He's Mine - How to 'illegally' tell people HE's MINE in 99 ways

Chapter 14

"I'm a force to reckon with."

I was fourteen the first time I accompanied my father to one of these galas. To me, it was just a party; to him, it was a statement. I still remember his words: "You are a Romanos. Power is all we know, all we have. Never let it falter." But he never told me how heavy that power can feel. He never warned me about its toll.

So, I embraced it. I moved through the crowd like I owned them—because I had to. Otherwise, they would crush me. After all, I am a daughter—a woman—in a world where business is still an arena for men. They say the world has changed, that it's more open-minded now. But it hasn't. When rivals need to make peace, they don't hesitate to marry off their daughters. Women—daughters, wives—are offered up like trophies.

But I wasn't raised to be a prize. I was trained to hunt. I was trained to kill.

Is that what I wanted? No.
Do I have to want it? Yes.

No matter how difficult, I have to keep up appearances. I have to make my father look strong. Romanos women may have been submissive before me, but I am also my Nonna's grandchild. I am a Romanos and a Delgado—and that makes me stronger than those old men who think they're above everyone.

I look at myself in the mirror as Sofia does my hair and I sigh.

"Do you know you've been doing it a lot?" Sofia remarks, drawing a chuckle from me.

"You've been sighing like a grandma, boss. What's troubling you?" she asks gently.

"I wish I knew," I say, meeting her eyes through the mirror.

"You remember when we first met?" she smiles at the memory. I nod, chuckling softly.

"I was a lowlife theatre artist, hoping to make it big. When you found me, I was shocked. I couldn't understand why you wanted someone like me. I was just a small-time performer." She pins my hair back and begins working on my makeup. "But you... you were this unstoppable force of nature. Still are. The day we met, you were just 16, Maia. You walked in with Jared, and the way you scanned the room... it was like you were assessing everyone, calculating risks in case things went south. You had this air about you, fearless, like you were ready for a fight."

I smile, the memory flashing vividly in my mind.

Flashback

"Stay on guard, or your father will kill me," Jared mutters under his breath. His anxiety makes me chuckle.

"Relax," I reply, with a wink. "You've got your mission, and I've got mine. I'll stay out of your way."

I break away from him, my eyes scanning the crowded room. I'm here for one reason, and I need her on my team. Sure, it's a gamble, but putting this crew together is worth the risk. I take a seat at the bar, a glass of diet coke in hand, watching the tables.

And there she is. Sofia Conti. Blonde hair, green eyes—both fake, of course. She's sitting next to the head of this lowlife gambling ring. I've heard about her—Sofia Conti, 18, an extraordinary actress living among people who constantly underestimate her. A master of disguise. If I didn't already know who she was, I'd believe the blonde hair and green eyes were real.

I sit back, watching her. It's clear she's playing her part perfectly, blending in with these idiots. She laughs at something the ring leader says, but her eyes... they're constantly shifting, observing everything, waiting for an opportunity. I know that look. She's just as restless as I am.

I don't have time to waste. I down the rest of my drink and make my move, weaving through the crowd. Jared's warning still echoes in my mind, but I push it aside. This has to work. I need her.