Chapter 7 - Be My Girlfriend

Claire

It still felt like a dream. One moment I was standing on the road thrown out of my apartment with nowhere to go, and another I was sitting inside a luxurious limousine with sleek interior that screamed money.

I had to admit, it was very entertaining watching Nolan's jaw drop when the men ushered me Into the car.

'Who the fuck are you?' Nolan had confidently walked up to the bodyguard only to have his hand twisted behind his back. He'd wailed like a pig on the slaughter table and I'd felt a wave of satisfaction seeing his cleanly shaven smug face twist in pain.

I'd gotten into the car on an impulse with the aim to annoy Nolan further, but now that I was sitting inside the luxurious car driven to heaven knows where, the fear began to kick in.

"Shit, you should have at least inquired where they were taking you before getting into the car Claire."

I knocked on the partition slightly, watching it slide down.

"Is there anything you need miss?"

"Um, where are you taking me?"

"Our boss instructed us to get you. There is no need to panic, you're safe with us."

"Who is your boss?"

"Vincent." The bodyguard said, "Vincent Morano."

Every nerve in my body stiffened like a string pulled tight.

"Morano?"

It was a very familiar last name. The name of a person nicknamed 'Death.'

Vincent Morano was the popular lord of the Italian Mafia who owned a very large portion of LA business market.

"The Vincent Morano?" I asked again not believing my ears.

"Yes Miss. Sit tight and enjoy, if there's anything you need please feel free to ask."

The partition slid up leaving me alone inside the back section of the car with a bottle of expensive wine and snacks I didn't touch.

Why did Vincent Morano send people to get me?

I'd never met him before.

Was he going to kill me? Torture me? What kind of trouble did I willingly walk into?

The ride to Encino ended and a luxury mansion stood in front of me. One of the properties belonging to Morano.

The bodyguards hauled all my suitcases and I was led into the beautiful entrance of the mansion.

High ceilings with glistening chandeliers greeted me, I gulped nervously when the guard opened the door to a pristine looking home office with windows that showcased a view of the best spots in LA.

The man sitting behind the table had an aura that scared me to the bones. When his chair swiveled to my direction, I sucked in a breath.

"You?" The surprise in my voice was unmistakable.

"Hello Blue." That deadly smile lifted his sinful mouth.

The man before me couldn't be described as handsome it was an understatement. Maybe my memory of him from that night was hazy, but seeing him again now he was certainly more handsome than I remembered him to be.

"You are Vincent Morano?" I found myself asking.

"In the flesh." He replied, getting up from his seat to approach me.

"What do you want from me? If you're thinking that I might be useful to you in anyway then you're certainly mistaken, I don't know anything about the Mafia world and have certainly never been involved in..."

"Shh." He was standing in front of me now, a finger on my lips. The warmth of his closeness made my heart tumble in my chest and blood rushed up my cheeks.

"Did I ask if you knew anything about the Mafia?" His irresistible hazel eyes studied mine and amusement shone in them, "You're afraid of me." He stated rather than asked.

"Who wouldn't be?" I said willing my voice not to shake, "You can't kill me, if no one hears from me they'll alert the police and you'll be hunted by the law."

He suddenly threw his head back, a vibrating sound of laughter tore out of him.

It felt strange seeing a man feared by all laugh in front of me.

"You never told me you could be this funny Blue. Do you think the law can bring me down?" An evil glint shone in his eyes, "Rather, I can destroy the law."

I had no doubt he could.

Scrambling away from him, I rushed towards the door but it was suddenly pushed open and a huge guy with the physique of a wrestler strode in.

"Vince, I've got news..." He suddenly stopped talking when he saw me.

"Is this her?" He asked, eyes looking at me from head to toe.

"Yes Rocco, that certainly is her." Vincent Morano replied with a smirk on his mouth.

"What do you people want from me?"

The intention had been to escape, but who was I kidding? If Vincent Morano wanted me inside this mansion, running out wouldn't save me because there would be no escape route.

"What I want from you is simple Blue." He said with a calmness in his voice.

"Why do you keep calling me Blue?" I suddenly asked.

He chuckled, "Have you seen your eyes?"

My eyes?

I suddenly realized why the nickname seemed to make sense, I had blue eyes.

"I want you to be my girlfriend for three months. You'll live here with me until then."

"What?" I almost laughed finding his proposal funny. "You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?"

"Whoever mentioned the word pretend sweetheart?" He raised a brow.

"But you don't even know me, and I don't even love you."

"So?"

"So I can't be your girlfriend."

"The word can't isn't in my vocabulary Blue. I always have what I want."

He was breath-stoppingly handsome, any girl in LA or even all over the world would jump at the opportunity be his girlfriend, but I knew this man was bathed in blood. And I would never start a relationship without love, I had a feeling there's something he wants to achieve by doing this.

"Don't worry Blue, this transaction will be very favorable to you as well. Within this span of time you get anything your heart desires, luxury vacations, shopping sprees, a limitless use of money at your disposal."

I frowned, "Money can't be used as a substitute for love Mr. Morano, a relationship cannot survive based on greed and wealth."

Someone suddenly laughed, I turned to see the huge guy called Rocco cackling.

"You might want to reframe your views about life. Everything can be bought with money."

"I'm sorry Mr. Morano, but I'm not that type of girl. If you could let me leave now." Saying this, I turned and made for the door.

"You want your dream job back don't you?"

I suddenly stopped walking.

"From what I've gathered, it's your absolute dream to work at this company called Glam. I'm a nightmare to most people, but for you, I can make your dreams come true."

He dropped a file on his table and I stared at his face in suspicion before walking over and picking up the file. My eyes widened when I read the contents.

"How did you...?"

"You can get your dream Blue, as the new owner of that company I can give you whatever position you desire. I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss the chance to get back at your loser of an ex boyfriend."

He smirked, beautiful yet dangerous. But I found my heart thumping at a glance from the demonically handsome man. He'd done his research about me, that much was evident.

"Tick tock Blue, your answer." He leaned over his desk, his elbows on the table and fingers crossed together, he looked like a devil making business transactions in hell.

What did I have to lose?

I wasn't going to be killing anyone, I just had to be the mafia's girlfriend for a few months. Working at Glam had always been my absolute dream, I didn't want to lose that.

"Alright Mr Morano, I'll be your girlfriend."

"The name's Vincent to you sweetheart."

***

The wrestler looking guy escorted me to a bedroom ten times the size of my whole apartment. The walk in closet was filled to the brim with pure luxury.

A piece from the Alexander McQueen new collection, the Dior new spring collection, and a whole lot of other expensive brands sat in the closet elegantly.

I had the best sleep of my life that evening on the softest double queen sized bed in the whole world.

When I woke up the next morning, I was attended to by maids dressed in strict uniforms. Helping me dress up and ushering me down to the breakfast table.

Vincent wasn't there for breakfast but I was served a sumptuous meal.

While I was eating, a siren like sound suddenly filled the air. Guards lined into the mansion running straight up the stairs in panic.

"What's going on?" I asked a maid near me.

Just when I was beginning to get comfortable, I hoped things wouldn't get bloody with the alarm sounding.

"Something urgent seems to have happened. But you shouldn't worry, the boss has instructed that you be kept away from any disturbing occurrences here."

"Where is she?"

Amidst all the chaos, the sharp voice of a woman rang from the entrance.

"I'm sorry Miss Natalia, boss just brought his girlfriend home yesterday and instructed us to make sure she is perfectly comfortable, we can't let you see her."

The female snorted, "Get out of my way. I'll find her myself."

The sound of heels clanking filled my ears and soon a sexy woman with the figure of a model stood in front of me looking at me like a piece of garbage.

"So you're the bitch who stole my man?"