I slid the dress down my body, scrunching it on the left side so that it was just above my left thigh but covered my ass.
I wore my hair in loose curls and no makeup because I wanted to look glam without overdoing it.
I exited the bathroom and looked around my room to see whether Lucas was still there.
He wasn't; I went near my dresser, took out perfume, and sprayed it around my neck, my wrists, and behind my ear.
I took a few steps backward just to see my whole reflection in the mirror.
I stared at myself from top to bottom. This night is going to be a crazy one. Come on, Ruth, you can do it. It's going to be okay.
Right? yeah totally.
I opened the lower drawer of my dresser, picked up a small pocket knife, clasped it with the lace of my underwear, and slid one inside my heels.
I took a glance at the clock; it was 6 p.m. Costa Rica is about a 45-minute drive from my apartment. If I go a bit early, I might be able to get my hands on a drink to relax.
I get out of my room and look around to see Lucas.
"Lucas?" I called out his name.
"Yeah, D? Wow, Holly smokes; someone looks sexy tonight," he laughs and leans against the counter.
"Thanks to you." I smiled at him.
"Nah, I just put on a dress that belongs on that body." He smiles and winks at me.
I giggled, and he continued, "Shouldn't we go? You will be late. I'll drop you there."
"Oh no, it's fine. I'll call an Uber." I insisted; he was being too nice, not the typical Lucas. I guess he just feels bad for me. I appreciate the offer, but Costas is too far from his house.
"D car now," he says in a stern voice, and okay, I'm going with him. I can hear him laugh at me as I walk out of my apartment.
He takes the key from my hand, locks the door, and hands the keys back to me.
We started walking towards the parking lot and got in the car.
The whole drive to Costa Rica was quiet, not because we didn't talk; I was just nervous about what was going to go down tonight.
I have no other options but to decline this offer; this man is dangerous in general, and there are so many ways that everything can go wrong. But let's see what Marc has to say.
We arrive at Coastas, and I am just looking out of the window when Lucas says, "We are here."
I looked at him, let out a deep breath, and walked inside the club.
I walked straight to the bar, not bothering to look at anyone else.
The bartender comes immediately to my side, just as I sit down.
"What can I get for you, beautiful?" He smiled at me, held my hand in his, and kissed it.
"The strongest martini you can make," I said, looking at him and trying my best not to get disgusted by him.
"I got it, princess." He winks at me and starts making my drink.
Coastas is a very posh club, the one with yellow lights, rich people, and the smell of money with a hint of cigars.
The bartender sets down my drink, and I just keep looking at it.
I slowly took a sip of it. I was Costashorribly Optional Backwards of it." Hmm, oh yes, that's the thing I wanted.
I hear a man cough behind me, and I turn around and see Marc with his guards around me.
"Oh, you've already got a drink?" He said he was walking close to me.
"Yeah, I was getting thirsty," I said, not reading the room at all.
He sat down next to me and ordered a beer. He looked over at me and said, "So should I tell you how you are going to handle your next target, or should I call the cops?" He said it with a straight face.
I'm the main character of my own story, and I need to handle this.
"I'm all ears, but you promise that this will be the last target ever." I sound desperate at this time.
"I'm a man of my word, and you know it, darling," he said, clinking his glass with mine.
I hummed in response and kept looking down at my drink.
"So what do you want from him?" I asked.
"That's none of your business; all you need to do is get to know him and do exactly what I tell you," he demanded.
"Like what?" "I remarked.
"Like going undercover and applying to work at his company since his company is hiring and getting so close, you get a picture of him as well as get under his skin," he says and winks at me.
" What! I can't do that; I don't even have a degree on me, and for fucks sake, what position would I be able to work in? and he now knows me; he will recognize me for sure," I said in shock.
"You have pretty legs, right?" He said this, gulping his drink.
"What does that have to do?" He cut me off.
"Well, a secretary is what he is looking for, and a female one. Here is your new identity, sweetie." He smiled and placed a fake identity on the table.
I picked it up and scoffed. "You think Dylan would fall for this stupid act? He is a mafia king, one of the most feared ones out there, and to add again, he might know me; it has not been long since we have parted ways." I snapped.
"Doll, a little dressup is all you need. By the time you walk out, all your social accounts have already been changed, and only your contact list remains the same. you will play all these cards right understood? He said it with a mischievous grin.
I hated these words coming from his mouth. I just want to throw this drink at him.
''Fine! And tell me, what am I supposed to do as a secretary there? I am pretty sure it's not just about following him around with a schedule?." I asked.
"You'll probably serve him coffee and tell him some sweet compliments; maybe give him a massage; I don't care; try to get to know Dylan a bit more; try to lure him to bed; try to attack when he is head over heels for you; and when you do, I'll be right outside; and when his face is inches away from my gun, he would feel trapped inside his own home about knowing all of this, and then when his game is over, his mafia empire will be handed over to Dustin; and I'll get a pretty good fair for that; and you will get your freedom just as we planned.''
"First, this is ridiculous. Dylan won't fall for such a plan, and what in the world have you done to side with Dustin Orgetsev? Have you lost your mind, Marcs? You know that this could cause a lot of bloodshed. You know these families have so much hatred among them. You can't sign me up for such an act." I snapped, feeling fear go all over my body as I confronted Marc.
The thought of getting involved in a dangerous feud between two rival families was enough to make my blood run cold. The potential consequences of this plan were too severe, and I couldn't bear the weight of guilt if things went horribly wrong.
''Are you sure about that little girl?" I hear a voice behind me and a stick clicking on the ground.
I turned around, and I could feel Marc grinding at me.
A guy dressed in a long coat and hat approaches us. He is looking down, and then I realized that there was no one in the club, not a single person, except us.
The guy looked up and said, "Jail isn't as fun, baby girl, and I know you can handle a couple of men. You have the talent, and you should be confident in that." He smirked as he gestured towards his guards, who were lurking in the shadows. They all had sinister grins on their faces.
Dustin Orgetsev.
Perfect, the two most feared families in the mafia world, have decided to go down each other's throats.