His Chosen Mafia Queen

Chapter 5

Sophia’s POV

My alarm startles me awake, and I groan. Why the

hell did I agree to go for a jog with Carmen? It’s

Saturday; there’s no reason why I should be waking

up this early in the morning.

Carmen showed up at my place late last night, but I

was up watching tv and winding down for the

evening, so I let her in. Over the last week, we’ve

been getting to know each other better, and we’re

becoming friends. She’s down-to-earth and fun to

be around. She told me that she has always wanted

to be a makeup artist and a nail technician, but her

family kept pushing her into the family business,

and it turns out she likes it, but she still holds on to

her dream career. When I asked her what her family

business was, she told me that she handles

customer relations in money management, but she

changed the subject back to the beauty topic when

I asked her for more details because I was intrigued.

We talked first, maybe for half an hour, as she asked

for a tour and complimented my added decorations.

When there was a silent break in our conversation,she asked me if I worked out, which caused me to

laugh because I don’t look fit at all. Carmen looked

at me, confused because of my response, then she

sucked her teeth along with a moving her hand

down motion while saying “aye Chica, even curvy

girls work out, working out isn’t just about wanting

to lose weight, there are many reasons to work out,

the weight loss is only a plus; if you want to lose

weight. I’ve seen females bigger than both of us

working out and being able to do things you would

think only skinny people can do……….oh my god, I

hope you didn’t take offense with that question, I

wasn’t calling you fat or anything like that; I actually

wish I had all your curves. Sometimes I feel as if my

husband could snap me in two because of how tiny

I am.”

I could tell she felt bad, so I told her that I wasn’t

offended and laughed at what she said about her

husband. When I told her I didn’t think she was

married because she owned this place, she got

quiet, then took a sip of Pepsi, and responded, “Oh,

that’s because this was my place before I got

married, and I kept it here since I was always too

busy to try to find someone to sell it to.” I didn’t buy

her reasoning too much because there are many

people out there in need of a home, but I chalked itup to her wanting to have a fallback place for the

nights when she or he just needed some space

because of an argument or something.

Oh my god, I need to get ready. She’s already

texting me that she’ll be here in 5 minutes.

I really don’t feel up to doing this, so I’ll just throw

on some leggings and a loose T-shirt and my black

Nike sneakers, then tie my hair in a high bun. Once I

turn off the bathroom light, my doorbell alert pops

up on my phone, and I can see Carmen kiss

someone, then he walks away quickly. I couldn’t see

his face, but I could see why she stated that he

could break her in two. His build is similar to the guy

I met in the elevator, named Owen. By the time I

open the door, Carmen’s husband is long gone.

“Good morning, ready to get the day started?” She

asks with a little too much energy for this early in

the morning.

“No, but I’m up and dressed,” I respond while

laughing.

An hour has passed, and we’re now walking back

towards my building while drinking fruit smoothies.

Throughout our run, I was debating whether I shouldask her questions about herself or not. On one

hand, I don’t want to intrude, but on the other hand,

friends ask each other personal questions.

Determined to break the silence, I make up my mind

and decide that now is as good a time as any.

“Hey, Carmen.”

“Hmm?” She responds while taking a sip of her

drink and looking across the street.

“Were you always into big, muscular dudes?”

“I guess you can say that, but how did you know?”

She questions while still looking across the street. I

have no idea what she’s looking at. Every time I try

to figure out what or who has her attention, I’m

stumped because there are just people walking in

and out of different stores and buildings.

“I saw your husband with you at my door this

morning. I couldn’t see his face, but I was able to

see that he was brolock. It reminded me of these

guys I met in the elevator. One of them had a shape

similar to your husband, but the other was not as

big, but I could tell he was still fit and had some

muscles underneath his suit.”She gives me a weird look, but then smiles: “So did

these two men give you their names?”

“The bigger one told me his name was Owen, and

the other was King.”

“Good to know…I’m going to have a little talk with

Owen for speaking to women in the elevator.”

“Wait! You know Owen?”

“Of course I do, he’s my husband.”

“Oh my god, Carmen, I promise you the

conversation was innocent…it was a bit weird, but

still innocent.”

She stares at me with a serious expression for what

seems like forever before she laughs, and I let out a

breath of air I didn’t realize I was holding.

“I’m just pulling your chain, I trust Owen, I know he

was just being a friendly neighbor.”

“Neighbor?…you live in the building?”“Oh, yes, um, Owen and I decided to keep his

apartment, and we didn’t need two of them…so I

gave up mine… so how are you liking the building?”

“I like living there, it’s always clean, and everyone I

come across seems friendly and polite, even the

guy named King seemed friendly, but he didn’t talk

much….do you know King?”

“I do, and he’s single,” she replies while winking.

“I don’t even know what he looks like, and I”—

Suddenly, Carmen grabs and spins me around until

I’m standing behind her; before a man wearing all

black, who’s been jogging in our direction, gets

close to me. When I realize what just happened, I

look up at the back of Carmen’s head and notice

her slightly nod, then, as if appearing out of thin air,

two men run towards the man who was jogging,

and he puts up his hands in an innocent gesture.

“Are you okay, Sophia?” asks Carmen as she turns

around to look at me.

“What was that, Carmen? I don’t think that man was

going to do anything to us…who were those menthat ran after them?…was that who you were

looking at when I saw you staring across the street

as we walked?…what’s going on?”

“Calm down, chica, you can just never be too

careful. I thought he was going to try to snatch your

phone, so I moved you. I used to be a dancer, so

I’m fast with spinning people, and I have no idea

who those guys were. Maybe they were looking for

that guy…now come on, let’s hurry up and get

back.”

“But what about you nodding to them and staring

across the street so much?”

“I didn’t nod. I was moving my neck because I felt

as if I pulled something since it’s been so long since

I moved someone that quickly, and I wasn’t staring

at anyone. I sometimes tend to stare off into

space….wooo girl, after such an eventful morning,

I’m ready for a nice shower. How about you?”

I know she’s trying to simplify what happened, and I

don’t buy any of it, but I’m going to let it slide for

now since she doesn’t want to talk about it.The walk back home was quiet, and as soon as we

got back into the building, Carmen stated that she

would take the stairs once I entered the elevator

because she had a lot of energy left, and I nodded

in response.

Once the elevator door closes, I let out a breath of

air and shake my head in confusion. I know I wasn’t

imagining things today, and Carmen was being

weird, especially when she tried to avoid speaking

about everything that happened when I mentioned

it. I don’t think I’m going to take her up on another

workout session like today. Aside from all of the

weirdness, my feet are killing me. I just want to take

a shower and relax on my bed.

Since I’m in the elevator alone, I allow myself to

balance against the elevator door while slouching

forward with my hands on my hips, while trying to

process everything. A few seconds later, the

elevator dings while the doors slide open. Then,

someone walks in, but I pay them no mind.

“Are you okay, Sophia?”

“Hmm? How do you know my name?” I ask while

straightening my body.“You shouldn’t allow yourself to be caught off guard,

especially when you are alone…You would know

how I know your name had you been in a more

guarded and alert stance once the elevator

opened.”

I look in his direction, fully ready to curse him out for

thinking he can speak to me like that, but when I do,

all words stop from escaping my lips…He smiles at

me as I stare at him with my mouth hung open as if

I’m about to get spoon-fed.

“You’re lucky there are no flies in here,” he states

while gently placing the tip of his pointer finger

under my chin and guiding my jaw closed.

The elevator dings, and the door opens on my floor.

Without saying a word to him, I walk out of the

elevator and start walking to my apartment door.

“Soph, wait!” He states as he follows me.

Hearing him call me by my nickname, I stop and

twirl around in his direction, which makes him stop

short. While poking him in his toned chest, I yell at

him: “Stop! You don’t get to call me that! You

disappeared without a trace, and I was leftheartbroken. I searched for you for a long time, and

here you are owning a building and living your life

without caring about what you did! And apparently,

you couldn’t be honest with me when you first saw

me in the elevator with Owen, and you lied about

who you are…King…not Valentino…not V…but

King…what f*****g kind of name is that?!… Oh my

god, did my place really belong to Carmen, or are

you behind me getting my apartment?

As he opens his mouth to reply, I poke him in his

chest again and cut him off: “You know what,

Valentino or whatever your name is now, I don’t

care…just continue leaving me alone as you have

done for all of these years…today has been crazy,

and I’m so over it.”

I turn back towards my door and enter my

apartment, then slam the door in his face.

“Sophia, there’s a lot you don’t know, and I want to

clear everything up for you; if you’d allow it.”

I don’t respond to him while looking at him through

my ring camera. He stands at my door and uses his

phone, then shortly after, he sighs and runs his hand

over his hair. “I’ll leave, Soph, I know you need time,but we must get to speak soon…goodnight, Soph,

I’m in the penthouse if you would like to talk.”

As soon as he walks away, I run into the shower,

then lie in bed while all of my held-in emotions

come flooding back to me, and I can’t help but cry it

all out.