Mafia Billionaire’s Forlorn Wife

004-Arabella

"Come on, bottoms up!" Leo says as the waitress brings up a tray of twelve shots of tequila and places it on the table of our private booth.

I stare at those monstrosities and then once again look up towards Leo's forest green eyes, "six shots is one too many for me, Grinch, you know that." I mutter hesitantly. "What if I make a fool of myself and some paparazzi gets it on camera?"

His nickname appeared during our freshman year of high school when I found out just how much he hates Christmas, and literally any other celebration that brings joy to the masses. I found his deep rooted reasons much later but calling him Grinch became second nature by that point.

He fixes a pointed stare on my face, "Sweetheart, with the situation you are living in right now, no amount of alcohol is too much for you. So, stop thinking about what anyone will think and just drink up. I'm here to handle you should things go wrong." He tells me with a look of all seriousness.

The reassurance in his voice warms my heart, reminding me of the magnanimous capacity he sports for alcohol. There are hardly any moments when I have seen Leo drunk out of his mind and I can count all of them on my free hand.

And besides, after the month that I have lived through as Rhys Mikhailov's wife, drinking myself into oblivion does feel like a pretty good thing to do.

I nod my head shakily, trying to forget all the nights that I have cried myself to sleep in this past month— which is every single night.

"Alright, here goes..."

And with that I pick up the first shot and Leo cheers as we begin our night of absolute fun.

———————

Another whooping cheer escapes Leo’s mouth as we dance on the crowded floor, letting go of our inhibitions while letting the alcohol in our veins make decisions for us.

The world around me is nothing more than a flashing array of colourful lights and right now, only the spinning of my head is making me feel alive.

My hands are around Leo’s neck as the two of us dance fiercely to our favourite song.

Drink number I-don’t-know-what is in my hands as I take a sip of the exceptionally strong martini in my hand as my hips sway to the music.

That is when Leo’s eyes divert from me and towards someone behind me and I furrow my brows, “Grinch?” I call out, pouting slightly as I turn around and find a cute man standing by the bar, looking exceptionally out of place in his pale blue shirt and khaki pants.

I turn back to find Leo licking his lips— a nervous gesture for when he is trying to decide whether or not he should do something.

I grin up at him, “go for it!” I tell him, clutching the back of his neck. My best friend clearly looks smitten by the man sitting by the bar, so I know that I have to convince him to try his luck.

Leo’s eyes snap back towards me, “what?” He mutters, coming out of the trance he was in.

I smile at him, and even though my vision is blurry at best, I can see the way his eyes are conflicted. I know that being his best friend, I need to help him out.

“Come on, you’ve kept to yourself ever since the whole…incident. And I think it’s time you finally go out and enjoy the dating scene.”

Leo went through a terrible break up last year and ever since then, he hasn’t allowed himself to open up his heart to anyone else again. But lately, I know that he has been feeling lonely and no matter how hard I try, I am not all he needs. He misses being in love but he is afraid that he will get hurt again.

“What? No!” He says shaking his head as his hands fall to his sides from where they had been resting on my waist, “I’m not going to talk to him. I’m fine as it is.” He affirms.

I give him a pointed stare but I don’t know how effective it turns out to be because my head is currently spinning, “you’re not and we both know it. He is the first guy that has caught your attention in a whole year and I will be damned if you don’t go up to him and ask him out.” I tell him in all seriousness.

If there is one person who can convince Leo Duarte into doing something then it is me. And I am mighty proud of that fact.

Leo lets out a low whine, staring at me with a troubled look that tells me that I am getting closer to winning this argument. I press on, “and besides, I’ll be right here to save you if it doesn’t go well. You can just do the Sign and I’ll come to your rescue.”

Leo and I have a secret gesture that only the two of us know about. We call it the Sign— clearly two high school students couldn’t come up with a better name. We made it when we first started visiting clubs under fake identities but it has stuck around and has helped both of us avoid difficult or even dangerous situations in the past.

Leo pressed his lips together, “you really think I should approach him?” He asks nervously.

I almost squeal but somehow manage to keep my excitement at bay as I nod my head, swaying lightly on my feet as a slow Taylor Swift song starts to play and I can already feel myself dancing to it.

Leo nods his head and is just about to leave when he stops, “but wait,” he says looking at me with worry, “you’re drunk out of your mind, I can’t leave you here!”

I snort at his words but it somehow comes out as a hiccup. “Pssht! Why would you think I’m drunk? I’m perfectly alright, Grinch.” His name comes out of my mouth in a funny manner which makes me giggle.

Leo gives me a pointed look, “you’re drunk. I won’t leave you alone, Bella.” He says placing his arm on my shoulder.

“Oh, no no no no…please don’t do this? That guys is really cute and I have a feeling that something great could start between you two. Please don’t stop yourself because of me?” I request him, staring at him with the best puppy face possible, “I’ll be fine!” I say with a dramatic flare of my hand.

Wait, why do I feel like puking?

I shake my head, FOCUS! I mentally scream at myself before training my eyes on Leo again.

“I’m not leaving you on the dance floor alone, alright?” He says in a steel voice.

Leo has always been protective of me. Sometimes I feel that it is sweet but all the other times I hate it. He always tells me that it is only because he knows how dangerous the mafia world is.

His father works for my own, which is the main reason we went to the same high school in the first place and he has always looked out for me in any possible way he can.

But right now, I am not going to let him lose his shot with someone who seems like a great guy.

I pout at him, “please ask him out, Lee? Please please please? You know how terrible my life has been. It would make me really happy. Won’t you do it?” I ask, staring up at his six feet frame. God, why are all the men in my life so much taller than me?

That reminds me of my six feet five husband and I have to pull myself out from that thought if I don’t wish to cry tears of pain right now.

Leo looks at me for a moment and then cusses under his breath, “why would you use your puppy face when you know that no one can resist it?” He groans while staring at me in an accusatory manner.

I give him a billion dollar grin, “come on, go and ask him out. And if you’re worried about me, then I’ll be in our booth and you can be rest assured that no one will harm me there.” I tell him, patting his shoulders before reaching out to push a few of his unruly hair strands away and making sure that his clothe do not look out of place. Once I’m satisfied, I step back, almost bumping into someone behind me, “there, perfect now. Go.” I tell him with a grin.

He sighs, “alright, go back to the booth, and I’ll just grab his number and be back soon. Don’t go anywhere without telling me, okay?” He orders me and I nod my head, practically squealing at the fact that my best friend is finally going to ask someone out after an entire year of having sworn off men.

“Positive!” I tell him and he shakes his head, takes in a deep breath, and then hurries towards the bar when he sees that the man he had been eying was about to leave.

I giggle before turning to walk towards the VIP area where the private booth is. We have it booked for the night and no one aside from me and Leo can come there.

That is when a charming brunet steps into my way as he grins down at me, “would you like to dance, gorgeous?” He asks in a manner that almost makes me want to barf. His hand comes to rest around my waist as his hips move slowly and sensuously to the song that is playing right now.

Wait, what song is this?

I try to blink the confusion out of my gaze as I shake my head.

“Sorry, no time…” I mumble, trying to get out of his arms.

But my body refuses to fight back, and my arms feel heavier than before as I realise that the effect of the alcohol is hitting me hard. My throat feels parched and without thinking, I take another sip of the drink in my hand.

Uh oh…

That was a bad idea.

The brunet is now bringing his face closer to mine and I can feel the smell of putrid alcohol on his breath which makes my stomach recoil.

“Come on, sweetheart, just one dance.” He says pressing his palm flat on my lower back while thrusting his hips forward until I can feel his bottom pressed against me.

My head is spinning and my whole body chills, “let go, I’m…married…” I try to push at his chest, to push him backwards but he takes that as invitation and latches his lips to the skin of my neck.

My entire body is repulsed by the action as I struggle in his arms, “stop, let go…let go…”

“If you’re married then your husband should know not to leave a smoking hot wife to club all on her own, darling.” He whispers in my ear, nibbling on it while his palm moves lower on my body to cup my ass and it only makes me struggle more.

Why is he not stopping? Why is no one else seeing this and coming to my rescue?

“Stop…don’t…”

My words slur and my head spins until all I can feel is revulsion at the fact that a stranger who has no respect for boundaries or consent is currently touching me inappropriately.

“STOP!” I scream out but my words seem to fall into deaf years.

And right when I prepare myself to jam my knee right into this man’s crotch which is currently pressed against me, his body is flying off of my own and I stumble a few steps back and stagger at the dis balance until a hand wraps around my wrist to stabilise me.

The touch sends an awakening flame through my entire body and my eyes flash open once again and my vision, for once, is not blurry right now.

Standing right in front of me, is no one other than my darling husband, while he stares murderously at the brunet who was trying to force himself on me.

And he looks pissed as hell.