Tangled in the Mafia’s Web

Episode Nineteen

The car began to move just as his attention shifted to her, increasing the sense of urgency in the confined space. Ginevra's heart skipped a beat as Leandro's intense gaze met hers. She froze, her fingers gripping the phone tightly.

Ginevra squirmed in her seat, desperately trying to avoid Leandro's penetrating stare. She could feel his eyes drilling into her, his unreadable expression fueling her apprehension. The silence stretched, weighted with anticipation, but then, Leandro's voice cut through the silence, his words seething with pressure and a whiff of anger. "Why were you at the club?" he demanded, his tone sharp and commanding, carrying an unspoken accusation.

Ginevra's mind raced, her thoughts consumed by the need to find the right words amidst the intensity of his gaze. She felt a mix of fear, apprehension, and a deep desire to maintain who she was.

“Am I not supposed to be at a club? If I remember correctly you never mention I can't have a little fun every once in a while?" The words had come out steady but it was a different case although.

She held her face tight and hoped her fear doesn't sneak out anyway.

Leandro's eyes narrowed, a faint glimpse of irritation crossing his eyes, but his expression still came off much unreadable. “You're not in Porto, why is that?”

Her mind wished to tell him she had thought he had a camera installed at every corner of the city, but then she opted for a simple yet vague response, attempting to maintain a semblance of honesty. “Visiting a friend” She eventually went straightforward, her tone measured.

“A friend,” Leandro said, not particularly a question, whatsoever. “Which?” There comes the question and Ginevra knew what he meant by that.

“The same friend your trusted escort promised to see that she gets home safety” Not like that wasn't apparent enough though. “She had insisted on going to the club, and I couldn't refuse her. I didn't anticipate running into you there," she explained, her words cautious but she needed to just get this over with.

Leandro's piercing stare bore into her, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. He leaned back, his voice low and charged with a detectable pressure. "I wasn't aware you had such friends or interests, Ginevra. I find it hard to believe it was a mere coincidence," he retorted.

Regardless, something flickers through his eyes so quickly that there was no time for her to read it. Anger? Jealousy? No... Perhaps the thought was in her head. Now she's beginning to think like Chiara.

What a duo.

And even though she was a little bit preoccupied with the look in his eyes, nonetheless, she still felt the weight of his words.

“I know my priority is to be loyal to you, but you don't expect me to explain why and why not a coincidence happens? Or perhaps you expected me to sit around and wait for your permission before going anywhere? Newsflash, I have a life outside of these”

A flicker of surprise crossed Leandro's face, momentarily breaking his stoic demeanour and so she hoped she didn't cross the line this time. If she stayed quiet it would make him more suspicious of her, it was better so.

Leandro's jaw tightened, his gaze narrowing further, but he remained silent, allowing Ginevra's words to hang in the air between them.

The car came to a sudden stop, bringing Ginevra and Leandro's conversation to an abrupt halt. The grand building loomed before them. Leandro wasted no time as one of the escorts opened the door, and just so, he swiftly exited the vehicle without uttering a word to Ginevra.

His impatience was evident as he glanced at one of the escorts and issued a curt instruction. “Escort her to one of the guest rooms," he commanded, his voice brimming with authority and no room for negotiation.

The escort nodded in acknowledgement, his countenance mirroring the gravity of the situation. He gestured for Ginevra to follow, and she reluctantly stepped out of the car, stealing a quick glance at Leandro. However, before her eyes could meet his or she could find any trace of understanding, he had already averted his gaze, striding towards the entrance of the grand building.

Other times, she wouldn't have bothered but this time, she find it hard to push the thoughts she was being flouted by Leandro aside. Without further delay, she trailed the escort, her mind inundated with unanswered inquiries and an unsettling sense of unease.

They traversed the profuse corridors in silence, their footsteps resounding against the polished marble floors. Ginevra's eyes occasionally flickered towards Leandro's retreating figure, yet his determination remained unwavering, his focus resolutely fixed on the path ahead. Clearly, he intended to leave her behind, abandoned in this unfamiliar environment he had brought her to even without her actual approval.

Not like she has much to say.

Judging by the look of things the building seems like one of the possessions of the mafia boss– Concubine, she would have put the word if the building was a person.

After a while, they arrived at a set of imposing double doors, adorned with intricate carvings. The escort swung them open, revealing an exquisitely furnished guest room. Ginevra's breath caught in her throat as she entered, momentarily captivated by its luxury. Yet, the fleeting moment dissipated as the doors closed behind her with a soft click, leaving her feeling isolated and forsaken.

As the escort retreated, his footsteps fading into silence, Ginevra stood alone in the room, her emotions swirling within like a tempest. Anger, confusion... Leandro's parting without a word wasn't something she thought would affect her this much but somehow it does and it was a feeling she hates.

The sight of the cityscape bathed in the soft hues of night provided a momentary respite from the whirlwind of emotions churning within her. The tranquillity, however fleeting, was interrupted by a gentle knock at the door, drawing her attention away from the view.

Turning from the window, Ginevra saw a middle-aged woman enter the room, dressed in a neat uniform befitting a servant.

The woman, carrying a clean cloth, approached Ginevra and set it aside on the bed, a gesture indicating it was for her.

“Before you retire, ma'am, you may freshen up with a bath.” the woman said, her voice gentle and respectful.

Ma'am? Really? She almost scuffed. But not like Leandro would go ahead to explain who she was to every single person.

Ginevra nodded “Thank you” she muttered, acknowledging the woman's presence and assistance.

“Then, I will go fetch your meal” the woman added before turning to leave the room.

She watched as the woman left the room. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her resolve and made her way towards the prosperous bathroom that awaited her.

Seeing the sheer grandeur of the space, Ginevra halted just as she entered. It was a room that seemed more luxurious and spacious than her entire apartment. Although she might say hers is cosy, this was a different breed of wealth. The marble floors gleamed under the soft lighting, and the air carried a subtle scent of fragrant oils. Like it was freshly prepared before her arrival.

Her gaze was drawn to the centrepiece of the room – a large, freestanding bathtub. The pristine white porcelain beckoned to her, promising a moment of tranquillity amidst the chaos of her thoughts.

Slowly, Ginevra began to undress, discarding the clothes she had worn to the club one by one. The fabric pooled at her feet as she moved, leaving a trail behind her as she approached the inviting embrace of the bathtub.

The time there did help her hush her mind. Returning to the room like a new leave after winter.

After enjoying her meal, Ginevra left the lavish guest room, draped in a flowing, satin dress that had been graciously provided by the woman. She may at least use the opportunity to her benefits, not like she was asked never to leave the room. As she descended the grand staircase, the fabric whispered softly with each step, surrounding her in an aura of refined elegance.

Guided by her irresistible curiosity, Ginevra found herself drawn toward faint murmurs emanating from a particularly discreet door. The distant voice grew clearer as she approached, and she discerned the distinct timbre of Leandro's voice engaged in a conversation on the phone. Her heart quickened, honing her senses to pick up even the faintest whispers of information. Her steps were swift, yet silent, as she approached the source of the conversation.

Straining her ears, Ginevra focused on capturing the fragments of conversation that slipped through the door. It had all gone well, but just as she was about to decipher more, a faint creak sounded behind her, prompting Ginevra to turn swiftly, but there, Alonzo seemed to have just arrived and currently walking toward the direction she was.

“s**t,” She cursed silently.

The risks of being caught eavesdropping on someone like Leandro mounted on her– that would lead to more suspicion.

With a quick assessment of the situation, Ginevra realized that her best course of action was to act natural and play it as it was.

Inhaling deeply, she composed herself and decided to enter the room instead. It seemed to be her only option, considering Alonzo's proximity and the potential consequences of being caught. With a resolve that mirrored her undercover training, she pushed open the door, stepping into the room where Leandro stood with the phone still pressed to his ear.

The mafia boss turned his gaze towards her, his intense eyes locking onto Ginevra's as she entered the room–brow furrowed. But her eyes were met with a sight that momentarily caught her off guard. Leandro stood there, shirtless, his toned physique on full display. Her eyes involuntarily lingered on him–