CHAPTER FOUR: Love or Lust

“Get yourself cleaned up.” Don said, before walking out of the office. He headed immediately to the rooftop, which was his normal area for clearing his mind. He brought out a cigar from the pocket of his dark pants and lit it.

He had just had a very good time with his new girl and the thought of it made him chuckle. However, there was a problem. He was unusually drawn to her in some manner. Was it her bold and daring personality?, he thought, before shaking his head in denial. After all, he has been with lots of women and he has not felt a thing for them. To him, they were just for sex, pleasure and nothing more.

Don was still absorbed in his thoughts when his personal assistant cleared his throat. He turned to face the young man by his side.

“I noticed you were so deep in thoughts so I wanted to bring your mind back.” He started.

“I have a job for you and I need you to be discreet as always,” Don said, ignoring Marcello's words, “I would need you to watch Martin closely. Keep track of his movements and report back to me.”

“But boss, Martin is your brother, wouldn't I be invading his privacy?” Marcello asked.

At hearing this, Don turned to face him, smearing the remaining cigar with his feet. He held the man's throat causing him to choke as he stared into his face.

“Step-brother. I wouldn't want to correct you on that again and you know what I don't like?” he asked before adding, “Questions, okay?”

The poor man nodded under his boss's grip. “Now you would go and do what I ask of you. Invading his privacy is what I want and I need you to get me pictures of his whereabouts, is that taken?” He bellowed fiercely.

“Yes boss, I'll do as you say.” He answered before turning to go.

“As for the girl, make her my personal servant. I'll need her to serve me from now on.” He concluded with a smirk as he watched his assistant scurry away.

He licked his lips. She was his now and would do whatever he asked of her.

***

Julia laid in her bed the next morning reminiscing about what had transpired last night between her and the boss. She wanted to get the thought off her head but she couldn't since she had slept with his scent embedded in her skin. He had made her forget about everything and now, no matter how hard she tried, the thought of their foreplay still came back. She knew he had fucked her more than anyone else ever had, but the knowledge that he was a deadly mafia boss made her want to forget him.

At first, she wondered why he did not have sex with her, but she immediately hit her head for thinking about that.

Where was her dignity? She questioned herself. She couldn't imagine herself thinking about a man when she should be planning her escape.

She rose up and headed to her window, which overlooked the flower garden and a neighboring fence. The whole place was heavily guarded except for the garden. Immediately, Julia had a thought. It wasn't guaranteed but it was worth trying.

With that she returned to her bed with a smile on her face. She would escape at night, get her mother and travel far away.

She let out a sigh. A heavy one. She was aware that doing so would put her in more risk, but she was not willing to live her life as a mere sex object.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was her boyfriend, Jason.

“Where are you? How are you doing?” He asked, immediately she picked the call. She exhaled deeply.She knew Jason really cared about her but she wasn't interested in their relationship. The duo had met at a popular university in Italy where she was studying. He had pressured her into being in a relationship with him but she knew he was only obsessed with her looks. She was pretty enough to make anyone fall for her, even the girls, but it was all infatuation.

She soon became tired of him following her around and decided to give him a trial. They went on dates, spent time together and even had sex, but she still wasn't attracted to him.

“Hi,Jason,” she said into the phone.

“You mum told me all about what happened, are you really okay?. I've heard a lot about the Rossini's and what they do to people and it is really bad.”

Can you stop blabbing, Julia wanted to yell but she comforted herself, “It was just a minor issue, you don't need to worry about it.”

“How can you say it is a minor issue? You are under the Rossini's roof and you don't want me to care?” Jason said. Julia could tell he was a bit angry so she said nothing.

“I know you wouldn't want this but I've talked with your mum and she had agreed to let me help with paying the debt.”

“Hell no!” Julia heard herself scream. She did not want to take on any more debt, and because she did not like Jason, it would appear that she was being self-centered.

“Why wouldn't you let me help you? It is just like I'm going to ask you to pay it back.”

“I'll figure out my way, I don't need your help” Julia said, not wanting to feel sad for rejecting the offer. He was trying to help but she wasn't interested.

“Suit yourself then,” he said then added, “Julia, have you ever felt a thing for me?”

The question was unexpected and Julia did not know how to answer him. Should she tell him the truth? What if it breaks his heart?, she thought.

Jason has always been there for her, helping her when she needed someone and even making her feel happy. Only if he had seen it in her that she wanted to keep their relationship as friends but the slow-witted man failed to detect that. Now she was asked a question she did not know how to respond to; this was the one chance she had to tell him how she truly felt about him. It would hurt it but at least she would have told him the truth already. With that she took a deep breath and cleared her throat.

“Are you not going to say anything?”

“Well, actually, I was going to tell you this but–”

“–who are you talking to and how dare you make a call!” she heard someone ask coldly.

“Who is that?” she heard Jason inquire as she turned to see.

Her eyes widened, and before she could say anything, Don approached her and took the phone.

“Is he your boyfriend?” he asked.

Julia said nothing.

“Haven't you heard of what I do to men who trespass with my women?” He asked in a relaxed tone.

“Don't do anything to him. He hasn't done anything wrong” she pleaded.

Don let out a laugh. “Who is he to you?!” He thundered.

“A friend! Just a friend!”

His lips twitched. “Oh really,I can't wait to find out what sort of friend he is, darling” he said, and stormed out of the room, leaving Julia in a confused state.