8

"N-no. I'm not into that kind of stuff." I coughed into my fist.

"Really?" Lorenzo grinned as his had trailed higher up my thigh, stopping right above my crotch, and my breath hitched.

"Let's make a deal. We could... test my hypothesis, and if you're not affected, I won't give you any punishment when your escape plan fails."

And on cue, my mind was swimming with me bent over his lap. My cheeks flushed, and his grin grew bigger. Of course he was enjoying this.

"No, thank you. I'm not making any more bets with you. Who knows how you're going to twist that for your advantage?" I quickly said and slapped his hand away from my thigh. "And there won't be any other punishment. My next escape plan will be my last."

"Too bad. I was really hoping you would say yes. The thought of watching you squirm is... invigorating." He winked at me as he scooted away from me.

'Yes, invigorating.' I mused as he crossed his legs, trying to hide the bulge in his pants. At least I affected him just as much as he affected me. A win was a win.

"You know the next punishment will be worse than the previous. Gradually building up to the big slaughter. If I were you, I would make every trial count."

"Again, there won't be any other punishment. My next escape plan will be my last. Do you think we can stop over at a boutique? Clara and I didn't exactly do any shopping." I gave him a sheepish smile.

"Fine, but you and Clara would be going to different ones."

"What! I can't go shopping alone!" I frowned and narrowed my eyes at him. "Are you hiding her from me because you hurt her? You aren't going to hurt her, are you? And don't say you don't hurt family because you've proven you are capable of going low."

"Clara is fine. I can't do anything to her even if I wanted to because she has to meet her betrothed tomorrow, and she has to be in good shape."

'Ugh, she has to meet that guy. That's the one reason I regret not escaping today."

"But I can't go shopping on my own. Who does that? It's no fun." I whined and pouted.

"If you're so bothered about that, maybe I should come with you." Lorenzo snorted, and a creepy grin spread across my cheeks.

"Ok. You can come with me."

"What?" His eyes snapped to me, and he frowned. "That was a joke."

"Oh, so the scary Diavolo is intimidated by a little shopping spree. How predictable." I crinkled my face at him. His jaw tightened, and I pressed my lips together, holding back my laugh.

"Why am I even surprised? Stepping into a girly store would probably drain you of your domineering, broody masculinity." I snorted and turned my attention to the window.

His heated glare scorched my back, and the corner of my lips tipped to a smirk. Yes, I shouldn't prod a man that could kill me and mount my head on his wall, especially with things I didn't mean, but it was way too fun.

And we wouldn't have been in the situation if he had just let me go with Clara, so technically it was his fault he was in the mess.

"Y—"

"Fine, I'll go with you." Lorenzo huffed, and my eyes widened.

"Wait! Really?" I gawked at him. He was agreeing! That wasn't my plan!

"Isn't that what you wanted?" He eyed me, and his lips twitched to a small smirk. "What? Suddenly regretting your decision? Worried that domineering, broody masculinity will ruin your pink and frizzy femininity shopping?"

"No." I quickly retorted. How dare he use my words against me? "Since you're so eager, I'll let you tag along."

He snorted and gave some instruction to the driver.

'So the devil is following me shopping.' I thought and snickered. 'This will be so much fun. And since we'll be spending time together, maybe I’ll flatter or annoy him so much that he'll drop something useful to help my escape plan. Poor Lorenzo; he doesn't know what he's getting himself into."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Do these people know you are... you know... you?" I whispered to Lorenzo as we sat in the VIP lounge of the boutique, and one of the saleswomen poured us a glass of champagne while the other fussed around for who knew what.

The moment we walked into the boutique, they welcomed us like we were gods. They were all smiles and polite, which was even stranger because if they knew he was Diavolo, they would be terrified. Or at least show a bit of fear.

He gave me a strange look, like I was crazy, and I furrowed my brows.

"What?" I asked. Wasn't Diavolo said to be unseen? Only people connected to the mafia knew his face; at least that was what the rumours said.

"You really don't know anything about me, do you?" He sighed and picked up the flute of the champagne. "I'm Lorenzo Raimondo, CEO of Raimondo Corps."

"Oh. Makes sense." I slowly nodded my head as I ogled at him.

So he wasn't just the Don of one of the biggest mafia groups in the country but also the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the entire country too. Damn, the man had power.

"Welcome to Midas' Touch again, Mr. Raimondo and Miss Harper. I'm Stacy, and I'll be in charge of everything you need today. I'm at your beck and call." Stacy, the saleswoman, said with a bright smile that almost blinded me.

Can't blame her though. Imagine the commission she was going to get from my spending. If I were in her shoes, my entire face would be a smile.

"So where do you want to start? Dresses? Jewelleries? Shoes? Lingerie?"

"You won't mind if I max out your card, would you?" I teased, nudging Lorenzo, and took out his black card from my bag.

"You can max this one too, if you agree to put on a fashion show for me." He laughed and pulled out another one from his pocket.

"Deal!" I plucked his card from his hand and stood up.

"Let's go crazy, shall we?" I winked at Stacy.