Chapter 2 - Bride

Eros looked unfazed since he was focused elsewhere. He returned his gaze to Keisha before smirking slightly. She gulped, afraid they were caught, and her body felt tenser than before. "I bet you're as beautiful as the way your voice sounds," he whispered sweetly yet intimidatingly. 

He reached for her mask to take it off but Keisha looked away. He curiously looked at her. "A man just fell on the floor, I do not think your actions are appropriate, sir…" she murmured, her gaze shifting in all directions to see the commotion they have caused. 

"Please let me go," she requested and he clenched his jaw before doing so. She speaks so softly and shyly, making him feel how fragile she is. But he's completely wrong. 

This is just a show and it's killing her to make it stop. 

"Boss–" Eros turned around to the man who called him. "Take care of it, I have important business here." He turned back around but found nothing. The woman who danced with him is now gone. 

"Find information about that woman." 

WHEN KEISHA got back to their headquarters, she was furious. The news hasn't reached anyone yet but the headmaster of the organization. Her furrowed eyebrows, scary frown, and loud stomps on the floor made everyone step away to avoid crossing her path. 

"We had no idea that he wasn't the mafia boss!" Keisha screamed with anger upon reaching the office. Shadow stood beside her with his head down. 

"You gave out the orders, and we followed them. You made us kill the wrong person! It was your fault!" Her screams were heard outside the office and everyone was dead silent. She was arguing with their headmaster without holding her words back, not even her partner can oppose Keisha. 

"You have a sharp tongue, do you want me to cut it off?" their headmaster asked with a devious smile while playing with the knife she was holding. Keisha became more furious. "My knives are sharper than my tongue, mother." She was disgusted hearing those words come out of her own mouth. 

"You sabotaged the mission, didn't you?" Keisha accused her. Her mother sighed before laughing hysterically. "Careful with your words. You might dig your own grave," she warned strictly. 

"Just because you married my father doesn't mean you get my respect, you little bitch," Keisha uttered with no remorse. She is not Keisha's biological mother. She's able to step on Keisha on multiple occasions just because her father is currently not present. He's across the continent on his business trip. Her 'mother' has control over everything for now. 

Her face turned red in anger. She slammed her hands on her desk before standing up. "You cannot disrespect your mother like this! You might've been with your father since you were a child but that doesn't mean you can say disrespectful words toward me. You're adopted! For God's sake, know your place," she blurted out in anger. 

That's right, Keisha Lexington was not always a Lexington. She was found by the man she calls father when she was only five, alone in a world of dangerous men. 

"Keisha, this is enough. Nothing will be resolved if the two of you argue," Shadow butted in the conversation. Keisha breathed heavily while glaring at her stepmother. 

The two women continued glaring at each other without any words said. 

Loud ringing from the telephone broke the deafening silence. Her stepmother took one last look at her before taking the phone call and turning to the side. "Yes, that would be me." 

The partners looked at each other with confused looks before staring at the headmaster. "What?!" she screamed in shock before staring at Keisha. "This might be some sort of misunderstanding– I– The location? I'll talk to her regarding this matter…" 

Once the call ended, the headmaster took a deep breath. "Well, what is it?" Keisha crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. Her mother's facial expression changed to worry, making her even more confused. 

"Eros Galaz… desires you to be his wife." 

THE MAFIA boss has been looking for someone to be his perfect wife. A perfect pretend wife that will only last a couple of months. He was very picky, every girl he reviewed didn't match his taste and he hasn't made his decision even after two months of looking. 

But now, someone finally had his interest. 

A few days after the phone call to Keisha's mother, she is now sitting in front of the mafia boss with an irritated face and skeptical look. "You look very beautiful with the mask off." Talking about the time they danced together in the masquerade ball. 

She almost scoffed. "You consider this a date?" She looked behind her and stared at the line of girls waiting their turn to talk to him. A glass wall separates them. Eros and her can see the group of girls while they can’t see the two. He softly chuckled before answering, "I'm looking for a partner." 

"More like a business transaction." She crossed her arms and leaned back. They're inside a garden where it's only Eros and Keisha, while a line of girls waits near them. What kind of date is this? 

"Do you not want to?" He raised an eyebrow with curiosity and she smirked. "Yes. I'm dying to leave. If only my mother didn't force me…" she mumbled to herself. The idea of marrying him sends shivers down her spine. She was already informed this would not last long but it would be the worst few months of her life. 

Her attitude changed as if she was not the same woman he danced with. She was not acting like a goody two shoes. She speaks her mind even if it’s ill-intentioned. 

"She said you're desperate for a husband." Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She can't believe that her mother would say that! She held the temples of her forehead before groaning. "Let me set things straight, shall I?" She stood up and walked to the other side of the table. 

He leaned back to watch her little tantrum. He was impressed with her strangeness. All the women that line up for him want to steal his heart, but she wants to crush it. "Spending your time as my husband will be miserable anywhere you go, wherever you go. Return home from killing your enemies, and you'll experience worse than death from me. I'm not a woman you can easily handle so I suggest picking someone else for your little scheme." 

She inched her face closer to his and she could feel his breath. "You're a wise man, Eros. Save yourself some time and never cross me again,” she uttered before slightly raising her right hand to caress his face with a smile and her left hand dropping a powdery substance in his drink.

This will be the last time she will ever see him alive anyway. The powder she poured will kill him an hour from now once he drinks it. That was the main reason she pulled through this plan. 

“You’re fascinating, aren’t you? Living a life without crimes yet you attended the party. Why is that?” He was informed how she lives a normal life as the successor of their company yet she dared to even dance with him back then. 

“I can be dangerous if I wanted,” she whispered with a menacing smile. He doesn’t know her secret. “You’re not intimidated by me?” he wondered and she scoffed. 

He has done enough research about her. Credible background, never seen as a threat and living a normal life. He was told by her mother that she doesn't want anything to do with their illegal deeds but found herself in a predicament now. 

“Goodbye, Mr. Galaz. I hope to never see you and your atrocious pink hair again. Maybe change your style and I might actually be scared of you for once.” He was left dumbfounded. Only when she pulled away he realized he was holding his breath. 

She started walking away as their time was up and a new girl entered the room looking flustered and fixing her hair. She decided to walk slowly to listen to their conversation. 

“You have lovely eyes, take a seat,” he complimented and her face turned even redder. Keisha could only roll her eyes listening to their conversation. What a sly fox he is. 

“H-hi, my name is–” She forgot to introduce herself and she stood up from her seat a bit too close to the table, making it tip slightly over to his side. 

Eros’ cup of tea tipped over and the liquid inside spilled on his pants. Upon hearing the commotion, Keisha stopped walking and turned around with a horrified expression on her face. 

Fuck! She probably cursed a million times inside her head. He didn’t even get to sip his tea. She glared ever so slightly at the woman who ambushed her plan. 

Eros stood up and coldly uttered, “Get out.” The woman was terrified by her stupid mistake. “But–” she tried to reason. “I said get out.” He emphasized every word as his voice got deeper. The woman bowed her head and rushed out the door in fear. 

Keisha followed behind her feeling defeated. Yet another attempt failed. 

When Eros was alone in the room, he sighed heavily while cleaning his dirty pants. Keisha was so different from the girls he interacted with and it fascinates him. He was indeed captivated by her charms. She even dared to hold his face and insult him right there. 

Thinking about it made him chuckle. She has a backbone and he likes it. 

She will be hard to handle, but what is life without a little challenge?

“Arrange a meeting with Keisha Lexington’s parents.”