Chapter 6 Chapter 6:

Scarlett:

The storage room at work smells like bleach and stale coffee. It's not exactly the best place in the whole world, but it's where I can relax when Angel is being too loud, and everywhere is just overwhelming. I came here to recharge, but right now, I have another objective.

“Are you stalking Malakai Lorenzo?” Sadie asks over my shoulder, and I yelp, quickly pressing my phone against my chest. How in the hell did she sneak up behind me without me knowing?

“It's not what it looks like.” I say lamely, fondling with my phone. Why in the hell do I feel like a teenager who was caught sneaking out? And besides, doesn't anyone respect privacy around here anymore? “Aren't you supposed to be working?”

Sadie gives me one of those looks, and I sigh. She crosses her hand over her shoulder, and waves at the tray tucked under her arm. “Well, I came here for more ketchup packets and guess what I found…you looking through Malakai's fan page.”

Like I said, it's not what it looks like. Fine, I got curious and decided to look through the internet— a specific part of the internet that's obsessed with Malakai Lorenzo. He has a lot of freaking fan pages and a girl named Chloe_xx has been the one leading it all. He's such an asshole, but then he's a beautiful asshole, so maybe, I did keep on scrolling through the pictures and now I'm caught red-handed.

“Care to explain what you're doing?” Sadie has that mischievous twinkle in her eye.

“I guess I have to tell you that I'm dating Malakai Lorenzo.” What follows is a high pitch scream. “Calm down! Angel might hear us and ban us from coming here.” 

“You're dating Malakai Lorenzo, like the grandson of the West family and you're just telling me this now?” Sadie is smiling brightly, and well, I'm not. After seeing the way his family are, I don't know if I have the right to call them his family. Everyone just acted so cold to each other, it was frightening.

“More like fake dating.” I pick at the hem of my sweater, I am aware that Sadie is studying my every movement like a hawk. “It's just for three months. If I do this, I'm going to clear the money that my dad owes.”

The light in Sadie's eyes fades. “Are you sure about this, Scar? I mean, you don't have to date Malakai—”

“Fake date.” I remind her.

“Yes. Whatever. You really don't have to fake dating Malakai, if this is about the money, then I can scrap something together—” Sadie is already rambling and I place a hand on her shoulders to keep her anxiety from spiking.

“Sadie, stop. You're barely scraping by as it is, I can't possibly ask you to lend me money for my father's debt, besides I already worked it out with Malakai. We drew up a contract and stuff.” I laugh hoarsely.

Sadie is still not smiling. “I just don't want to see you get hurt.”

“Me? Hurt?” I wave my hand as if to dismiss the matter. “I can't.”

“I mean, it happens all the time. In movies, and books, and I really don't want to fall in love with him and get your heart broken, promise me, Scar, that you won't get hurt.” The look in her eyes is so earnest, that it brings back the memory of how we met. We met in third grade when Sadie just transferred schools. I was the first person that walked towards her, offered my hands and asked to be best–friends.

Since then, we have been inseparable.

“I can't get hurt.” I say in an attempt to pacify her. “My heart is made of steel, only a knight that worthy will be able to pierce into my soul.” I reference our favorite TV show, and finally, she relaxes.

I shove my phone into my pocket, that's enough Malakai stalking for today, “come on, my lunch break is over anyways.” I help Sadie with the ketchup packets and we both return to the kitchen, putting on my apron, I continue work.

The moment I clock out of work, I grab my coat from the rack and wave Sadie a good bye. When I step out of the restaurant, the icy chilly cold greets me as my phone starts buzzing. My sister’s name ‘Lila’ is displayed on the screen.

“Hi, what's up?” I say, rubbing my hands together in an attempt to generate heat. It's not working. I need to tell her sooner or later about the living arrangement with Kai.

“Nothing much.” Lila says, remaining quiet for a few seconds. “Scarlett, a delivery man just came over and delivered a bunch of groceries and said it was from a Kai? Any idea who that is?” 

Why would Kai send a lot of groceries to my house even when he specifically arranged the living conditions? Is there a bit of niceness in that man’s cold heart?

Something warms in my chest, it has been a long time since someone intentionally did something nice to me and—no, what in the hell am I doing? I don't care if rainbow freaking shoots out of his ass, this man is a Mafia King, he has me pretending to be his girlfriend for ninety days.

There's no niceness to me.

“Yes, so I am staying with him today, don't read into it too much.” I swallow thickly. “Nothing to worry about, Lila. Just focus on passing those exams.”

“Okay.” Lila doesn't sound convinced. “Right.” Lila sounds bored even. “Anyways, I'll catch you later.” I hear some ruffling in the background, and I know that she is in the kitchen. “Can you believe he had the whole packaged chicken delivered? There's meat, fruits, cereals, everything! Dad and I are going to have chicken pie tonight, Scar.” The excitement in her tone almost makes my eyes water.

All I just want is to be able to take care of my family.

“Goodnight.” I force out the words and Lila repeats them, before hanging up.

A black SUV zooms and stops right in front of me. The driver's door opens and a man wearing a black suit steps out, he walks towards me professionally and stands straight in front of me.

Okay, this isn't weird at all.

“Miss. Carter?” He asks stiffly.

“Yes?”

“I'm here on behalf of Mr. Lorenzo, he asked me to pick you up after you're done with work, I will also be serving as your in-shadow bodyguard.” There's not an inch of smile on his face and that's when I know that he's being serious.

What the hell?

“My…what?” I ask lamely.

“Your bodyguard, Miss.” He repeats. Seconds tick by before I burst into laughter, he doesn't find any of this funny because his face remains blank. I calm down for a few seconds before I actually stare at him, he's handsome yes, but he is also dangerous.

Malakai Lorenzo is a freaking Mafia King, I don't know the type of men that are actually under him.

Is Kai really doing all of this? This morning, he looked at me like I was responsible for every inconvenience in his life. Now he's sending my family groceries and he's asking someone to pick me up.

Is this his version of an apology? My face almost spreads into a grin but then I tuck it away. This is exactly what happens in books and movies, I have to keep my guard up.

I face the man. “Alright.”

The car to Kai’s mansion is surprisingly quiet. I try to fill in with small talk but he doesn't look like he's in the mood to say a word, I ask for his name and he only gives me one short reply ‘Shadow’

As we approach his mansion, I breathe in deeply. Why should I be scared just because I want to see him again?

Men wearing black suits like Shadow are scattered around the mansion. When I smile at them, they don't return it instead they just bow their head slightly and call me ‘Ma’am’

That is very weird. Shadow stays close but not to close, I can't even feel his presence as I walk upstairs.

“You do know you can leave now, right?” I turn towards him.

He nods.”Goodnight ma’am, I'll see you tomorrow.” He doesn't say anything else before turning.

I walk through the quiet hallway, stopping in the doorway. The door is slightly open. A long conference table stretches through the room, maps, laptops are scattered on the table and three men are occupying the seats.

My gaze hurriedly find him first. Kai is sitting at the center, he has a look of intense concentration on his face, his dark hair is slightly tousled and one of his sleeves is rolled to his forearms.

He almost looks normal. Almost.

Damn, this man is beautiful. It is illegal for someone to look this good and still know it.

“If there's any mistake, we report it back to each other. This can't fail.” Kai speaks in a calm voice. He looks up and catches me gawking there in the hallway. Our eyes meet, and he doesn't smile, doesn't even acknowledge my presence.

“That's enough for today.”

The two men nod, and one of them is already fast to his feet. He has blonde curls, sharply dressed as Kai and he's wearing a smile that can probably make you hand him your wallet without questioning.

“You must be Miss. Carter.” He extends his hand, smiling warmly. There's a part of me that doesn't want to be fooled by the font he's putting on.

I shake his hand.

“I'm Nico. Kai’s closest friend.” I glance towards Kai who's still sitting down, he doesn't even say a word.

“Sei ancora insopportabile.” Nico grumbles something in Italian.

Kai barely looks up. “Vai via.”                                      

Nico sighs dramatically. “Tough crowd.”

My Italian skills suck so I just stare at them. The third man finally stands. Unlike Nico, there's nothing that screams friendly about this man, he's tattooed all over, and he's so tall and well built. He doesn't extend his hand or anything, he just shakes his head and says. “I'm Xavier Castillo.” Before walking away.

Nico smiles gently, leaning in so that he can whisper. “Go easy on Kai, he had a really tough time.” He straightens up, giving one of those smiles that can make any woman gladly join him in bed. “Ciao, Miss. Carter.” He waves, before walking away.

I stand in the doorway, not knowing what to say. “I wanted to say thank you…you know, for sending groceries to my family. That was really nice of you.”

He pushes the chair aside and stands, carefully stalking towards me. He's so close that I catch the smell of his cedarwood. I press my back against the doorway, and he leans ever so slightly that my breath hitches at our forced proximity. “Don't get the wrong idea, darling. Just because I did nice things does not make me a nice man.”

I swallow, looking up into his dark green eyes. I want to drop this and go to my room but something in me, the stubborn part of me wants to push him to his limits. “Maybe you are.”

“I've done things that would make you afraid to look me in the eye.” He stares right at him, his thumb hovering right next to my chin. “Let's not get the wrong idea.” He straightens, and before I can say a word, he walks right past me.

This man is insufferable. Just ninety more days to go.