3. Repast

"Have you never asked a woman out before?"

"I never need to." His confidence rankled her even though she knew it would have been true. Men who looked like that could get any woman he desired.

Xavier never had to ask a woman out before. The women he had met were all the same, with their impeccable sartorial tastes, coquettish natures and the same drive for hunting wealthy and dangerous man. They had been fascinated with the thought of being a moll, to the boss of an Italian mafia—the power that they will have.

The people around him were thirsty for power and money, and all the things that he had. So many people hoped to see his dead body on the news, yet he was still alive today. Saved by this little fragile woman in front of him who did not seem to care who he was or what he was. She never asked for anything in return, and that fascinated him because everyone expected something in return. That was how the world worked, his world.

******

En route, Megan caught glimpse of ocean behind the trees and a few beautiful houses as they had passed. The sun was sitting low on the horizon and the sky was turning orange-gold. It was getting dark by the time they had turned into a smaller road that went uphill until they reached a fence with a sign saying Private Property hanging on it. They drove through the open gate and reached a massive guard house. Two men wearing military uniform raised their arms in a salute to the man sitting beside her. She turned to look at the man in awe.

Who is he?

The car stopped in front of the mansion. The man beside her dismounted with Megan followed closely behind. Her jaw dropped when her eyes landed on the mansion in front of her. It looked more like a castle but it was all concrete and tall glass windows that gave a view of the mountains. Xavier placed his hand behind her waist and ushered her inside. In that grand entranceway, to greet the visitors, was the most monumental of chandeliers, the girth of of a giant evergreen alight with electric flame.

There were five maidservants standing in the hall greeting them, with their heads bowed down. One of them were wearing a different uniform.

That must be the head of housemaid. Megan thought as she surveyed them in wonder.

Yes her father was a wealthy man and she's always had maids with her too but these were different. They seemed so obedient and docile. The maids in her home were unruly.

"Caroline, please assist Megan to one of the guest rooms upstairs. She will be joining me for dinner later." Xavier ordered. His vicious tone radiated power and danger, which was very different from the way he had sounded in the car, with her.

Caroline, the head of housemaid, nodded and bowed down ceremoniously, as though she had been trained to do it.

"Wait... how do you know my name? I haven't even told you yet." Megan protested.

Xavier ignored her and exited the hall leaving Megan and the servants. Caroline lifted her head up and gave a warm smile to Megan.

"Please get a dress from the Lady's room. The one that Boss had recently bought." Caroline ordered one of the maids who stood behind them.

"Come my dear. You need to freshen up. Dinner will be ready in an hour." Caroline reached out her hand to Megan, to which she acquiesced.

"Who is he?" Megan whispered into Caroline's ear as she escorted her to her room.

"Boss never told you?" Caroline's eyes grew a little wide.

"No. He's so mysterious." Megan complained. "And annoying too." She crossed her arms and glared.

Caroline gasped and shushed Megan with her finger. "Miss Rose, you must never say that in front of the Boss. Or anyone else! He will kill you if you said that."

"I saved his life. He will go to hell if he kills his saviour." Megan said, looking nonchalance.

"Miss Rose!" Caroline choked and covered Megan's mouth.

"Okay okay." Megan raised her hands, telling Caroline she surrendered and would keep quiet now. "So what's a Lady's room?"

"I'm not supposed to say." Caroline replied as she helped fix Megan's hair.

"We have an hour. What else are we gonna do if not talk? At least tell me something about him. So I know what to expect later. Why do you call him boss? In fact why do everyone calls him that? He said his name is Xavier." Megan blabbered.

"You have too many questions. Boss doesn't like when we ask too many questions."

"I promised I won't say anything. I just wanna know who he is. Who I'm dealing with. I don't wanna die not knowing who killed me."

"I doubt he will kill you now. He told you his name." Caroline giggled as she thought this woman is something else. "Boss is the head of the Italian mafia. That much I can tell you."

Megan gulped audibly as terrifying scenes crossed her mind after she heard the word mafia. Her palms became sweaty. Hadn't realised she was holding her breath, she turned to look at Caroline.

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"

"You wanted to know who he is. I told you." Caroline shrugged.

She turned back tardily and stared at herself in the mirror.

What did I get myself into?

Terrified mixed with a hint of anticipation, she had recalled Xavier saying he wants her in his bed. Those words ringing in her ears sent tingling sensation down her core.

"There you go." Caroline stared at Megan through the mirror and grinned. "You look absolutely stunning. Now let's help you with the dress." Caroline walked to one of the maids holding the dress and motioned them out the room so Megan could change.

Donned in a black silk long dress, Megan checked herself in the cheval mirror. The sollinarry-chain-shoulder-strap dress literally screamed expensive and fuck me. The back was bare all the way down to her waist.

"This dress is designed by Pierre Salvagni, Italy's most famous and expensive designer. There's only one in the world."

Her breathe was caught in her throat as she realised the man was true to his words. He really did want her on his bed tonight.

"And this too." Caroline sprayed some perfume on her wrist and neck. The fragrance instantly filled her nose as she closed her eyes shut and moaned. Something foreign and new. It was subtle and sweet, like the fragrance of any dreamscape meadow.

"Boss had this made just for you. Also, the one and only fragrance in the world."

He made her feel like a princess. Precious and entitled.

After a full five minutes of checking her out, Caroline led her to the great hall. With a heavenward glance, she noticed the ceiling must twenty feet high. Designs of flowers are carved into the moulding. Vases of blossoms gave off a cloying scent that made her eyes itch. A long white marble dining table was placed in the middle of the hall. Caroline pulled the dining chair out for Megan, ushering her to sit across Xavier.

His intense gaze glued on Megan, devouring her beauty. She hadn't realised that blue could be such hot fire until she saw those eyes. She felt like so small and fragile, like a helpless prey under those gaze. Megan swallowed hard and sat down on the seat across him, wiping her sweaty palms underneath the table.

He had changed into a different suit now. A dark navy suit and he looked very dapper in it.

"You look just like how I'd imagined you in those dress." Xavier praised when all the servants were out of sight.

"I heard Caroline said you bought it just for me. Thank you for that." Her voice trembling. Why was she suddenly so scared of him? Was it because she knew what was about to happen tonight? Or was it because she had found out he was the head of a mafia gang?

"I can give you more than just this dress. In fact, I can give you anything you want. Just say the word cara mia." Xavier's lips curled up a little.

"The dress is enough." Megan laughed nervously.

"How can a dress be enough for you? Don't you want something more? Something imperishable. Something no one has." Xavier implored as his thick Italian accent filled the hall.

Oh no no. I don't want a whole mafia gang on my tail that's for sure. Megan shook her head as she pondered.

"What does cara mia mean?" Megan asked, changing the topic before things got out of hand.

"It's an endearment in Italian. It means my love." Xavier answered, his eyes not leaving her. He gave her a knowing smile when he realised Megan had changed the topic. Caroline must have told her something because she seemed timid now. Xavier had thought. Just an hour ago, she was still raising her voice in the car.

"So you're Italian?" She asked. She wanted to hit herself for asking such a dumb question. Of course he's Italian. Don't forget the head of a mafia gang too, Megan thought.

"Yes. I'm half Italian and half Greek. My father was Italian." He leaned back against his chair with his hand still placed on the table, drumming his fingers gradually.

"Boss, dinner will be served now." A butler emerged from a door connected to the kitchen. He refilled Xavier's glass with more wine and then waved at the other two man servants to serve the food. They placed the food in front of them quietly and disappeared from sight again.

Megan took a peek at the food and her mouth watered at the sight of a tender Beef eye fillets with spinach cream potato fondant and shiitake. Her favourite. She wondered if it was coincidence or he knew it was her favourite.

"You don't like wine?" Xavier asked when he realised her wine remained untouched.

"I do. It's just-"

"Take a sip then." He cut her off and commanded softly.

Sweet Jesus. This man is gonna be the death of me. Megan mused as she reached for the glass of wine with her shaky hands and gulped down everything, feeling the immediate burning sensation down her throat.

"Tesoro I asked you to take a sip. Not finish the whole glass." He frowned at her.

"Sorry. I'm too thirsty."

For you. Megan almost choked at her inner voice.

A wicked smile spread across Xavier's face as he watched her. This woman was like an open book. So easy to read.