The Mafia’s Flower

Ch. 4 The Proposal?

“WHAT?!” Ivy yelps loudly by mistake, the shock taking over.

Czars forehead twitches. “Don’t get a big head my dear, you won’t be my actual fiancé,” he quips with a smirk. Ivy wants to slap that smirk off his face, as if she would want to be his fiancé, that p*****t. “I need someone from outside the sphere-of-crime to pose as my fiancé for a while. It may be only for a few months, it may be over a year, but you’ll have to stay with me, wherever I’m staying at for the time being. Which reminds me, as part of the deal we’re making, I expect you to quit your job ASAP and move here to Dubowe or more specifically, with me. We don’t always stay in this little city.”

“Just like that? And how did you know I don’t live here?”

“Just like that,” he repeats, that Cheshire smile present. “Chess gave me the heads up you were coming of course, in fact his exact words was he has “a friend from Yellowtuck.” You really think I would let anyone come in requesting for Tart?” He laughs, Ivy wonders if he’s completely sane. “You were very close at being shot at through the door, you’re lucky you have a friend like Chess. So, do we have a deal?”

Not like Ivy had much of choice anyways. “Yes. I’ll still take the deal,” she replies stoically.

“Great!” He chirps, he then slaps his hands against his thighs and stands up. Ivy raises her eyebrows at the sudden peppiness. “Oh and I’m sure you understand that we don’t trust you just yet.” His grinning face is eerily lit in the moonlight, Ivy frowns then she feels someone step close to her, and then suddenly a clothe presses against her mouth. Ivy instinctively grabs the arm holding the clothe and tries to wrangle herself free, clawing her nails in their skin in panic. But, she ends up breathing in the clothe, the Czars grinning, Cheshire smile is the last thing she sees before she blacks out.

OooooooooooooooooO

When Ivy wakes, everything instantly comes back to her. She sits up quickly, and glances around in false panic. She strangely calms down a bit seeing she’s in a unknown, bare room with wooden floors and wooden walls. Somehow the thought of being alone in the room comforted the panic she feels. She’s laying on a single, bare mattress on the ground. Noticing the lack of windows and a lone door, she gets up and checks the doorknob on the door. Locked.

Sighing, she looks around. She doesn’t see any visible cameras. The situation is freaky and weird, and Ivy is wondering if she truly, actually, knew what she had gotten herself into. But there was no turning back at this point. Ivy sits back down, hoping someone might come soon now that she’s awake. Thankfully, she’s only ponders that for a few minutes before the door opens. Ivy stands, expecting Czar, but instead a short, skinny man around her age, with spiky, blonde hair comes in.

“Good to see your up, sorry the big man had to do that to ya. He has to precautions, you see. We’re at our new base, for the time being at least, and Czar wants to see you as soon as possible.” The blonde informs.

“Of course he does,” she sighs.

“Czar let us all know that you’ll be joining the team soon.” The blonde suddenly says, Ivy scrunches her brows in confusion. “I’m Tumtum, just call me Tum or T.”

Ivy hesitates, remembering how Czar reacted to her false name last time. “I’m Ivy.”

“Great to meet ya Ivy, now let’s get moving.” Tum walks out of the room, Ivy right behind him. The house is much different, it seems like mansion now. He leads her down a long, spiral staircase to the base level, Ivy raises a brow at the luxurious living room, filled with white and good décor.

On a giant, fluffy gold couch is Czar and Tart and across from them is a white, fluffy couch like the gold one. Czar instantly notices their appearance, and grins. “Welcome Ivy, sorry I startled you last time, I find the best way to transport people is to take them by surprise, they tend to fight too much if you tell them you’re going to chloroform them before hand. Though you put up quite the fifth anyways,” Czar chuckles.

Ivy wasn’t sure how his logic made any sense. Did she just tie her life to an insane mans one?

“Anyways, take a seat, get comfortable. Any coffee?” He asks, spreading out on the couch. Ivy follows his command and sits down.

“Yes, please.” Ivy answers.

Czar nods to Tum and Ivy watches Tum walk away, then looks back to Czar and Tart.

“So, let’s get down to the finer details. Since you’re playing the part of my fiancé, we’re gonna need to get to know each other a little better, to make it more believable. So, we’re going to be with each other a lot.” He smirks. Like he knew that Ivy wouldn’t be happy with the news. Bastard-p*****t.

“Is that really necessary,” Ivy questions in disbelief.

“Unfortunately,” Tart answer blandly.

“However, I’m also very busy with work, so in the mean time while I work Tum will be in charge of watching over you.” Tum nods towards her, she smiles gently back. Neither notice Czars eyes narrow. “Though, I will expect you to help out with some things around here, Tum will fill you in. Any questions?” Czars voice suddenly turns sharp.

Ivy raises a brow at the out of nowhere anger, but keeps her mouth shut. “Will I be able to see my uncle some time?”

“Possibly, on good behavior at least.”

Ivy twitches, “very well.”

“Don’t be so glum Ivy! I believe this deal will be very beneficial to us both.” He grins, Ivy wants to point out the hundreds of disadvantages she going to experience in this deal, all for some money, but knows better than to do that. Though what she answers with probably wasn’t much better.

“Don’t you have some meeting with a pimp or something,” Ivy retorts snidely instead.

“Awe, are you gonna miss my presence already,” Czar teases backs.

Ivy scrunches her nose. “How can I when you’re still here?”

“I like her!” Tum suddenly laughs.

“Of course you would Tumtum,” Tart sneers.

“Tart, why do you gotta be so salty all the time? Besides, she’s fun! Im basically the only fun one here, except for maybe The Armadillo, but Arma can be bossy. Everyone else is so dull, and you and Czar are so boring.”

“Boring! Why-“ Tart starts to retort, because their leader decides he’s had enough.

“Tum, you don’t work here to have fun, and receive entertainment,” Czar sighs. “Tart, leave him be.” The two reluctantly stop bickering, though the tension lingers in the air.

Ivy shifts and decides to change the topic, “so, why do you even need a fake fiancé? I kind of need to know who I’m acting for.”

Czar frowns, “good point,” he admits reluctantly. “I need you to pretend to be my fiancé in front of one of my business associates and his daughter.”

“Can I ask why?”

“He’s very insistent that her and I would make a great match. Of course not without benefit for him of course,” he sneers with a sour smile, “and I’m not about a to let him try to suck my empire into his. I can’t outwardly reject the offer, as in the mafia world it’s considered an insult. So, that’s where you’ll come in. It’s only for a little while, until he’s off my back and I can deal with him properly. Then you’ll be free to go about your life as normal.”

Ivy isn’t sure she wants to know what he means by “dealing” with him.

“Sounds peachy,” she responds sarcastically. “Is that all? Can I go yet?”

“Watch your tone with me,” Czar snarls. “I may have been going easy on you, but you’re just as expendable as any other.” Ivy tenses, her eyes narrowing only slightly.

“Got it.” She sasses with a sarcastic, cold tone.

Czar glares at Ivy, but nods his head after a moment. “Yeah, go ahead, I’ll be busy most of today. Don’t get into any trouble.”

“Sure sure,” Ivy sighs as she stands up, meeting Tums eyes. “You ready to go?” She asks Tum.

“Yes I am! Let’s go before the two beasts blow up,” he jokes. Ivy giggles. Despite being around the same in age, he had a kiddish, playful charm to him.

They hurry out of the room before either Tart or Czar could say something. Tum continues to lead her through the house, though very slowly. Ivy doesn’t mind, getting a moment to check out the place. All the walls were white lined with gold, and the whole place seems like some rich celebrity’s mansion. It’s different than Ivys really experienced and she likes it.

“Man they’re always such road kill,” Tum sighs.

“From the little I’ve experienced, I will have to agree with you,” Ivy laughs, Tum joining her.

“Oh they’re always like that,” he chuckles, “but hey, don’t let Czar get to you. He’s a great guy, once you get to know him. I know he can come off a little…” T trails off thoughtfully.

Ivy raises a brow. “Insane? Dangerous?”

Tum winces and rubs his nape. “Yeah those…” he admits hesitantly. “But he’s can be pretty great, really.”

“Well, I don’t want to get to know him,” Ivy huffs stubbornly.

“Isn’t that your guys deal though? You both get to know one another so you can pull off this whole charade?”

Ivy breaths a sigh. “Yeah your right,” she admits softly. “That man just raises a sort of anger in me I never knew I even had.”

Tum smiles gently. “Don’t let that get to you, it’s like that way with him for a lot of people. I think he purposely tries to be infuriating.”

“Well congratulations to him, he wins the “Most Infuriating” Prize,” Ivy drolls with an eye roll as they approach a small set of stairs.

Tum laughs. “Yeah, we’re gonna get along great.” He chuckles, walking down the steps to a large basement. There’s a middle aged woman with long red hair, freckles and aging skin staring at a laptop screen at a table, and Ivys scarred escort from before is on a couch playing video games on a giant television.

“Ivy, I’d let you to meet more of the team. That’s Arma or The Armadillo,” he says, gesturing to the older woman. She looks up at Ivy with a small smile before losing herself in her screen again. “ and that’s O.” He then gestures to the scarred man, who raises a lazy hand.

“What up?” O greets, his eyes focused on the game.

“O and Arma, this is Ivy. She’s gonna be the Czars fake fiancé for this whole Francesca stuff.”

Arma snorts. “Boss is gonna have to learn to play nice if he wants to play off this ridiculous scheme,” she comments.

“I don’t think that’s possible,” O comments softly.

“I agree with O, though he has surprised us a few times,” Tum adds thoughtfully.

“But fighting with others is literally in bosses blood, that would be like asking a horse not to stand.” Arma adds.

Tum laughs, “true that.”

Ivy smiles hesitantly. Their comradeship seems friendly, and close. “Is it just you three with Czar and Tart?”

“There are more of us, but you’re more likely only see Tart, Tum, O and I more often than anyone else. You might get to meet Chess, but he’s more remote.” Arma answers.

“Oh I already know of Chess, he set me up with Czar.” Ivy confesses gently, unsure if this was supposed to be private information. The others barely react, so Ivy assume it’s fine.

“Wow I had no clue,” Tum address Ivy which chocked eyes. “That’s pretty cool though. Chess is a pretty cool guy, makes sense he would make friends with a cool chick too.”

Ivy smiles. “Awe, thanks.”

“Already flirting Tum?” O teases, glancing for a moment at the other man with a cheeky smirk.

Tum blows his lips childishly. “I’m just being nice. You should take some pointers.”

O laughs darkly, his deep voice making the laugh all the more menacing. “I wasn’t hired to be nice,” he growls half heartedly.

“Speaking of being hired, I forgot to tell you about the chores to do.” Tum addresses Ivy, a sheepish grin on his boyish face.

“We all do chores around here,” Arma jumps in, closing her laptop firmly and striding closer to where Tum and Ivy were standing behind O. “We all take turns with dishes and, well, cleaning in general.”

“Thank you Arma, but I got it,” Tum sneers with a false smile.

Arma raises her arms in surrender. “Hey, just trying to help too,” she sends a direct smile towards Ivy, that she returns.

“Hm, maybe I do want Arma as my guide instead,” Ivy hums coyly, pretending to think it over. Tums eyes widen.

“No, I want to be your guide.” He pouts. “Besides it makes more sense for me to do it, I have to watch you all the time when the big man is busy.”

“Calm down T it’s alright,” Arma chuckles gently, “I was just kidding. I can’t anyways, I have a lot work to still get done.”

“Good, because I want to show the newbie around.”

“Why don’t we finish our tour then,” Ivy smiles.

“Let’s go!” Tum chirps eagerly, prompting Ivy to laugh. Maybe this won’t be too bad after all, Ivy thinks to herself.