The Mafia King's Supreme Heiress

Chapter 7

(Selene’s POV)

The soft click of my stilettos echoed against the marble floor as I stepped into my penthouse. The automatic lights flickered on, illuminating the vast expanse of my sleek living room, all glass, steel, and power.

With a sharp flick of my wrist, I tossed the coat onto the leather armchair and made my way to the bar. I poured myself a glass of aged whiskey. No ice. No pause. I brought it to my lips and took a long, slow sip.

But it didn’t calm me.

For the first time since I stepped into my father’s shoes, someone had dared to challenge me. Not politically. Not from the shadows. But openly. Boldly. Like an equal.

I exhaled slowly, my jaw clenched. The glass in my hand tightened, the veins in my wrist flexing with restrained fury. I wasn’t just angry. I was… unsettled.

Not because he was arrogant. I'd faced arrogant men my whole life. But because he was smart. Dangerous. And he didn't try to dominate me, he matched me.

That was rare. Too rare.

A soft knock echoed from the hallway door. My right-hand man, Jiang, stepped in with practiced caution.

"Everything’s secure, boss. No tail, no chatter. Just quiet”.

I didn’t turn. My gaze stayed fixed on the window as the whiskey in my glass shimmered under the city lights.

“Should I tighten perimeter surveillance around the hotel again?” Jiang hesitated before adding. I was quiet for a moment. Then I turned, finally, eyes sharper than knives.

“No” My voice was cold, calm and deadly focused.

“He started the game. I’ll finish it”.

And with that, I walked toward my private study, the hem of my black dress sweeping the floor like shadows behind a storm.

Next morning, I received a message from my father.

‘Come. It’s important’.

So, right now, the grand double doors of the Zhao mansion opened and I stepped inside, my long coat flowing behind me like a cloak of authority. My face was calm, but my eyes were sharp, calculating, and unreadable.

I walked through the familiar corridors of my childhood. The guards nodded as I passed, bowing with quiet respect.

When I entered the main living room, my steps halted abruptly. My eyes narrowed.

Sitting casually on the leather armchair, legs crossed and an infuriatingly calm expression on his face…Adrian Ansaldo.

My jaw clenched just enough to be noticed. He sat like he owned the room, like he belonged there. Like he wasn’t the man who challenged my authority just a day ago.

Across from him, my father Zhao Wei, looked up at me with a faint, unreadable smile.

“Selene,” He greeted, his tone calm.

“You’re here”.

Adrian turned his head toward me with that same damned smirk. The one that made my blood simmer.

“We meet again, princess”.

I ignored him and focused on my father.

“What is he doing here?” My voice was cold, clipped, but respectful. My father stood, slow and deliberate, walking towards me.

“He came to speak to me about a proposition. One that may benefit us both” My eyes flickered between them, my composure steel-bound.

My mind raced. Just last night, I’d sworn to myself, ‘I wouldn’t partner with him. Wouldn’t play his game. Wouldn’t let him near my power’ And now?

My jaw tightened, but I moved forward with grace, sitting across from them, back straight, chin slightly raised. My gaze locked with Adrian’s, silent fire dancing in the air between us.

“Didn’t expect to see you so soon” I said coolly, voice like silk laced with steel. Adrian chuckled lowly.

“Neither did I. But your father and I share… an interest in the future of our worlds”.

I turned to my father slowly.

“I know you both met yesterday and wanted to see how you’d handle it. He came with respect. And proposals worth listening to” My father’s expression didn’t waver.

“Of course, he did” I scoffed under my breath, eyes flicking to Adrian.

“You made it clear last night you weren’t ready to shake hands, Selene. So I extended mine to someone who might be” Adrian leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.

He knew I would reject his offer. So, he turned to my father to challenge me, to provoke me.

“And yet you still think you’re playing me. Cute” My lips curled into a dangerous smile. My father raised his hand slightly, his voice firm.

“Enough, both of you. This isn’t a battlefield”.

I leaned back, folding my arms, masking the fury with a perfect expression of cool indifference. But in my mind, the gears were turning at breakneck speed.

The tension in the room was thick, coiled like a viper waiting to strike. My father reclined in his seat, ever the composed patriarch.

“Let’s not waste time,” Adrian said, voice deep and composed.

“I’m not here for pleasantries. I’m here with a proposal, one that will change the balance of power across two continents”.

My eyes narrowed slightly, but I remained silent, letting him speak.

“The western syndicates are consolidating. Smaller families are either bending the knee or being wiped off the map. I have the north and most of central Europe under control. And now…” He paused, looking directly at me.

“…I’m ready to build a bridge to the East” Adrian continued.

“You want an alliance” My father nodded slowly. Adrian tilted his head slightly.

“More than that. A strategic partnership. One that’s not based on borders or bloodlines but on sheer dominance”.

“And who leads this so-called partnership? You?” My voice cut in, calm but cold. He smiled. Not arrogantly, confidently.

“We rule equally. You hold the East. I hold the West. But together, we become the axis that everything else must orbit around. Trade, arms, influence, information, all flowing through us”.

“It’s ambitious” My father glanced between us, intrigued. Adrian nodded.

“It’s inevitable. Whether now or in a year, the world will bend to whoever strikes first and strikes smart,” He then looked at me again.

“You’ve got intelligence and territory. I’ve got firepower and reach. You’ve built an empire with precision. I’ve built one through war and brain. Together, no one can touch us”.

I didn’t respond immediately. My jaw tightened slightly as I leaned forward, matching his posture.

“You make it sound neat. Clean. But partnerships like this don’t stay equal for long. Someone always wants more”.

Adrian smirked.

“True. Unless both know exactly what the other is capable of. And respect it”.

“It’s a rare offer, Selene. And a powerful one” Father placed his glass down and looked at me.

“If I agree, Adrian… it won’t be because I trust you. It’ll be because I want to see what happens when fire meets ice” My voice was low, controlled.

Adrian stood up slowly, buttoning his jacket.

“That’s all I ask,” He glanced down at me, tone lower now.

“I don’t want your trust. I want your power. And in return, I’ll give you mine” He turned to my father.

“You know where to reach me”.

Without waiting for permission, he nodded once and walked out, leaving behind the echo of something dangerous… and the promise of something unstoppable.

The king had made his offer. Now the queen had to decide how to play it.