CHIARA
I, Chiara, wouldn't keep being a tool in their treacherous games. I would become a player instead, playing alongside them. Neither the greedy piece of shit Antonio, nor that bastard Enzo could seal my fate. I will do that myself.
There was Jensen, Matteo, Rico, Mario, Armando and many others before him. They all went with the wind. And some had to face my hand when they played hard to get or forced themselves on me. Enzo wasn't the first stumbling block on my path.
"Never thought I'd see the day." The man uttered, causing me to take a slow turn. A scoff left me when my eyes settled on a tall good-looking piece of shit, Carmelo Conti, just a seat away from me. Talk about the family rivalry bullshit I wanted no part in.
"The feeling is mutual." I kept scrolling on my phone, ignoring his presence. Then, my eyes locked onto a certain name. My brows furrowed. Slowly, I turned to the man beside me, glanced at my phone, and then back at him. Our last encounters weren't friendly at all. Who dared to add this man to my event guest list?
His eyes pierced through me as if he could burn me into ashes with just a look. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, I wasn't scared. Not one bit. "Who did that to you?" he asked. My frown deepened until realization hit me.
Oh. Right.
How could I forget I had a purple mark decorating my cheek? A reward for refusing to go on a dinner date with Enzo the other day. I leaned against the bar, holding his gaze. "Why?" A sinister smile tugged at my lips. "Do you want one of these?" I asked, tapping at my bruised cheek with my index finger. "I'll be more than happy to give it to you."
He got up from his seat, slowly like a predator after its prey. He covered the nonsensical distance between us in the blink of an eye. Then he leaned down, and I backed up, my hands gripping the stool sides, breath caught, and eyes widening.
Wait a damn minute...
Was he examining my bruise? The hell would he do that for? My heart pounded as his cologne invaded my senses, enticing, making it unable to break free as though he had enchanted me.
Anger rose from within. I opened my mouth, "What the hell do you think you—"
"Sir, it's about to begin." A voice cut through the moment. I shoved him back. "Back off, you moron." He barely flinched and just dusted off his suit with a sickening ease. "By the way, that looks hideous on you." He pointed at my cheek, then turned and started to walk away.
My nostrils flared. I grabbed the glass, fingers tightening around it, and nearly launched it at his head...
"Yeah, I wouldn't do that if I were you, il mio fidanzata." (My fiancée) That stupid, familiar voice contaminated everything further. Now, I was considering throwing the damn glass at him instead. "Oh, look who is here." I slid my hand around his arm, latching on like I belonged there. In reality, I wanted to cut it off.
Enzo and I walked toward the underground basement, our steps echoing through the dimly lit and deserted corridors. "Pass code." The bulky doorman demanded. I leaned over the machine in his hand and typed, it lit green. Enzo did the same, but the machine beeped red. "I'm sorry, sir, your access is denied." The man fiercely spoke with both his mouth and eyes.
Enzo's face dropped. And after a minute of arguing with the doorman, I sighed loudly. They both looked my way. "Tell them I am with you. Tell them we're together, now!" He demanded. I moved closer. "I'm afraid things cannot always work in your favor, baby. But I could help you with one thing." A grin spread across my lips. Ideas are racing in my mind. "You can give me your cash card and membership ID, and I'll get you whatever the hell you want in there." My eyebrows lifted in suggestion.
"Ma'am, we need to shut the door now." The doorman pressed.
Enzo stared at me for a second before pulling his cards from his wallet and handing it to me. All I could hear was 'Money, money, money.' I held it between my fingers and waved it at him. "Text me what you want before it begins. Bye."
****
I reached for my phone as I settled into my seat. Which happened to be right beside Carmelo, poised in his suit, a mask, and a blonde woman on his lap, giggling at some stupid joke he told.
The long, polished table was divided by black panels. From chest up, we could see each other, sharing the same space, but beneath the surface, hands moved in secret.
I hated that I recognized his cologne. Strong. Overpowering. Asshole-kind. Just like the man wearing it. Why was this man on my freaking guest list? I averted my gaze from him. I wasn't about to let him ruin my fun night.
The room was filled with familiar faces that belonged at high tables, with deep pockets and even deeper secrets to hide, though most were generally hidden behind masks. The air reeked of selfishness and power. Bidders eyeing each other suspiciously and behind them... were bodyguards on standby. At the end of the day, every single one of us was here for a reason.
The items being auctioned were of different kinds and calibers. Stolen artifacts—the main reason I was here. Illegal weapons, drugs, and narcotics were just some of them. Hell, even unspeakable things were part of the trade.
The lights dimmed in the smoke-filled room as a single spotlight cut through the haze and hit the masked auctioneer. He stepped forward, and a big screen came to life behind him. Thrill bubbled through me as I crossed my leg over the other.
"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests of our beloved shadows. Tonight, we unveil a magnificent piece. Before you, veiled in this black velvet display, is Jolene. Its last known owner vanished without a trace. Good for us." He leaned forward and whispered the last part, making people laugh. All I wanted was for him to get to the damn point.
"Everyone, the origins might be buried sixty-six feet for all we care, yet tonight, it can be
yours. Worth? Priceless. But we start the bidding at a modest 80 million dollars. Shall we begin?"
Wasting no time, I scanned my card on the designated table scanner. It quickly displayed on the big screen behind him. And that's when the bidding got aggressive. After all, with criminals, smugglers, and corrupt officials competing with each other, you couldn't expect anything else.
"200 million dollars! Magnificent! Looks like we have a battle here." Gasps and murmurs intensified like a wildfire. I clenched my fist. Who the heck was playing with me? That ethereal paint was mine! Blinded by pure rage, a smile danced on my lips. Instead of using my card this time around... I used Enzo's.
"We have 500 million dollars! 500 Anyone! 500 million going once, twice, and..." The auctioneer hesitated, looking around the room. My heart pounded in my chest. What the hell was he doing? "Going thrice, and... sold!"
I relaxed back, sighing and grinning as my heart rate slowed. While my phone vibrated with countless texts from Enzo. I shoved it back in my purse. Fucker wouldn't even know what hit him once I was done with his ATM card tonight.
"You look sexy under pressure, Marino." I turned to the man just in time for him to wink at me. I cringed. "Makes me wonder how else I could pressure you... just to see you sexy." He added. My smile vanished at his crazy words. I glared at him as another item was being introduced. One of these days, I was going to punch that smug smile out of his face.
I should've known. It was this petty asshole, Conti. Was this his way of getting back at me for embarrassing him at the mall last week?