Six

GABRIELLE POV.

"Blake Moreno" I mused to myself. It was an interesting name, for an intriguing man. Angelo was also a nice character, a devil pretending to be an angel was always something I found thrilling. Both names suited him. 

I watched him from my desk as he concentrated on doing what I had ordered him to do as soon as he got in for the day's work. He had thrown a childish tantrum once I asked, telling me he already typed all the proposals and that they were ready. They were but I had him do it all over again, just to make him suffer. 

I wanted to hurt him. Drive a screw through his head just for the fun of it. I don't. Not yet. He looked very alluring when he worked with all his attention focused on completing a task. I couldn't help but watch him which in turn irritated the hell out of me. 

These days it was like I couldn't survive without seeing his face. It nagged at me. It made me furious, and because thoughts of him took up too much space in my head, I was always having a migraine. 

He was a fucking undercover cop whose sole aim was to ruin my plans and take me to jail. He also happened to be very good at his job judging from all the records of his achievements... The investigator had been very worried about having such a formidable enemy close by but I assured him that I could handle it. But could I? 

Getting information on him hadn't been easy but I had men in their department who got paid good money to take care of my lucrative business. They made our illegal trading easier... we just had to pay a little percentage so they looked the other way, yet, now they had me under investigation and they sent this man, this man that managed to crawl under my skin and no matter how many guys I tried to use to drown him out, he stayed there like a fucking itch.

I was so obsessed with him that I made sure to keep him occupied so he had no time to get a personal life.

I hated it when the other female workers stared at him. I get that he was breathtakingly handsome but he was mine. No one should look at him without my permission. It was irrational, but I claimed him the first day I set my eyes on him. He was like a breath of fresh air I didn't know I needed. He was self-assured, smart, and had a knack for learning things at once.

Whenever I saw him doing things I wanted, the way I wanted it done, I felt an odd pride in my chest. I was satisfied with how far he'd come, which was why I hadn't killed him yet. His sassy habit was a turn-on too, especially when he got all in his Alpha mood and tried to challenge my authority, or just plain ass piss me off. 

And with the way my obsession seemed to be escalating, I knew I was going to have to brand him. Just to make a statement, and let everyone know he was my possession, even though he was bother-line disrespectful.

He loved to question me at every turn and sometimes refused to obey my orders If he felt that it was not in his job description, yet I found myself very tolerant of his behavior... it amused me even. I found myself almost smiling at his antics sometimes. It was eerie but I loved the feeling and hated it at the same time. 

He felt my gaze and looked up at me, his eyebrow drawing up in question. It was weird that whenever our eyes collided, I felt such raw intensity flowing from him that I was almost tempted to break eye contact, but I didn't, instead, I forced myself to maintain it... that is, until he got nervous, blushed, and looked away. 

He was also fucking adorable sometimes and I just felt like biting on his cheeks. The ringing of my phone brought me back to the present and I picked it up, my brows drawing together tightly as I saw who the caller was. I took the call reluctantly.

"Yes... of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world... I said I will be there... you just have to take my word for it... goodbye," I said crisply with forced politeness, my breath escaping my lungs in harsh puffs. 

I stopped myself from smashing my phone, even though everything in me urged me to do it. I have learned to control my rage as the year passed, but once in a while, I felt like I'll fucking explode. 

I looked towards Angelo, he was still staring at me, concern written all over his face. I wondered if it was fake like how he was fake... He was one of those people who wanted to destroy me- and yet I have been allowing myself to feed his power.

I glared at him, hating him for even breathing. No one was on my fucking side. Was it so difficult to decide to abandon his mission, and give in to his feelings instead? Because even though he tried to hide it, I knew he felt something for me... I could see it. Ugh! Fine! I'll fight them all by myself. I'll bathe in their blood if I have to. But deep down, killing Blake -Angelo- doesn't sound appealing to me. It made me feel nauseous instead.

I left work early but before I got out of the office, I saw the relief on Angelo's face, but it didn't take long for his expression to change to one that screamed of resignation. Was he tired of living a lie already, or was it the effect I had on him that had him stressing out?

It felt good that I was not the only one worrying over my obsession with him, it seemed he couldn't help himself at being sexually attracted to me. I exploited it a lot, just to mess up his mind, leaving him anxious for the rest of the day. I also did it because I wanted to be on his mind all the time. Let him think of me, just like I did. 

The ride to my grandfather's house was filled with tense silence. I'd avoided his stupid dinner for a while now but this time I knew I couldn't get away from attending. He was beyond pissed that I killed Edward, an associate, but it served a purpose, no one dared to oppose me now. I was too formidable for them. I got their loyalty through brutal force and my family hated me for my influence.

We got to the mansion in record time, but I was sure we'd go in late for the dinner. Once I stepped through the huge gate, all my weapons were seized and so were my bodyguards'.

Grandfathers made sure no one had weapons on them since this was a family meeting. He didn't tolerate fights breaking out in his presence. I couldn't promise to be cool-headed today if things didn't go in my favor though.

I entered the main building where everyone was gathered. Grandfather sat at the center of the room like the king he knew he was, his condescending eyes accessing me from head to toe.

I gave a bow in greeting. He doesn't bother to acknowledge me. I grimaced, his dismissal still stung after all this time.

"You're late Gabrielle".

I shrugged, infuriating him further. "I run the company. I'm only free once working hours are over... I try to be a good model that others can follow".

"A Genovese does not have to prove their self-worth" he thundered but I do not flinch like the rest at the table. "Do you now let others decide how much you're worth? By being a role model" he spat the words out like they were the most degrading thing he'd ever had to utter. 

I hardened my gaze, as his glare bore down on me. "I make all my decisions father... no one decides for me, not even you, and if I decide to be a role model then that is what I'll be, regardless of what you or anyone says" I blurted out just to rile him up. I heard the shocked gasps around me, but I didn't waver. I held his gaze defiantly.

Grandfather looked like he wanted to order my execution, but then a deep rumble sounded in his throat, followed by loud boisterous laughter... the others joined in nervously until he raised his hand to silence them.

"Very good, Gabrielle. You have learned well from me. Join your cousins, enjoy the feast I've prepared" he ordered and if I didn't know better, I'd think he was truly fine with me challenging him, but he was not. His eyes were like granite on me. I knew I'd be berated in private. Or worse. 

This was going to be a gruesome evening. I flexed my wrist as I took my seat. I noticed that each one of them was doing their best to ignore me. Even in my own family, I was an outcast.

I was never going to be good enough for them, no matter what I did. I'll always be the woman that does not deserve the title I've been given. They didn't mind the family's enemies I've had to kill to make sure they kept their lives, nor the profit I brought to the business, I would always be hated, always known as the cold-blooded killer. 

It never bothered me before, but now that I was sure grandfather was trying to replace me, it brought the ugly feeling to the surface. I was almost certain that I'd have to kill everyone seated at this table just to take my place as the leader.

I looked up as I felt grandfather regarding me warily. He always seemed to know when I plotting to do evil, but he shouldn't look so apprehensive, he made me into a killer anyway.

I put on my look of naivety and offered him a smile. He doesn't buy it, but I don't mind. If I didn't matter to them, then there was no point having them around. I'd have to start with him.