Chapter 4

~Edwina~

"See you around Princessa," says Alessandro as the car pulls up outside the company building the doors automatically open and I step out Alessandro drives away.

"I swear I will one day strangle you," yells my best friend Krystal as she storms up to me my eyes widening in shock.

"What the hell?"I ask wondering what time she reached here as she stands in front of me asking in a high pitched tone, "Where the hell were you last night Ed?? And you better not feed me any form of bullshit!"

I sigh knowing how dramatic Krys can be as I say, "How about we talk about this in my office Krys where we will not cause a scene?"

"Sure," she mutters frustratedly as we walk into the building.

"I call you many times last night and you never picked up. Where were you?"Krys asks angrily once we've settled in my office.

I pull my phone out of my bag to see that indeed I had forty missed calls from her.

"I'm sorry okay, last night Alexxis and I went out for drinks and shit happened, 'I sigh starting up my Mac book and leaning back in my seat.

Krys raises an eyebrow at me as I elaborate further," I ended up completely drunk and some man ended up taking me to his penthouse for the night."

"Man?!," asks Krys narrowing her eyes at me and I go on, "He's called Raffaele Marcello."

"As in Raffaele Marcello, the head of the Italian mafia?!" whisper yells krys.

"Problem?"I ask knowing very well what she is going to ask next.

"What the hell are you doing associating with a man like him Ed?"Krys asks concerned and puzzled.

"Let's just say I closed a deal with him, "I sigh and her eyebrows shoot to her forehead.

"You have to promise to keep this to yourself Krys. You know how much I trust you, "I say seriously and she nods her head smirking.

"So tell me hun how big was it?" asks Krys smiling devilishly and I roll my eyes laughing saying, "Do you ever not think of sex?"

"No, so answer the question," Krys says and I sigh saying, "There was no sex involved so I don't know."

"He's Italian though, "I say knowing very well her obsession for Italian men and Krys squeals in excitement saying, "Honey your one lucky woman."

I chuckle amused at her reaction and she asks, "So on a scale of one to ten, how hot is he?"

"I'll give him a 9.5, "I say Raffaele's image coming to mind.

"Honey you're whipped," says Krys smirking and I roll my eyes as we go on talking about our stuff.

We end up talking for a while till I eventually have to hug and kiss her goodbye knowing how I would never work with her around.

"I had fun last night," says Alexxis after she's through updating me on my work schedule.

"Me too and I'm sorry for leaving you, "I say and Alexxis chuckles saying, "It's okay boss turns out Alessandro took me home. He's not as bad as I thought."

"Oh really?"I ask amused at her response.

"Don't even go there," laughs Alexxis taking the opportunity to leave my office so that I could work.

I end up sitting through meetings and working on the company's next project for the rest of the day.

"Busy day," says Elliot as I step into the car and he drives off. The day's already come to the end and darkness has already set in as Elliot drives me home.

"Yeah, "I sigh as he swerves through New York traffic and my phone rings.

"Hello," I say and Raffaele's smooth velvety voice is heard, "Mind joining me for dinner?"

"As in a date?"I ask puzzled and he replies, "I don't do dates Tesoro, consider it more of a business meeting over dinner."

"So a business date then?"I ask in the mood to push his buttons."

"Be ready in two hours," he says ignoring my comment about the line going dead.

"Asshole, "I murmur and I notice Elliot smirking from the rearview mirror.

"What?"I ask raising my left brow at him.

"Nothing," he says amused as he speeds through the highway.

I reach my penthouse as I swipe my card through the handle as it opens and I step in kicking off my heels and heading to shower.

I take my time in the shower drowning in my original scent. I end up dressing in a red extreme split strappy back maxi dress with 6 inches high heel gold stilettos with open toe straps.

My hair is straightened and tied into a tight neat low bun as my large golden hoop earrings adorn my ears. My lips are painted red and my make up is done to perfection and I have to admit, that I'm proud of my look.

I hear the doorbell ring the sound echoing across the penthouse. I grab my gold purse giving one last sweep in the mirror as I walk down the stairs and head to open the door coming face to face with Raffaele.

His green orbs shine stunned before he quickly masks it up as he clears his throat saying, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, "I say trying my best to cover up my disappointment from not getting a compliment from him.

I step out closing the door behind me as we walk towards the elevator in silence.

The elevator opens and we step in, the tension in the air quite evident. Raffaele stands behind me and I feel his hot breath on my neck.

I feel the hairs on my neck stand as my breathing comes out in short deep breaths. I feel his lips whisper again my skin trying my best to stop the urge to turn around and pull him flush against me.

The elevator finally dings open and we pull away stepping out and I release a breath I was holding.

We walk across the lobby all eyes on us and I'm pretty sure that most of them were directed to Raffaele's appearance and the way it screamed dominance and power.

We step into the cool night, a black Bugatti Chiron waiting at the entrance. I spot it as Raffaele's since it just screamed at him as he unlocks it and we get in as he drives out of the parking lot.

"Could you slow done, "I murmur terrified that this man was on a mission to kill us with the way he is driving like a reckless person?

"Relax Tesoro," he says all too calmly swerving through the highway.

"You can't be serious, "I grit out at his arrogance.

He doesn't reply, the rest of the ride remaining silent. We are finally at an expensive restaurant and from the design, it appears to be Italian.

Raffaele kills the engine as we get out and he rounds the car offering me his arm which I try to ignore but he throws me a cold glare and I entwine my left arm in his ignoring the tingles that shoot up my arm.

I notice the stares as we walk into the restaurant most of them from ladies who were glaring at me as if I stole their man.

I ignore them as Raffaele leads me to a private table decorated with candlelights. He pulls out my seat and I thank him for taking my seat as he sits across from me.

"So....," I say trying to eliminate the tension in the air and he says, "We discuss business but for now you eat."

A menu is placed in front of me and I swear I'm seeing Greek in front of my eyes.

I have never been to an Italian restaurant before so their offers appear strange in front of my eyes and I hear Raffaele chuckle as he goes ahead to order for the both of us.

"What did you order?"I ask curious once the waiter has left and he smirks saying, "Don't worry Tesoro you'll love it"

"I'm sure I will, "I mutter as he pops open the bottle of red wine and pours it into both our glasses.

"What exactly do you need my help with?" asks Raffaele switching to business mode.

I take a sip of my wine humming in satisfaction and say, "Turns out my older sister, Geneva Gemstone was murdered fifteen years ago and the murderer made it seem like suicide. So I need your help finding the person so that I could get my revenge."

"And are your parents aware of you working with a man like me?"Raffaele asks his eyes hardening and I reply icily, "They have no right to stop me from making my own decisions. I'm a grown-ass woman capable of making her own decisions without them even if it means walking through the corridors of hell and dining with the devil."

Raffaele's eyes shine with amusement at my response saying, "I'll risk the life of my men to work with you but any form of betrayal or shady business, I will take you as a threat and kill you myself"

I sense the seriousness behind his words and I smirk saying, "That won't be a problem."

Our food comes to the table steaming hot and my mouth waters at the sight as I pick up my fork and night to have a bite.

"Oh my god, this tastes so good," I moan and Raffaele gazes at me silently amused at my reaction.

"What the hell is this called?"I asked taking another bite of its goodness and reply "Fiorentina steak."

"Damn it's so good," I say loving the way it leaves a tingling taste in my mouth and Rafaelle says, "I'm glad you like it, Tesoro."

I'm pretty sure the man's ego has been boosted now that his choice was good.

I take my final sip of red wine satisfied with my meal as I place down my knife and fork dabbing at my mouth with the napkin placed beside my plate.

Suddenly someone accidentally bumps into me and my empty glass falls to the ground shattering into a million pieces.

I yelp in surprise and I hear Raffaele yell, "What the fuck?!"