CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Atlanta, Georgia 

Luis 

Ariella is undeniably beautiful and intelligent. I am relieved Enrico did not get to make the first move; otherwise, my entire Mafia would be in trouble. "Boss, we sent the message to Enrico," David, my right-hand man, said, standing on the opposite side of the table. 

"Good, I can not wait to hear from him," I replied, smiling devilishly.

"You outsmarted him on this one," David responded.

"I always enjoy crushing my rivals' pride.”

“So, what are we going to do with Ms. Johnson?” David asked.

"Ms. Johnson huh? Do not let anyone hear you call her by her original surname," I told him as I prepared my cigarette.

"Sure, Boss, I won't," David agreed before approaching me with a lighter.

He returned to stand at the door while I completed some paperwork. "May I come in?" I heard a voice ask from outside, and I looked up to see Emily.

"I hope you came for something important because you, of all people, know how much I dislike being disturbed," I said, looking at her seriously.

"Come on, Luis, drop that attitude; we both know how much the sight of me weakens your—” 

"Emily, stop what you are doing," I told her, but she did not listen and kept playing with her fingers around my neck. 

“So, let me show you what I am made of," she said, attempting to lick my ear before I pushed her to the ground.

“Ouch!" 

“I believe I warned you," I said in a serious tone.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I was just —”

"One more question and I will have you taken to the Red Room, OK?" I cut her off.

Without saying anything, she stood up, and I had David walk her out. Emily has been such a pain for the past few years, and even though I have made it clear that our relationship is over, she can not seem to stay away from me. Apart from the tragic death of my first love, Anna, falling in love with Emily has been difficult because they were twins. I only let her stay in our mansion because she had nowhere else to go after her family was tragically shot by Enrico's men.

I was still in the office when I received a call that Ariella wanted to leave the house. "Boss, is everything okay?" David inquired as he hurried behind me.

"No, Ariella is attempting to leave," I replied as we both approached the door she was at.

"Where do you think you are headed?" I asked in a serious tone.

"To my father's house; I can not stand another hour in this house, so leave me, or you will face jail time," she warned, but I could not help but laugh as David looked down.

"Listen, Miss, do yourself a favor and return to your room, or else I might lose my patience and—” 

"Do what?” she cut me off which was something I don't like.

“Quite audacious huh? Look, I am warning you for the last time, miss, go back to your room before I lose my patience, okay!" I exclaimed.

"Luis, whatever you call yourself, I do not care what you are capable of; I just want to go home, and that is all that matters right now," she said, and a guard slapped her.

“Woman! How dare you speak to Mr. Deluca in that manner?" he asked her.

"How dare you lay a finger on my wife?” I questioned him, pointing a gun at his forehead.

"Wife? No, boss, I did not know. Please forgive me," he begged, attempting to kneel, but I directed the other guards to take him to the Red Room.

I then pointed the gun at Ariella and asked whether we were going to do it the easy or hard way. 

"Anyone who tests my patience is always sent to the Red Room, where they meet me in my true dark form; are you going to your room or willing to meet me there?" I asked her.

I could tell she was panicked, and before she could move, she fainted, and I caught her just in time. "I thought you were brave," I said, gazing at her face.

Boss, let me take her," David suggested, and I was about to hand her over when I was stopped by something.

“No, just carry her bags I will take her myself," I said, making my way upstairs.

I was about to enter her room when I came across Marcus, my cousin. "Is this a romance scene or what?" he teased.

“No Mrs. Deluca fainted," David said, and Marcus looked surprised.

"Will you open the damn door or simply stand there?" I inquired while he stood in front of it.

"Sure, I will," he said, opening the door and watching as I lay Ariella on the bed. David walked out and closed the door, leaving me wondering whether I should stay and wait for her to wake up or get back to work. "Doctor, please check on her," I said as he walked inside.

"OK, Mr. Deluca, isn't this the famous law student?" he asked, recognizing Ariella.

"No, that is my wife," I replied, watching how he treated her.

"Goodness, what happened here?" Kendy inquired as she entered with a tray of food.

"It is nothing; just put it there and leave," I told her.

"OK," she replied, and as she was about to leave after placing the food, she stopped and stood stunned.

“Is there something wrong?" I asked.

"No, I just hope her baby is fine," she replied, and my heart skipped a beat.

“What!" 

“Ariella told me earlier that she might be pregnant and —" 

"Get out; the doctor will handle the rest," I told her.

"Doctor, do a pregnancy test on her,” I instructed fiercely.

‘So she wanted to leave because of that. How dare she lie to me?’ I said at the back of my head.