THE MAFIA KING'S OBSESSION

FIVE. THE BAD MAN

She turned her face to the window and just remained silent until Logan took her to a mansion in the Westchester area. The house building stood on a very wide land and was surrounded by giant trees on the right and left. A large black gate rose at the end of the paved road she was passing.

Riley watched the maple trees with their yellow leaves fall along the driveway to the stately house at the end of the road. Logan made the leaves scatter in the middle of the road and became a small tornado, which was quite interesting in Riley's eyes. She was happy to see the leaves. It reminded her of her sweet childhood when she slept over at her grandmother's house, who had a giant maple tree in the yard. Every time autumn came, the yellow maple leaves would fall and make her grandmother's yard very dirty. But she always liked to play with the yellow leaves and spread them all over his body.

Riley blinked her eyes twice. The happy memories of her childhood disappeared when she heard Logan's voice ringing around her. The car stopped in front of a very large and tall black gate. Up close, the gate looked sturdier and looked taller. Riley even had to lift her head high enough to see the pointed tip at the top of the black gate.

“Don't even think about running away. You can't. Jacob, open the gate!” Logan shouted harshly.

Something rustled on the dashboard. A walkie-talkie the size of a fist made the tenor voice of a young man who had just answered Logan's orders. Riley studied the object for a long time, stunned at the thought of a man named Jacob who was summoned by Logan. She imagined Jacob's figure as a burly man with a fierce face with lips like straight lines pressed against his lips. Jacob must be a man in an all-black suit with a gun belt around his waist. Riley was sure the people who worked for Logan would look like the villains in the action movies she often watched.

But all of Riley's guesses turned out to be wrong. As the black gate swung open wider, she saw a man in a bright green shirt and khaki pants emerge from behind the gate. The man smiled broadly at Logan and waved excitedly like he was a fan waiting for his idol to arrive. But Logan ignored him. He didn't even glance at Jacob at all. He immediately drove his car to his very large yard and stopped his car right in front of his magnificent carport.

"This is my house. And from now on it will be your house too.”

"Is he Jacob?"

“He is a gatekeeper and a gardener. Why?"

"I thought Jacob was some kind of bodyguard with all black and a gun belt around his waist."

“Don't misjudge a person based on his appearance. Jacob mastered all martial techniques. He's a tough guy behind that ridiculous face."

"He's such a funny guy."

Logan really had no idea that a teenage girl's thinking was so different from that of a grown man like him, or even a grown woman. Most women, his dates, never looked at a man the way Riley looked at a man. All the women he met always looked at a man based on his material characteristics and how big his prospects were in the future. But Riley wasn't like that. She judged a person based on the purity of his heart. That was the most striking characteristic of an innocent and naive woman. Yes, he would thank Wren because Riley was indeed the woman he was looking for, and he hoped could be the mother of his child.

“He has a stock of jokes you can listen to for three whole days. And speaking of bodyguards, don't worry. I have some."

Logan's lips twitched into a smirk. It made Riley, who had previously relaxed a bit, become a little wary of what would happen next.

“This place is full of burly bodyguards with gun belts around their waists. They're in there."

Riley gulped nervously. The way Logan spoke and nodded his head at the door of his grandiose house made her nervous. She had not completely forgotten her plan to escape. However, if Logan had a tough and powerful henchman, she had to always be alert and devise a brilliant escape plan to outsmart everyone who worked for Logan.

“Therefore, don't even think about escaping from here. You won't be able to."

“About your offer, are you serious?”

"Of course. I am a reliable businessman who has been in the business world for more than twenty years. You will never lose doing business with me.”

"Then I'd like a legal agreement for our business."

Logan grinned widely. He had to admit that Riley wasn't just a naive crybaby, she was a smart girl full of vigilance. He probably shouldn't have underestimated Riley's intelligence, and he should have kept an eye on her twenty-four hours a day. What else will the mother of his child show?

This woman is full of surprises, Logan thought happily.

"Have you ever been in business before?"

“This is the first time. But I know how business is supposed to work. Profits for both parties."

"Agree. In this business you and I will be mutually beneficial. I got the baby I wanted, and you'll get the money and all the amenities you need."

“You promised me an apartment and a job after I gave birth. How do I know that you're really going to give me all of that, when you already know for sure that I'm currently carrying your baby?"

"You don't have to doubt me."

Logan reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out his black cell phone. He pressed a few numbers, then put the object to his ear before speaking to someone named Jack.

“I need a luxury apartment in Manhattan with a great view. It doesn't matter how much it costs me."

Riley prevented her mouth from dropping open. She didn't know that Logan Hatcher was the most powerful and arrogant person in NYC. He could get an expensive apartment easily with just a snap of his fingers.

“The apartment is in the name of Riley Harlow. My assistant will take care of the payment. And I want the apartment keys delivered to my house today. Thanks. Nice doing business with you, Jack-Jack."

While talking to someone named Jack, Logan's eyes were only on Riley. He stared intently at Riley's face, which was filled with nervousness. He grinned widely.

“Well, I have bought an apartment in your name. I hope you won't doubt me again, Riley.”

“Next is a letter of agreement to seal all our deals.”

"So you're really going to run this business and agree to all the terms I put forward?"

“There seems to be no way for me not to agree to this deal. But what if I miscarry?”

"Well, we'll talk about it in my study. Now come out. I'm sure you're more than curious to see the people who have been waiting for you behind that door."

Riley's gaze moved from Logan's gloomy face to the majestic white door with a gold doorknob. At first glance, the door resembled the door of a palace from a storybook she had read when she was a child. But she was sure the door didn't hide magic, or even happiness, like the door to the palaces of the princes in the princess series she'd read. Instead, the door hid her gloomy and dark future.

Sighing heavily, Riley stepped out of the car. Then she walked steadily toward the magnificent door that was waiting for her, as if she had thrown away all the doubts that had previously hung over her shoulders.

Welcome to your new home, Riley.