Arianna’s POV
“Eleana what are you talking about?” I asked because I couldn’t understand what she was going on about.
I wasn’t standing in her way. If she wanted Gabriele she could have him. I wanted to be far away from this mansion. That was what I wanted.
-and Gabriele- a small voice whispered in my head.
Fine. Maybe I wanted Gabriele too but I didn’t want him as the Mafia king he was. I wanted him for the gentle and sweet man that lived within his heart.
Eleana could have the Mafia king in him.
“You know exactly what I am talking about you slut!” She yelled moving towards me menacingly.
It was then I realized I had made a grave mistake. Eleana was a wounded animal and I entered her cage unprotected.
As I took another sharp step back to escape her attacks, the door flew open and Gabriele stepped in just in time to stop me from getting murdered by the animal Eleana had become.
“What is going on here?” He growled in that deep intimidating voice of his.
Before I could make out an answer, a loud cry filled the room and my blame got turned over in confusion as I wondered where it came from.
I turned my head to the side and found, no other person but Eleana, crying hysterically.
“She is evil Gabriele! Oh my God! She came to kill me for telling you the truth! Just look at her!” She wailed running to hide behind him.
“I don’t- I don’t want to run off anymore. Please, I want to stay with Gabriele… Please- leave me alone,” she whispered behind Gabriele’s collar and my ears could not believe what I was hearing.
“Eleana!” I cried out and she hide her face behind him.
Gabriele’s eyes twitched as he stared between the both of us, mostly me -did he believe her?
“Gabriele, she is lying! I don’t know what she is talking about. I didn’t do anything to her! She is lying to you!” I explained desperately as I realized what this would mean.
This was a lot worst than the first accusation because now I was caught in her cell and my defenses were weak.
For the first time, I regretted being so stubborn. I should have listened to Sofie. She had begged me not to come to Eleana and refused to listen now I have ruined everything.
“I am not lying Gabriele. Why will I ever lie to you? You give me everything I want and I give you the little my body can return… And I am happy…” She said running her hand along his neck.
“Eleana why are you doing this? It makes no sense. Why?” I blurted out unable to keep my mouth shut.
“I am only trying to do what’s right for me and for Gabriele… I can’t leave him. Please don’t make do this… Please,” she pleaded.
Tears flooded her eyes and I remained stunned at how well she was acting all of these.
I could tell she was lying and my heart raced as I waited for Gabriele’s judgment.
Would he believe her or me?
“That’s alright now,” Gabriele finally said with his eyes fixed on me.
He pulled Eleana away from his neck and led her back to her corner.
“I believe you,” he said to her and my heart shattered.
“What?” I yelled but he raised his hand in my direction while still talking to Eleana and my lips were sealed like they had been enchanted.
“Now, you stay right here and let me worry about Arianna’s punishment.”
Eleana’s smile was so large, I feared her face would tear apart. I could hear her lunatic laughter echo in my head just as she stared at me.
Gabriele moved away from her and came at me.
I couldn’t read his face. There were no emotions and this scared me. What was he going to do to me?
“Gabriele, I promise you, I didn’t-” I started to say but he raised his hand again.
“Not here,” he said in a strong voice.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I realized that my situation had just gone from fire to a volcano.
“Come with me,” he ordered and my legs followed silently behind him.
My head was glued to the floor as I couldn’t even find it in me to look at the guard I had lied to. Surely, he would become another witness to the case already before me.
Gabriele’s shoulders were tensed as he moved along the corridor. He was probably thinking of the punishment to give to me.
My body shuddered as only horrible ideas came to me.
What if he told me to stay naked in the cold? -that should teach me to stay in the house and never dream of escaping.
The sound of the door opening made me look up suddenly. We had reached his office and I was once again cornered.
He walked in without a sound and I followed behind him.
He sat in his working chair and I remained standing.
What was I supposed to do? Sit too?
He started searching through some files in his drawer and brought them to the table. He took out a pen and started scribbling something.
Oh my God! Was he transferring me to another Mafia king?
Panic set into my bones and my hands grew sweaty the more the seconds passed. I was doomed.
“Why aren’t you sitting?” His voice suddenly scratched off the silence that had been consuming us.
He was still staring at me and my brain replayed his question for me.
“Oh, sorry. I was waiting for you to invite me, “I stuttered as I took my sit opposite him.
“When you go out with the clients, you are my representative. You must not wait or be told before you do things.”
I blinked again as my ears tuned into what he was saying.
He just said -when- did that mean I still had the deal?
“If your legs are tired, you sit. Do not wait to be told. I need that level of confidence!”
I was about to break into a bright smile as his words finally made more sense in my head but at the same time, it didn’t add up.
Why wasn’t he punishing me as he had said earlier?
“If you are too easy, you will drop the selling price. If you are too hard they will run off. Always find a balance but above all never look weak by waiting around to be told what to do!” He replied finally.
I couldn’t keep the confusion in my head anymore. Something wasn’t adding up.
Or was he sending me outside so that I could get killed? Was he signing off the last document that could kill me?
“But- what about…” My question died down in my head as a sharp knock came on the door and Gabriele called them in.
It was a group of about five people. The guy in front of them had his hand stretched out like a woman about to hug her long-lost friend.
“Gabriele!” He said drawing longer on the last syllable.
Gabriele got up from his seat and extended his hand to the strange new man for a shake.
I watched in utter confusion as they shook hands and Gabriele pointed to me.
“This is Arianna. I want you to make her look the CEO part.”
The strange man moved around me as if sizing me up for the kind of money I will get him if he had me.
“She is very beautiful. Are you sure it is appropriate to send her to those lust-filled men? They won’t keep their eyes away from her,” He said.
“My men will be with her every step of the way,” Gabriele grunted then he turned to me.
“Meet one of my fashion statement makers, Olga,” he said and I blinked hard to keep away the smile that almost found its way to my face.
How could his name be Olga? That was a female name! Did they name him that because he acted like a woman?
“Miss Arianna, it is a pleasure meeting you!” Olga said and flashed me a smile.
He stretched out his hand to me and I wondered what I was supposed to do with it.
Most times when women stretched out their hands like this, the gentleman in front of her kissed them gently.
Now, did he expect me to also kiss his hand?
I took the hand and wrapped it with two of mine. “Thank you for everything.”
I said shaking his hands with extra effort.
“This one is just good for you!” He exclaimed pulling back his hand in horror.
This was not so bad if it was my punishment.
“No need of her measurement. I have already seen how gorgeous she is…” Olga sang as he continued staring at my body.
When he finished he clapped his hands and two of the youngsters he came with brought a pen and paper to him.
“Tomorrow I shall return with a new wardrobe and you my dear will be amazed.”
He turned to Gabriele and placed a kiss on his fingers and waved at him before disappearing out the door.