirt that fell below the knees, and stiletto heels that accentuated her tall, slender frame.

He’d already seen her coming down earlier, but just like yesterday, Berenice’s look today was flawless. Her refined, perfectly polished outfit drew the eye irresistibly to her radiant beauty.

Erkin furrowed his brow and glanced at the high, slender heels Berenice was wearing. She wasn’t short to begin with, but today his eyes seemed to meet hers more easily than usual. The moment he hurried to pull back his gaze that had lingered longer than he meant it to, their eyes happened to meet.

There wasn’t even time to pretend he hadn’t been looking; it happened suddenly.

Her slightly raised eyes, their sharp ends and vivid green irises, cut through him as if asking, ‘Why are you staring instead of opening the door?’ He didn’t even know what expression he was making, but from her face, it was clear she’d caught something.

What’s that look supposed to mean?

And why was she wearing heels so high that even Michele had pointed them out?