A month

That was how long Alianna has been undercover. Working at Libertà went quite smoothly; there were a couple of incidents where some patrons, both members of the Boveri family and regular patrons tried to have their way with her. Evan saved her and even put a security guard close to the bar, just in case it happened again to her or to her two female co-workers.

Alianna sighed as she meditated in the living room of her overpriced apartment. Meditation wasn't her ideal way to spend her free time before work but the hustle and bustle of the city and the high energy demands of her job drained her, she needed a quiet activity to balance her life out.

She reflected on her life so far. She got along well with her co-workers. Emily was a quiet mouse of a ginger girl but she was agile and efficient and did well in a rush, though she did get flustered when any attractive male flirted with her. Kayla was an outgoing brown haired fireball. She made it seem that flirting with male patrons was her job and serving drinks was secondary but she was good worker nevertheless. Alan was a stocky blonde haired joker while Sam was a buff copper haired boy who kept to himself mostly; together they served the patrons in the wings.

Alianna kept to herself at first, but there was something about the dynamic of four that made her feel strangely at ease, she hesitantly allowed herself to become friends with them, something she never did undercover.

As for her primary job, she never even caught a glimpse of Jax Boveri. Either Evan or Rex was present in the club. She suspected that one entertained the wider public while the other entertained the special guests. Those select patrons lounged in the VIP section of the club that was separate from where she worked. Very few members wandered to the general area and whenever that happened, some commotion always ensued. Evan thankfully had a strong command over the family and hardly anybody crossed his path.

Alianna smiled as she uncurled herself from her position on the floor. She was glad that she had established a routine; little did she know that everything was going to change.

Jax looked over the empty dance floor of Libertà. His eyes immediately fell on the black haired bartender in the spotlight, his spotlight. Alianna Rose intrigued him like no other. Ever since laying eyes on her a month ago, she occupied his thoughts whenever he wasn't occupied with business; there was something about her.

She wasn't the person she made everyone believe she was. He could see that, his father taught him how to read people and he used it to suss out the genuine and loyal people as well as his enemies. He knew something was hiding behind the striking form of Alianna and he needed to know what her intentions were.

"You needed me Jax?" Jax groaned inwardly as he tore his eyes from Alianna to Evan.

"Not you, I need Ms. Rose and a Cuba Libre," Jax stated in a business tone. Sticking to his protocol, he was going to meet her for the first time since her employment. She had proved herself worthy of knowing about the Boveri family and serve in the VIP rooms if needed.

Evan chuckled and grinned at Jax, "I'll get Ms. Rose," he emphasized the formal version of Alianna's name as he walked out of the hideaway office.

He knew Jax envied that he was on first name basis with Alianna. Evan shook his head as he walked over to the bar. This was the first time a woman genuinely caught Jax's eye and he was not going to mess this up for him. Jax needed someone like Alianna in his life. He cleared his throat, interrupting the conversation the bartenders were having.

"Alianna," she looked up as Evan called her name. She smiled her megawatt smile and got Evan's megawatt smile in return. The two were more friends rather than boss and employee.

"Hey Evan, ready for your first Manhattan of the evening?" she looked at him as she pulled out a glass and began taking the bottles off the shelves in order to prepare his drink. Every day since she started working, he came for his favourite drink several times during the night.

"Make it a Cuba Libre, someone wants to meet you," Evan said as he waited for her reaction.

Alianna raised an eyebrow but calmly replaced the bottles and began to make the other drink. She had confided in Evan that she knew Mr Boveri was there the day he hired her. Evan explained Boveri's protocol to her and she understood. She placed the drink with a napkin on a tray and balanced it expertly in her right hand as she stepped out from behind the bar. 

"Good luck," everyone said in unison. Alianna smiled before following Evan. She was finally going to meet her next victim. Evan showed her through a door that was perfectly concealed in the wall. Evan nodded at the guard at foot of the stairs and they walked up together. They were quiet as they kept going up and up until they reached a door. Evan knocked and sent her an encouraging smile which she returned.

"Enter," Jax leaned back into his chair and placed his cigar on the edge of the ashtray. He looked up as the door opened and took a minute to appreciate the woman before him. The corset-skirt Saturday uniform did nothing to hide her curves. The corset teasingly hinted at the curves of her breasts while the skirt showed off her long lean legs.

"One Cuba Libre," Alianna said, breaking the silence between them. She couldn't meet his eyes as she placed the napkin on the desk and drink on it.

Pictures didn't do Jax Boveri any justice but it wasn't his undeniably good looks that made her look down. It was the unquestionable aura of power and dominance that radiated off him. It was the same aura that radiated off Marino, something she feared, but to her surprise she did not fear Jax.

But she was afraid. She was afraid of the emotions she felt as she stood before him. As she pulled her hand back, his hand shot out and caught hers. His touch ignited a fire on the surface of her skin and she found herself struggling to keep her emotions in check.

"Alianna Rose," his deep voice sent shivers down her spine, "it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Her guard slipped as she gasped slightly as she felt his lips press ever so slightly to her back of her hand. Sparks flew up her arm and she finally looked up to meet his eyes.

When their eyes met, her world shattered.

His eyes pierced straight through her façade, blowing away the smokescreen she had set up and perfected in her time here. It was as if he knew exactly what she was, that she was here to kill him and who sent her. But he didn't know, if he did, she would've been dead already.

Jax knew he ripped a mask off Alianna but he suddenly faced another challenge, who was woman underneath? He saw many emotions swimming in her eyes but one stood out the most; he could the strain, the first signs of reaching her breaking point. He placed her hand on the table without breaking eye contact. When her hand touched the cool glass surface, she looked away.

Jax sighed inaudibly; already missing the feeling of her skin on his. "Please sit Ms Rose," gestured to the chair next to her.

Alianna exhaled calmly; she hid her relief as she smoothed her skirt down before she sat. She swallowed dryly, being in his presence didn't unnerve her but the tumult of emotions she felt from their proximity did. Jax studied Alianna as she confidently maintained eye contact; the attraction between the pair was tangible, evident by the lightest of blushes under her tanned skin and the sudden gentleness of his demeanour.

"I am Jax Boveri," he said softly. Alianna smiled warmly. She already knew that but she humoured him. She wondered what the purpose of this meeting was.

"I am Alianna," she said. "Not Ms. Rose," she teased lightly. The playful fire in his eyes mirrored hers and the pair relaxed considerably but despite her calm posture and expression, her mind was in a frenzied panic.

She was in a room with her victim, yet she was relaxed and conversing with him. She could end his life now; she had a knife strapped to her thigh under her skirt, but why didn't she? Why was she acting like this?

"Alianna, I'm sure you're aware by now that the wider public aren't the only people who patronise Libertà," Jax was confident she knew about the mafia he ran. Either prior knowledge or from the incidences she had while working here. Jax clenched his jaw in anger as he remembered Evan telling him about it while he was in Miami.

"I've noticed some things," Alianna replied as she studied the man before her. He'd barely touched his drink; business then booze.

"I'm sure you're aware that you cannot repeat these things to anyone," Jax cringed inwardly. Why was he treating her like this? He figured that she was no stranger to these types of situations.

"I don't have anyone to repeat it to," Alianna said quietly.

Jax looked into her eyes at her words. He saw a mournful longing in them and it wrenched his heart. Firstly he was unexpectedly relieved that she wasn't in a relationship with someone but sad at the same time. A woman like her shouldn't be alone.

"Even so," he gently pushed a file in her direction. He admired her as she opened it and began to read the contract inside. He picked up his cigar and brought it to his lips. "Consider it a guarantee," he said before letting the smoke leave his lips. "If you sign this, you're entitled to a little more freedom around the club. I won't keep you limited to the general section only; you'll be able to work in the VIP section." Jax took another drag from his cigar. This was something her never offered to his employees but he had a feeling that he could trust Alianna enough.

Alianna raised an eyebrow but signed the omertà without asking any questions. It was never her intention to spill Boveri secrets and it would give her an opportunity to get a better insight of the organisation she had infiltrated. She looked at Jax before handing the file over.

"I understand Sir," she said. Jax nodded before taking a sip of the drink she'd brought him, signalling that their conversation was over. He wanted to keep her up here longer but she was needed downstairs as the club began to fill with eager customers. Alianna stood, "Good evening Mr. Boveri." She began walking to the door.

Jax hissed lowly as the sight of her retreating body stirred feelings of desire for her. "Alianna?" Her head whipped around as he called her name, her heart pounding in her chest. She swallowed with difficulty as she met his heated gaze.

"Yes?" her eyes looked at the tray in her hands, unable to meet his scrutiny for much longer.

"It's just Jax, not Mr Boveri."

She looked up and smiled before exiting the room.

Author's note: 

For an idea of Alianna's outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/work_outfit/set?id=185402731