Empire of Blood

VI

Milan felt as if she would faint from the anxiety. She watched as models confidently walked up and down the podium with their skimpy lingerie set, looking as if they were born on the catwalk.

“Relax,” Leilani who posed as her stylist told her, “you’ll only be up there for a minute.”

Milan nodded before she closed her eyes and tried a mindful breathing technique Stella had taught her. She took a deep breath in and thought a positive thought and then she exhaled, while thinking of another positive thought.

“Ok, I think I’ve got this,” she said before she was signaled to stand in line.

“You have got it!” Leilani grinned, walking with Milan to the line. She pretended to fix Milan’s perfectly waved hair while she quickly spoke, “Alia’s friend has showed your photos to him and he has shown interest. The likelihood of him trying to talk to you after the show is high. We have installed cameras the bar and in all of the private rooms just in case he takes you up. Remember, if you feel uncomfortable at any moment, press the gem on your ring and we’ll be right there for you.” Leilani spoke without a single breath in between.

“Thirty seconds before you’re up,” the volunteer told Milan, as he ushered her forward.

She smiled at Leilani before she rid her mind of all thoughts that were stressing her out.

“Now!” the volunteer told her.

Without missing a beat, Milan stepped on to the podium and showed off the perfect catwalk she had been practicing for weeks.

She walked in nothing but an Italian foiled lace lingerie set that showed off more skin than she had ever dared show anyone. Everyone in the audience stared at her in awe; in awe of her stunning body and in awe of the gorgeous lingerie set that accented Milan’s body perfectly.

Milan finally found Luca Andiamo in the audience. He was sitting in the front row, directly in front of her. Her figure danced on the reflection of his sunglasses, a smirk growing on his face. She returned his smirk with a wink as she posed at the end of the podium. She then turned to return backstage with an extra swing in her hips, teasing her prey relentlessly.

“Wooh,” Leilani fanned herself as she smirked at her friend, “that was hot!”

Milan rolled her eyes at Leilani before saying, “He couldn't take his eyes off of me. I think this might actually turn out well.”

“I don't think anyone could take their eyes off of you,” Leilani winked, causing Milan to slightly blush.

“The show is about to end. You have the goodbye stage with the designer and then you need to change for the after-party.”

Milan nodded and just as she was about to respond, the volunteer told her to prepare for the stage.

The goodbye stage went by in a breeze. Milan just smiled and mimicked whatever the other models were doing until the end.

And then it was time for the after party. Leilani had dressed Milan in a long-sleeved white crop top which had lace sleeves and a sweetheart bust line. The bodice was covered in subtle beading throughout. She had paired it with a matching short A-line skirt that had a beaded waistline and an elegant scalloped hem. Milan couldn’t say she was crazy about the dress but it was certainly better and more conservative than some of the other dresses she had tried on.

“We’re expecting you back at the headquarters by midnight,” Leilani whispered to Milan before she left her in the company of some other models.

The venue of the after party was a high-end bar where the men wore suits and the women wore cocktail dresses. Like any regular bar however, the music was blasting and people were dancing. It all looked so strange to Milan’s eyes.

“Excuse me, Miss,” the bartender called for Milan’s attention, “this is from our Boss.”

Milan had done her homework so she was well aware of who his boss was. It was none other than her main suspect, Luca Andiamo.

“I don’t know who your boss is,” she feigned innocence, “but tell him I don’t drink.”

The bartender’s face paled but he took the drink back anyway. Milan assumed his mafia boss wasn’t an easy man to relay the news of rejection to.

Not long later, Milan felt his presence beside her. She felt his stare bore into her so she turned towards him and lightly smiled.

“Mio angelo, what is your name?” he asked in his thick Italian accent. Milan knew very well that he already knew, but she decided to play along.

“My name is Milan Ossani,” she told him her undercover name.

“Milan,” he repeated. “After the city of my home country.”

“Yes,” Milan nodded. “My parents met and fell in love in Milan so they named me after it.”

That was a lie. Milan didn’t know why she was named Milan and she had no idea where and how her birth parents even met.

“Your parents are quite romantic,” Luca grinned. “Are you like them too?”

“Romantic?” Milan asked, slightly laughing . “I have never even dated before.”

This seemed to have surprised Luca because his eyes slightly widened before a large grin adorned his face.

He didn’t say anything for a while and just stared at Milan, making her feel pretty uncomfortable.

“What is your name?” she asked, eagerly trying to hide her discomfort.

By the look on his face, it seemed like he knew she was lying about not knowing who he was but he responded to her question anyway.

“Luca Andiamo,” he replied simply. Before she could respond, he continued, “How about we continue our conversation in my hotel room? It’s very loud in here.”

Milan bit down on her lip, unconsciously teasing the man before her in ways she couldn’t have imagined.

“Depends,” she began, “will we only be talking?”

Luca Andiamo laughed out loud at her question.

“I only take a woman to my room for one reason, Miss Ossani. And I don’t think I need to spell out that reason for you, do I?”

Milan pressed her lips together, “I will not sleep with you, Mr. Andiamo," she told him straight out. She had a feeling that women weren't usually upfront but she wasn't trying to simply be another one of his bed mates. She had a mission and she needed to win his companionship for that. Being a submissive little girl wasn't going to win her the respect she needed.

Luca grinned like the Cheshire cat, “I assure you, mio angelo, there will be no sleeping when we are together.”

Milan smiled back at the man before her, pretending to be amused by his way around with words. “I will not have s*x with you,” she stated more clearly, while she looked him straight in the eye. 

“That’s what they all say,” Luca’s smile widened, “but then they all end up in my bed anyway.”

Milan knew she needed to keep her cool for the sake of the case, but the more Luca Andiamo spoke, the more she felt annoyed. She was about to respond but before she could, someone else interrupted their conversation.

“They say a man becomes more desperate as he ages,” a stranger with a deep but pleasantly smooth voice said from behind Milan, “I guess you’re the prime example of that, Don Andiamo.”

Luca’s face fell at the sound of the voice, and the grin that was previously directed at her had now been replaced with a scowl as he looked at their guest.

“Leonidas Alexiou,” Luca spat, causing Milan to gasp at the mention of the name she had not heard in years. "It has been a while."