THE MAFIA: Between Lust And Love

Ch.9 A Plan Of Hers

Sofia was stunned to see several cars entering the yard. She immediately got up from her chair and approached the balcony railing. Seeing several people carrying things from the car to the house, she walked quickly out of the room.

She widened her eyes in disbelief as she saw the people entering Shea's room. She, too, entered the room. She didn't expect Marco to fill the room with so much stuff in the walk-in closet.

"Ale, what's all this about?" asked Sofia. She stopped Alejandro from walking past her.

"Filling the room with the things Marco has bought," Alejandro replied.

Sofia was stunned by Alejandro's answer. She couldn't believe that Marco would buy all those things for a woman who was only staying for a short time.

She walked quickly back to her room. She slammed the door shut because she was so upset.

"What did she do to Marco? Why did Marco do all that?" Sofia asked herself while continuing to think. She felt like making Shea leave the house faster.

Sofia returned to the balcony of the room to wait for Marco and Shea's return.

An hour later, Sofia immediately stood up to see the car that Marco and Shea had previously driven had entered the yard. She was stunned to see Marco get out of the car and carry Shea. The two of them began to enter the house.

"I can't believe that an evil and cunning man like you likes a naive woman," Sofia murmured and smiled wryly.

***

Two hours passed. It was five o'clock in the afternoon. Shea, who was sound asleep in the room, began to wriggle her body. She slowly opened her eyes and then paused to stare straight ahead.

Shea sat up. She started to get out of bed and went to the walk-in closet. Her eyes widened as she saw that the room was filled with many items that she had seen in the store.

"Oh my!" Shea squealed and walked around the room.

She began to open each closet door, which was filled with many clothes. She also picked up one by one the bags that were neatly organized in the closet. She tried on several bags while walking like a model. Then she laughed at her ridiculousness.

"Oh my! I didn't expect him to actually buy all this stuff," sighed Shea, still laughing in disbelief. She was only joking when she told Marco to buy these items.

Shea picked up a minidress with yellow and purple floral patterns. She immediately changed her clothes. Then she took off her hairbun and let it loose to cover her entire exposed back.

After changing her clothes, she picked up her sandals and put them on and walked out of the room. She felt hungry, and her sleep was disturbed. Finally, she decided to go to the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, she looked around as if looking for someone. The room looked deserted. She didn't see any maids or cooks there. She walked towards the backyard terrace, as if there might be someone there.

However, the mansion looked deserted. Finally, she decided to cook for herself. She stepped back into the kitchen. Her hands were busy opening the fridge and picking up the ingredients she was going to use. She began to make a pot and heat the water. While waiting for the water to boil, she made pasta sauce.

"What are you doing?"

Shea looked back. She smiled at Sofia's arrival.

"Cooking pasta. Do you want some too?" Shea offered.

Sofia stood next to Shea, who was busy slicing sausages to put in the sauce. She noticed the clothes she was wearing.

"Um, I don't see any waiters or chefs. Are they on vacation?" Shea asked, as there was no answer from Sofia.

"Marco hardly ever has dinner at home. So they've been at the pavilion since four in the afternoon. Unless Marco calls them. And then it's usually Ale who calls them," Sofia explained. "Do you want me to call them?"

Shea immediately shook her head. "No need. I'm just cooking pasta anyway."

"Actually, I was in the mood to eat out. I asked Marco to drive me, but he had something to do, so he couldn't."

She stopped slicing sausages. She immediately turned to Sofia. "Marco's not home?" Shea asked.

"Yes, he is. He just left," Sofia replied.

'No wonder I haven't seen him since before.' Shea muttered to herself. Then I remembered that she had fallen asleep in the car but woke up when she was in the room. It seems that her bad habit of sleeping when it is difficult to wake up is known to Marco now.

Sofia furrowed her brow to see Shea daydreaming. "What if you come with me? We eat outside while talking about many things," Sofia invited.

"But," Shea looked hesitant. Instantly, she remembered Marco's threat.

"You don't have to worry. Marco himself asked me to accompany you," Sofia lied. She showed a big smile to cover her lie.

Shea was silent for a moment before finally nodding her head. "Okay. Then I'll put on my shoes first," Shea replied while, returning Sofia's smile.

Shea immediately turned off the stove. She walked quickly up the stairs to the room. Meanwhile, Sofia showed a sly grin while looking at Shea's back. She folded her hands together.

"You said you were a kidnapping victim. That means it will be very easy for me to get you out of here because your freedom must continue to haunt you," Sofia muttered.

***

The two women were already in the car. Alejandro had gone with Marco so she could easily take Shea out of the house. Sofia sat in the driver's seat while Shea was beside her. Without waiting long, Sofia immediately drove the car to one of the cafés located far from the mansion.

"How do you feel when you're with Marco?" Sofia asked. Occasionally she turned to Shea.

"I don't know," Shea replied while watching the atmosphere of the road. All she felt was annoyed and angry with Marco's arbitrary attitude. But she could not say it directly to Sofia. She was just worried that Sofia was spying on her on Marco's orders.

Sofia laughed softly, then took a deep breath. "Do you still not believe me? You just calm down; I will not tell Marco your answer, "said Sofia, as if she understood Shea's thoughts.

"What about you? What did you feel when you were with Marco?" Shea asked back. She was a little hesitant to ask that.

"Hmm," Sofia took another deep breath. Then she turned to Shea with a smile. "Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's annoying," Sofia replied.

"Can I ask you something? I've been curious since I first saw your wedding photos."

"Ask what you want to ask, Shea."

"How long did you know each other until you decided to get married?"

Sofia was quiet for a moment. She turns the car around and looks back at Shea, who looks very curious.

"Actually, we were set up as an arranged marriage," Sofia replied, much to Shea's surprise. "Marco knows my parents well. It can be said that their previous relationship was with a coworker. Then I first met him at Pablo's wedding celebration party. Since then, we have been close and in love."

"One more thing. You haven't given me a definite answer before. What does Marco really do? Is it true that he is a mobster?" Shea asked quietly.

Sofia paused again before answering Shea's question. She parked her car in front of a cafe and turned off the engine.

"He's ...." Sofia turned to Shea, who had been looking at her expectantly to get an answer from her. "Yes. You're right. Marco is indeed the leader of a powerful mafia family in Sicily, Don Marco Torres," Sofia replied and unbuckled her seat belt.