Chapter six: Trap in Marco's game

Alessa's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her real name. Her fork froze mid-air, a piece of the egg she was eating was left dangling. She forced herself to chew slowly, as she kept thinking fast. How did he find out? She had thought that she was so careful. Her alias, Diana, was the best she has ever used or so she thought.

She swallowed the bite and set her fork down, her expression calm but she could hear her pulse sounding in her ears. "Alessia Romano?" she repeated, bending her head slightly as if she was amused. "I'm sorry you've mistaken me for someone else, signore Marco."

Luca leaned back into his chair, his dark eyes shone with amusement and something sharper, something scary maybe, danger! "Oh, I don't think so," he said, his voice low and smooth, like a soft bed linen. "You see, I have a very good memory for faces. And names. Especially when they belong to someone who tried to kill me."

Alessa's stomach rumbled as she was uneasy at this point, but she kept her face neutral. She couldn't afford to panic now. "That's a heavy accusation," she said lightly, picking up her glass of apple juice. "Do you often accuse women of trying to kill you, or am I just special?"

Marco chuckled, a deep sound that sent a shiver down her spine, and made her want to puke. "You're definitely special, mia bella assassina (my beautiful assassin). But let's not play games. I know who you are. And I know why you're here."

Alessa took a sip of her juice, trying so hard to keep her cool. She had two options: deny everything and hope he didn't have enough evidence to act, or admit the truth and try to negotiate her way out of this mess. Neither option was ideal, but she had to choose quick enough.

"Fine," she said, setting her glass down and facing him directly while maintaining eye contact. "You're right. I'm Alessa Romano. But if you think I'm going to apologize for trying to kill you, you're sorely mistaken." She said without realizing she actually sounded scared.

Marco's lips curved into a smirk. "I wouldn't expect anything less from someone with your reputation. But here's the thing, Bianca, you failed. And now you're in my world. My rules and only my rules apply here. Le mie regole e solo le mie regole valgono qui."

Alessa leaned forward, her elbows on the table, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And what exactly are your rules, Ragazzo?"

He replicated her posture, his face inches from hers. "Rule number one: you don't get to walk away. Rule number two: you work for me now."

She laughed, a sharp, but bitter sound. "Work for you? You think I would ever work for the man I was hired to kill?" She was now gradually settling back into the conversation.

"I don't think you are in any position to refuse but I like your spirit and boldness, I appreciate such boldness only when it is on my side". He stood up and poured himself a glass of the juice she was drinking before sitting down again and took his time to sip the drink while looking at her with a curios smile on his face.

"I do want you on my side though Miss Alessa so I will make additions to that offer"

"What exactly is this addition?" Alessa asked, more skeptical about the whole bargaining.

"It is simple and should favor you. I will delete your records you put in so much stress to hide, it will be as though Alessa Romano, the hired assassin with a good record never existed"

"Now why would I be happy that you want to delete my hard-earned reputation?"

"Well, it seemed to be that you went extra miles to have that record deleted…at the very least, I will make sure the history of your childhood and movements through various foster home are gone. You and I know you did some pretty bad things growing up", Marco said with a sinister smile

"I am still waiting to hear what exactly you want from me", Alessa said, cutting straight to the chase.

"Okay then… this is the bargain, for the sum of $1,000,000,000 and a clean record and well…your life, you have to kill who sent you and you would also have to marry me"

"What?" Alessa had never been that surprised in her entire life. At this point she was on her feet. "Marry you…what do you want from me exactly Signore Marco?, I can't marry you". She said with utmost disgust as she sat back down.

"You don't have a choice," he said, his tone hardening. "You see, I could have you killed right now. Or worse, handed you over to my men, who would make sure you regretted ever crossing me. But I'm offering you a way out. A deal."

She stared at him, her mind racing. It was a dangerous proposition, but it also seemed as her only way out. If she refused, she was dead. If she accepted, she'd be trading one target for another and putting herself in even greater danger. But at least she'd have a chance to survive.

"And if I say no?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Marco's smile faded, his expression turning cold. "Then it would be obvious that you have not been listening to me all along or that you're just intentionally ignorant" he responded in the deepest voice he has used all morning.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you don't get too choose here?"

Alessa held his gaze for a long moment, weighing her options. "On one condition"

Marco raised an eyebrow. "You're not exactly in a position to make demands."

"Humor me," she said, her tone firm. "I want my complete payment before I complete the job"

Marco studied her for a moment, then waved his head slowly. "No at least half payment should suffice. But if you double-cross me, I'll kill you and everybody you've ever known on this earth"

Alessa smirked. "Noted. Now, if I may ask, why do you want to marry me?"

"It's perfect," Luca said, clearly enjoying her reaction. "My father's been on my neck about finding a wife. If I show up with you, it will buy me sometime… and keep you close where I can keep an eye on you."

Alesaa stared at him, her mind reeling. "You can't be serious."

"Deadly," Marco said, his smirk widening. "Besides, it's not like you have a choice."

She opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off.

"You wanted a condition? This is mine. You play the part of my loving fiancée, and I'll make sure your records disappear and pay you heavily, while also keeping you alive, what more do you want?”

Alessa clenched her fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms. She hated this. Hated him. But she had no other options, it was this or death, although this could also get her killed.

Marco's smile was triumphant. "Good. Now, finish your breakfast. We have a lot to discuss."

Alessa reluctantly picked up her fork, her mind racing with thoughts of escape and maybe completing the mission of killing Marco after all. But for now, she was trapped in Marco's game. And she had to play along.

As she took a bite of her egg, Marco's phone rang, breaking the heavy compulsory silence. He glanced at the screen, his expression unreadable.

"Not now," he muttered, sending the call to voicemail.

Marco stood, his chair scraping against the floor. "Enough chit-chat," he said, his voice crisp. "We have work to do."

Alesa's heart sank. What did he have planned for her? And how could she possibly get out of this alive?

As Marco gestured for her to follow him, Alessa pushed back her chair, her mind racing with possibilities. She had to think fast,

 had to come up with a plan to outsmart Marco and escape or maybe even kill him.