Chapter 6_ A PRISONER OR A PRINCESS?

"Welcome." Lucas announced with a flourish as they arrived at a grand villa, standing out amidst the verdant hills of Opio. The villa exuded the charm of Provencal architecture, boasting of stone walls, a terracotta roof, and arched windows. Its terrace offered a stunning view of the sea, while a private pool and a small dock with a sleek yacht completed the idyllic picture.

The villa was surrounded by a high wall, guarded by two muscular men in black suits and sunglasses. Kate was awestruck by the magnificence of her surroundings and the meticulous security measures in place. A surge of adrenaline pulsed through her as she remembered Lucas' words. ‘My enemies wouldn't be foolish enough to attack you in my villa.’

"So, this is your home?" She asked, gazing at the imposing villa in front of her.

"And yours." Lucas replied, a tinge of satisfaction in his voice that made Kate snap her mouth shut. "I still prefer my apartment," she quipped, unwilling to back down.

"Including the ruthless gunmen?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, questioning her.

"No!" Kate exclaimed.

"Then that's a point in favor of my villa." Lucas countered as Kate rolled her eyes. "Hardly an advantage when your deal is the reason those gunmen were after me in the first place."

Lucas didn't respond, shaking his head as he walked towards the front door. The inside was just as impressive as the outside.

"Within the villa, you are free to come and go as you please. But when you do, make sure you have someone with you for protection, preferably Ace." Lucas advised.

"Is it still dangerous for me to be seen in public?" Kate frowned, worried.

"Most won't dare to harm you in a crowd, but it's best not to take any chances." Lucas reassured her. "This is your room. Dinner will be served at six in the dining room, don't be late." With that, Lucas left the room.

Kate gazed around the room, feeling a sense of melancholy at the dark colors and masculine aesthetic. She brushed away an invisible tear, determined to put up with her new living arrangements for the sake of their deal.

She let out another sigh as she made her way to the bedside and carefully lowered herself onto the bed.

"What am I supposed to do now? Sit here and dwell on how I almost got shot?" She closed her eyes and then reopened them, fixating on the shimmering ring adorning her finger. "Am I a prisoner or a princess?"

Lost in her thoughts, she sat there for quite some time until there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" She asked, exhaustion evident in her voice.

"Ace."

"Come in." Ace entered the room, carrying two suitcases.

"Glad to see you're still in one piece. After taking care of the situation, I packed your belongings for you."

"Oh, thank you, Ace. But... are you okay?" She tilted her head, concerned.

"What? You doubted me?" Ace grinned and confidently walked into the room. "Those suckers never had a chance!"

She couldn't help but smile at him, a small sense of relief washing over her. He placed the suitcases on the bed.

"You really packed all my things?" Kate asked again, touched by his gesture.

"Yup! All your clothes and anything else you might need." His cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and he quickly averted his gaze. "And... umm... Don't worry, I made sure not to peek at your... you know..."

"Sorry?" Kate's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Your... unmentionables." Ace's phrasing coupled with his blush caused Kate to stifle a laugh. ‘He seems so tough, I never expected him to be shy about underwear.’ She found it oddly endearing.

"Um... did you pack my toothbrush?" Kate interjected, wanting to change the subject.

"Yup, and your hairbrush and makeup too," Ace replied, clearly relieved to move on from the topic.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it! I'll leave you to unpack then." He gave her a friendly nod and made his way to the door.

Alone once again, Kate exhaled deeply and quietly uttered, "Welcome to my new life."

The first thing she did was open up the suitcases to change into fresh clothes. She spent a considerable amount of time unpacking before she realized it was almost six o'clock. She emerged from her room and headed to the dining room.

Locating the dining room proved effortless for Kate, as Lucas had already taken his seat at the head chair. She settled across from him, but he scowled at her attire. "Those clothes won't suffice."

"Excuse me?"

"If that's your best outfit, we'll need to rectify that," he disapproved, his expression revealing his disappointment.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Kate asked, observing herself once more. She had thrown on a faded blue jean trouser and a slightly oversized black top.

"They're inappropriate for a woman in your new role. From now on, you'll dress accordingly. That's settled." Lucas then proceeded to explain the terms of their arrangement.

"Rules?" Kate furrowed her brows, and Lucas nodded.

"Any associate of the mafia must adhere to a contract, and I expect the same from you. Firstly, no outside relationships. If you were caught with another man, it would ruin everything we hope to achieve with this plan. That includes any physical involvement with others." Kate's face flushed at his last statement.

"What do you mean, ‘with others’?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "What, you just moved in and you're already so eager? Unfortunately for you, I'm a busy man and won't have time to cater to your desires."

‘What the hell? Not only is he a rude and arrogant gangster, but he's also full of himself!’ Kate thought to herself.

"W-Wait a minute! Th-That's not what I meant," she stuttered in reaction to his conceit, but Lucas simply took a sip of his wine and continued.

"Secondly, no meddling in my affairs. Since this relationship is a temporary arrangement, it's best if you know as little as possible about my business. This villa is yours, but you are prohibited from entering my room and office."

"I wasn't exactly hoping to learn about the mafia anyway," Kate mused as she shrugged.