I sat in the backseat going over and over my plan as the driver drove smoothly to where Michael's elder brother was to hold his Masquerade party. "How long will it take to arrive at Hudson Yards?" I asked. This journey was going slowly. "We'll be at the Smith villa in a few minutes" the driver answered. I hissed internally and picked up my phone. I was already late and now it seemed as though this journey would take forever.
"By the way, you look lovely tonight, Miss. Gambino. Red suits you perfectly" "Thank you" I replied and looked back to my phone as a call came in. "Anaya! You've been missing my calls. You're beyond late, Where are you?" Elizabeth asked in a furious tone, "We're here, Miss" the driver announced as he pulled up in front of a staircase, "I'm outside. On my way in, where are you?" "I'm sitting at a mini bar not too far from the chandelier" "I'll soon be there," I said and hung up.
The driver opened the door for me and I came out gently, scrunching my eyes at the amount of light the mansion emitted. It was magnificently huge with people climbing their way up the stairs.
I adjusted the waist of my dress and climbed too until I reached a group of security men. I pulled out the invitation from my purse and handed it to them. One of them screened it and gave it back to me. "Have a lovely night, Miss" he curtsied and allowed me to pass.
The light inside was even brighter. With a giant chandelier hanging in the middle, and some other lamps on the wall, you would mistake the place for being on fire. I adjusted my eyes to the light and looked around for Elizabeth even though it was going to be hard as everyone was wearing a mask, until I found her impatient face frowning by the bar as she directed.
"Lizzy!" "Finally! Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?" she said right before pulling me into a hug. "Forget about that. Let's talk about how lovely this dress looks on you" she smiled brightly, "It's armlessness, the corset, and the flowing bottom coupled with the mask, hair, and lipstick, you're breathtaking" "Thanks, you look lovely too" I replied.
We were interrupted when someone pulled our attention with the ringing of glass. I didn't focus on what he had to say but was using the opportunity to look for my target amongst the masks and faces. "So the eldest son of this family is the mafia leader," I said lowly to Elizabeth, "Yeah. I heard he is very intimidating, cruel and ruthless, hot too," she said biting her lips. "Give me a break!" I rolled my eyes. "Any siblings?" "Two. A sister and a brother. His sister, Isabella was in the same high school as us. Probably a class or two below" "And his brother?" "Michael, he is a player, loves women. He has his share of the family business but operates in the shadows, so not many people know him unlike his other siblings" she said.
"So where are they? It's their party and I can't see any of them" "I haven't seen the brothers anywhere, but Isabella is over there" she said and pointed to a blonde at a set of tables and chairs on the other side of the room. "She looks familiar" I commented to myself.
"If you want to talk to her, go right ahead without me. There are a lot of cute guys here, it would be a sin if I don't try my luck on one of them" I rolled my eyes as she waved me goodbye and went towards one of them.
Isabella's relationship with her brother was hopefully as close as their looks. She was the fastest chance I had in finding Michael, finish my mission, and getting out of here.
I walked up to her and tapped her shoulder. "Isabella! How nice to see you again" Confusion washed over her face. "You've grown taller and more beautiful than the last time I saw you" I continued and took off my mask. If she was my junior in high school, she'd probably remember me.
"Umm... Thanks... You look strangely familiar. Have we met before?" "Anaya Gambino. We went to the same high school, remember?" Her green eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. "Oh my gosh! 'The' Anaya Gambino. It's so nice to meet you" she squealed and hugged me tightly.
"So what is the most popular girl of Riverdale Country School doing here?" "My friend had two invitations so she asked me to accompany her here. I saw you and decided to come say hi" I lied, "That's sweet of you".
"I heard your elder brother hosted this party" "Yeah. Ty... er... Don did even though he isn't a fan, it's just a family thing. Same as Michael. He prefers clubs and louder parties than boring formal ones like this" "Does that mean he won't be coming? I was hoping to see him today" I said disappointed, "No he is around, maybe just somewhere else with his friends" she consoled and scanned the hall, "Ah! There he is... Michael!" she yelled and signaled for him to come.
A victorious smile crept to my lips as he immediately came to us. "Hi Isa" he hugged her, "And hello pretty lady" he greeted me with a grin. "Umm... Michael. This is Anaya. We went to Riverdale together" she introduced. "Well nice to meet you, Anaya" He took my hand and kissed the back, "Thank you. The pleasure is mine" I replied trying to sound as sweet as possible even though I was getting tired of playing this role.
"So I'll leave you two to get to know each other while I go meet my friends," she said and dashed off. "Anaya" he mused to himself while looking at me in a somewhat lustful manner. "What a lovely name for a lovely lady. Let's sit and talk" he offered and pointed to the chair behind us. He ordered drinks that were immediately brought to our table.
"I already think you are the most beautiful girl in this ball and I'm yet to see your face" he flirted, "Oh really?" he nodded, "I came to this ball upon the expectation that I would meet you" "Wow! An angel was looking for me. So tell me why a lovely lady like you would want me of all people at this ball"
'To manipulate you into getting me close to those documents '
"I have heard a lot about you. Like how handsome you are, how you manage to steal one's breath away with just your smile" I began as my hand slowly went up his. "Those aren't the only things about me, I can do far more than that," he said and licked his lips,
"Things like what?" I asked innocently as my hands moved to the back of his neck, "Things like this..." he said as his hands dropped to my thigh.
'He is lucky this is a mission, or else he would have lost his hands '
He began rubbing them slowly, working his way up until the loud clapping of hands interrupted us. We both turned our heads to see someone standing on a podium-like stand in the middle. He wore a dark green mask and a matching velvet blazer and radiated this intimidating aura.
"It just had to be him" Michael grumbled behind me. I turned back to him in curiosity, "You know him?" "Unfortunately, I've lived with him my entire life. He is my brother, T... Don" he replied, "The Head of your mafia group" "Yeah. As the eldest son" he added grudgingly.
That meant he was the one with direct access to the documents and properties I was here for. The only problem was that I didn't have any information about him to approach him. Unlike his brother, he didn't look like one who could be easily swayed by a woman.
'Seduction was not an option '
The only thing I can do is hope that I will be able to gain his trust as well. "I want to know more about your family's business. The Smiths are known all over Manhattan for their wealth and outstanding business, but what exactly do you do and own that makes you rich and popular?" "We're a mafia group, one of the largest in New York. We do what normal mafia people do. Let's leave that and go back to what we were doing before. How about we move this show to my bedroom?"
"Relax! No need to be in a rush, let's get to know each other first" "I already know you're the hottest and sexist lady at this party, and I already know your dress would look even prettier on my bedroom floor" he added and lifted his hand towards my waist, but I caught it in time.
'This is becoming pointless'
"You know what? I need to make a call. I'll be back then we can pick up from where we left off" "Sure. Just come back soon, babe" And with that, I stood up and walked out of the hall.