MY BABY DADDY IS A MAFIA BOSS

TWENTY - ONE

Isabella —-

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my packed suitcases. The decision I was about to make weighed heavily on my heart, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I couldn't stay in this mansion any longer, pretending to be a part of this family when I was nothing more than an outsider.

Sofia played happily in her small bathtub, splashing water all around her. She was oblivious to the turmoil within me, unaware of the lies I was about to tell. I didn't want to burden her with the truth, at least not yet. My first priority was to protect her.

As I heard the sound of Enzo's car pulling into the driveway, panic surged through me. I needed to act quickly, before he could confront me about my sudden decision to leave.

"Sofia, sweetheart, we're going on a little adventure," I said, forcing a smile as I pulled her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel.

"Where are we going, Mommy?" she asked, her big, innocent eyes looking up at me.

"We're going to visit Aunt Maggie," I lied, my heart aching at the deception.

"But I like it here with Daddy," Sofia protested, her tiny voice filled with confusion.

"I know, sweetheart, but Daddy has some important work to do and he won't be able to come home for a few days," I explained, trying to sound convincing.

Sofia's bottom lip quivered, and I could see tears welling up in her eyes. It broke my heart to see her so upset, but I knew I had to be strong for both of us.

"Don't worry, Daddy loves you very much, and he'll come visit us soon," I assured her, kissing her forehead gently.

As we packed a few more of our belongings, I prayed that Enzo wouldn't discover my deception too soon. I had booked a hotel room under a false name, far away from the mansion. It was the only way I could ensure our safety and escape from this complicated web of lies.

Just as I finished loading the suitcases into the trunk of my car, my phone rang. It was Enzo, and I felt a pang of guilt as I answered the call.

"Isabella, where are you?" Enzo's voice was filled with concern.

"We're at Aunt Maggie's place, as I told Sofia," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"You know I can't stay away for long, Isabella. I don't want Sofia to think I've abandoned her," Enzo pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.

"I understand, Enzo, but it's just for a few days. We'll be back before you know it," I assured him, hoping he wouldn't sense the tension in my voice.

"Okay, just keep me updated, and take care of Sofia," Enzo said, his voice filled with worry.

"I will, Enzo. Take care of yourself too," I replied, ending the call before any more questions could be asked.

As the car pulled out of the driveway, leaving the mansion behind, I took a deep breath. It was a bittersweet feeling, leaving the only home Sofia had ever known, but I knew it was necessary for our own well-being.

I couldn't let Enzo get too attached to Sofia. It would only complicate things further, and I couldn't bear to see him torn between his commitment to her and the demands of this twisted deal.

In the days and weeks to come, I would have to find a way to start severing the ties between Enzo and Sofia, little by little. It would be painful and heartbreaking, but it was the only way to protect both of them from the deceit and darkness that surrounded us.

As we arrived at the hotel and settled into our temporary home, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. We had escaped the clutches of the mansion, and now it was up to me to pave a new path for Sofia and myself.

"Why is aunt Maggie not here?" Sofia questioned after arriving at the hotel and our main reason to leave still haven't arrived.

"She got held up in traffic so she would spend the night somewhere else." I said to Sofia who murmured a few words to herself before taking out her cloth from the suitcase now I needed to talk to her about the most difficult stuff.

"Sofia." I called quietly.

"I don't want a nanny and daddy said you should take a break from work, don't try to disobey him because we are far from him ". Sofia said making me a bit surprised.

"How did you know that?" I asked sitting beside her on the bed.

"Isn't it obvious mom, you don't ever miss a day of work but then suddenly you stayed home for two days and your boss didn't even call you and secondly if you are planning to go to work again daddy's wish that clearly means you would call the nanny for me again." Sofia explained still busy with her luggages, she was just too smart for her age and something I always doubt if she was my daughter because the words that comes out of here mouth is that of a teenager and she is just 5.

"Sofia." I called again thinking of a better way to convince her.

"Just take me back to daddy, if you don't love him I love him." Sofia said leaving me alone on the bed. I really want to protect her from everything ahead and mostly from Aurora because the second Aurora finds out about her she can do a lot bad thing's to her and mostly with her being Enzo's finacee, I don't think Sofia would ever be able to accept another woman for Enzo even though she knows there's nothing between Enzo and I.

My phone began to ring and it was a call from Miguel.

"Good evening boss." I greeted.

"I know Enzo made you stay away from work but I really need you to resume as soon as possible, we have a huge deal ahead and you need to be here." Miguel said making me smile, it was a good thing he called because I was just about to do as Sofia wanted and stay back.

"Isabella, are you there?" He asked bringing me back to reality.

"Yes….yes sir, I would definitely resume tomorrow morning…thank you sir." I said before ending the call with a smile on my face as Sofia cleared her throat standing beside the bathroom door with a frown.

"You didn't even think about me before accepting to returning to work." Sofia said the frown not leaving her face and fir a split second she looks exactly like Enzo in the painting.

"Sorry baby, but I am needed there." I said to her but she shrugged in disapproval.

"I won't agree to that unless you take me back to daddy." Sofia insisted making me more frustrated, why was she just so best on frustrating me at every chance she gets.

"Take me to daddy, mommy". She added, the frown not leaving her face. What else can I possibly do to please Sofia without involving Enzo.

I sighed, feeling slightly defeated. Sofia's insistence on going back to Enzo was causing me more frustration than I anticipated. I didn't want to bring her to work with me, but it seemed like I had no other choice.

"Alright, Sofia. We'll go back to Daddy, but only for a little while," I conceded, hoping that it would placate her for now.

Sofia's face immediately brightened, a smile replacing the frown that was there before. I couldn't help but smile back at her, admiring her persistence and determination.

"But, Sofia, remember, we can't stay there for long. We'll have to come back to the hotel soon," I reminded her, hoping she would understand the limitations of our situation.

Sofia nodded eagerly, her enthusiasm evident. I gathered our belongings quickly, knowing that Enzo would be surprised to see us so soon after leaving.

As we drove back to the mansion, Sofia chattered excitedly about seeing Daddy and how much she missed him. It warmed my heart to see how much she loved Enzo, even though he wasn't her biological father.

When we arrived, Enzo's surprise was evident as he opened the door to find us standing there. Sofia rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. Enzo looked at me, a mix of confusion and concern on his face.

"Isabella, what happened? Why are you back so soon?" Enzo asked, his voice filled with worry.

"Sofia missed you too much, Enzo. She insisted on coming back," I explained, hoping he would understand.

Enzo's expression softened, and he held Sofia even tighter. "I missed you too, little princess," he said, his voice filled with affection.

We settled back into the mansion, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. It was clear that Sofia had a strong bond with Enzo, and it scared me to think about the consequences of that bond.

As the days went by, Sofia's attachment to Enzo grew stronger. It became harder for me to separate myself from her, even for a moment. And although I was relieved to have her back with me, I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that this situation was becoming more complicated and dangerous by the day.

I knew I needed to find a way to protect Sofia and myself, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness. I couldn't let her become a pawn in this twisted deal any longer. It was time for me to take matters into my own hands and find a way out of this mess.

But for now, I would cherish the moments I had with my daughter and hope that I could navigate this treacherous path without causing too much harm.

The next week was peaceful with Miguel and I trying to get a huge contract which would change the life of the company in a twinkle of an eye and Sofia was always with Enzo even in his office which was causing gossips in the office but I never minded any of that and just continued with my contract.

The news of my promotion as the head department manager spread like wildfire throughout the office. Whispers and murmurs filled the hallways as colleagues exchanged skeptical glances. The jealousy was palpable, but I paid no mind to the accusations and rumors.

I knew I had earned this position through hard work and dedication, and it had nothing to do with Enzo's influence. Miguel, the CEO, recognized my skills and abilities, and that was why he chose me for this role.

But the murmurs and gossip continued, growing louder and more malicious with each passing day. Some whispered that Enzo had used his friendship with Miguel to secure the position for me. They couldn't accept the fact that I had earned it on my own merit.

I tried to ignore the comments, focusing instead on proving to my colleagues that I deserved this position. I led the department with efficiency and professionalism, making sure to give everyone a fair chance to prove themselves.

There were times when the pressure seemed overwhelming. The weight of expectations and the constant scrutiny took its toll on me. But I pushed through, determined to prove everyone wrong.

One afternoon, as I was leaving the office, I overheard some of my colleagues gossiping about me in hushed voices. Anger and frustration welled up inside me, threatening to burst forth.

I decided then and there that I wouldn't let their jealousy and pettiness bring me down. I had worked too hard to let them tarnish my reputation.

The next day, during our weekly department meeting, I addressed the issue head-on. I stood in front of my colleagues, confident and composed.

"I want to address the rumors that have been circulating about my promotion," I began, my voice steady and unwavering. "I understand that some of you may be feeling uncertain or even envious of my position. But I want to assure you that I earned this role through hard work and dedication, not through any favors or connections."

I looked around the room, meeting each person's gaze. "I am committed to leading this department with fairness, transparency, and professionalism. I expect the same from each of you."

There was a moment of silence before a few colleagues nodded their heads in agreement. It seemed that my words had made an impact, at least on some of them.

"Then why are you always seen with Enzo and we know that Sofia seems to think Enzo is her father." Another of the employees said,

"And why do you all care so much about that, isn't that supposed to be my personal matters. When I think you all have stopped gossiping about it you still do it." I asked making them all chuckled.

" I told you before and I would tell you again, you can't make false claims just to become a billionaires bride." The employees said.

"And who said it's false claims?" Enzo said from behind me making me tense up as I turned around.