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Chapter eighteen
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2024-12-30 23:56:16
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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
Last Updated : 2025-01-03A 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.
Last Updated : 2025-01-06A 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-10A 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-10A 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-11A 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-13A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Twenty Five
THE IMPORTANT GUEST.~LAUREN'S POV~I tried to focus on my work, but Rosette's annoying words kept replaying in my mind.*"Remind me where I belong,"* I whispered to myself, my hands balling into fists. I shook my head, refusing to let her words bring me down. Today was supposed to be a good day for me. So much for that. I couldn't believe I'd run into two of the people I hated most. Not that I could complain—one of them was my boss, and the other just existed. I sighed. I had work to do. I opened my laptop and started typing my story. The deadline Rosette had given me was tomorrow, and she was doing everything she could to make my life miserable. And it was working. “He’s here already,” a voice said next to me, breaking my concentration. I looked up to see Vanessa, my deskmate, standing by my side. “What’s going on, Vanessa?” I asked. “The important guest Rosette mentioned is here,” she said, her voice tinged with nervousness. I glanced at my phone. The screen read
Last Updated : 2025-01-18A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Twenty six
THE ORDER~LAUREN’S POV~Alexandro was sitting across from me. That fact alone had my thoughts spiraling. Had he gotten even hotter since the last time we spoke? The sharp cut of his jaw, the lazy confidence in the way he leaned back—it was as if the universe had carved him to drive me insane. But did that even matter? Of course, it didn’t. He was here as an important guest, and I needed to keep my calm. Avoiding his eyes, I turned to face Rosette, clinging to some pretense of calm. “Why was I called in here?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady, though my pulse was anything but. I could feel his gaze on me, cold yet burning, like a silent accusation. My heart pounded in my chest, every beat a reminder of my growing panic. Was he angry? Did it have to do with ‘that text’?Oh, God. The text. He’d seen it—he had to have. Read every single word. “Oh, Lauren,” Rosette’s voice interrupted my crazy thoughts, a wicked smile curling on her lips. “You must be happy to se
Last Updated : 2025-01-23
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A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fourty one
OUT OF CONTROL.~LAUREN’S POV~My phone won’t stop vibrating. Text after text. Ping after ping. I don’t even have to look. I already know. News spreads fast in this office, but gossip? Gossip moves at light speed. And me slapping Patrick? That’s the kind of story people live for. I squeeze my eyes shut, inhaling deeply, pressing my palms against the cold surface of my desk. My skin is still burning. My hand tingles from where it connected with his face. I did it. I slapped him. God, what the hell was I thinking? I should’ve just walked away. I should’ve ignored him like I always do. But there was something about today—something about hearing him say those things, about watching him laugh at me like I was a joke, a footnote in his real love story—that broke something in me. And now, here I am. The office scandal of the day. I squeeze my phone in my hand, and against my better judgment, I open the group chat. Claire: “HOLY SHIT DID THAT HAPPEN?”David: “Confirmed. I sa
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fourty
THE WHISPERS~LAUREN’S POV~I pretend I don’t hear them. Pretend I don’t see the way they stare, their eyes sharp enough to cut through bone. But the thing about pretending? It doesn’t make anything less real. The whispers crawl beneath my skin, burrowing into the spaces I don’t have the energy to protect. The group chat is worse. Every message is a tiny stab, shallow but precise. "I still can’t believe she’s dating Alexandro.""She acts so innocent like she’s better than everyone.""I felt bad when Patrick dumped her, but what if she was the one who dumped him first?"I squeeze my phone, my fingers pressing into the edges. For a second, I consider typing back. Maybe telling them they have it all wrong. They don’t know me, don’t know my side of the story. But what’s the point? I glance over my shoulder. More eyes. Always watching, always assuming. Some were filled with curiosity, others with something colder. This. This is exactly why I wanted to end things with Alexandr
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirty Nine
CHECKMATE.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I chuckled, dragging a hand through my hair as I tossed my phone onto the desk. Stubborn little thing. She was learning—fast. I thought the press would crush her, thought she’d cave under the weight of the headlines. But no, she held her ground. A little shaken, maybe, but not broken. I underestimated her. A mistake I wouldn’t make again. “I can’t decide if you’re still just playing with her or if you’re starting to believe your bullshit.” Mario’s voice dragged me out of my thoughts. He was sprawled across my couch, a glass of scotch in one hand, a cigar in the other. Casually watching. Always watching. He set his drink down, picked up a magazine, and skimmed through it like it was the morning paper. “What happened to keep her at arm’s length?” he asked, not even bothering to lift his gaze. I smirked, making my way to the bar in the corner of my office. The half-empty bottle of aged Scotch stared back at me, a gift from an old associate i
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirty Eight
STRANGER IN THE ELEVATOR.~LAUREN’S POV~I tossed my phone onto my desk and leaned back in my chair. Rubbing my temples.Alexandro was infuriated.Smug, arrogant, and too damn aware of the effect he had on people—on me. He knew exactly how to push my buttons, and worse, he enjoyed it.And now, thanks to last night, I had the media turning my life into some soap opera.Just perfect.A sharp knock on my desk pulled me from my thoughts. But before I could respond. Rosette closed my laptop, causing me to look up from where I sat.Beside her stood the same man who had pulled me from the reporters earlier. I stiffened slightly, my brows drawing together.“Morning, Rosette,” I greeted flatly.Rosette folded her arms, clearly not liking my tone, but she knew too well than to cause a scene or accuse me of anything in front of everyone.“Deal with him,” she said, not even leaving room for more explanation as she turned on her heels and left. I stared at her, confused, before turning to look at
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirty Seven
NEWEST OBSESSION.~LAUREN’S POV~My table clock alarm blared, pulling me out of sleep as I groaned. The morning sunlight found its way through a small gap in the curtains, casting a glow over my bedroom. I rolled onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. Last night… well, it was intense. My mind drifted to Alexandro—his kiss, his touch. Every moment with him replayed in my head like a broken record. Did I hate it? No. It felt different. Those feelings. I had dated Patrick long enough to know that whatever I was experiencing with Alexandro wasn’t the same. Around him, I didn’t have to try. He always knew the right words, and the right actions, making me feel like a lovesick fool. And last night had been undeniable proof. I didn’t need this. My breakup with Patrick—or rather, me getting dumped by Patrick—hadn’t even been a few months ago. I wasn’t ready to be dragged back into love, especially not into something this complicated. Sighing, I reached for my phone on the n
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirty-six
MIXED FEELINGS.~LAUREN’S POV~I should have stepped back. But I didn’t. The night air felt heavy with an energy I couldn't describe. The space between us was gone, and now he was just there—his presence was strong, and his scent wrapped around me like a powerful spell.I hated that my body responded before my mind could catch up. Alexandro didn’t touch me, not completely. His hands remained braced against the railing on either side of me, caging me in, but his body heat seeped into mine, and his breath was maddeningly close. Waiting. Daring. A slow smirk tugged at his lips as if he could feel my hesitation as if he knew exactly what was happening inside my head. “Tell me something, mi amor,” he murmured, his voice a quiet rasp against the night air. “Are you shaking because of him?” His dark gaze flickered to my parted lips. “Or because of me?” Damn him. I sucked in a sharp breath, forcing my spine to straighten. “You’re full of yourself, Señor Castillo,” I said co
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirty Five
A RECKONING~LAUREN’S POV~ "Tell me, amor… what scares you more? That you hate me? Or that you don’t?"His words wouldn’t leave my head. They clung to my thoughts like a whispered curse, threading through my veins, tightening around my ribs. I wanted to tell him he was wrong. That I wasn’t scared. That I despised him. That I felt nothing. But that would be a lie. And Alexandro Castello? He thrived on the truth beneath the lies. His fingers brushed against my cheek, the warmth of his touch bringing down the cold wind that bit at my skin. My pulse betrayed me, hammering against my ribs, loud enough that I was sure he could hear it. I hated this. Hated that he knew exactly how to intimidate me, how to crack me with just a look. But before I could step back, before I could regain even a shred of composure— “Sir.” A sharp voice cut through the tension, breaking the moment like a shattered pane of glass. Hilda. Alexandro’s ever-efficient assistant. She stood just beh
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter thirty four
A GAME OF CONTROL ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I knew exactly what I was doing.The moment my lips touched hers, the room ceased to exist.It was reckless. A dangerous move. But I didn’t care.Lauren stiffened for a second, caught off guard, but then I felt it—that slight, almost imperceptible hesitation before she melted into the kiss.That was all I needed.My hand pressed against the small of her back, pulling her closer. Her scent filled my senses, a perfect mix of something soft and intoxicating. I could feel the irregular beat of her heart beneath my fingertips, betraying her.She could lie all she wanted. She could pretend to hate me.But her body told the truth.And I owned every single reaction.The room was silent, eyes wide, mouths hanging open.Rosette stood frozen, her grip on Patrick’s arm tightening until her nails dug into his skin.Patrick—well, his expression was unreadable, but the way his jaw clenched told me everything I needed to know.I felt her fingers trembling against
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirty three
THE GAME WE PLAY~LAUREN’S POV~The moment I walked into the ballroom, I felt it. People are watching closely. They whisper. There is a mix of curiosity and judgment in the air.I tried not to let it show. I had stepped into an entirely different world—one of power, influence, and carefully crafted illusions. I had no business being here, yet here I was. Dressed in red. A statement in itself. My heart pounded as I forced myself to move forward, chin high, shoulders squared. But deep inside, a small voice whispered— “run.”I ignored it. But then, my eyes landed on him. Patrick. He stood near the bar, his gaze locked onto me with an admiration that made my breath hitch. For a split second, the past flooded forward, threatening to pull me under. The feelings I thought had died came rushing back. I wanted to move toward him, but then— “her.”Rosette. Her arm was coiled through Patrick’s, her grip possessive, her eyes sharp as they met mine. A silent warning. That witch.
