Arianna’s POV
I didn’t give him the chance to speak as I walked out immediately. He was the most annoying person ever!
We were just trying to have fun and he found a way to ruin that as well!
The women in the house despised me right now because of him. They thought I was somehow the reason why Sara killed herself!
All because of Gabriele!
“Argh!” I yelled pulling my hair as I got to my room’s door.
I cursed whoever had sold me to him! I cursed whoever put me in this misery!
I pushed the door and went inside. I was not interested in talking to anybody anymore. I locked it and went straight to my bed.
It was still a long time till my bedtime, but I’d rather force sleep to come than face Gabriele once again.
Thankfully, no one came to drag me down for dinner.
I changed into comfortable clothes and lay on the bed. Sleep didn’t come until later into the night.
By the time morning came, I must have been the first to wake up. The sun hadn’t even come up yet and I already wanted to leave the house.
I got out of bed and went on to the bathroom to take a long shower and wash off all of Gabriele’s negative energy away from me.
I was going to work with Niko and Mike. I would relax better when I was with them. The same people he had attached to me as leeches had somehow managed to become my very good friend.
If only I could find a way to take Sofie with us, my circle of friends would be completely out of his cruel gaze.
I finished with my bath and picked up one of the outfits Olga had brought for me for official use.
Jane Lee was coming today to finalize the papers of a new contract she brought for the business a few days after the Asian deal –I had to look at the part just in case she brought in bigger clients.
I pulled my hair back into a low bun and rolled it behind my head. For makeup, I went for a darker lip shade that pronounced my dark mood.
As I stepped out of the room, I half expected to find Gabriele waiting there with burning eyes. But the hallway was empty –safe for Sofie who was coming towards me.
“Good morning Arianna, you are up too early today. Is everything okay?” She asked as she came closer.
I was about to argue that I wasn’t too early when my eyes fell on the large wall clock at the far end of the corridor, it was only seven in the morning.
After all the time I spent in the bathroom and at my vanity table, I wondered what time I even woke up, to begin with.
“Good morning Sofie,” I responded to her greeting.
She raised her eyebrows suggestively waiting for me to respond to her question.
“Everything is fine Sofie. I didn’t even realize I woke up that early until you mentioned it,” I said.
She looked around us and when she was certain no one was close by, she held my hand and whispered. “Hmm, did he say anything?”
“I noticed you were in your room throughout. For a while, we thought you were together until we saw him step out of his study. Did you get into a fight again?” She asked.
I shook my head, refusing to dwell on anything that concerned Gabriele so early in the morning.
“Sofie, I am meeting a very important client today. I don’t want to ruin my mood by talking about Gabriele. Extend my greetings to him,” I said, almost letting out the hiss in my throat.
I started walking and Sofie –being so stubborn followed me.
“But you should have something to eat. You need to have your strength for this meeting, right?” She asked over my shoulder.
“I will ask Niko to inform Mila to arrange breakfast for us before we get there,” I said.
“Did you and sir get into a fight because of us?” She asked as we reached the main entrance.
I paused at the door and turned to look at her. “You shouldn’t worry yourself about Gabriele and me. We will be fine. Okay?” I assured her even if I knew deep down we wouldn’t be fine.
It was either he killed me or I killed him with frustration.
Sofie suddenly hugged me and I was shocked for a few seconds before I also placed my arms around her. We stayed that way for a few minutes and I could understand all the things she couldn’t say to me.
“I am grateful for having you as well,” I whispered back.
I pulled away from her and waved before walking down to the car park where Niko and Mike must have been waiting for me.
“If it isn’t the princess leaving her castle too early in the morning,” Niko said.
They were standing by the car with their hands folded across their chests. The moment they saw me, they pulled away from the car and Niko opened the door for me to step in.
“Hope the boss didn’t give you too much trouble last night?” Mike asked with concern, lacing his voice.
“I should be asking you that question. I heard the threat he gave,” I blurted out.
Niko and Mike exchanged looks and settled into their seats as the driver started the car.
“I know how loyal you are to him but if he does something to you, please let me know. As long as I am here, I won’t let anything unjust happen to you.”
Niko nodded and Mike patted my shoulder gently.
The car was quiet again as each of us got pulled into our heads.
“Sometimes I wished we lived simpler lives,” Niko voiced out, breaking the silence first.
His question surprised me. If he wanted a simpler life, why couldn’t he just take it?
“Did Gabriele keep you here against your will too?” I asked him.
“No, No!” They both chorused.
“He didn’t keep us against our will. We decided to stay by him no matter what,” Mike explained.
This was becoming complicated. If they were loyal to this point and the amount of trust Gabriele had in them, why didn’t they try talking to him?
“Then why not ask him to leave the mafia? He has a lot of money as an actual businessman. Why does he still do with guns and Ally the dangers that come with it? What’s the fun in that?” I asked them.
Again they did that thing they usually do when they look at themselves and communicate.
“That’s not in our place to share,” Niko said, giving me an apologetic smile.
“Did something happen to him?” I know they said it wasn’t their place to talk about it but they could at least give me a hint.
“Arianna…” Mike called softly. “We can’t tell you his story.”
“Yeah right!” I scoffed, puffing out air.
If he had a story, it didn’t matter. Killing people was never the answer!
“Anyway, someday I hope he stops it and leads an easier life,” I said, focusing my attention out the window.
Despite our friendship, they still didn’t let me sit by the window. I was always between them like a squashed tomato. But it was no longer uncomfortable, I enjoyed their company.
The ride went on till we got to the office. I waited for them to do their security sweep and when Niko tapped at the window, I was ready for the day.
“You keep checking every day for enemies. Do you think they will never come here to attack?” I asked as we walked to the elevator.
“In our line of business, you never let your guard down Arianna. Our enemies can never get tired,” Niko explained.
“Rather, they lurk in the corners waiting for the day you will leave an opening for them,” Mike completed.
“Hmm,” I mumbled.
They were right. But still, it was tedious work to always have to watch your back.
“I still think quitting the mafia is the best thing to do,” I added under my breath.
Jane Lee was a few minutes late today but the deal went well, just like the last ones I have done with her.
By the time she left, I was going through the files when I remembered there was a particular document I needed.
Mila was out to receive our lunch, so I went to the document room myself.
I searched through the drawers and found the document I needed easily. Each drawer was named according to what was in it and the folders were also arranged alphabetically and by date.
I was moving out of the document room when a particular drawer drew my attention. It had no name to it.
Only a pink tag.
“What’s in here?” I whispered as I turned to it.
I pulled out the first file and as my eyes scanned the first page, my heart stopped.
It was my manual!