Chapter - 6

"What do you really do for a living?" Sofia asked, point blank. She already knew what he did. When she'd been preparing to spy on him, she had been told all there was to know about his business, what he did, how his organisation worked and such. She just wanted to hear what he would say.

Much to her surprise, Vincenzo smirked. "I believe I've already told you. I'm a businessman. I own various hotels and casinos across the States and Europe."

Sofia shook her head. "We both know that's not what I'm asking Mr Moretti."

"Yeah? What exactly are you asking then?"

Sofia stood up from her seat, knowing she had to frame her questions just right if she wanted to get any answers, at least anything meaningful. He obviously wasn't going to divulge anything to a complete nobody like her.

"These hotels, casinos are a front for money laundering, aren't they?" Sofia asked, knowing direct questions were pretty much the only way to do this without him getting suspicious.

Vincenzo's eyes hardened at her words. Uh oh. This wasn't good. Vincenzo rounded the table until he was standing right in front of her. "It would do you good if you don't pry, gattina."

Sofia gulped, refusing to back down even though she was scared of what might happen next. "You can pry into my life all you want and I can't even ask what you do for a living?"

"I've already told you what you need to know," Vincenzo replied, his voice sharp.

Sofia shook her head, deciding to needle him a little more. "I'm not a child, Don Vincenzo," she said, emphasising on the word 'Don'. "I know you're not just a businessman. You're a bloody Don. And I think it's only fair I know seeing as I'm your employee now."

Vincenzo's brow raised and he moved until he was sitting in his seat again. Leaning back coolly, he said, "You are. You know what you need to know to perform your duties well. If there is anything else I decide you should know, you will."

Sofia felt like pulling her hair out. This man was too tight lipped, every question somehow ending with the same answer no matter how she framed the question. Sighing, she stood up and walked towards the arched windows overlooking a large pool. That would be fun to explore, specially at night.

Keeping her gaze trained on the sun reflecting in the water below, she asked, "Would you at least tell me what exactly it is I'm supposed to do as your employee?"

"That, I already have," she heard him say, his voice sounding way nearer than she'd expected him to. The man sure could move silently. "Like I've told you before, I need you to translate for me. See what my associates are saying between themselves is what they're saying to me, too."

"So basically, I'll be a spy?" Sofia mused. "That always ends well."

"There is always risk in business," Vincenzo told her, his grave tone making her turn to him.

"Specially the hospitality business you're involved in, isn't it?" She asked dryly.

She didn't miss the way his lips pulled up into a slight smirk before he ignored her jab completely, holding out a document instead. "I've drafted a contract in case your family or friends need to see one. Have a look and sign."

Sofia shook her head. "I don't have anyone to file a missing person's report, if that's what you're asking."

Vincenzo frowned. "Not even your friend you had moved in with?"

Sofia shook her head again, her heart racing a little as she lied straight through her teeth. "I moved a while ago. We've lost touch." The truth was, that her friend was taking care of her child while she was gone. But she couldn't have him knowing that. Ever.

Vincenzo nodded, placing the papers back on his table. "Very well, then. I'll be leaving on a business trip in a few hours and will be back in a week. Pablo will start your self defense training from today evening itself. I hope you will have learned enough by the time I return."

Sofia wanted to ask where it was that he was going, but knew he wouldn't tell her. "I'm a quick study. I'm sure it'll be easy enough," she said instead.

Vincenzo raked his eyes over her body, his eyes darkening ever so slightly. "It's not a matter of the brain, Sofia, but of the body."

"I know my body, Mr Moretti," Sofia bit her lip, moving forward and placing her hand on his firm chest. "You'll be surprised by the things it can do," she whispered.

"Careful what you say, unless you're ready to prove it," Vincenzo rasped, his voice heavy as he wrapped his hand around her wrist, a zing of awareness shooting through her body at his touch.

Sofia stepped closer still. "I'm always careful with my words, Mr Moretti. What does that tell you?" Sofia said, her tone sultry. Seductive.

Vincenzo closed his eyes on an exhale. "Do not play with fire, gattina."

Sofia scoffed lightly, mustering up all her strength and stepping away from him completely. "Fire, huh? That's one big ego, Mr Moretti."

Vincenzo opened his eyes at once, glaring down at her. A pause. Then, "I'll see you in a week," he said, clearly dismissing her.

Sofia nodded, turning to leave before stopping in her tracks. Still feeling the adrenaline rush from their little encounter, she called out, "Oh, and Mr Moretti?"

"What is it?"

"Are you a virgin?"

Vincenzo smirked. "Goodbye, gattina."

Sofia shook her head with a smirk of her own, turning to leave.

"And refrain from fucking random men while you're on my premises, gattina," he called out to her when she was almost at the door.

Sofia simply chuckled in reply. Of course, he would be listening in on her medical examination. She wasn't even surprised anymore. This mansion was his to control and he probably had cameras in every nook and cranny.

As she made her way down the stairs and back to her room, she ran into a tall, leggy brunette dressed in a bright red dress with matching lipstick coating her lips.

"So, you're the stripper he's picked up," the brunette all but sneered at Sofia, making her brows raise.

Jealous much?

Sofia gave the woman a thorough once over before saying anything. She had on some pretty dainty but expensive jewelry. That and the fact that she was allowed to roam freely in the Don's villa told her the woman was probably someone important. Important enough to not mess with just yet, at least not until she knew more about her.

"I'm his new employee," Sofia replied, keeping her tone neutral. "He has hired me to be his translator."

The woman arched a brow. "Translator, huh? Well then, do your work and stay the hell away from my man."

Her man?

Sofia blinked. From what she knew about Vincenzo Moretti, he didn't have a girlfriend or a wife. He hadn't settled down yet. Almost instantly, Sofia's eyes went to the woman's hand. No ring. Huh. Maybe she was a family friend or something?

Now that she thought of it, she had briefly read about a girl from another family who wanted to marry Vincenzo so they could merge their families. But she had also read that the merger had fallen through because Vincenzo had simply refused to do something like that.

Then, who was this woman, calling him her man? Figuring she would ask Antoinette, the caretaker, about this woman later, she acquiesced calmly, "Of course. He's all yours."

The woman seemed satisfied with the answer and nodded at her before practically strutting away from her in the direction of Vincenzo's office.

Sighing, Sofia decided to go to her assigned room and take a much needed nap.

She wanted to be well rested before whoever Pablo was started her self defense training in the evening.

She yawned, stepping into her room, mentally patting herself on the back for having memorised the path back to her room so well. Her room, which she noticed, had been cleaned since she had last been in there. The broken lamps had been replaced, so had the tiny camera above the bed.

She quickly made her way to the bathroom to check if the camera in there had been reinstalled as well. Vincenzo had another thing coming if he thought he could get away with something like that.

Much to her satisfaction, though, the bathroom was clear of any cameras. Good, she thought to herself, at least now I have a safe space inside the enemy's lair.

Step one, check.

Time for step two.