Tangled in the Mafia’s Web

Episode Seven

Ginevra had always been a woman of strategy, a mastermind in her own right. But this time, this current mission presented a daunting challenge. For the past two days, she had worked tirelessly to make the apartment her own, a mere cover-up to fool the notorious mafia boss.

She knew she had to play by their own game and make them believe that she was on their side. It was more a challenging deal to carry out considering the route the whole mission was going but she was determined to infiltrate the circle of the mafia– she knew it would take more than a month, it may even push up to a year to accomplish. What a mess! She had to bide her time, earn their trust, and prove herself to be a valuable asset to Leandro and his empire. If only it was easy as the theory.

As she stepped out of the shower, her eyes met with the camera at the corner of the room. "The house is all yours" the words come into her mind once again and she almost let out a disgusted hiss.

"What a bulshit" she sighed. It was clear that every move she made was being watched, and every word she spoke was being monitored, whether it was in the apartment or outside, perhaps that's the more reason she abstained from meeting with her captain. This wasn't a place to live, it was a trap. More like being in the eagle's eyes. There was no escape from that. This wasn't going to be an easy task, but then she was up for the challenge.

Secret assignments are more like an adventure for her, and this was a perfect one.

She wipes her face with the towel hanging around her neck, dressed in a silk gown that barely covered her hips, her hair still wet from the shower. She surveyed the room, satisfied with the perfect order that she had created. It was a stark contrast to the mess that it was when she first arrived. She smiled to herself, thinking that if she was going to be spending Leandro's money, she might as well enjoy it while it lasted.

No one gets such an opportunity twice.

She walked over to the window, her eyes gazing out at the city skyline. Though in all the jumble, her was mind oddly calm, it was only a matter of time before she gets Leandro to believe that she was his tool, his ally in this war.

Although it may not seem like it, she could tell he has so many doubts about hers, but she couldn't blame him. After all, she was a spy, a traitor to his cause.

Ginevra sighed, knowing that she had to tread carefully. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes, couldn't let her guard down for even a second.

Leandro was always watching or perhaps, anyone behind the screen was always waiting for her to slip up.

It took a few arrangements before Ginevra walked out of the bedroom, feeling exhausted and drained from the day's events. She needed something to unwind, something to take her mind off the hazardous assignment she was on and perhaps the f*****g loneliness of the apartment.

She walked over to the kitchen counter and opened the fridge, her eyes scanning the contents. The apartment was starting to feel like home, and she was starting to feel comfortable in the new surroundings.

Just as her eyes trained on the contents, she spotted the bottle of wine that Leandro had drank from earlier, and without a second thought, she pulled it out. She examined the label, impressed with his choice of vintage.

"Not bad," she muttered to herself, reaching for a glass. “They really have it their way”

Without closing the fridge she poured into a glass and then returned the drink, nonchalantly pushing the fridge close. She couldn't help but think about Leandro. He was a dangerous man, a leader of the mafia, but there was something about him that intrigued her. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, the way he exuded power and control. Or maybe it was the fact that he was so elusive, so difficult to read.

She shifted to the counter and took a sip of the wine, relishing the taste as it flowed down her throat. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over her.

“This isn't bad I guess” She mumbled.

She needed this, needed to forget about the dangers that lay ahead. She had been on edge ever since she had arrived at the apartment, constantly on guard and wary. But now, as she stood in the kitchen, sipping on the wine, she felt like she could let her guard down, at least for a little while.

Moving to the cabinets she dropped the glass on the counter and quickly set to work, dinner it was–She had always been a skilled cook, and it was a welcome distraction from the stresses so far. The sound of the sizzling pan and the smell of the garlic and onions filled the air, and she felt content at the moment—

Bianca strode into the conference room where Leandro was- alone, her heels clicking against the floor. At the far end of the head of the table, he sat, his eyes fixed on the tablet in front of him. The city skyline sparkled behind him like a sea of stars.

"You have a call," Bianca announced as she approached him. Leandro's finger continued to tap the table, a sign of his calm conduct even in the face of unexpected news.

“Take the call," he instructed, not bothering to glance in Bianca's direction. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether or not to interrupt him. Eventually, she relented and revealed the identity of the caller, Paolo, a distant relative of Leandro. It was possible that he had tried to reach Leandro directly but leaving the fact Leandro’s cell phone was currently in his office, he turned to Bianca for help.

Leandro's eyes flicked up to Bianca before glancing back down at the tablet, which displayed a live stream of Ginevra in her kitchen. He watched as she reached for a wine glass, her movements a soothing distraction from the high-stakes call.

"Connect him," Leandro said, his voice low and measured. Bianca nodded before leaving the room to facilitate the call on Leandro's smartphone. It was well known he never goes anywhere without his other phone.

Leandro answered the phone, his voice unwavering as he spoke to Paolo. The man on the other end of the line brought a new deal to the table, and Leandro listened intently.

“Tell me more," Leandro said, leaning back in his chair as he held the phone to his ear. "I'm interested, but I need to know all the details."

Paolo’s voice crackled through the phone's speaker. "It's a big one, Leandro. High risk, high reward."

Leandro raised an eyebrow. "How big are we talking?"

“Twenty million," Paolo replied. "But we'll need to move fast. The buyer wants it by the end of the week."

Leandro's mind raced as he considered the offer. It was a risky move, but the payoff could be huge. "I'll need to run it by my team, but I think we can make this happen," he said. "Meet me tomorrow at the usual spot. Before the event”

"Sounds good," Paolo said before ending the call.

Leandro sat back in his chair, his mind racing with the possibilities. Paolo is known to always bring offers. It was a risky move, but Leandro was confident in his team's ability to pull it off.

His attention was drawn back to his tablet after the call, where he watched Ginevra moving around her kitchen. He found himself gripped by the simple act of her reaching for ingredients and preparing a meal, feeling a sense of God-knows-what wash over him as he observed her movements. It was like watching a lover playing on the beach - a moment of contentment in an otherwise chaotic life.

But just as he was about to immerse himself in his thoughts, the ringing of his phone snapped him back to reality.

Leandro's gaze shifted from his tablet to his phone as it rang and he answered with a soft, "Hello, Little Squirrel."

If anyone had seen him in action, they will never believe he had such a soft side.

“Daddy, when are you coming home?" Lucetta's voice came through the line.

Leandro furrowed his brow in confusion. "What's the matter? Is everything okay?"

"Grandpa is here and he wants to have dinner with us. Come home soon," Lucetta informed seeming delighted. Of course, they both are. The old man is always soft in front of the kids.

But Leandro's face lost a tiny glint at the mention of his father. He won't deny the fact that the old man wanted to have dinner with his grandkids but who says this was just a dinner visit? “Of course, sweetie. I'll be there as soon as I can," he promised before hanging up the phone.

He stared at his phone, for a moment, wondering what his father's true intentions were for coming to dinner. The man didn't f*****g care to inform him. Perhaps, every man has a trick in them— he thought.