SHE IS THE MAFIA (BOOK#2)

Chapter 21

Today feels different.
I feel fluttery and my heart is slightly offbeat. And every step I take feels like I am floating... too light and too soft.

I open the door to my bedroom only to find Elias standing there mid-knock.
His smile seems different. It meets his eyes.
Do I look different to him too?

How different will things get?

"Good morning," he rocks back and forth on his feet with his hands in his pocket, "Shall we go out for breakfast?"

"with what time?" I ask, closing the door behind me and leading us to the staircase.

"If we leave right now, we can grab something light to eat before work. Then we can have a big lunch. Maybe for dinner, we can go to the new-"

"Wait," I stop him, getting an overwhelming feeling. "Don't you think it's a bit much? I mean, it sounds nice and all but at the same time... it's not very down low,"

Elias frowns at my statement, "What's wrong with two people having a meal together?"

"It just doesn't fit our agreement?"

He crosses his arms and looks at me accusingly. Somehow I can sense an argument from a mile away. "So... you only want to be with me after dark? Like some side piece?"

I am not even surprised that he would say such a thing, "Don't overcomplicate things and don't put words in my mouth. We have our own designated time and it just happens to be after dark. Stop twisting things around,"

"I am not twisting- never mind," he shakes his head, "You don't care about my feelings anyway, why bother explaining..."

Ouch.
He walks away into the dining room for breakfast and this time I follow him.

"Elias. What is that supposed to mean? I do care. I am just trying to do what is best for both of us. It's a lot easier this way. People won't get between us and it can just be me and you. Isn't that what you want-" he turns around and grabs my face.

"Stop blabbering," he kisses my forehead, "I understand,"

I push him off, "Then why do you act like you don't?"

"I just like seeing you upset," he shrugs it off and takes a seat.

I wait until his back is facing me to smile. My face feels hot and feverish. There is a rush of emotion that surges through my body. I try my best to revert to a poker face and take my seat at the head of the table. He glances at me for a couple of seconds, seemingly trying to break through my mask.
He fails to.

We go to work in separate cars.
Today, I am visiting the law firm to set up Kindle's divorce papers and try to find a loophole in this financial mess she has gotten herself into. By the looks of it. If she were to get a divorce, her husband will take more than half of her fortune, which includes the casinos and resorts that I need. He could also file for full custody of the children, which will leave her with the bare minimum.

I enter my office and find the day's schedule already set for Malachi. Somehow, he has lighter work than I have had for the past two weeks. I guess I really did do some heavy lifting without realizing it.

The door opens.

"Well, that was fast. I thought you were stopping for coffee," I say to Elias, looking over some of the files in the folder.

"What are you talking about?"
I look up.
It's not Elias.

"Oh, Carlos," I say slowly standing up, "I thought you were..."

The door opens and Elias walks in with coffee in his hand. He stops halfway into the room when he sees his uncles standing there. Carlos looks from Elias to me, back and forth before making a face of disappointment.