Serafina's Pov“I can't believe, Sera, that you didn't even get dressed. How about the clothes I bought you? You know those were beautiful,” my best friend Isabella Moretti said bitterly; she had invited me to a masked party. A Halloween party, I had come from work and didn't have the chance to change into something.Yeah, I wasn't prepared like every other person with pretty clothes and fancy masks on their faces. There was loud music while some spoke at the corner; some made out while the rest drenched themselves on alcohol, swindling their bodies to the beating of the song that played. I kept wondering why I was here; I felt out of place. This wasn't the kind of place I wanted, but with Isabella whines.I happened to be summoned to her pressure. She was my best friend, but we were two best friends from different worlds. She lived her life to the fullest with zero worries, like it was going to end that day.Silly, she enjoyed the life of the party while I worked my ass out at the ba
Carlos Gotti's Pov“Search everywhere for him.” I heard a voice coming from behind the door; the girl who helped me out had run back to get some bandages.Staying here was becoming more dangerous; I had no men by my side and came unarmed to get some groceries when Gambino men surrounded me. Someone must have given off my location. After I didn't sign a business deal with the Gambino, they have been on my neck to desperately kill me and have their way. My guards were left downstairs, where I walked into the grocery shop, shopping like every normal person. Nonna was coming to visit me, so I had to get the things she wanted myself.Yeah, it was a stupid mistake. I had read the contract, and it wasn't as pleasing as I had thought; all proposals were in their favor, and I wasn't going to sign that.Disrespected at the gut of them tracing me in, I received an axe wound on my chest and managed to escape through the backdoor. As I kept running, my chest throbbing within me, I heard distant mu
Isabella Moretti's Pov"Yeah,” I raised my hand in victory as I got the jackpot of the video game I was playing. The tingling sounds reverberated on the walls of the room. I could see Sera occasionally stealing glances at me like she had something to say, but she shook her head off and continued whatever she was doing. I still wondered why there weren't any customers at that time of the day. If not for the deliveries made, I would have concluded that starting this business was just a waste of money.Yeah, she was my best friend, and we both started this cupcake business together.“Hey, what are you doing?” She etched a brow, coming closer to where I sat at the corner of the coffee restaurant. Our team was desert; she made the best cupcakes in the world while I assisted the little way I could.“I heard this game takes tons of money from people,” she blurted, dropping her hand on the chair where I sat as she paired her eyes at my phone.“You heard wrong, it is actually the best; the che
Seraphine's Pov“Are you okay? Isabella," I asked her over the phone after the call finally went through. The delivery never got to its owner, and I had received tons of calls. For that reason, I began to worry. After calling her with no answer, I became agitated. Maybe something happened to her; I shouldn't have sent her for the delivery; probs she lost her way.I was worried, continuously calling to know whether it would go through.“Yeah, I'm fine,” she said. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she was fine. If she was fine, then what happened to the cupcakes?“The cupcakes didn't get delivered, why?” I could feel her roll her eyes at the end of the phone.“Sera, I quit.” “What do you mean?” I managed to ask; it was the bad time for her to do so; the business wasn't going as smoothly as before, and I needed every support I could get from her, no matter how little.“I quit Sera; I'm done with those shenanigans.”“You own part of this business, so what'm I supposed to do?” My heart
Carlos Pov Those perfumes—why does it smell so much like Isabella? I thought sitting opposite the girl I just saved. I had finished up the cupcakes given to me by Isabella. I thought of checking out the store; it reminded me of my Nonna. She didn't fail to bake one for me when I was younger. I wanted to know the location of the stores so I could easily order one. Getting into the shop, I met a beautiful woman. I made my order before some mafia gang came. I was wearing sunglasses, so no one could easily recognize me. I knew that those boys must have been sent by Frank. I helped her send them away. Hearing her talk about Mafians in such a manner, she must have had personal experience with them. I don't know, but it feels like I have met Seraphine somewhere. She seems so familiar with those pairs of eyes. I am able to hide my identity, but I don't know how long I was going, but the way she is acting so nervous. Oh my! Has she fallen for me just this instant? I wanted to confirm my
Seraphine Pov I kept on staring at the necklace, caressing through it over and over again as I stared out through the window of my apartment. He is handsome and charming. I never thought I was going to see him again to ask him those questions of who were the people chasing after him. Why was he running from them? He doesn't even recognize me, which makes the questions useless. I couldn't get his face off my mind; can't he recognize me again? The girl who saved him at the Halloween party. It pained my heart that He couldn't recognize me any more, but I am grateful he is right on time to save me from those uncultured mafia. I wonder what could have happened to me if he didn't come. I'm already about to close down the business. Just then Isabella crossed my mind—what might have happened if she decided to back out at me? Is it because business isn't going fine anymore? Could it be that? But now I have an investor just like God sent. I'm going to give her a reason to come back. I can
Carlos' Pov I felt a sense of purpose watching her laugh heartily. Her laugh amazes me. I don't know why I am doing this, but it feels so right; it feels like I'm supposed to be here. It's been ages since I played and laughed with someone. My life is programmed to kill, to work till my knuckles, to be impatient, ruthless, mean, name it—I qualify all as a mafian don, but here I was laughing like a child. Something I was deprived of while growing up was all about being serious and being trained like someone is chasing after you. I was all my family got, but I wasn't given any breathing space. I was taught how to fight at the age of 15, and that was my life, but being with this girl feels so good, like a lost piece of me has been found by a treasure hunter. “This is so hilarious; I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard this way,” she said, playing with her fingers. She is nervous, and her eyes look down on the pool of mess we just made. She is avoiding eye contact with me.
Isabella's Pov Incredible! My plans worked as I planned, but then when I was on my way to my date, I forgot something. I have come back to pick it up when I saw the image of Carlos and Seraphine at her doorpost. I was consumed with rage and anger. They were so close that their lips almost touched like they were about to kiss. Seraphine lived almost in the same street with me, but I have to walk past her street to get to my apartment. I hide myself between a wall and watch them. My fist clenched and my lips pressed into a hard line. What is Seraphine doing with him? Has she figured it out yet? I don't think so; she doesn't even have any clue. But how did they both meet again? Oh no! The cupcakes. I shouldn't have given it to him, but what was I supposed to do? I acted out of happiness, unknown the consequences with cost my charade. I waited for him to kiss her, but he didn't; rather, he brought out a necklace. What! That is supposed to be my necklace. I know Seraphine scheme
CARLOSA door opened. “Look who I have here—” Nonna, with a stained apron, walked out of the kitchen. Immediately, I jumped to my feet. “Nonna—” my legs dragged me to her front and I took her in a tight hug. “You don't know how much I've missed you.” I looked at her face when the hug ended, taking her in another hug. “It's you who don't know how much I have missed you, my son. Come here.” We walked back to the living room together, while Jenny left our side. “You can easily not miss me by asking me to come back to this house with you and you know.” I shook my head. “It's not as easy as you think, Nonna. I need you more than safe for what's about to happen.” I held her to myself for a moment before letting go. “I'm so hungry right now. Maybe you should serve me some of the meals before you start nagging.” “Oh, really?” Nonna got up. “You say I nag.” She walked towards the diner and I remained on the couch, taking out my phone to text Seraphina about meeting Nonna at the house.
CARLOSNow that it was brought up, I shook my head, realizing I never really asked who told her about it. Well, how could I ask? How could I ask when an audience was never given to me? Did she joke with me or was she serious? A sigh ran out of my mouth as I managed to sit up on the chair where I was seated. At that moment, I looked up at Seraphina once. “You never told me. Do you want to tell me now?” I adjusted again on the chair. There was not enough time. “Isabella told me—” Her words shocked me, but not as I expected. “Isabella?” I chuckled as I looked away before looking back at her. “That's a lot,” I admitted with a sigh running out of my mouth. “I expected better than just Isabella, at least. Not herself.” A confused Seraphina asked. “How?” “How?” I chuckled again. “I don't know what to say but all I can say is that I don't know what to say either. Because why would she do a thing like this to a man she scammed of so much money?” Myself and Seraphina went into thoughts
CARLOSIt was unbelievable that she would ask me to come with her to her shop. Was it because she knew I wasn't a Mafia Don any longer? So many thoughts ran around in my head as I walked closely behind the woman who caught up with the door of the restaurant hall. “I'll get a cab.” Seraphina's voice woke me. I looked up and let out. “That I have lost everything doesn't mean I have lost my car and house, Seraphina.” I pointed at the end. “Vito is in there. I'm sure he can take us to your shop.”She nodded and we walked. The look on her countenance did not seem like a woman who was angry any longer. Maybe she no longer was mad at me but how could I know? What if this was some trap even? Thoughts did not stop running in and out of my head and in a shorter while, we hopped in the car. “Good morning, Miss Seraphina—” Vito looked at us from the mirror before him. “We meet again, don't we? I should have known your words were empty threats the other day.” “Can we get over this, Carlos?”
SERAPHINA It has been three months since the breakup. My life became a mess even when I least expected it. Just as myself and Carlos planned months before the breakup and even before I became his girlfriend, I moved out of the old shop to a new site that would suit me and the business. But life became even worse when I least expected it. This morning, I reached the shop and waved at the newly employed workers who did a good job when I wasn't even in the shop. Maybe I should take a day off. My mood seemed to be affecting my business, even to the point where my staff came into my office, demanding to see me. “Good morning, Stella,” I greeted her back, then I pointed at the chair before her. “Come on. Take a seat. You said there's something you would like to discuss with me and I want to hear it.” Slowly, she walked to the chair and took a seat. “Yes, ma'am. There's something I would love to discuss with you. And I'm sorry for addressing it but I cannot let it pass. Not today beca
CARLOSI burst into laughter at that moment. What did they think they were talking about? I stopped laughing and then looked at the men who moped at me as though they had seen a ghost. What could I say? Why couldn't they say something too? “What's going on here?” Finally, I popped a question. “Is there something I need to know and why are all of these coming at me?” “Carlos—” Mr. Robinson called. “We don't bring sentiment into this business and you know this. I'm sure you do. One thing you should know is my job and that of the others is to bring the company to life and that's what we're trying to do or can you not see it?” “No, I can't see it,” a chuckle escaped my mouth. “If there's something I can see then it's you being unfair to me by taking something I have spent the last decade building. What exactly is going on here?” “Carlos. This is a family business. It's a different thing if it were your business and you know this.” Frank was all smiles when I looked at him and he n
CARLOS “What? Why?” The same confusion that plastered on my countenance was the same as that of my man, Vito. “I wouldn't know, Vito. That's what he said.” Vito adjusted on the chair. He looked at me and looked around the room before facing me again. “I don't know what to say about this but you cannot run from the meeting. Maybe there's something he has to discuss with you and we'll never know until you get there.” “You're coming with me.” I got up and walked around the dining section. “I don't know how I'm supposed to face Frank if this is one of his games. I'm too weak to fight if one arises and the strength or courage to face him, I don't have. Do you see it?” “I understand, Boss. You mustn't kill yourself.” I turned to face him. So many thoughts ran around in my head and one that bothered me the most was what my cousin wanted. He rarely reached out to me on the phone. In fact, the last time Frank and I talked over the phone was months ago and it had to do with the Mafia g
CARLOSThe month didn't start well, or end well. No one needed to tell me but I knew I lagged in my tasks at the office. There was so much to do and whenever I walked into the office, I ended up doing only a few.What was wrong with me? I knew, but still needed to ask. A woman had never affected me in this manner and I didn't have the slightest idea what to do and how to go about what to do if I knew. I hit my hand on the table, shouting. Another month had started and this wasn't the right way to start the month—even the day. Especially when there was more than enough to attend to. What would I say to partners who I penned all these while? A frustrating sigh ran out of my mouth and I stopped trying while realizing how a woman would become my end. Standing up on my feet, I caught up with the door and walked out, catching up with the stairs and then the diner where Nonna and Jenny stayed to eat. Whenever I came into the diner and Jenny was there, she got up and left. But she didn
ISABELLA It was a good thing—watching from afar. Even though I wasn't sure what the news was, I knew there was no way the two would be together at the end of the day. Especially when I knew my once best friend hated lies more than her enemies. Or was she going to let this one be? No, she had better not. I snapped out of my thoughts when my phone rang. My gaze went to the phone and I nodded, smiling at the callers whose name appeared on the screen of my phone. Without any hesitation, I picked up the call. “Hello, Frank Gotti—” The man from the other end chuckled. “Good morning, Miss Isabella. You've done a great job and you don't know.” His words made the smile on my face widen and I nodded, happy that his suggestion worked after all. That was what we needed. “I'm happy to hear that, Frank. But how did you know? Did your cousin reach out to you so that you're told?” He laughed again, and now it annoyed me. Could this man go straight to the point? Could he answer my questions
SERAPHINA Life was difficult, more like different without him. I loved him enough and considered him my husband even though I didn't know his thoughts towards me. Arriving at the shop today, I had many thoughts running around in my head and one was how he was faring. Wasn't it better to pick up my phone and reach out to him, or maybe pick up his call when next he called? No. I wasn't going to do that. Not now or ever. The man had offended me and must live with it. How could he lie to me? What did he take me for? Obviously, a fool and only a fool was what I was to not try to check or confirm. But how would I know it was a lie? Sitting at my desk, I heaved a sigh and dropped my bag. Today was going to be another long day. I could not wait for it to come to an end so that I could be gone from the sight of neighbors who did nothing but ask if all was well with me since last week after the breakup. “Good morning, Miss Seraphina.” “Good morning—” I looked up. “Welcome to the s