Chapter 3

I staggered at his words. "What?" was all I could manage.

Gerrard Bellarico leaned back in his chair looking very confident and arrogant, as he watched my reaction.

The usual me would have slapped him hard across the face, but I wasn’t the usual me anymore. What did he take me for? My throat tightened, my fists clenched, I wanted to walk out, but in my circumstances, it wasn’t an option.

He stood up, adjusting his suit. "Meet me here at 8 p.m." He dropped a card on the table and walked past me without sparing me another glance.

I had never felt so insulted in my life.

---

When I returned to the Santorini syndicate's hotel lodge, my heart was heavy, I was angry and frustrated. Sir Bruno was waiting for me, he was pacing about the room impatiently.

“Well? How did it go?” he yell at me the moment I entered the room.

I swallowed hard. There was no point lying. “I... I didn’t get it,” I confessed.

His face darkened instantly. He growled in anger and grabbed my arm roughly. “You failed me? Do you know what happens to people who fail me?”

He signaled to one of his men, who immediately handed him a phone. “Kill that useless old man in your care,” Sir Bruno instructed coldly.

“No! Please!” I cried, tears streaming down my face. "I can still carry out the mission!"

He paused, glaring at me. “How? You can’t even get close to him, let alone kill him. What are you talking about?”

My hands trembled as I raised the card Gerrard had left me earlier. “He asked me to meet him tonight... at this location.”

Sir Bruno’s eyes narrowed as he snatched the card from my hand. He studied it for a moment before signaling his men to verify it. Moments later, one of them returned.

“It’s legit, sir. One of the Bellarico’s private residences out of town,” the man confirmed.

Sir Bruno’s dark mood instantly shifted to one of triumph. He laughed loudly, as he loosened his grip on me. “I knew this pretty face wouldn’t fail me,” he said, patting my head roughly.

“Get her ready,” he ordered.

---

The next few hours was a blurr. I went on to try different clothes, most of it was slutty. I felt like a cheap prostitute on display. Then they settled on an elegance but sexy gown that slung to my body like a second skin.

“You look perfect,” the stylist said, smiling sweetly at me.

Perfect. That word felt like a curse.

----

Sir Bruno himself drove me to the location. The ride was silent except for the pounding of my heart. As we approached Gerrard's mansion, a towering structure surrounded by high walls and ornate gates, I started to have a feeling of dread, like a deer being thrown into the lion’s den.

“You know what to do,” Sir Bruno said as he parked. “Gain his trust, learn his secrets, and when the time comes... end him.”

I nodded weakly and stepped out of the car.

---

The mansion was indeed a testament of the Bellarico's wealth and power. The guards at the door asked for my ID and then they let me in after doing an electronic sweep on my body and searching my bag. It's a good thing I didn't have anything incriminating on me.

I was led to a lavish private room, where Gerrard was waiting for me. I entered and the doors were shut immediately, which startled me.

Then I saw him, sitting on an arm chair, reading a magazine, with a glass of wine in hand. His piercing eyes locked onto me the moment I stepped inside, sweeping over me from head to toe with a gaze that sent a shiver down my spine.

“You’re late." he said as poured himself more wine.

I forced a smile, trying to hide the fear and anger storming inside me.

"Freshen up, there's a lingerie prepared for you. Change into that." He said, watching me as I dropped my bag, and walked into the bathroom.

I took a long shower, hoping to delay the inevitable, I changed into the rope like lingerie, it left nothing to the imagination. I can't possibly walk out like this. I put in the robe hanging on the wall to hide my nakedness."

I finally came out, he was still glued to whatever he was reading.

He eventually raised up his head to look at me.

"You took your time in there." He commented.

"Take off the robe, and strip for me slowly," he said, commanded rather, his tone sharp and firm.

My eye widened. “What?” I asked, startled,

“I don’t have time to waste. Let’s just get down to business, shall we?” he said, his gaze settled on me, as he gulped another cup of wine, expecting some action.

My throat tightened, and I swallowed back the lump in my throat. I wanted to cry, to scream, but I couldn’t let him see my vulnerability.

“Can I have some wine first?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. Pouring a glass, he handed it to me.

I gulped it down in one go, the burn of the wine barely registering. I needed the high; I couldn’t be sober for this.

“Come here,” he commanded.

I was still very tensed, but I obeyed, I went to sit beside him. He took the empty glass from me, setting it on the table with care. Without warning, he leaned in for a kiss, but as his lips neared mine, I turned my head away.

“What is this?” he snapped, he looked at me irritated.

I froze, I was too afraid to meet his gaze.

Before he could say anything else, his phone buzzed on the table. He quickly grabbed it and walked towards the door, listening to whoever was on the other end.

As he listened, his face changed. His jaw clenched, and his eyes grew cold and angry.

“Okay,” he said sharply before ending the call.

I sat up quickly, fear twisting in my chest. Something was wrong. He turned to me, his face hard and serious.

I stood up, ready to run, but he moved fast. He strode toward me like a predator ready to pounce on its prey, and I backed up until I hit the wall.

He leaned close, his voice low but sharp. “Who are you? Tell me the truth?”

My eyes widened in shock. He knew.