All Chapters of A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas : Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

TWO-TIMINGA tempest of emotions swirled within me. What the hell was Patrick doing here? And why was Rosette calling him “babe”? Was this some sort of cruel joke? “Patrick, what are you doing here?” I demanded, struggling to mask the hurt and curiosity in my voice. Rosette shot him a look, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flicking between us like a ticking clock. The strange glances from Lilac, Fatimah, and our other coworkers only intensified the gnawing anxiety in my gut. “Handle this,” Rosette said tersely, her tone sharp as glass. Patrick stepped toward me, his grip tightening around my arm as he yanked me away from the group. Pain shot through me, but I fought to free myself from his grasp. “Let go of me, you lying cheat!” I shouted, my palm striking his cheek with a crack that silenced the room. Gasps rippled through the air, every pair of eyes locked on us in stunned disbelief. “Are you done?” Patrick snapped, his jaw tight, the warmth I once loved in hi

ALEXANDRO LEX CASTELLO ~LAUREN’S POV~Rosette and Patrick turned their attention to me, their gazes sharp with surprise. I couldn’t blame them—it wasn’t every day you pointed to a man who looked like that and claimed he was yours. Now that I’d taken a proper look at him, he was clearly out of my league. “You mean him?” Rosette asked, her brows raised as if she hadn’t heard me correctly. “Yes, Rose. That’s him. My boyfriend,” I said, forcing the words out as casually as I could manage. Patrick narrowed his eyes suspiciously. I could feel his disbelief piercing through me, but I refused to meet his gaze. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of questioning me, even if I was inwardly screaming at myself for the lie. I had just told my ex and his fiancée that a complete stranger—a man I’d never spoken to in my life—was my boyfriend. What was I thinking?I prayed silently that they wouldn’t ask me to talk to him. Patrick knew me too well—he knew I was terrible at lying. If the

Chapter 6THE FIRST CONVERSATION. ~ALEXANDRO'S POV~ I had to admit it—Lauren intrigued me. It wasn't just her hasty decision to rope me into her messy situation at the gala, though that had certainly grabbed my attention. No, it was the vulnerability she tried so desperately to hide beneath her sharp words and stubborn act. She had no idea what she was doing, and yet she refused to back down. That kind of stubbornness was rare. Foolish, but rare. That was exactly why I found myself walking toward her, coffee cup in hand, as she lounged on a private corner of the resort's sun deck. She hadn't noticed me yet, too absorbed in her phone. The faint frown on her face suggested she was either plotting her next move or regretting the one she'd already made. "Still strategizing, or just basking in your latest success?" I asked, breaking the silence. Her head snapped up, her wide brown eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, she looked genuinely startled. "I wasn't—" She stoppe

THE TEAM DINNER~LAUREN’S POV~The resort’s private dining room was breathtaking—vaulted ceilings, chandeliers sparkling like constellations, and an oak table dressed as if for royalty. But all I could feel was the pressure pulling tighter with every glance thrown my way. I took my seat near the middle, where I could feel the weight of everyone’s attention without making it obvious. Across from me, Lilac and Fatimah exchanged smirks like they had some private joke at my expense. Rosette sat at the head of the table, perfectly poised, her wine glass in hand like a queen surveying her court. Malcolm was two seats away, barely acknowledging me, but I caught him sneaking glances when no one was looking. Then there was Patrick. He was next to Rosette, of course, with that smug look on his face that made my stomach churn. I couldn’t believe I’d once been so in love with him, so blind to the man he was. The room buzzed with quiet conversation and the soft clink of silverware. The