(Theme Song of the Chapter: Enemy - Imagine Dragons & JID)

Aiden◆Accardi

I WATCHED SOPHIE'S expression carefully as I laid out my conditions of her stay. Her eyes widened slightly at each new rule, but she remained composed, her professional demeanor unshaken as her light brown eyes stayed glued to me. She sat politely on the chair across my desk in my office with her legs crossed.

"First rule," I began, my voice steady, "you'll live in the guest house. It's fully furnished and has everything you'll need. That way you're not commuting back and forth. It's better for both of us if you're close by."

She gave me a short nod, her eyes furrowing waiting for me to go on.

"Second rule, you don't enter the main house unless it's for our scheduled appointments or if I specifically request your presence. This isn't negotiable, Sophie. I value my privacy above all else."

It was also for her own damn good.

My lifestyle was one foreign to the average civilian especially a Miss Congeniality such as Sophie Cruz. The last thing I needed was for her to hear or see something her innocent eyes and ears would regret.

I could see her swallow and her body grow more stiff, but she didn't interrupt. Good.

With all the money I was paying her, I didn't expect anything less.

"Third rule, and this is crucial, you'll have no visitors at the guest house. Not family, not friends. This is a secure environment, and I need to ensure it remains that way. If you have an emergency, you inform me first."

A flicker of surprise crossed her face at this, but she quickly masked it. I could tell she was already weighing the implications, but there was more.

"There's one last thing," I added, almost as an afterthought. "If, at any point, you feel overwhelmed or if you think you can't handle the rules, you're free to leave. But if you stay, you abide by them completely."

Freedom was such a precarious thing. One mistake and it could all go away. But the brown haired little mouse was so unaware of the fine lines I was holding her accountable not to cross. These rules weren't just rules after all.

Sophie took a deep breath, then nodded once more. I could see her slowly sink into the seat of the chair but she managed to keep her eyes on me and grant me her annoyingly kind smile...with that look.

That smile more sunny than the rays of the Miami heat along with her almond eyes slowly blinking at me all sweet like I was a guy that went to her local church or something.

I fucking hated it.

Because if she knew what I was she wouldn't even be in the same room as me.

"Understood?" I asked her, my eyes glued to hers.

"I understand, Aiden. I'm here to help you get better."

I leaned back in my chair, satisfied. "Good. Then we start tomorrow at 7 AM sharp. Don't be late."

◆◆◆

"So you are failing at closing the deal with the Mancini family..." Enzo started off with his hand on his chin walking back and forth across the length of the pool table of the lounge room.

I looked at him with dread. As much I despised his presence, I could tolerate it. Just as I had for 29 years.

We grew up with a difficult father. My two brothers and I were constantly pitted against each other. Growing up in the mafia hardened us all and forced us to always have a wall up.

When the tragedy with mamá happened, everything became worse. Enzo resented me more than ever before and solely blamed me for what happened. Him and my father made sure I paid for what I did...in ways I couldn't even bring myself to remember.

And despite my negative feelings towards him, and the very fact that I almost blew his head off the other day, I didn't hate my brother.

I just couldn't ignore the fact that I couldn't trust him.

And in my form of business, trust was a matter of life or death.

"Why are you even dealing with them in first place? They aren't worth your time." Enzo said.

"The Mancini family may be weak in most areas but they have access to ports not under heavy surveillance by legal authorities making it a goldmine to move product around." I said clasping my hands together, seated at a glass table not far from him. "And with the record levels of product we have been manufacturing, we need those ports if we're gonna be able to sell without the feds on our tail."

He nodded to himself slowly. "How much did you offer them?"

"Enough," I said dryly. "but I feel that they know that the profit we will make from selling our products using their ports is bound to be hefty. They want a higher cut."

"That's not happening," He growled, his nose flaring. "It may be their ports we want but it's our product that is being sold."

I leaned back in my seat focused. "I gotta give them something more valuable than money..." I mumbled.

"Security," Enzo suggested. "They need the security and with our private firm we can offer them that. They can't say no to that, and our men get hired to do what their best at. It would be an alliance."

An alliance?

When it came to the well-being of the family business, I knew Enzo could set his feelings aside to protect what he vowed to honor—father's legacy.

I nodded at him. "I'll propose the deal to them tomorrow."

Enzo gives me a quick nod before tossing his cue stick on pool table and leaving the lounge room.

Now it was the other issue that I had to address.

Earl Garfield.

Earl Garfield had been an investor towards the illicit endeavors of the Accardi crime family for decades. In return, we aided his business and helped him build profit.

But the past few years, Earl had been increasingly problematic. His once reliable investments began to falter, and his once steady moves now reeked of indecision. Rumors started circulating about his potential ties to law enforcement and the possibility that he might turn state's witness to draw the FBI's attention away from his suspicious business moves.

I needed to know where Earl stood and how big of a threat he was to the Accardi family.

And there was one woman who could help.

A woman whom Earl and his twisted little fantasy seemed to be enamored with.

Sophie Cruz.

It wasn't long before the beautiful woman was meeting me back in my office by the orders of I. She looked at me skeptically as I returned her a mischievous smile.

"I need you to join me for a Gala tomorrow evening." I told her causing her to raise her brows.

She played with her fingers nervously. "Why me?"

"For appearances," I answered indifferently. "I am young and a bachelor, to be taken more seriously they need to see me with a respectable girl on my arm. And my intensive background check on you didn't pull anything suspicious, you will do."

Her mouth parted completely dumfounded. She ran her right hand across her left arm uncomfortably.

"I...don't know what to say," she finally managed. "You want me to pretend to be your date for an evening?"

Date? This was anything but that, but I could not tell her the truth of my plans as it would potentially make her less willing.

"Yes," I replied bluntly. "It's purely for show. Just for one night."

She nods her head slowly, the skepticism still on her face. "Okay, just for one night."

◆◆◆

As we stepped through the grand double doors of the gala, the atmosphere of laughter and classical music washed over us. I hated events like this. Very few things felt more pointless to me than a gathering of wealthy people talking about how wealthy they are.

The whole scene reeked of self-indulgence and desperation, and I say that as a wealthy man myself.

It was no secret that people like them despised people like me—someone who shared their status but had no interest in their polished norms or outdated rules of etiquette, crafted by those old enough to have watched the first moon landing.

I glanced at Sophie, who clung to my arm with a mixture of awe and nervous tension. Her wide eyes took in the glittering chandeliers and opulent decorations, and I had to admit, she looked the part. Her dress, a deep red that stood out against her deep tan skin, hugged her curves perfectly.

It was a distraction I could hardly afford.

"Try to keep up," I muttered under my breath, guiding her forward. "We have a lot of ground to cover."

"Of course," she replied softly, her voice sweet but firm. "I'm here to help, remember? I can handle myself."

Cute.

I bit back a retort. The girl was too damn cheerful. "Just don't get in the way."

We wove through the crowd, exchanging nods and fake smiles with other guests. I could feel the weight of their gazes, curious and suspicious as they watched my arm wrapped around a girl they had no record of. They were all wondering why I had brought her. Sophie, with her innocent demeanor and wide-eyed wonder, was the last person they'd expect to see on my arm.

Sophie grew stiff at my touch as I guided her every which way.

"Aiden, who are we looking for?" She whispered as we neared the heart of the ballroom.

"Stay quiet and follow my lead," I ordered. "I'll tell you when it's necessary."

Her eyes flickered with a bit of surprise, startled at my tone, but she nodded giving me a smile. I had to admit, she was good at playing her role. Too good. It made me wonder how much of her congenial innocence was an act.

As we approached a group of influential figures, I tightened my grip on Sophie's arm. "You speak after I introduce you," I instructed through gritted teeth.

"Gentlemen," I said smoothly, my voice oozing faux charm as I played into their game. "I'd like to introduce my companion for the evening, Sophie."

The men in the group turned, their gazes shifting from me to her. As they took in her presence, the dazed look in their eyes was obvious. Perfect.

Sophie curtsied slightly, her cheeks tinged with a natural blush. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," she said, her voice soft and melodious.

"Charmed," one of the men replied, his eyes lingering on her a bit too long causing my jaw to tick.

The whole point of bringing her was to show her off like arm candy; she was my little distraction—simply a pretty girl in a room of old awestruck idiots. So why did a strange surge of irritation enter my body as she continue to pull their attention?

Aiden remember why you are here.

As the conversation flowed, I kept a close watch on Sophie. She was holding her own, engaging with the men in a way that seemed genuine.

"You're doing well," I admitted grudgingly as we stepped away from the group.

"Thank you," she replied, her smile proud before it evolved into a smirk. "I told you I could handle it. Acting is my strong suit...I did theater in high school."

Theater? I pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek, trying to prevent a chuckle from escaping my lips as I thought of all the possible cringey plays this girl had performed. And despite my amusement, it didn't surprise me at all that Sophie was a theater kid.

I mean the way she carried herself in this moment was something of a modern Disney princess—a modern Disney princess in a sexy dress.

"Just remember your place," I warned, my voice low. "You're here because I asked you to be."

Her smile faltered slightly, but she nodded.

I looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time that evening. Her waist-length chestnut brown hair fell in these big curls, and her full lips were red and rosy, much like the perfume she wore that women seemed to favor. But even in those soft eyes of hers, darting in every direction as people passed us by, I could tell there was more to Sophie than met the eye. That very fact was starting to get under my skin, as I could only read what managed to occasionally peak through her pristine little surface.

I needed to stay focused. This was a mission, not a date.

"Let's keep moving," I said, more to myself than to her.

We continued our movement through the Gala and I tightened my grip on Sophie's hand stopping her movement along with mine.

"There he is," I spoke cocking my head to Earl's direction.

I could see her eyes widen, realizing hitting her face, and she shook her head at me. "What in the world is he doing here?"

Without answering her question I snaked my hand around her waist in an attempt to relax her. "So tell me what you know about Earl Garfield..."

"N-Nothing," she stammered. "Except the fact that he is a creep who cheats on his wife."

I watched her closely, observing her intently.

"How do you know him?" She asked me.

I shrugged. "We do business together."

She furrowed her brows in confusion before taking another peak at Earl, and I could see her revolt.

"Sophie..." I whispered and her eyes fluttered up at me. "I need you to talk to Earl. Use that sweet charm of yours that he loves so much and get him to talk."

She returned me a conflicted look. "About what?"

I smirked. "Anything."

She looked at me for a few seconds before she took some deep breaths and walked over to the old man who was sitting by the food table like the fucking oaf he was.

I watched her approach Earl, the old man's eyes lighting up as he saw her. He straightened up, attempting to appear more dignified, but there was no disguising the oafish demeanor that clung to him like a bad smell. Sophie forced a smile, her charm already working its magic.

She needed to be useful.

Sophie leaned in, her soft laughter reaching my ears as she started to engage him in conversation. I could see Earl's posture relax, his attention fully captured by her. This was good. The more he talked, the more he might slip and reveal something.

As I stood there, keeping a watchful eye, a thought crossed my mind: In this world, everyone wears a mask, and tonight, Sophie and I were no different.

Sophie as little red and I, the big bad wolf masked as a gentleman.

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Hi, loves! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please vote, comment, and follow as it would be greatly appreciate <3. In this chapter there was a little sliver of Aiden's back story, a additional puzzle to the piece. It seems that Sophie interests Aiden, why? And how do you guys feel about Earl?

XOXO

-V