Chapter 1

A ray of sunlight blinded my eyes as I woke up. “Jessie?” I asked.

Pushing myself over the covers a figure approaches me. “Who the **** is jessie?” The dominant and pressuring tone took me by surprise.

He leaned over me, I could feel my heart beating out my chest. His mascline figure hovering over me, daydreaming abs with his handsome bothered stare.

Just then flashbacks of yesterday shook me to my core…

-Two days ago-

Last year, I moved in with a highschool friend of mine, Rai. She’s a journalist. After finishing university, I couldn't stand the constant pressure from my mother. So I ran away to Rai after she purchased an apartment.

The evening had arrived, and I just got back from doing our laundry. I’ve decided to live a simple quiet life, Rai respected that and helped me along the way.

I wanted to become a doctor, I took the prior studies for it, but after my trip to Italy I wanted to pursue a career in business with my uncle. With the convenient timing, I have been working for him until I find out what I truly want.

“Jessie came by…” Rai whispered, nudging me for any sort of reaction.

Jessie is my ex who broke it off with me because I refused to have sexual intercourse. I told him it was because I wanted to wait till marriage, then used the excuse of it being a termination of my religion which was bullshit. I just didn't feel comfortable with him, even though he was a sweetheart.

“Okay…” I shrugged.

“He said he wants to talk…” I pointed my head up in disbelief. “What?” I asked.

“He told you that?” I slammed my palms on the kitchen counters. Rai only shrugged, with her back facing me. Waiting for the long response, she ignored me continuing cooking bacon and eggs.

“Of course he didnt i dragged him out the apartment building by his hair” I sighed in relief staring at her big grin. That makes more sense I think to myself.

I walk up behind her, opening the fridge and pulling out a Boba cup from yesterday. “How's work?” I asked, sitting down on the counter top, admiring the city buildings from the long windows.

“It's so chaotic! Let me lean you in for our upcoming hit, Mia you can't tell anyone! Like no one!” She demanded, leaning towards me with a mischievous grin. I quickly nodded excitedly, leaning down to her.

“There's a rich Italian billionaire who's arriving here, but get this! He's a don in the Italian mafia!” I quickly took a long sip, and slowly pushed her back. “What?!” I yelled, she shoved her finger in my face.

“Shh! It's top secret, they're throwing a huge ball in NYU for their business BS! Here is the copy of what's gonna be printed out this week, here's a draft!.” Rai pulled out her macbook from her laptop bag on the dining table, and input her password. Opening her files, she turns it towards me.

“Read it!” She excitedly whispers.

“Okay…okay…Murderous Leader of the Italians Mafia 'fiontiā'  makes his way back to America with previous leader his father Altian Venzo and his brothers. Reports with informats announce the lethal agreement the pgovernment creates in order to protect the country?!” I yell out the last .

“SHHH!!” Rai covers my mouth. “Keep going!” she whispers silently.

“The death rate has rapidly increased due to this matter of them sending men to America to as he quotes; 'finishing the job'. It seems the young 27 year old male makes his way to America with his father to sign a truce between a large crime business in the US. As he presumes in his interview;” I cover my mouth with both hands.

Rai jumps in excitement, “Not to mention I hear he's drop dead gorgeous!” I give her a confused and disbelieving look.

“Did you even listen to what I read!” I yelled silently. “Duhh,  I wrote it,” Rai giggles. I lashed my hand on my forehead and sighed.

“Finish the job; What's that supposed to mean?! Murderous leader, italian murderer?! MAFIA!” I scream. Rai then hit me on the back of the head, and slowly closed her laptop.

“He was raised in England, born in italy! But hes a huge ****, reporters who’ve tried to apporach or throw themselves at him for info end up dead, jail, or fucked up. There's only lengthy opportunities where he does give information, and this ball is gonna be my ticket to  future promotion!” She cheered, dancing all across the wooden floor boards.

“Rai you are crazy!” I rolled my eyes.  of me wanted to tell her not to go, it's already dangerous as it is in this world. “Oh and you're coming!”...

The room was filled with silence, and my unhealthy death stare. “Okay now you're insane, i'm not going to get myself killed for, what? An article ?” Rai shook her head and walked up to my face.

“Pleasurement” Bahahahah! Her laughs filled the room, and I chased her through it. “I'm joking, I'm joking!” She giggled out as I cornered her.

“But you really have to come! Please! We’re allowed to bring plus ones, I was gonna bring Daniel but he has to go on a business trip!” She pleaded. Daniel is her co-worker, who she's been screwing for a month…

This crazy girl dropped to her knees, with her hands in front of me pulling me.

“Okay one i don't even work for your company, two the fact i wasn't your first choice is very offensive! Rai!!” I yelled, trying to rip her off me. She was like a leech attached, she wouldn't let go. I finally sighed and said.

“Fine…”

“YAY!!” She plunged at me with her arms wide open, hugging me tightly til we both fell down with laughter.

-The night-

Rai and I decided to get ready for the masquerade ball.

Rai had gone out for the entire day for dresses and make ups. She found two beautiful gowns, her grandma chipped in to pay for it for us. She's a real sweetheart.

While I spent the day studying ‘how to act infront of the mafia’, according to the internet there like royalty…Bullshit. I didn't do much other than stay home, I ended up watching all three 50 shades movies while she was gone.

It was around the evening and Rai dragged me out to a salon, we got our hair done and she gave me a long red gown with a long slit on the right side.

I curled my long lashes and painted them black with mascara, I wore a vintage swan winged mask with dark red lipstick, faint but there. The gown was really long from the back and the slit was thigh short, the straps fell to the end of my shoulders and the tight corset top inside curved my figure.

I then heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. The door opened and Rai stood there in amazement. “You look amazing! Like a royal!” She shouted, pulling her phone out and taking photos.

I held my palm in front to cover my face, that's when I noticed…

“What happened to yours?” Rai wasn't wearing hers instead she wore a tight black dress knee short, she looked proper like a reporter but that doesnt mean i wasn't still pissed off.

“You're not wearing a gown?” I asked. She then replied “It's a bit much, i'm just a journalist i'll only be there to take notes I don't want to draw attention-”

I cut her off with my finger. I laid the same finger on my chin in disbelief. “I can't believe you,” I whispered faintly. “Mia! Please…I really don't want to lose this, they’ve already added you to their list, it's a very strict list! I'll make it up to you” She promised as she held my hand tightly.

I couldn't believe her, but then I remembered the same girl lets me live in her apartment and barely lets me help her pay the bills. I realized how selfish I was by not going…

“Can I change?-” Rai shook her head and shoved her phone in my face. “We’re gonna be late. Here's your heels, and remember. Do. Not. Make. EyeContact!” Rai and I had this heavy talk about how strict and psycho the securities are gonna be. She didn't tell me this before but her organization had planned not to inform the mafia leader or any higher ups that there's a bunch of journalists attending on behalf of their safety. So some people tonight will be high positioned journalists or reporters scattered around.

“For you this is a y, you’ll be my passage in and out! You work for your uncle's business firm, you were given permission to discover what lurks in the deepest of the business world. I, your friend, asked if I can go instead because your boyfriend of 3 years dumped you yesterday, you've never been seen before due to your protective uncle and that's it!” she took a huge gasp for breath, after speeding me through a ridiculous story.

“You just came up with that?” I ask. “Just in case, I don't know how they’ll react if they find out they have undercover journalists and reporters around.” she sighs.

“I'm starting to-” She dragged me by the wrist before I even considered.

She jumped in her white Holden Commodore, and I opened the door to the passenger seat. “Wait, so run through the story again!” I panicked. She pulled the handbrake up and switched immediately to drive.

“Forget it, just if you get caught, do not sell us out!. Do it for me” That wasn't convincing at all… do it for me I'm only doing this because i've been going rent free for three weeks.

But she was right about one thing, forgetting it. The ride there was the best, full volume bass boosted songs singing our heart out and screaming the entire way. Almost crashed twice, but it's the fun that we had that mattered… right?

We pull towards a huge closed gate. Two men infront held two twin paired pistols in their pocket, holding Ak’s and giving us a strong death stare. Blacked tied suits, black glasses but ther piercing intense gaze shot through us.

“Names?” One of the men asked. We both jumped hearing his voice, his raspy deep voice with a strong Italian accent. Rai winds the window down a bit and whispers “Rai Astor and Mia De luca” he scurries through his iPad before opening the gate he grabs onto the window. He holds onto what looks like an ear piece, and listens closely. He confronts us. “If you notice any suspicious activity, report to us immediately. There seems to be some sneaky people tonight…”

DING DING

A text came, when Rai picked it up it was two of her co workers who got caught. We both looked at eachother and shivers ran down my spine, his deadly stare pierced in my soul and I already regretted coming…

“Thank you!...” She whispers under her breath. I guess they didn't suspect us…

We stopped in front, a bunch of paparazzis were lined up on the way up to the long stairs. We couldn't see all of it in the car, we were still shaken up. A man trotted over to the passenger side and opened my door, I looked up and glanced at the huge castle-like building.

Rai was panicked, on the phone with her boss. “Miss?” He opened his hand gently to me. I slowly picked myself out of the car and white flashing camera lights shunned on me.

“Rai?!” I panicked. She rushed behind me and whispered. “Distract them!”

“WHAT?!” I yelled. She shoved her finger on my mouth, and whispered again. “Just until I can get a hold of my crew, I'll be right behind when I come in!” She ran off back to the car and headed to the parking spaces.

I was speechless, the lights sparkled in my face I could barely see. But then I started walking slowly upwards. “Woah” “Beautiful” “smile over here!” The little comments left my cheeks red. Sure their camera lights were annoying, but listening to their remarks put a little smile on my face.

After almost tripping over I made my way all the way up and two men opened the door for me. I could see him checking me out… gross old man I thought to myself.

The long hallways were in sight and a large door stood in front. When another set of men opened it I arrived in a humongous room. It was filled with gold walls white settings, gold rose tones and flashing yellow lights. It was beautiful. I caught a few eyes, but I didn't want to catch anymore so I hid myself and blended in.

“You are beautiful” the sudden voice made me jump.

It was Alicia Torrent. She's a well known author, and a renowned romantic. I slowly turned around and smiled, how could i not notice her redden hair and ocean blue eyes under a  black mask. “Thank you, you as well!” I complimented gently, grabbing her hand and turning her around.

“Oh you're to nice!” She politely giggled. “I am Alicia Torrent, I've attended these thousands of times I dont think we’ve met.” She put out her soft hands awaiting gracefully for a hand shake.

“Im Mia De luca” She looked oddly confused but nodded. “De luca…I think I've heard that last name,” She said. My uncle is not well known but his business is nonetheless successful.

“Mack De luca? Correct?” I gave her a surprised look, not hiding my little smile. “You know him?” I ask. Of course I was surprised, someone as famous as Alicia Torrent knows him.

She giggled and said “My husbands a businessman, how could I not?” We both laughed but I held back any more information about myself and family, just in case. I shared two drinks before losing her in the big crowd. I tried finding Rai in the huge building but she was nowhere to be found…

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------