Undercover Love (Draft 1)

Chapter Two

Thorpe's voice blares through the speaker of my laptop. "Are there any updates for us, Jackson?" he asks. While we sit on a Zoom conference call with the other agents in the task force, his face remains serious, but his eyes are full of hope. 

          "The past week, I have planted myself everywhere he frequents. We chat for about 5 minutes each day before he has to run off to do his 'business'." I inform Thorpe that Amato won't trust me or divulge any information this quickly. 

          Agent Dale asks me, "How do you intend to proceed?" I look over the boxes on my screen. Half of the agents look intrigued and the other half look like they'd rather be anywhere else. 

          "Today is Monday, meaning that he will be doing his own coffee run this morning, so I'll be going back to Café Silver to wait for him. I'm hoping to be able to convince him to join me for the day. Having him away from his work for a few hours might help him lower his guard with me. From there, I will try to get him to open up to me a little bit more by playing the innocent and curious role" I explain my plan. 

          "Brilliant plan, Jackson. Keep us updated." Thorpe smiles before abruptly ending the conference. I look over at my clock and see that it's 6:00AM, meaning I have an hour to get ready and head to the Café.

          With a yawn, I climb off the bed and walk into the connected bathroom to take a quick shower. The hotel room that I'm staying in, paid for by Thorpe on a card using my alias, is surprisingly lavish. The room is tastefully decorated with contemporary furnishings and high-end finishes that reek of sophistication and money. 

          The living area is spacious, featuring a plush sofa set, a sleek coffee table, and a state-of-the-art entertainment system. Adjacent to it is a fully-equipped kitchenette with modern appliances and polished granite countertops, perfect for me to whip up a midnight snack or two. 

          The bedroom boasts a king-sized bed adorned with luxurious linens and pillows, making me feel like I'm sleeping in a bed of clouds. A walk-in closet provides ample storage space for my equipment, clothes, and shopping finds; not like I have much time or money to spend running around the malls. The marble-clad bathroom rivals those found in high-end homes, complete with a deep-soaking tub and a separate rain shower. 

          The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of the city skyline, making me wish I could live here forever. I don't come from a rich background. My parents didn't have much money before they died, so these luxuries are entirely foreign to me.

          After my shower, I head into the closet to pick out a suitable outfit for the day. If all goes to plan, I'll be spending most of the day on my feet, so I need to make sure I'm wearing something comfortable. I pick out a simple, low-cut t-shirt and a pair of light blue jeans. Comfortable enough for me to wear all day, but still cute enough to look like I care about my appearance. Even the smallest things matter when you're trying to seduce a Mafia Don. 

          I let my hair dry naturally, the dark brown tendrils falling down my back in loose waves. Applying some mascara and a light, nude lipstick, I check myself in the mirror. Good enough.

          Grabbing my phone and purse, I leave the hotel and head to the café. 

---

          I'm looking around the quaint café, waiting for Liam to arrive. I order myself another latte, standing in line while I wait for it to be ready. 

          "I'm starting to think you might be stalking me, tesoro." I hear his voice behind me, his warm breath caressing my ear.

          If only you knew. 

          I turn my head to face him. "Considering I was here first, I'd say that you're the one stalking me, Amato." I smile at him. 

          He lets out a chuckle, his breathtaking smile making my skin heat up. There's no denying that this man is gorgeous. "Touché. While I can tell you that I'm definitely not stalking you, I may have to start - see what you get up to when we're not bumping into each other." he winks. 

          I force a blush to my cheeks before saying, "Well, I may have a way for you to find out what I get up to that doesn't involve stalking me." That immediately peaks his interest. 

          "What have you got in mind?" he asks, moving with me as our names are called by the barista. 

          "I was planning to do some shopping today. If you want to know more about my life, you're more than welcome to accompany me. If you're not busy of course." I offer him a nervous smile, grabbing both of our coffee cups and passing him his, before leading him out of the café's doors. 

          "If you want me to keep you company, then I will, tesoro. I could do with a day away from the business anyway." he grins at me, holding his arm out for me to take. 

          I take a deep breath before linking my arm through his. "That sounds perfect, thank you." I smile back at him as we set off.

          As we walk down the street, I can feel his eyes on me, studying my every move. It's unnerving, but I remind myself that this is all part of the plan. "So, where are we headed?" he asks, taking a sip of his coffee. 

          "I was thinking of checking out some boutiques in the area. Maybe grab some lunch later?" I suggest, trying to sound nonchalant. 

          "Sounds like a plan."

          We walk for a while, chatting about our favourite movies and foods, before finally reaching the first boutique on the street. As we browse through racks of clothes, I can't help but feel like I'm getting closer to my goal with every passing minute. But at the same time, I'm getting closer to being exposed if I let anything slip or come across too interested in the wrong things. I can only hope that this plan works and that I'll have something to report back to Thorpe later.

          After leaving the first boutique empty handed, I try to think of a way to steer the conversation towards his 'business'. "So, Liam, what do you do for work?" I ask, attempting to sound casual. He raises an eyebrow at me. 

          "You're asking about my work now? What's with the sudden interest?" He chuckles at me, but I can see the guarded look in his eyes. 

          "I'm just curious. You dress like a successful man, that's all." I smile, trying to act innocent. He nods slowly, still watching me carefully. 

          Come on, Amato, give me something. 

          "Let's just say that I have my fingers in a few pies." He says cryptically. I can tell that he's not going to divulge any more than that right now.

---

          We spend the next few hours shopping, meandering through the stores and trying on clothes. Liam is surprisingly patient with me, offering his opinion on outfits and even picking out a few things for me to try on. 

          The man's got taste, that's for sure. 

          It's been nice spending time with him like this, he almost seems... normal. But I can't forget my real purpose here - who he really is. I try to bring up the topic of his work again. "So, Liam, you said you have your fingers in a few pies. What does that mean exactly?" I ask, trying to sound curious but not pushy. 

          He looks at me for a moment before sighing. "I have investments in some... unconventional businesses." He says vaguely. I nod, trying to hide my disappointment. It seems like that's all I'll be getting for today.

          As we stroll back round to Café Silver, I can't help but feel discouraged. I had him. His guard was down. It shouldn't be this hard to get him to trust me with something. 

          Reaching the coffee shop, we say our goodbyes, exchange numbers, and walk our separate ways. But before I can turn the corner towards my hotel, Liam turns back to face me. "Thanks for today, it was fun. We should do this again, tesoro." He calls to me, smiling before disappearing into the crowded street.

          Maybe there's still hope yet.