"Arie? What are you doing here?" His eyes were wide, his raised brows creasing his forehead. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I wondered how to explain this to him. Today was not the day I planned on telling him everything.

"Ashton!" Swallowing the massive lump in my throat, I reached forward and looked at him. "Hey!"

          "Hey, sissy," he faked excitement and then adopted a stoic expression. "I asked you something. What are you doing here?"

          "I came as his plus one." I looked at Leo who put his mask on and pulled him to my side. Here goes nothing. "This is Leo Bonferroni." Leaving Leo's side, I grabbed Ashton's arm and tugged him closer while talking to Leo. "And this is Ashton, my brother."

"Wait!" Ashton jerked his hand away from my hold and stepped back, a look of confusion plastered on his face. "Leo Bonferroni? Like the Leo Bonferroni?"

          "Do you know any other Leo with that ridiculous last name?" I covered my mouth as soon as those words left it. Good job, Arie! You deserve a pat on the back, dumbass!

          Leo laughed and put his hand forth. "Yes, I'm the Leo Bonferroni with the ridiculous last name."

          Ashton shook Leo's hand, his face still awestruck from the revelation. "You're the billionaire from our graduation?"

          "Yes, I am."

          Ashton's eyes narrowed at Leo, his teeth clenching and lips pulled into a thin line. "What are you doing with my sister?" He grabbed my wrist and pulled me to his side, his eyes still glaring at Leo who had a smug smirk planted on his face.

          "Not my place to tell. Ask your sister," Leo suggested and nodded his head to me.

          "Ashton," I slowly turned to him and removed his hand from my arm. "I'm his date to this party."

          "Are you guys like a couple?"

          "I love your sister," Leo stepped to my side and placed his reassuring hand on my back. "Which is why she's here with me."

          "Is this a joke?" Ashton frantically looked between me and Leo before his confused eyes finally settled on me. "When did this all happen?"

          "I met him two days after our birthday and-"

          "About three months ago and you didn't tell me," Ashton yelled, but it wasn't loud enough to grab anyone's attention due to the music. "I thought you told me everything. I thought I was your person."

"It wasn't anything back then. We just ran into each other," I answered, my heart racing for the hills. Now is not the best place to tell him everything, but he deserves to know a little. "It started getting serious after our graduation."

"And that's still two months." The look of disappointment on his face shattered my heart. I never felt so guilty until now. "I tell you everything and you didn't tell me that you fell in love with someone."

"Ashton, you left right after graduation. How in the world did you expect me to tell you this? You barely picked up my phone calls."

"Well," he tried to fire back, but realized I wasn't wrong. "You're right," he pouted and rolled his eyes. "Why do you always win?"

"Because I'm older," I chuckled and wrapped my arms around his torso. His embrace blanketed me in warmth and love that I've missed too much which made my eyes hazy. "There's so much more that I need to tell you, Ashton." I pulled away and cleared my throat, blinking away the emerging tears. "But this is not the right place or time."

"Are you going to cry?" Ashton gasped. "Holy shit! Who are you? What did you do to my sister?"

"Oh, shut up!" I nudged his chest that rambled from laughter. "Grow up."

          "Yeah, yeah." He grinned and cupped my face. "Are you happy with this man?"

          Leaning into his hands, I brushed my palm over it. "Very."

          "That's all that matters to me then. If you're happy, I'm happy." He removed his hands and wrapped his arm around my shoulder turning me towards Leo. "Whatever you need to tell me, it can be said tomorrow. Just enjoy yourself tonight with your... man. Ew, this is weird. You never had a man before." He shuddered and pretended to gag before dipping down to whisper in my ear. "If you ever want to beat his ass, let me know."

          "I think I can handle him on my own," I winked at Mr. Pepperoni who had a sweet smile tugging on his lips.

          "Ashton boy, who do we have here?" A tall man came up behind Ashton and squeezed his shoulders.

          "This is my sister, Arie Noelle." Ashton introduced me to the man who admired me from head to toe. "And Arie, this is Freddie Guzman, the designated pass rusher of our team."

          "I'm going to act like I know what that means," I cheekily smiled at the two footballers and put my hand forth. "It's nice to meet you."

          Freddie smirked and took my hand, placing a light peck on the back of it. "Trust me, the pleasure is all mine." His green eyes gazed into mine with a distinct admiration. "You're a gorgeous woman, Ms. Arie."

          "The most beautiful one here," Leo chimed in and pulled me away to his side possessively. "Like a queen." My heart jumped in titillation as I look up at my man who reached down to place a sweet kiss on my lips.

          "Oh God! I'm think I'm going to throw up with you two trying to claim my sister. This is not the fucking hunger games and she's not the prize at the end of the line. Stop!" Ashton spat and backed away slowly. "I'm going to find myself a model to go home with tonight." He winked and left us alone.

          "I think she's better than a queen. Try a goddess maybe," Freddie smiled smugly at Leo, challenging him to an unannounced battle and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying this.

          "A goddess that is mine," Leo retorted curtly while his hold got tighter on me. My hand raked up and down his back to calm the man who was definitely ready to kill this footballer.

          "Mr. Guzman," a tall woman in a elegant peach dress tapped on the man's shoulder just in time before Leo could harm the man. "Do you mind if I steal my guests?"

          "Of course not, Ms. Estle," Freddie backed away before shooting a smirk at me just to rile Leo up even more.

          "Leo!" The beautiful woman smiled, digging dimples into her smooth cheeks and embraced the man who had anger dripping from his pores, but he calmed down and wrapped his arms around her model-like figure. "Thank you so much for coming."

          "I had to," he smiled and stepped back, placing his hand on my waist and pulling me into him. "I wanted you to meet Arie."

"Ah, I'm guessing you're Ashton Noelle's sister." She tilted her head a little, her diamond embedded mask shimmering under the dim lights. "I'm Athena," she introduced herself and took my hand in a firm handshake. "I've heard a lot about you from everyone but Leo."

"And I've heard a few things about you from no one but Leo," I laughed and gazed up at Leo who looked down at me lovingly before he placed a soft kiss on my temple that sent warm sensations burning through my body. The smile that broke through my lips spoke of how much I adored this man who I'm lucky enough to call mine.

          "Hopefully, Leo didn't humiliate me much," Athena interrupted us and forced our eyes to her. She had a smile on her face showing how happy she was for Leo.

          "Not really," I laughed again. "He just told me that you once worked for him and that you're also Arabelle's best friend and Vince's female counterpart."

          "So he told you the truth," she snickered and stepped closer to us. "I heard what Astor did." She grabbed my hand and conveyed her thoughts that only angered me upon hearing that bastard's name. "I'm so sorry for what happened."

          "He'll be the one apologizing when I get my hands on him," I replied with my teeth clenched together.

          "I like it. She fits in," she declared and approved of me which made me smile in return.

          We chuckled while I glanced up at Leo and laid my eyes back on the woman. All of a sudden, Leo began talking in Italian to her while my shoulders slumped. The disadvantage of not knowing the language that your man speaks. I just stared at them until Leo tensed under my hold when Athena replied to him. I didn't know what she said back, but he definitely wasn't happy about it. Leo pulled me closer and gazed at me while I ran my palm up and down his arm to calm him.

          "She's the one," he said, smiling down at me.

          "She is," Athena agreed with him.

          "How's my escort treating you anyways?" Leo turned back to her while my forehead creased in confusion. Escort?

          "Well, I have him as my secretary for now and I must say that the boy got some skills," she looked over her shoulder at someone before tuning in back with us. "Moving on, I have some information on Astor."

          "What is it?" Leo asked immediately and huddled us all to a corner.

          "He was seen in Havana yesterday with a few of his men."

          "How the hell did he get to Cuba?" Leo yelled. "I have each and every single airport in the country on the lookout for him."

          "Well, did you cover all the seaports?" She asked with an arched brow only to have realization hit Leo in his face. "That's what I thought."

          "Damn it!" Leo pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy breath. "I'm going to kill him."

          "I informed Vincent and told him to have all the seaports locked down, so you don't have to worry about it." She said and squeezed Leo's arm reassuringly. "Just relax and don't ruin the party. Enjoy yourselves."

***

          "You have prostitutes?" I finally asked after meeting the rest of his siblings and an hour of people just greeting Leo and treating him like royalty.

          "Escorts." He corrected me and continued walking to the bar. "There's a difference. Prostitutes provide filthy and unhygienic sex in the back of a rusty car. They only do sex and nothing more. However, my escorts attend to their client's demands to a certain extent. May that be going on dates, a plus one to an event, sex, or just talking. It's not all about sex. It's about class and whatever it takes to satisfy the client. If the escort isn't comfortable with a certain kinky demand, he or she may refuse."

          "What if the client gets aggressive and forces them?"

          His jaw tightened and his spine straightened at my question that bothered him. Letting out a deep breath, he looked at me. "Something like that happened about four years ago. The client almost killed the girl, so I had all of my escorts trained in fighting after that incident."

          "What happened to the girl after that?"

          "Can we talk about something else?" He suggested and ordered himself a glass of champagne.

          "Of course," I tried to study him and knew the topic of that girl was a little uncomfortable for him for some unknown reason and I didn't want to press. "What all do you do?"

          "I thought you'd never ask." His mood lightened up instantly as he smirked at me. "I own a vast chain of luxury hotels and clubs all over the globe. I'm rocking the Wall Street too." He winked and snickered to himself, pushing me to roll my eyes at his smugness. "I sell and buy drugs along with guns."

          "Ew! You really are a billionaire?"

          "A billionaire if you count all my legal businesses, but if you add my illegal ones to it then it's more like trillionaire."

          My mouth dropped to the floor while he just laughed at me. "That's disgusting." I gagged while grabbing my drink and slightly stepping away from him. "That is so disgusting. Why do you need all that money?"

          "It helps. Sadly, money is power in this world." Noticing my disgusted look, he added, "I don't hoard the money. I've spent a lot in charities. I also fund your brother's football team."

          "You're like mega rich and that's just filthy." I shook my head and changed the topic. "How many languages can you speak?"

          "English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, and French." He declared while my mouth parted once again. "And I'm almost fluent in Arabic too."

          "Why?" I shook my head vigorously. "Just why all those languages?"

          He laughed and leaned against the open bar. "It's good for business and easier to interact with potential clients and partners. And it is also required by my family. Most specifically, my nonna."

          "Why by your grandmother?" I sipped on my orange juice and sauntered over to the abundance of snacks. Looks like someone is having an early thanksgiving dinner. Me!

          "A king is required to know those languages and my nonna is also very strict on the way a king should rule, act, and behave."

          I couldn't help but laugh at him. "Holy shit," I wiped my fake tears and continued. "Your entire family is obsessed with the game of thrones. Jesus!"

          "You say that now. Wait till I take you to Italy."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I cocked my head to the side and studied the man. "You guys live in a castle in Italy? Like a royal family?" He smirked wickedly and winked at me. "You're so full of shit." I couldn't roll my eyes enough at this man who laughed like an idiot. My eyes scanned over the various snacks, but the problem was I didn't know what they were exactly and where to start the feast from.

"Try this." He held up a tiny, quarter sized muffin in my face which immediately made me push it away.

"I can't eat that."

"Why not? It's really good." I grabbed his wrist before he could eat it himself. "Love, what are you doing? I'm pretty sure it's not poisoned."

"I smell peanuts and I'm sure it has some in it." He raised his brows and waited for me to further explain myself. "I'm allergic to nuts. I can't taste it, not even on you, or else I'll be sick."
 
          I seductively inched closer to him until my body was pressed against his. Tiptoeing up to his ear, I whispered sultrily. "But if you don't want to kiss me, then go ahead. Eat it. I'm completely okay with it, Mr. Pepperoni."

He growled and pulled me closer by my waist, dropping the little delicacy down. "I guess no nuts for me." He brushed his nose against mine and lowered his mouth to my ear. "It's a good thing you're not allergic to my nuts."

"Oh my God!" I poked his chest and pushed him back. "Asshole!" He threw his head back and rumbled a deep laugh from his throat making me chuckle to myself. "I had a feeling you were going to say it. I hate you."

"Leo baby!" A lady's high pitched voice bellowed behind us, forcing our eyes to the masked woman. Well, well, well, look who it is. The one and only Mrs. Garner. Their last interaction that I witnessed was interesting and seeing that this woman is completely intoxicated by alcohol right now, this one should be even better. "Oh God! I've missed you so much." Her slimy hand brushed his face that was red in rage. Only if I could snap a picture right now, it would be the highlight of my day.

I smiled cheekily while Leo forcefully removed her hand by her wrist and glared at the drunk woman. "Mrs. Garner, did you forget what I said last time?"

"Oh c'mon, baby." She jerked her hand away from his restraint and pouted like a child. "You know you want me bad. Let's have some fun like the first time. It was the best day of my life."

"I suggest you leave right now before I hurt you, Mrs. Garner," Leo warned her and stepped closer to me. Her eyes followed each movement of his until they settled on me.

"You're the mystery girl from his birthday party, aren't you?"

"Nice memory," I smiled at her and walked into Leo's open arm. "I'm Arie Noelle."

          "I've never heard of you," she snarled at me. "You must be one of the street bitches that has no right to be here, but money tends to pull you lowlife girls to rich men."

          "Excuse me?" I laughed at this woman's ignorance while Leo tried to leap forward and get his hands on her, but I stopped him before he could do so.

          "You don't belong between us. You're nothing but a fucktoy for him. You have no class, no name, no nothing, so I think you should go back to your dirty little streets."

          "Hold on!" I raised my hand and stopped her babbling to pick up a titanium toothpick from one of the dishes behind me. "I'll show you what this lowlife bitch can do."

          Grabbing her wrist and bringing it up, I stabbed the titanium in her hand and grated it across her palm, drawing blood and forcing her to wince in pain. "What in the world is wrong with you?" She yelled, tugging her hand away from my hold. "You stupid bitch!"

          Smiling menacingly and fixing my eyes on her, I punctured a hole in my index finger and showed it to her. "See, we bleed the same color. You don't bleed gold and I don't bleed mud. Red is what we both and everyone bleeds, so take your disgusting ignorance and shove it far up your filthy ass until you taste it in your shitty mouth that has no idea what it's spitting out. You're a disgusting woman."

          "You disrespectful bitch," she spat, lifting her hand to slap me and I was ready to take her on a trip to hellish La La Land, but Athena stepped in and grabbed Mrs. Garner's wrist and twisted it behind her back.

          "That's not nice, Mrs. Garner. You've been disrespecting my guests all night and ruining their evening with your unappreciated behavior." Athena twisted her hand further until the drunk woman writhed in pain. "Let's have a little chat." Athena nodded to Leo and turned to a man behind her. "Jackson, grab her and follow me."

          The tall muscular man behind her clutched Mrs. Garner's forearm and yanked her behind Athena towards the private elevator we had come in. "I'm so sorry," Leo immediately apologized and turned to me, his eyes burning in rage.

          "Don't be," I laughed and caressed his face. "I enjoyed it thoroughly and this is bound to happen. People are bound to question my relationship with you. She was just jealous that the most tastiest pepperoni is mine to devour."

          He laughed and lifted my chin up with his thumb and index finger. "Just when I think I can't possibly fall more in love with you, you always prove me wrong. I don't know how you manage to do that, but you literally have my heart. I love you so much."

          Pressing his lips to my forehead, he took me to a safe and warm place that I never wish to crawl out of. His words, his actions, his everything made me love him more and I couldn't believe how much this man made me appreciate my life after what Astor did. I thought my life was over, a complete wreck that I could never restore, but Leo picked me up from my dark corner and dusted me off, bringing me into the sunlight with him.

          "Enjoy yourself. I'll see you in a few." He pecked my nose before pulling away and nodding to few of his men that were enjoying themselves. Leaving their conversation, they followed him towards the same private elevator that Athena disappeared in.

          Letting out a breath, I scanned the room for Ashton and when I spotted him, he was getting too touchy with a model. Ew! I shook the filthy image away and watched couples dance to the music, twirling and having a great time. Gus was busy flirting with models who were drooling all over him while Wren was by the bar, downing shot after shot like a crazy alcoholic, but he didn't dare to look at me. He had been distanced and didn't even bother talking to me after Leo's birthday party.

Looking away, I noticed Arabelle rushing towards me with worry latched onto her forehead. "What is your brother doing here?"

I tried to stifle my laugh, but couldn't due to her red cheeks. "The New York Giants are here and he's their new quarterback."

"Bloody hell," she cussed and sighed. "How could I forget?"

"Don't worry!" I reassured her. "He's busy eating that girl's face off. Oh wait! He just left with her. I don't think he'll be coming back."

"Hello, Arie," a man's deep voice startled us and gained our attention immediately.

"Father," Arabelle hissed and glared at the man as she shielded me behind her like I was some sort of precious treasure that she needed to protect. "What are you doing here? I don't think Leo put you and your wife in the clear."

"Belle, I'm his father and not the other way around." He retorted back with confidence and scowled at his daughter. "I would like to have a word with the woman your brother is smitten with."

"Absolutely not," she defied Federigo and kept her stand. "I won't let you hurt her again."

"I'm not here to hurt her. I need to have an important conversation with the girl that is possibly the one for Leonardo. Now get out of the way, Belle."

"N-"

"I'm up for it." I responded for myself. This man couldn't hurt me in front of hundreds of people and ruin his reputation that he possibly cared a lot about.

"Fine," Arabelle obliged and stepped aside for Federigo.

"A dance?" He asked me with his hand out for me to take.

"Sure," I let him take me to dance floor that was packed with dancing pairs. This should be fun. Not!

-------------------------------------------

This chapter had literally gone over 9000 words and I had to cut it into two, so now you guys have two chapters.

A few secrets are to be revealed in the next chapter. You'll get an insight into Federigo's and Leo's past. It's very juicy 😉

Do you guys like Athena? She's a baddie.

Athena got something planned for skanky Mrs. Garner and if you want to know what happens to her then go over to my other book Escort Me Baby. Athena and Leo's little Italian conversation is also in there.

Much love ❤️
~Reet