THE MAFIA KING'S SURROGATE BRIDE

Lara’s POV “Say that again,” I said, my voice low. “Call me a hoe one more time.” My fingers tightened around the rolled blueprint in my hand. The paper crinkled under pressure. He maintained eye contact. “ You heard me. You are a hoe, that’s how you make your money.” A few of the contractors shifted behind him. Boots scraping. Someone coughed. Someone else muttered something too low for me to catch. It was a slap on my face. But it wasn’t me who was doing the slapping. I let out a short laugh, but it didn’t sound right. “Careful,” I said. “You are confusing your mother’s reflection with mine.” He gasped. “ How dare you talk to me like that! I’ll report this to the supervisor! I’ll—” I let the silence stretch, then gave a slow nod. “Alright.” I turned to the site manager. He nodded. “Ezekiel, you are off this project. Effective immediately.” He began to move away. “Mr. Jesse, you can’t be serious right now! Just because we had an argument on what floor to put the clock and you are kicking me out?” His voice had gone higher. “Ezekiel, you overstepped your boundary,” the site manager said. “ You are firing me for her! “ He pointed at me. “How could you! This lady doesn’t even know the job, she’s just harsh and cruel” they were now close. “Mr. Ezekiel, “I’m doing my job,” I said. “You approved these changes last week. The support beams need to be reinforced or this entire section—” “Oh please,” he rolled his eyes. “ig you doubt, ask the site manager to take a look at your previous work and mine.” Mr. Jesse came around with the blueprint. “ I checked Ezekiel. She’s doing the right thing” “This is unbelievable!” Ezekiel kicked a wall and bounced. “ Ouch!" he The other workers laughed. I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips. “Alright, everyone back to work” And that was back to the peace I always enjoyed. I opened the blueprint staring at the floor plan. Everything spread out like butter on bread. I understand it all. 4 years as a student, 2 years working as an architect restoring buildings was fun. Today is a cathedral. But as they say everything has its ups and downs. Regardless, I loved my job. It was able to help me fund my father’s pfuneral. Now it’s helping with Mom’s hospital bills. But my salary was like a drop of water in an ocean for that. 500,000 thousand dollars. That was my annual salary for 2 years. I would never be able to pay that even if I work all my life. That’s why I work. “Lara” I turned around and immediately ran to her. “Hi Ms. Ingrid,” my boss, was standing with my colleagues. “ The work is going well” I gave her a small smile, looking around the cathedral. “Go clear your desk.” “What?” She tilted his head, almost pitying. “Come with me” my heart was pounding. I didn’t hear well. You really thought people wouldn’t talk?” she said. “After everything that’s come out?” My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?” “Are you ignorant or do you just want to play dumb with me?” “Ma’am I…I.. I don’t understand” my voice cracked. “Your father has some shady dealings,” she looked away. Couldn’t meet my eyes. Almost immediately I understood. “Is it that my father did something shaft or because his company that funded the architectural society went bankrupt?” She turned around sharply. “What’s that supposed to mean, Lara?” “I’m asking, are you firing me because my dad no longer donates?” “Shut the f**k up! My company has been restoring buildings for the past 2 years without your father’s help.” She spat. I looked at my shoes. My eyes watered. Lies. She sighed. “See Lara, I’m not firing you, it’s just a temporary thing. Okay, you can be the junior surveyor” “Ma’am, that’s unfair, I am way beyond that.” “It doesn’t matter,” she said with a frown. “Just take your stuff out that office.” I swallowed. “ Ma’am I built my career on my own,” I said, my voice tighter now. “Whatever you think you know about my father has nothing to do with—” “Everything to do with it,” she said flatly. “You think clients won’t care?” she continued. “You think reputation doesn’t matter in this industry?” she hissed. “I have delivered on every project I’ve been assigned—” “And now you’re a liability.” That landed. Deep. “Do well to clear your desk to move for stairs” and she left. I fought back tears. My emotions were halted as I overheard people behind me. As soon as I turned they jumped. It was my colleagues. The last thing I heard was fraud. I nodded. I’ll get a new job. “And I am not a liability,” I said. I began walking out of the cathedral straight to my car. I will not be disrespected. I will rise above this. My phone rang. It was sharp and loud. Jarring against the fragile control I was barely holding onto. I whipped it out. It was a weird number. I dropped it back into my bag. Just before I could start the car it rang again. And again. And again. I snatched it from my bag. “Are you crazy what—” “Ms. Lara Rossi” “Mr. Nola” I squeezed my eyes. Oh my gosh, I haven’t gone to court to get a letter of Administration for Dad’s little company. Even though it's bankrupt, there must be something. The lawyer told me repeatedly last week. “Oh, Mr. Nola I’ll meet you at the court and—” “Stop, it’s of no use.” “Why?” There was a pause on the other end. It was too long. My stomach twisted. “I’m afraid there’s been a development,” he said carefully. A cold, creeping dread spread through me.“What kind of development?” There was another pause. “Your father’s outstanding financial records have been… uncovered.” My heart skipped. “Okay…” I said. “There are debts, Lara. I swallowed. “How much?” His answer came quietly. “Approximately one hundred million dollars.” For a moment, I didn’t breathe. “ What?" I whispered. The lawyer cleared his throat. “He owes the Vittorio Syndicate.” “Is…is that not a mafia group?” My voice didn’t sound like mine anymore. He sighed. “ It is” “I don’t know what to say” “Lara” he began “If this isn’t addressed,” he said carefully, “they will begin asset seizure immediately.” “That soon?” I whispered. “Yes.” The car felt too small, I couldn’t breathe. “And your mother’s treatment,” he added, quieter now. “It’s tied to those accounts, Lara. If they’re frozen…” I stopped breathing but I didn’t know how I was still alive. “One more thing, Lara,” I held my breath. “You have 48 hours to respond. Or they start collecting.”