"Ownership?" I questioned. "Like friendship, huh?"
"No, Julian. Ownership is ownership, and friendship is friendship," the Mafia's son rolled his eyes. "Her silver ring is a marker for other mafia groups. Do you get it? You're like an item... you understand?"
I nearly fell off my chair again.
"Me? An item?"
"Well, that's how it's supposed to be, so don't take offense."
"Supposed to be? We're not in the Middle Ages!" I exclaimed. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Mort sighed and rambled on.
"Better not take it off. As if other mafia groups attacking isn't enough. By the way, I've noticed Lisa looking at you quite frequently," he attempted to change the subject, but it was too late.
"Really?" I hissed, thinking that I needed to have a talk with the mafia boss.
* * *
Deimi's Side
Walking through the hallways of the new school, Deimi pondered the events that had just transpired in the black limousine. The glances from her friends, the new task instead of a contract. It was certainly a challenging task, but it had a purpose.
"How can I turn this around?" the mafia's heiress mused. "Let's start with the fact that a woman requested it, probably a sister or a lover. Most likely a sister, but why? Not just to mildly frighten her man, I presume. The pay is good, that's a plus. But why does she want documents from Owla's safe? What's written in those documents? Could this play to our advantage? Blackmail is a good weapon for us all. To finally secure the contracts from Empire Group, she wants the documents, and in return, I'll take something from her. Interesting. Now I just need to find that safe. Maybe I'll visit the headmaster?"
"Excuse me, miss," someone whispered to her as she bumped into them. The brunette raised her head and found herself in a crowd. She began to make her way through it and witnessed a scene: Marchelo Vespa shouting at a girl and grabbing her. A couple of girls stood on the side, giggling.
"So, you thought you were so inconspicuous, huh? That nobody would figure you out? Tessa Darwin, under the alias 'Just Lover'!" he said angrily, shaking her by the shoulders. "You! Delete it right now, or you're dead!"
"But... but... it's a letter... a letter from my beloved," the girl, with black-rimmed glasses and short, dark hair, stuttered in response. Her eyes behind the lenses were red, giving her the appearance of a sorrowful kitten bowing its head.
"I couldn't care less! Someone like you stands no chance!" The brunette's frustration escalated. "Either you comply with my demand, or prepare for trouble!"
"I won't delete it!" the girl exclaimed.
"What did you say?" Vesper asked through clenched teeth. The same question echoed through the crowd. He sighed.
"Fine..." The brunette blinked and then shouted, "Let's see if you'll still consider me so nice!"
The boy's hand ominously rose. Before Deimi's eyes, an image flashed, a scene where a man was beating a woman. It was an early trauma she had acquired in her childhood. They had forced her to watch it, to make her accustomed to it, so that it wouldn't affect her as much.
Unable to contain herself, the mafia heiress quickened her step. In a matter of seconds, she appeared before Marchelo. Relief flickered in his eyes briefly, but it swiftly transformed into arrogance.
"Oh, and you're here? Did you come to hit me again?"
"You guessed it!" Deimi cheerfully exclaimed, delivering a solid slap to the boy with a swing. The brunette stepped back two paces, touching his reddened cheek. He gazed at her in astonishment, his breathing disrupted. It was the first time a girl, a creature of the female gender, had struck him. (Well, if we don't count the time when Deimi had punched him out of anger.) He had earned it. But a slap... and from a girl? That was the cruelest and most painful weapon. He winced and slowly spoke.
"Do you realize what you just did?"
"Of course," she replied calmly.
"I simply can't believe that you specifically came running to defend some student."
"You were about to hit her. You know that as soon as a man intends to raise a hand against a woman, he ceases to be a man, right? Even the thought of it renders you nothing." Marchelo and Deimi conversed as if ignoring everyone else. Behind the mafia heiress, the student had covered her mouth to hold back her tears. She regretted falling so deeply for someone like Vesper. And now, behind the brunette's back, Tessa was consumed by thoughts of her mistakes and how to rectify them immediately.
"I wasn't going to... It's none of your business. Mind your own business, mafia princess," the brunette hissed.
"Go ahead," Deimi said with satisfaction, stepping aside to give way to Marcelo. The girl, wearing a triumphant smile, eagerly awaited the moment when the brunette would put Vesper in his place.
But suddenly, Tessa approached and embraced the brunette. A surprised expression appeared on the girl's face. This wasn't what she had expected. A wave of panic swept over her from behind.
"Thank you, thank you for everything," the girl whispered. Mentally pushing her away, the mafia heiress shouted for the whole school to hear, "I didn't do anything! Let go of me!" Darwin smiled and headed for the exit. Students began to part, making way for her. Some looked at her with admiration, while others with disgust. But it no longer mattered, because the major mistake had been cleansed from her face, by the name of "Life." Meanwhile, the mafia heiress still stood there, her face full of questions and suspicion.
"So, that's your plan. First, make a pass at my fans," Marchelo sneered.
"You saw it yourself, I didn't..."
"You're coming with me!" Vesper grabbed her wrist.
"No, she's not!" a voice growled from the side. Deimi turned and let out a relieved breath. Julian and Grace stood right behind her, their stern expressions unwavering.
"Bruto!" Mort hissed, shoving Marchelo in the chest and using his other hand to push the mafia heiress toward his friend. She nearly stumbled but managed to hold her ground. For a few moments, sparks flew between Vesper and Grace. But then, the brunette swiftly nudged her sister forward and angrily gestured for them to leave.
"Don't call me that, or you'll get hit in the teeth again," the brunette shot back in response.
"Fine, I'll do it," a quiet voice came from behind.
"What?" Both rivals exclaimed at the same time, and in that moment, they shared a displeased glance.
"I will delete this blog," Darwin firmly declared. "I've drawn my own conclusions and realized that I'm worth more than just pining for young Mr. Vesper."
"What?! Vesper exclaimed. "Are you saying that pining for me isn't a smart move?"
"Tessa, what are you saying?" her friend, a pretty blonde with pink highlights and lips, shouted as she emerged from the classroom. "Are you really distancing yourself from our 'King's Fandom' group? Snap out of it, silly!"
"I won't change my mind," the brunette asserted, tapping her glasses with her index finger.
"What are you doing, Tessa? You should apologize to our king right now to avoid getting kicked out of the club!" her friend exclaimed.
"Listen, shut..." the brunette couldn't hold back, but she was interrupted.
"You've done enough, Miss Mafia. I'm very grateful to you," Tessa said, her eyes glistening with gratitude.
"Oh no, Tessa Darwin! I won't let you fall under the influence of this mafia girl!" the blonde cried out.
"I haven't even done anything..." Deimi tried to interject, but was cut off.
"But Miss Mort is telling the truth," a voice from the crowd was heard.
"Betty, you too," the friend of the brunette exclaimed.
"We've all been running after our king for years. And he still hasn't chosen a girl from among us. What's the point in that?" the blonde continued.
"To be with him when everyone else turns away," the other girl continued.
"Well no, I disagree. We're like dogs, fetching and carrying for him," the girl in the crowd crossed her arms over her chest. Some of the girls yelled "Me too" and started walking away.
"I'd like to do something, if you allow me, Miss Mafia," Tessa said, her voice trembling.