005

"Why do you think the boss kept her?"

"I've still been trying to wrap my head around that. He never participated in auctions and....she's not even been treated as a slave."

"The nice room, food, assigning people to take care of her."

"It's highly suspicious. I think something is going on here really."

"Right."

The two young ladies in the dinning didn't even bother to hide their voices, even though I was clearly in the room.

The Audacity.

But why not? It's not like I can do anything to them and they know that.

Dad once told me that La Serpe Nera was one of the bravest and most fearless mafia families in the country.

Met a few of them already and I wouldn't dare doubt that.

They kept whispering about me as if I wasn't in the room and on my part I tried my best to ignore them.

I have the same questions they had. And I hope that I get my answers soon.

I focused on my food, feeling like a fish out of water... blocking out their whispers.

For now food is what matters.

The normal Cecilia would have been throwing tantrums daily... going on hunger strikes and stuff, but this Cecilia is now thinking for two.

My baby needs me to be calm and not get myself hurt or even worse killed.

My baby.....

I picked up a slice of apple, swallowing tightly.

Does the boss even know that I am pregnant?

I saw the way he looked at me yesterday.

Which brought a new wave of fear crashing into me.

What if he isn't Okay with it?

Or worse, what if he takes my baby away from me?

No!

I clenched the apple tightly in my hand protectively, my heart racing.

He can't do that.

No he cannot.

"Calm down Cecilia," I whispered in my head.

Getting scared prematurely isn't good for the baby.

I have to try my best to relax.

Not that I even know much about what's good or bad for the baby to begin with.

I took a deep breath, and kept picking on the plate of sliced apples before me.

The young ladies at the corner were now gone, thankfully...but the whole house was still buzzing with activities.

The maids moved gracefully about the dining room, cleaning, carrying dishes from the kitchen, and whatnot.

Even though my eyes were fixed on the table, I could feel the heat of their shares on me, and their hushed whispers as they walked past me.

Well at least I have given the staff something to talk about for a week at least.

I sigh.

You are gonna be the topic of discussion Cecilia.

And it wasn't just the maids. A few men in suits came and went, their purpose unknown to me, nkf that I care.

But their presence added to the sense of unease that clung to me.

These men...

Despite being born into a crazy mafia hood, my parents have tried their best to protect us from everything about them, but not to the extent of Keeping us ignorant.

We knew everything we needed to know about the mafia but never had to be in the face of it.

Now, it feels I have been forcefully thrust into the same thing they protected me from all my life.

I bit my lip, my focus still on my plate of food, taking small bites to quell the gnawing hunger in my stomach.

Finally, I finished the feast before me...but still sat there with the empty plates not knowing what to do next and where to go next.

Luckily one of the ladies came to my rescue, approaching me with a kind smile and with two maids behind her.

They cleared the plates on the table, carefully avoiding my gaze.

"I hope you enjoyed your breakfast," the first one said, "Now if you don't mind, I have to help you freshen up."

I frown, "help me freshen up?"

"Yeah. And your room needs cleaning. The boss instructed us to take good care of you."

But why?

Why was he taking care of me?

I'm his slave after all.

But I guess it's just to prepare me enough to suit his taste.

I Wordlessly followed the kind looking woman up to the room which was mine and stood there like a lost puppy as she walked into the bathroom to run my bath

This whole thing still seemed so surreal.

I thought as I took in the room carefully for the first time.

My room, if you could even call it that, felt like a gilded cage.

It was spacious and extravagant, a little similar to the one I had back at home.

What would even happen to our house? My father's properties?

But despite how beautiful the room looked, I couldn't brush off the suffocating feeling of being here.

And pretty it was

The walls were adorned with intricate wallpaper, a tapestry of patterns and colors that brought life to the all white walls and velvet drapes framed the large window.

A grand canopy bed was in one corner, its ornate posts reaching for the heavens like an altar to excess. The bedding was luxurious, but last night when I was here, it only felt like a cold, impersonal embrace.

"Your bath is ready," the lady Said interrupting my thoughts, "We already put some clothes in the closet. Do let me know if you want us to change anything."

She brushed past me, scurrying out of the room while my head whirled with a million questions.

What does this mean?

Clothes....

Luxurious room.

Fancy food.

Not exactly a treatment you give a slave.

But hell, who am I to complain?

Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

I sprinted off to the bathroom and soaked myself in the warm tub, relishing the feel of the clean water, the beautiful scent of lavender.

After a very long shower, I dried myself and hurried to the closet.

Opening the closet doors revealed a sight that left me momentarily breathless. Rows upon rows of clothes, hung in impeccable order.

It was as though someone had stepped into my life and carefully curated a wardrobe to fit my every need.

Every piece seemed to have been chosen with a discerning eye, as if someone had taken the time to understand my preferences and tastes.

There were gowns, tops, pants, shorts...and even more.

Who did this and when did they?

Someone must have taken the time to arrange this while I was eating.

I ran my fingers across the rows of fabrics, checking the sizes of a few of them and marveled at the fact that they got my sizes perfectly well.

What's this luxury?

I shrugged and threw on a black sleeveless gown with nothing underneath, then closed the doors.

As I went down to sit on the chair by the window, my mind still whirled with questions.

I stared out the window, at the garden of flowers in the yard, and my lips tugged slowly.

What exactly does this mean?

If the boss never participated in auctions, why did he choose me?

And why is he taking care of Me?

There was only one explanation.

Vengeance.

Maybe he just could bear the thought of me going free so he has to keep the daughter of the traitor close and make her suffer.

My jaw clenched as my mind drifted to the memories of my parent's death.

My parents who had sacrificed everything to protect us, and my little brother whose innocent laughter still echoes in my ears till this very day.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

No matter how hard I try to process it I still couldn't get used to the gnawing pain in my heart.

And Alex...

God alone knows what they had done with my brother.

Is he alive? Did they kill him?

Where is he?

My trembling hand found its way to my belly and I rubbed it gently.

I don't know how, but La Serpe Nera will pay for what they did to me.

I have no idea how it's going to happen but they will pay.

"I'll do anything," I whispered, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. "Anything to get revenge and protect you."

My thoughts were interrupted as the door burst open, and the boss strode in with a scowl etched on his very handsome face. My heart leaped into my throat, and I jerked in fear at his sudden entrance.

He didn't waste any time with pleasantries, his voice edged with impatience as he demanded, "What is your name? And you better fucking answer me this time."

I hesitated for a moment, my voice trembling as I finally replied, "Cecilia."

But his response was not what I expected.

Instead of further questioning, what I got was silence.

He just stood there, his gaze locked on me staring at me with those dark eyes, as if I was a puzzle he was trying to solve.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn't hold them back any longer.

The fear left my body replaced by unease and just urgency.

I took two steps towards and asked him in a choked voice, "What do you want from me?"

His reply was harsh, his words cutting through the air like a blade. "I want you to please me whenever I want," he said, his voice devoid of any tenderness, "That's all I want, Cecilia."

I am ashamed to admit that my stomach fluttered at the way my name rolled off his tongue.

I shook my head, and took a deep breath to clear my head.

"Please I....."

Whatever I was going to say was lost as he covered the distance between us with two long steps, grabbed my chin to tilt my head back and captured my lips in a bruising kiss.