THE MAFIA’S ORPHAN WIFE

THE PRESS

Chapter 20: THE PRESS CONFERENCE

The Virelli Tower lobby was full of cameras.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

Lanny stood behind the black curtains with Adrian.

Her hands were shaking. The navy dress from dinner felt too tight.

The diamond necklace from Isabella felt like a noose.

"Rule 2," Adrian said quietly. "Smile. Don’t embarrass me."

"I’m trying."

"You look fine."

He said it so calmly. Like he wasn’t about to walk into a room of 50 reporters who all thought she was a gold digger.

Marco opened the curtain.

"5 seconds, sir."

Adrian took Lanny’s hand.

Just for 2 seconds. Warm. Steady.

Then let go.

They walked out together.

The flashes were blinding.

"Mr. Virelli! Is it true you married for money?"

"Mrs. Virelli! How did you meet?"

"Is this a mafia arranged marriage?"

Adrian stepped to the podium. Pulled Lanny with him.

"Thank you for coming," he said. His voice was steel. "I’ll keep this short."

He looked at Lanny. Then at the cameras.

"This is my wife, Lanny Virelli. We were married legally 3 weeks ago."

Murmurs.

"Our marriage is private. Our family business is private. Any further questions about my wife’s personal life will be handled by my legal team."

A reporter stood up. "Sir, is it true she’s an orphan from St. Mary’s?"

Adrian’s jaw ticked.

"Yes."

"And is it true your father made a deal with her father 15 years ago?"

The room went silent.

Lanny felt like she was going to faint.

Adrian didn’t flinch.

"My father made a lot of deals. This one I chose to honor myself."

Another pause.

"Lanny is my wife. That means she has my name. My protection. And my respect. Anyone who disrespects her answers to me."

He turned and walked off.

Pulled Lanny with him.

Behind the curtains, Lanny collapsed against the wall.

"Did I do okay?"

"You did perfect." Adrian was already on his phone. "Legal, take down every article with her photo. Now."

---

In the car, Lanny stared out the window.

"Everyone knows now."

"Good." Adrian scrolled emails. "Let them know."

"What if they hurt me?"

"They won’t." He looked up. "I meant what I said."

Lanny nodded.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

`Cute speech. The board won’t forget this.`

She deleted it. Didn’t tell Adrian.

---

That night, Isabella called.

Dinner. Tomorrow. 8PM.

"For damage control," she said on speaker.

Adrian hung up and threw his phone.

"I’m tired of her."

"She’s your mom."

"She’s a problem."

Lanny sat next to him on the couch.

"You were really good today."

"I was angry."

"It was hot."

The words came out before Lanny could stop them.

Adrian looked at her.

"Don’t say things like that."

"Why not?"

"Because Rule 3."

Lanny stood up. "Yeah. Rule 3."

She walked to her room.

---

8PM. Isabella’s mansion.

Crystal. Candlelight. 6 courses.

Isabella smiled at Lanny. "The press conference was... bold."

"Thank you," Lanny said.

"You put my son in a difficult position."

"Mother," Adrian warned.

"What? I’m just saying. A girl with nothing. Now she has everything."

Lanny set her fork down.

"I didn’t ask for this."

"Didn’t you?" Isabella sipped wine. "Your father’s debt. Convenient timing."

Adrian stood up. "We’re leaving."

"Sit down," Isabella said. "Both of you."

She pulled out a folder.

Slid it across the table.

Inside: photos.

Lanny at the orphanage. Age 10.

Lanny at the diner.

Lanny’s file. Medical. School. Everything.

"Someone’s been digging," Isabella said. "Not me. Someone on the board."

Lanny felt sick.

"They want her gone, Adrian. Before she ruins the Virelli name."

Adrian closed the folder.

"Then they’ll have to go through me first."

---

On the way home, no one spoke.

Until Lanny said, "They’re going to hurt me, aren’t they?"

Adrian pulled the car over.

"No."

"How do you know?"

"Because I won’t let them."

He reached over. Brushed her hair back.

His hand stayed on her cheek.

Rule 3: No touching.

But he didn’t move it.

"Lanny," he said. Her name sounded different.

"Yeah?"

"If anything happens to me... you run. Okay? You don’t stay."

Lanny’s chest hurt.

"Nothing’s going to happen to you."

"It might."

He leaned in.

Lanny’s breath caught.

Was he going to—

His phone rang.

Adrian jerked back like he’d been burned.

"Yes?"

30 seconds. Then he hung up.

"We have a problem at the warehouse."

"What kind of problem?"

"The kind that gets people killed."

He pulled away.

Rule 3 was safe again.

But Lanny’s lips were still tingling.

---

At 2AM, Lanny couldn’t sleep.

She went to the kitchen.

Adrian was there. Gun on the counter.

Cleaning it.

"Bad night?" she asked.

"Board meeting tomorrow." He didn’t look up. "They want you out."

"What did you say?"

"I said no."

Lanny sat across from him.

"Adrian... why are you doing this? For me?"

He finally looked at her.

"I don’t know." A pause. "Maybe because you’re the only real thing in this whole fake life."

Lanny’s heart stopped.

"That’s dangerous to say."

"I know."

He stood up. Walked past her.

Paused at the door.

"Get some sleep, Mrs. Virelli."

He left.

Lanny sat there for an hour.

The press conference was over.

But the war was just starting.

And someone in that boardroom wanted her dead.