Indebted to the Mafia King
Confrontation

Chloe

After Rocco leaves me at home, I get inside and prepare a nice, hot bath since Ellie is still with my mom and I have the entire place just for myself. I can't remember the last time I've been by myself, so I plan on making the best of it. I rush to my bathroom and gather all the expensive products my mother made me buy while we were shopping, saying I should take care of myself more. I use all the salts and oils I can find, and get inside the tub.

I don't know how long it takes, but at some point, I end up falling asleep and only wake up when my phone rings with a message from my mom asking if Ellie can sleep over with her tonight.

At first, I'm hesitant. I'm not used to sleeping away from Ellie, but I trust my mom and I know she has bodyguards stationed around her house too, so it shouldn't be a problem. It'd be nice to have some time off to myself as well, so I answer her with a 'yes'.

I need to learn to chill out a bit, otherwise I'll become paranoid. More than I already am.

After I set my phone aside, I finish washing my hair and body and step out of the tub. I blow dry my hair and change into some comfy pants and a sweater, not bothering to put on something elegant. I don't need to be the mafia queen while I'm at home alone.

When I consider what to do with my free time-maybe a movie, or even a book-I hear a car parking just outside in the driveway.

I frown, wondering who it can be. I look at my phone screen to check the time, and realize it's too early for Tony to be home already. Then the doorbell rings and I freeze.

Okay, if this were Mateo, he wouldn't be ringing the doorbell to announce his arrival. Neither would his men. Also, Tony's soldiers are outside, so whoever it is, they let them in. They can't all be dead, can they?

I shake my head, pushing away the intrusive thoughts. It shouldn't be a problem to answer the door.

The bell rings insistently and I fight the urge to groan with annoyance.

What's the rush?

"I'm coming!" I yell, bursting the door open, the gush of wind blowing my hair over my shoulders.

I am met with the brightest pair of green eyes I've ever seen. The tanned skin, toned legs and arms, and long, straight black hair cascading over this woman's back, reaching her waist, leaves my mouth agape.

I don't remember ever meeting a woman so beautiful in all my life. And I've met a lot of people. Her eyes scan me up and down, and the sneer plastered on her lips doesn't go unnoticed by me.

"Can I help you?" I ask, trying to sound polite. My gaze diverts to behind her, trying to spot Tony's soldiers but they don't seem to be anywhere in sight.

"So, you're the little gold digger who stole my Tony, huh?" she squeaks in a pitched tone. "You should know better than to do that," she adds, pointing an accusatory finger at me. "I will make sure Tony knows who you really are." "What the hell are you talking about? Who are you?" I hiss, controlling myself so as not to jump at her throat.

Who does this lunatic think she is to come to my house and accuse me like that? If anyone here is a gold digger, it's clearly her. Judging by the luxury car she drove here and the designer tiny dress she's wearing, I can imagine who paid for it. I don't like how my stomach twists at the thought of it.

"Who am I?" she snorts, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I'm Estella, Tony's girlfriend."

I swallow hard, ignoring the bile threatening to come up my throat. If she really is his girlfriend, he should have warned me about it. However, I know her type, and she doesn't seem to be convinced of what she's saying either. She seems to be feeling more threatened and desperate than anything else.

"Yeah... I don't think so," I retort, giving her a mocking smile.

Her jaw clenches and her knuckles turn white with how hard she's bawling her fists. Estella takes a step forward, but I don't budge. I might be small but I'm not weak. I can handle a fight.

"Either you get out of my door or I'll have you thrown out," I warn her in a hiss.

Estella chuckles, not moving away from me. "What did you do to bewitch him, huh? It can't be sex, because I know what he likes better than anyone in this city," she notes in an implying tone and I feel like vomiting all over her. "You don't look like his type either. I'm sure he's just enjoying a new toy for a change. But it'll be a matter of time before he comes rushing back to me and-"

"I told you to get out," I snap, having heard enough.

Maybe it's all the feelings and emotions I've been burying during these past few months, or maybe I'm just pissed at her rudeness and sense of entitlement, but the next thing I know, I'm throwing myself at her.

I don't know how I end up with my fingers wrapped around her long hair, pulling her head backward, but I am aware that I seem like a wild animal that just escaped its zoo cage.

But the next thing I know, an arm is pulling me away from her, wrapping my waist from behind and putting some distance between us. I'm panting and yelling at her to leave my house, and Estella is looking at whoever is holding me with widened eyes, her face contorted as if she's faking to be in pain.

The bitch is such an actress!

"Tony, she attacked me!" Estella whines, smoothing her hair with her hands in a dramatic way.

She is so full of shit...

"Get out, Estella!" he orders from behind me, his arms still around me. His voice is firm, hoarse and angry. I don't have to look at him to know he is not happy that she is here.

I release myself from his grip, turning to look at him. Tony seems wary as I step away from him as if he's expecting me to jump on her again at any time.

Estella huffs, her eyes pleading as she pouts at him. "Tony, baby, she-"

"I told you to leave," he cuts her off, taking a step forward and heading for her car. He opens the driver's door and angrily gestures for her to go inside. His gloomy face and dark eyes are a clear sign that he is pissed off.

Either because she came here, or because I made a scene in front of his house. Whatever it is, it's not my fault. If he has a stupid lover, he should know better than to let her come here. If he wants to have an affair, it's his problem. But he should respect me. And Ellie.

Estella doesn't say anything, she simply stomps out of my way and heads for her car. She glances one last time at Tony, but since he doesn't look at her, she jumps inside her car and drives away, fuming.

"You can just go with her," I snap at him, still angry. "I know our marriage is fake and you have every right to have however many lovers you want. But your fucking strippers, dancers or whatever, are not allowed in this house. Our house," I emphasize, hoping he understands the limits I'm setting for this sham marriage to work. "I will not tolerate being disrespected like this."

Then, without waiting for him to answer me, I turn on my heels and rush back inside the house, not bothering to slam the door in his face. For a second, I expect to hear his car driving away as he goes after Estella, but when the door closes gently behind me, I turn around to find him staring at me.

His expression is stoic as ever, and I can't interpret it. I'm still fuming, my breathing erratic as I watch him step closer to me. "Where is Ellie?" he asks.

I blink a couple of times, bewildered with the sudden change of topic.

"She's with my mo—"

I'm cut off when he takes another step forward, standing right in front of me, his face only inches away from mine. His scent is so strong, his cologne so intoxicating, that I take a deep breath involuntarily. His eyes roam from mine to my lips and back up, and I need to tell myself not to make a move, otherwise I'll regret it.

However, my entire body is on fire, urging me to close the distance between us.

"Do you really think I'm that kind of man, Chloe? You've known me for years now, do you think I'm the type of guy to be disloyal to his wife?" he whispers.

Shit, stop looking at me like that!

How is it possible that this man still holds this much power over me and my body? If he knew how he makes me feel whenever he is this close, I'd be screwed. It's irritating to be easily affected by him, unable to control my feelings and desire. "I'm not really your wife." I shrug, acting casually so he doesn't notice my knees threatening to buckle beneath me.

Tony scoffs. "The ring on your finger says otherwise. You're my wife, Chloe, whether you want to accept it or not. We might have made our vows in front of a clerk instead of God, but I meant every word I said there," he tells me, his tone firm and serious. His eyes never leave mine as he speaks, and I'm the one left speechless. "Now, go get dressed," he orders, then steps away from me so quickly that his sudden absence bothers me.

"W-why?" I stammer, struggling to compose myself. "Get dressed for what?"

Tony turns to me again while pulling out his phone from his pocket. "I'm taking my wife on a date."

What?!