Chapter Five: Observation and Intrigue
1395 Words
Lina slept badly.
Not because the bed was uncomfortable—far from it. The mattress felt like sleeping on a cloud that had gone to finishing school.
The problem was her brain.
Her brain had decided that being trapped inside the mansion of a dangerously calm man who proposed a one-year marriage contract was the perfect situation to replay over and over again like a badly edited movie.
So by morning, Lina had officially reached two conclusions.
One: this mansion had more secrets than a reality TV reunion.
Two: she desperately needed to call her mother.
The thought hit her the moment she opened her eyes.
Her mom.
The woman was probably halfway to organizing a missing-person search party by now.
Lina groaned and dragged a pillow over her face.
“Fantastic,” she mumbled. “kidn*pped by a mafia boss and emotionally blackmailing my mother at the same time. Daughter of the year.”
She sat up.
Her ribs protested again.
Apparently being knocked unconscious had long-term opinions.
Lina stood carefully and walked to the window. The gardens stretched out like something from a luxury magazine.
Rich people scenery.
Perfectly trimmed hedges.
Stone paths.
Fountains that probably had their own maintenance team.
“Okay,” she said to the empty room, “first mission today: get access to a phone.”
Simple.
Except nothing about this house seemed simple.
Downstairs, the mansion had already woken up.
Staff members moved quietly through the halls like well-trained shadows.
Lina wandered through the corridor trying to look casual, which was difficult when you felt like a tourist in someone else's life.
She eventually spotted Dante.
He stood in the dining room with two other people.
A man and a woman.
The man was tall, muscular, with dark hair and the kind of posture that suggested he could probably break a table with his bare hands if someone annoyed him.
The woman beside him looked sharp.
Not physically intimidating, but the kind of person who could ruin your life using only a spreadsheet and three phone calls.
They were speaking quietly.
Lina slowed her steps.
Not enough to be obvious.
Just enough to observe.
The man spoke first.
“Shipment arrived this morning,” he said.
His voice was low but steady.
Dante nodded slightly.
“Any issues?”
“None.”
The woman spoke next.
“The eastern route is still unstable. We might have interference.”
Dante’s expression didn’t change.
But something about the way both of them watched him made Lina realize something.
These two weren't equals.
They were waiting.
For instructions.
For decisions.
For approval.
Power.
Quiet power.
The kind that didn't need to raise its voice.
Lina leaned casually against the doorway.
“Well,” she announced lightly, “this looks like a very serious business meeting.”
Three pairs of eyes turned toward her.
The man looked surprised.
The woman looked curious.
Dante looked… mildly irritated.
Progress.
“Good morning,” Lina added cheerfully.
The man glanced at Dante.
“Should we—”
“Stay,” Dante said calmly.
Lina pushed herself off the doorway and walked inside.
“Okay,” she said. “Before we continue whatever mysterious crime drama this is, I have an important request.”
Dante’s gaze narrowed slightly.
“This should be interesting.”
“I need to call my mom.”
Silence.
The man and woman exchanged a quick look.
Lina continued before anyone could interrupt.
“She probably thinks I’ve been kidn*pped. Which, technically, is not incorrect.”
“Lina,” Dante said calmly.
“Yes?”
“No.”
Her jaw dropped.
“No?”
“No.”
“That’s not fair!”
“You are not leaving this house.”
“I’m not asking to leave,” she argued. “I’m asking for five minutes and a phone.”
“No.”
Lina stared at him.
Then she tried a different strategy.
“Please?”
“No.”
“Okay listen,” she said quickly. “My mother is dramatic. If she thinks something happened to me, she will absolutely call the police.”
The large man beside Dante coughed.
The woman looked amused.
Dante remained unmoved.
“That is not my concern.”
Lina groaned loudly.
“You are impossible.”
Silence.
Then she leaned closer.
Lowering her voice.
“Fine,” she muttered.
Dante raised an eyebrow.
“Fine?”
She sighed heavily.
“If I agree to your stupid marriage arrangement…”
The room went quiet.
Dante studied her carefully.
“You refused.”
“Yes,” Lina said. “But my mother having a heart attack feels slightly worse.”
The woman near Dante folded her arms.
Clearly enjoying this.
“So here’s the deal,” Lina continued.
“I call my mom. I tell her I’m safe. I calm her down. No police. No chaos.”
“And?”
“And… we discuss your proposal.”
Dante’s gaze stayed locked on hers.
“Discuss?”
Lina hesitated.
Then she sighed again.
“Okay fine. I’ll agree to it.”
The words tasted strange leaving her mouth.
The large man blinked.
The woman looked impressed.
Dante remained very still.
“You would marry me,” he said slowly.
“For one year,” Lina replied quickly. “Contract style. No weird emotional expectations.”
Silence stretched across the room.
Then Dante turned to the woman.
“Valentina.”
She stepped forward and handed him a phone.
He held it out to Lina.
“Five minutes.”
Lina grabbed it like a lifeline.
“Thank you.”
She stepped into the hallway quickly and dialed home.
The phone rang twice.
Then—
“Lina?!”
Her mother’s voice cracked through the speaker.
Lina’s chest tightened immediately.
“Hi mom.”
“Where have you been?! I’ve been calling all night!”
Guilt stabbed straight through her stomach.
“I know, I know,” Lina said quickly. “I’m sorry.”
“Do you know how worried I was? Marco is already missing and now you disappear too—”
Her voice broke.
Lina’s throat tightened.
“I’m okay,” she said softly.
“Where are you?”
Lina hesitated.
Then the lie came out.
“I… went on a field trip with my art class.”
Silence.
Her mother sniffed.
“A field trip?”
“Yeah. Last minute project.”
“Without telling me?”
“Phones were off.”
Her mom sighed shakily.
“Lina… I can’t lose another child.”
The words shattered something inside her.
Tears slipped down her face before she could stop them.
“I’m here,” Lina whispered. “I’m okay.”
“Please come home soon.”
“I will.”
The call ended.
Lina lowered the phone slowly.
She hated lying to her mother.
Hated it.
But what else could she say?
Hey mom, I’m currently negotiating a forced marriage with a crime boss.
Normal Tuesday.
She wiped her eyes and walked back into the dining room.
Dante watched her closely.
“Finished?”
“Yes.”
She placed the phone on the table.
Then crossed her arms.
“Okay. So now we talk about your insane proposal.”
The big man chuckled.
“Bold,” he muttered.
Lina ignored him.
But before Dante could respond—
One of the security guards walked into the room.
His posture was straight, expression composed and professional.
No urgency. No fear. Just quiet efficiency.
“Boss.”
Dante turned.
“What is it?”
“Movement near the perimeter.”
The room went still.
“Who?” Dante asked.
“We don’t know yet.”
Valentina stepped closer to the window.
The guard continued calmly.
“Black vehicle. Been circling the estate.”
Dante’s expression hardened.
Lina frowned slightly.
Something told her this wasn’t good.
The guard spoke again.
“They just stopped at the gate.”
Silence fell over the room.
Dante’s voice dropped.
“Prepare security.”
The guard nodded once and left the room with the same steady composure he arrived with.
Lina glanced between everyone.
“Okay,” she said slowly.
“That sounds like the beginning of a very bad situation.”
Dante looked at her briefly.
Then turned toward the door.
And outside—
A black car rolled to a stop in front of the mansion gates.
- Writer
