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Chapter Eight
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2024-12-18 14:23:59
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A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Nine
TOO INVESTED.ALEXANDRO’S POV.The dinner had settled into the familiar rhythm of light conversation and friendly banter. However, the atmosphere at this particular table had an exciting spark that made it truly enjoyable.I hadn’t defaulted once on my role as Lauren’s dutiful, besotted boyfriend, and to be honest, I was enjoying myself far more than I expected. Lauren sat stiffly beside me, her hand trembling slightly in mine. Her calm appearance hid a storm of emotions underneath, which was always interesting to watch.She flinched every time I brushed my thumb against her knuckles or leaned in just a little too close. “So easily ruffled,” I mused, suppressing a smirk. She was trying to seem calm, but it was clear she was uncomfortable. You could see it in her tight shoulders, the way her eyes quickly moved between her coworkers and the fast rise and fall of her chest.Mario’s voice echoed in my mind, a nagging reminder of the boundaries I was supposed to keep. "Don’t draw t
Last Updated : 2024-12-18A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter ten
A TIME FOR MYSELF.~LAUREN’S POV~The first rays of morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, golden and warm, but my thoughts were far from serene. I stared at the ceiling, trying to shake off the leftovers of last night—the dinner, the drama, and Alexandro’s maddening smirk. His touch, his words, even the way he had looked at me—it was too much. I sat up, groaning into my hands. This trip was supposed to be my escape, a chance to recover from heartbreak and find some clearness. Instead, it had turned into a stage for mind games and jealousy-fueled power plays. I swung my legs off the bed and grabbed my notebook from the nightstand. I had jotted down my plans the night before, determined to reclaim at least one day for myself. “Breakfast by the beach.” check “Morning yoga.” check, i said with a smile spreading across my lips.“Explore the resort.” “Call Mom and Emma.”“Book a yacht ride.” That sum it all, I said taking a good look at the notebook again, before writ
Last Updated : 2024-12-19A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Eleven
MY ANCHOR.~LAUREN POV~The sea breeze tangled through my hair as I brushed a few strands away from my face, trying to focus on anything but the chaos around me. My gaze drifted toward Alexandro, who stood talking to the captain with his typical air of authority. But my attention snapped back to Rosette and Patrick. She was leaning into him, her lips dangerously close to his, the two of them putting on a show as if they were in some private moment rather than on the deck of a yacht. A sick feeling churned in my stomach. How had today twisted so quickly from promising to unbearable? I should’ve stayed in my room, I thought bitterly. Alone and away from this soap opera. “You two,” Lilac said, her voice dripping with mock irritation, “get a room.” She rolled her eyes dramatically, though her smirk betrayed her amusement. It was obvious what they were doing. They were trying to get under my skin, and worse, it was working. I clenched my jaw, refusing to give them the satisfact
Last Updated : 2024-12-19A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Twelve
HIS PRESENCE.~LAUREN’S POV~The rest of the ride was quiet and uncomfortable, broken only by Rosette’s angry looks and Fatimah’s occasional laughter. Lilac sat quietly, avoiding eye contact, but her presence still added to my stress.I turned my attention to the water, leaning forward against the railing. The sea stretched out endlessly before me, shimmering under the golden sunlight. Despite the day spiraling from bad to worse, the view was stunning. The salty breeze kissed my skin, and for a moment, the anxiety in my chest eased. “You should be careful.” A voice startled me, deep and close, pulling me out of my brief reprieve. I turned to find Alexandro standing behind me. His phone, the obvious source of his earlier distraction, was nowhere in sight. He looked at me with a casual, unreadable expression that I was beginning to hate. Right. Him. I’d almost forgotten he was here, which was saying something, considering how impossible it usually was to ignore him. I should h
Last Updated : 2024-12-20A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirteen
GIVING HIM A SHOW.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~As soon as the boat docked, Rosette tried to seize control, her voice cutting through the air like nails on a chalkboard. “We should all stick together while we explore the city,” she suggested, glancing around as if waiting for unanimous agreement. The others murmured in halfhearted approval, but I wasn’t about to let her dictate my plans. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” I said smoothly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Lauren and I already have plans.” Rosette froze, her lips parting slightly as if she couldn’t quite process my words. “What plans?” she demanded, her tone sharper than she intended. I smiled. “Dinner. Just the two of us.” For a moment, silence reigned. Fatimah raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, while Rosette’s cheeks flushed red. Patrick, however, was the most satisfying to watch. His frown deepened, his jaw tightening. The subtle clench of his fists at his sides didn’t escape my notice. Good. It was too easy
Last Updated : 2024-12-20A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter fourteen
SCARED OF FEELING ~LAUREN’S POV~I could practically hear my heartbeat as I forced my gaze to stay fixed on the plate of food sitting in front of me. The mashed potatoes sat untouched, a smudge of gravy trailing down the side, but the rest of the dish looked foreign. Some kind of meat—roast, maybe?—and vegetables I couldn’t quite place. Was this even what I ordered?My brow furrowed as I poked at the food with my fork, lifting my eyes just slightly to catch Alexandro staring at me. He didn’t bother looking away when I met his gaze. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, suddenly too aware of the low murmurs floating around the restaurant. The hushed whispers, the stolen glances—especially from the women seated nearby. I cleared my throat and lifted my glass of wine, pretending not to notice. “Seems like you’re pretty well-known around here,” I said, letting the words roll off casually. Alexandro leaned back in his chair, that ever-present smirk tugging at the corner of his li
Last Updated : 2024-12-21A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter fifteen
FLICK OF PAIN.~LAUREN’S POV~The night began with warm moments but soon turned into confusion and frustration. As we left the restaurant, Alexandro lightly placed his hand on my back.I could feel the heat of it through the thin fabric of my dress, and it was unnervingly distracting. When he leaned closer to whisper in my ear, his breath brushing against my skin, it sent shivers down my spine. “You’ll have to get used to my touch,” he murmured, his voice low and edged with amusement. “I can’t have you flinching every time I lay a hand on you.” “It’s cold,” I lied, hoping to cover up the growing embarrassment from how acutely aware I was of his presence. Alexandro only smirked, pulling off his blazer without a word and draping it over my shoulders. The unexpected gesture left me stunned, my protest caught in my throat. “You… you didn’t have to,” I finally managed, my fingers clutching the lapels of the blazer. He didn’t listen to me. Instead, he looked at the street, as if
Last Updated : 2024-12-23A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter sixteen
UNEXPECTED WARM.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~ Lauren pulled away from me the moment we boarded the boat. She didn’t say a word, just wrapped her arms around herself and found a seat near the edge. Her gaze fixed on the dark waters, avoiding me entirely. She was angry. “You’re angry,” I said, keeping my voice low so the others wouldn’t hear. “Well, congratulations for noticing that,” she shot back, her tone sharp, her eyes still refusing to meet mine. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. Her frustration amused me more than I cared to admit. She reminded me of a child whose candy had been taken away—adorable, despite her clear annoyance. Before I could say more, my phone buzzed in my pocket, dragging my attention away. I pulled it out and glanced at the name flashing on the screen. Antonio. This late? It had better be important. I walked to the other side of the boat, away from the others, and answered. “This better be important for you to call me at this hour.” My tone was cal
Last Updated : 2024-12-24
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A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter twenty four
WORK DRAMA.~LAUREN’S POV~ I hated being late. Rosette was going to have my head for this. Just three days before the big break, I was already imagining the lecture waiting for me at work. I couldn’t wait to finish this project and head home for Christmas. Although I knew my family would be disappointed I’d be coming home alone, it was for the best. The sharp ding of the bell over the café counter pulled me out of my thoughts. “Miss, your cappuccino is ready,” the barista called with a bright smile. “Thank God,” I murmured under my breath, weaving through the small crowd to the counter. “One cream-filled cappuccino,” she said as she handed it over, her cheerful demeanor catching me off guard. I smiled back, pleasantly surprised. “Thank you.” This café had stepped up its game. Last time I was here, the staff couldn’t care less about customer service. It felt like I’d had to beg just to get a simple latte. But these new hires? They might make me a regular again. Balanc
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Twenty three
A PAWN AND NOTHING.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I stared at the text Lauren had sent me two nights ago, the words replaying in my head like an insult. She wanted out. She wanted to end things before they’d even truly begun. My jaw clenched as I tightened my grip on the phone. She thought she could walk away from me, just like that. How naive. This wasn’t over—not by a long shot. Lauren might have forgotten, but I hadn’t. She was mine. And my claim on her wasn’t something she could ignore or erase with a few words in a message. Nobody ends things with me. Nobody. I am Alexandro Lex Castello. I call the shots, not her. The audacity she had to think she could sever ties without my permission burned in my chest, igniting a slow, simmering rage. Did she think I’d let her go that easily? That she could step away from this arrangement without consequences? She was going to pay for this disrespect. And I’d make sure Lauren understood—no, remembered—exactly who owned her and why she could
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter twenty two
HE IS DANGEROUS.~LAUREN’S POV~The question hit me like a punch to the stomach. I flinched and looked down, unable to meet her gaze. “I don’t know,” I murmured. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just stuck because I don’t know how to stop loving someone who doesn’t love me back.”Sophia moved to sit on the edge of her seat. “Lauren, that’s not something you should beat yourself up over. You don’t just wake up one day and stop caring about someone who was such a huge part of your life. That’s not how it works.”“I know that,” I snapped, frustration bubbling up. “But it’s been weeks, Sophia. How am I still here? Why can’t I just move on like he has?”She tilted her head, studying me for a moment before answering. “You think Patrick’s moved on just because he’s pretending to? Lauren, that’s not how it works for him either. People like him just hide it better, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t feel anything for you.”I let out a bitter laugh, wiping my eyes. “I don’t believe that for a second. If he
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter twenty one
THE UNINVITED GUEST.~LAUREN’S POV~Padding my way to the kitchen, I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of wine. I poured a helpful glass took a long sip, and allowed the warmth to seep through me.Standing there in the dim light, I finally started to relax. But the peace didn't last.A sharp knock at the door made me freeze.I peek at the clock on the wall. It was well past ten. Who would be visiting me this late?Setting my glass down, I hesitated for a moment before heading towards the door. Peering through the peephole, my breath caught in my throat.Patrick.“What the hell?” I whispered to myself, my hand gripping the doorknob.For a moment, I considered not opening it. Pretending I wasn't home. Letting him stand out there until he got tired and left.But then he knocked again, louder this time, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway.“Lauren, I know you’re in there,” his voice called through the door, calm but insistent. “I'm not leaving until you let me in.” My pulse quick
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter twenty
A CLEAN START. ~LAUREN’S POV~The cab pulled up in front of my apartment building. A genuine smile spread across my face as I stepped out, paid the fare and offloaded my luggage. “Home sweet home,” I whispered, a wave of relief washing over me. Dragging my suitcase behind me, I made my way toward the lobby. Isaac, the apartment’s friendly security guard, greeted me with his signature warm smile as I stepped inside. “I thought you’d be gone for a while,” Isaac said, holding a steaming cup of coffee. “Well, not with all this luggage, Isaac. Trust me, I missed my bed too much,” I replied with a grin. Isaac was easily my favorite person in the building—funny, kind, and always hardworking. Don’t get me wrong, the other tenants weren’t bad, but I didn’t socialize much with them. Some of them thought I was stuck-up, a sentiment Maddison from the third floor was only too happy to fuel during her little gatherings. “So, how was it?” Isaac asked, leaning casually on the counter.
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Nineteen
CASTELLO LEGACY.~ALEXANDRO’S POV.~The ball I tossed across the room bounced back to me, and I caught it with ease. My mind, however, was far from whatever Mario was ranting about on the other end of the line. “Lex, are you even listening?” Mario asked, his tone laced with suspicion. “Yeah, yeah. Go on,” I replied distractedly, my attention still on the ball as I continued tossing it in rhythm. The merger had been a success. Despite the opposition, I, Alexandro "Lex" Castello, always got what I wanted. It wasn’t about negotiations; it was about leverage. They could either accept my offer or lose it all. No middle ground. “You’re ‘not’ listening,” Mario said, exhaling audibly into the phone. A grin tugged at the corners of my lips. Even without seeing him, I could picture the frustration etched on his face. Mario and I had been through everything together. He was my best friend, my brother in all but blood. Whenever I got too deep into something, he was always the one to pu
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter eighteen
A LONG RIDE.~LAUREN’S POV~I stood in the resort lobby, gripping my luggage tightly. Finally, this nightmare of a vacation was over. I was going home. Home to my cozy bed and, most importantly, away from people. No offense, but this trip had been far from enjoyable. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t been forced to watch my ex and his fiancée flaunting their so-called love every chance they got. And Alexandro... well, he almost had me fooled. For a second, I thought love might be possible again, but clearly, I was wrong. My heart had been broken too many times to believe in such things anymore. “Too bad we’re leaving,” Lilac sighed, her eyes lingering on one of the resort staff. The guy grinned sheepishly at her, clearly charmed. We all knew why he was smiling, and it wasn’t because he was just doing his job. “Christmas is coming,” one of my coworkers added. “Time to spend with friends and family.” Christmas. The holiday I was supposed to spend with someone specia
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter seventeen
A PUZZLE OF FEELINGS.~LAUREN’S POV~ The days at the resort passed in a blur, each one feeling more exhausting than the last. Alexandro made it his mission to drag me to every event and occasion requiring his presence, while all I wanted was to stay indoors and avoid everyone—especially him. After my last encounter with Rosette, her venomous words still stayed in my mind. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she might be right about some things. I was beginning to have expectations about this fake relationship, and I hated myself for it. The idea of Alexandro using me just to pass the time filled me with anger I couldn’t quite understand. And now, here I sat at yet another social gathering, glaring at the women surrounding Alexandro. “Get a grip, Lauren,” I muttered to myself, gripping the stem of my champagne glass tightly. “Remember, this isn’t real.” But no matter how much I told myself that, it felt like a lie. If I truly believed it, why couldn’t I look away from
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter sixteen
UNEXPECTED WARM.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~ Lauren pulled away from me the moment we boarded the boat. She didn’t say a word, just wrapped her arms around herself and found a seat near the edge. Her gaze fixed on the dark waters, avoiding me entirely. She was angry. “You’re angry,” I said, keeping my voice low so the others wouldn’t hear. “Well, congratulations for noticing that,” she shot back, her tone sharp, her eyes still refusing to meet mine. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. Her frustration amused me more than I cared to admit. She reminded me of a child whose candy had been taken away—adorable, despite her clear annoyance. Before I could say more, my phone buzzed in my pocket, dragging my attention away. I pulled it out and glanced at the name flashing on the screen. Antonio. This late? It had better be important. I walked to the other side of the boat, away from the others, and answered. “This better be important for you to call me at this hour.” My tone was cal
