Chapter 3 Three

Athena

I checked my makeup once again in the rearview mirror of the Audi I sat in, a queasy feeling nestled in my belly. I was so anxious, it was fucking ridiculous. I had taken down powerful men by infiltrating their very lives. I had fought gangs and bad guys ever since I was taken in by Frederick at sixteen. I could fight my way through booby traps, through deathly lasers, through a fucking prison gate, and yet... Yet I was anxious.

Perhaps there were enough reasons for me to be. I wore a dress I had sworn I would never get caught in. A cream-colored body con. It clung to me like a second skin and while I admit that I looked amazing in it, I wasn't comfortable strutting through the building like that. Especially with the rather open neckline. Heck, I could see the mounds of my breasts propped against each other like two hills.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew Luciano liked his women bold, willing, and pliant. However, considering this was my second day as his PA, coming on to him boldly was most likely not the best choice.

"Ah crap! Seduction shouldn't be this fucking complicated now should it?"

What the hell was I going to do? Rub his arm? Blow him a kiss? Or just go all crazy and run into his arms like a crappy whore.

"Gah!" I groaned, slamming my hand on the steering wheel in frustration. Touching him was the last thing I wanted. What I wanted was him dead. I shouldn't be here trying to ferret out information by selling out my boobs. They were a nice pair and I'd rather keep them.

My phone beeped with an alarm. It was seven thirty in the morning, the streets were packed with people briskly walking to their place of work. I glanced at the large building before me. Moretti Industries. My enemy was most likely on his way now, walking with his nose in the air as if he was the most innocent man on the fucking planet. My hands fisted around the wheel in anger and I let out another haunting groan.

Taking deep breaths I grabbed the device and dialed Frederick's number.

"Kiddo?" His fatherly voice calmed me and I sighed.

"Remind me why I'm doing this again, Please," I whispered.

Frederick sighed. "Relax Thena. Breathe. You don't have to do this-"

"Too fucking late," I snapped. "There's no backing down now. I'm already stuck in this."

"You don't have to be stuck," he replied and I sure as hell could see him smile. "Just remember, if you kill him, Thena, his legacy lives on. His people will carry on his plans and desires and you will never be at peace as long as that insignia lives on. The proof that he is the mafia, just that Thena. Find it and then you can do whatever the hell you want to him."

I sniffed, closing my eyes. "You promise?"

"With my life," He said, then cleared his throat. "Now come on, I didn't raise a fucking wimp now did I?"

I chuckled at his words and nodded. "No. You didn't. And besides, I owe you this anyway. If you hadn't taken me in, I wouldn't have had this chance to take my revenge. I wouldn't have found my father's killer."

Frederick laughed. "You owe me nothing, kiddo. Take care now."

When the call ended, I locked the device in a secret compartment behind the steering wheel and grabbed another phone. If anyone laid their hands on the one in my hands, there was nothing on it to connect me to the FBI or Frederick. Stepping out of my car, I breathed in the clean cool air that whipped lightly against my loose hair.

"Let's get this over with."

****

"Gentlemen? Let us begin," Luciano announced.

We were in the boardroom on the tenth floor, meeting with the marketing team. Luciano sat at the head of the table, presiding over all affairs while the rest of the marketing team, about six of them, sat on either side of the table.

I stood beside Luciano, clutching a set of documents that the bastard had made me print, my face red from the stares I got from the men on the marketing team. They were ogling my chest! I mean I had worn it for that purpose, but only for Luciano to notice.

If the jackass did, he wasn't showing it. For the past three hours, I've had to deal with the bored look on his face as he ordered me to run his errands. Glancing down at my chest, I frowned. Was I not showing enough cleavage? It couldn't be that he didn't like the dress. One of his flings had worn it a few months ago.

"Miss Gonzalez?!" His bellow jolted me out of my thoughts and I looked down at him, surprised and annoyed as hell with myself. The blank look on his face was gone, replaced by anger. He couldn't decide what to do with me. "If you're done daydreaming, distribute the documents!"

"Yes sir," I smiled sweetly despite the anger simmering within me as well and distributed the documents. When I dropped one before him, my breasts pressed firmly against his arm. I listened in, for something. A sudden intake of breath, a glance, an awkward clearing of throat, anything. I got nothing.

Nothing at all.

Stepping back I whipped out a pen and notebook. Feeling oddly humiliated, I reviewed my actions as the meeting went on. Was I doing something wrong? It could not be that I wasn't attractive enough, now could it? I looked at the men on the marketing team. They could barely concentrate on the sheets in front of them. I felt their gazes every time they looked at me.

So why on earth was Luciano not moved?!

"Miss Gonzalez, are you taking notes? Please tell me you simply did not come here as an accessory." Luciano spat suddenly, glaring at me with blazing eyes.

"Of course I am," I lied, clutching the pen in my hand tighter. It wasn't much of a weapon, but if I stuck it in his stupid eyes, I could distract him long enough to reach for the hair clip in my clutch.

No no, Athena. You cannot kill him yet. Breathe, Breathe.

The meeting lasted all of two hours as planned and I couldn't be more grateful. Heels had to be the most uncomfortable shoes on earth! How I had managed to stand for two fucking hours without crumbling to pieces was beyond me.

"When is my next meeting?" He asked as we stepped into the elevator.

I pursed my lips, swiping through his schedule. "You have lunch with Mr. Caldwell in the next thirty minutes at Fountain restaurant. You're to discuss with him his recent investment in the bottle industry." I explained in the most cheery voice I could muster.

He nodded slowly. "Inform the security team of this. Marcus will drive me."

"Sure thing, sir," As I made the call, something dropped into my mind. Why would he need to meet with Mr. Caldwell if the man had already invested in his bottle industry? And if it's just lunch, why contact the security team?

The elevator pinged open. I remained in it as Luciano stepped out. He arched his brow and I smiled sheepishly.

"I need to get something to eat, Mr. Moretti,"

For a minute he stared broodingly at me then walked away. Slamming my hand on the first floor, I felt my heart pound wildly as the elevator slid down. I had to confirm who Mr. Caldwell was and why Marcus was chosen to drive Luciano. There was more to it. I could feel it rattling in my bones.