A FORCED CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH THE DEVIL
Chapter 159
“Are you okay?“, He frowned.
“I’m fine,” I beamed at him, “Why wouldn’t I be fine?”
His eyes raked over my body as if he was checking me out for injuries, to see if I was hurt, “You and Don Alessandro had some issues, did you?
Oh, I did…” I laughed.
“And?”
And nothing. It’s fine, we are fine now.”
He frowned, “What did he do to you?”
“Nothing, really…” I looked around, “You better drive the car, I am getting late“,
Antonio didn’t move at first. He just stared at me like he could peel back my skin and see the truth underneath. I hated that look. That false concern. Like he wasn’t one of them.
One of his men.
“You sure?” he asked again, his hand still resting near the gear shift but unmoving. “If you ask me one more time, I’ll start to think you’re spying me“, I replied.
Antonio raised an eyebrow, “No i am not, you’re just acting weird”
My heart dropped to my toes at his words but I smiled still. “Alessandro, we’re fine. After we talked, we spent the night together; is that what you want to know? The details?”
“Fuck off! You’re disgusting!” he laughed, shaking his head. I chuckled too, pretending it didn’t sting, pretending it didn’t make me want to vomit. I didn’t want to remember my moments with Alessandro.
As the car pulled up to the studio, I didn’t wait for it to stop completely. The moment the tires stilled, I opened the door, stepped out with a graceful swing of my bag, and waved at Antonio like everything was normal.
“Bye, Antonio,” I called out, that same mask of a smile still stretched across my face.
He didn’t respond. Just lit another cigarette and leaned back against the car as I walked away.
The smile dropped the second I entered the building.
The glass doors shut behind me and I moved fast, my boots clicking urgently on the floor. I didn’t greet anyone. I di Stop. I barely breathed. I hurried down the hallway, past the empty prep rooms and quiet makeup stations, until I reached the private wardrobe closet where my outfits were kept.
Once the door shut behind me, I collapsed against it, chest rising and falling in rapid jerks.
My hands trembled as I dug through the rack of clothing. I didn’t even know what I was grabbing, just anything. Something. I needed clothes. I needed to look like I was here to work, but was packing to run.
I stuffed pieces into my bag with shaking hands, my vision swimming. My legs felt hollow. Everything was moving too fast, yet not fast enough.
Please, I begged silently. Let this go smoothly. Just let me make it out of here.
1/2
Chapter 159
I took a deep breath, zipped up the bag, and steadied myself in front of the mirror. Wiped under my eyes. Smoothed my hair.
Just a model getting ready.
Just a boy doing his job.
I reached for the doof, gripping the handle, but it opened before I touched it.
And standing there-
My breath caught in my throat.
Leah Salvatore.
The last person I expected to see. The one woman Alessandro had broken a mafia alliance for. The woman I had replaced.
She was here.
“Hello, Nikolai,” she said. My fingers slipped from the door handle.
– No. No, no, no- I failed to reply.
“What’s the matter?” she asked sweetly, tilting her head. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I was frozen. My pulse thundered in my ears. This wasn’t part of the plan. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
“No, I am fine“, I retorted quickly.
“You don’t have to lie to me, Nikolai. I’m here to help you,” she said with a smile, looking around at the people passing by us.
A wave of shock washed over me, I gave my head a shake, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know you’re running away…”
Chapter Comments
POST COMMENT NOW
LIKE
