The Obsession

Why me?

Jeane

The drive to the grocery store are too silent to bear, it's as if I can hear how loud my heartbeat was, knowing that I'm with the big boss of the biggest Mafia inside the car, alone. And she's driving carelessly without a doubt that she's also a drag racer, because the supposedly 45 minutes drive from her house to the place where we going, takes only 25 minutes.

She pulled the car in the lot, doing a parallel job, hitting the break hardly and she yelled a "hoo!" In too much excitement, it's as if, this is her first time driving a car.

"I don't know how you got your license, but I'm sure you bribed them with your money." I scoffed before pushing the door open on my side and stepped out.

"How could you say that? Don't you like the way I drive?" She asked while following me into the grocery store entrance.

"I hate it, I hate everything about you except for your cats."

"Ok then, I'll drive carefully next time." She sighs and was about to run into one aisle as soon as we entered but I grab her hand and pointed at the cart station. "Get it for yourself." She scoffed and took back her hand.

"I'm not one of your men, you don't get to order me!"

"Ok ok, you don't have to shout, I don't want to get so much attention and one more thing, ms. Keeve." She groans as she walked to the cart station to get one and she pad back to me. "Don't tell my friends that we came here."

"Why? Because—."

"Because they'll get mad at me for being careless, showing myself outside without any of my men beside me."

"How old are you again?" I asked.

"19." She replied.

"You're old enough to go in a grocery store to buy your own food. Criminals don't have the rights to get scared after being expose." I said and left her to the meat section.

I was busy eyeing the meat, choosing which is fresh and which is not, and all the time I was ignoring the woman in my back, and focus to what I was doing, until I decided to go for different part of the meat and asked the clerk to give me different cut sizes of it before facing the silent woman behind me.

"This is what you call foo—." I stopped from talking when I turn around and there's no Lissie behind me. "Where the hell is she?!" I grumble.

My neck is craning in every aisle to look for that woman but I still couldn't find her until I collided into someone's body. Strong arms got ahold of my body before I fall down on the floor.

"Are you alright?" A deep with husky voice of a man, asked me worriedly.

"I.. I'm fine, I'm sorry, I wasn't looking." I apologized and stood straight to notice how tall he is because when I face him, I met his chest. A well built chest just like the guy in the bus earlier.

"Are you sure?" He asked again, holding both of my shoulder, pulling me out from the sudden shock that occurs on me after seeing how masculine he is.

"Yes, sir." I replied and taking step backwards to remove his hands from my shoulder subtlety.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't saw you, you were so small that's why." He's obviously teasing me and wanting to continue the conversation even if I said that it's already fine.

"Uhm.. You know what, that's fine and I'm in a rush. Sorry again." I dismissed again and was about to turn around but he grab my elbow to stop me from walking away.

"Wait."

"Please don't worry about that." I said, a bit frustrated and afraid that Lissie might see me and thinks that I'm asking for help, and I'm still looking for her.

"Do you have someone with you—ouch!"

"Oops, sorry. You're standing on my way." I looked behind the guy to see the person who hit him with the push cart and my eyes widened to see Lissie, glaring at me.

"What the hell—." The guy was cut off and turned around.

"Leave her alone." Lissie growls, low on her throat. Her gaze shifted to the guy who's rubbing his hip.

"I was just apologizing and you should at least say your sorry to me." The guy scoffed but Lissie just glower at him and the guy blinks his eyes.

"She said she's fine, now get the hell out of my face and don't show yourself around." Lissie said and she turned to me. "Are you ok?"

"But–."

"Be gone!" Lissie snapped and she turned to face the guy once again. And I don't know if it's just me or he really looks scared, I can see how he became tensed and he gulped thickly, then he cleared his throat.

"Geez, fine." The guy resigned and he turn his back against us, walking away too fast.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you? Did he—."

"I'm fine." I interrupt Lissie with soft chuckles. She really went into a paranoid from a monster, real quick. "Where have you been?" I asked to divert our topic because I really don't want her to make a scene here just because I stumbled into someone. Though, I know I'm assuming too much that she will do that, but I saw the rage in her eyes that she's about to kill someone.

"Oh oh, look!" Then now she suddenly became giddy, like a kid who's excited to show what she got.

And for the love of God. Her cart are full of sweets, such as gummy bears, variety of chocolates, junk foods and gallons of chocolate drink, even if she had them all inside her fridge.

"What is that?" I asked, pointing at her cart and looking at her with my brows creasing.

"Uh food?" She said with sheepish smile.

"Those are not food, Lissie!"

"They are!" She insist.

"Put it all back! We are not going to buy them!" I ordered. Her shoulder slumped down, looking at me with her rounded puppy eyes and I am so sure that she's pouting beneath her mask.

"Meanie!" She grumble before pushing the cart and entered one aisle that says sweet section. I shook my head and released a sigh, I couldn't believe that she's such a kid, the boss of the biggest mafia is a kid.

After Lissie returned all the food she had taken that was not needed, she went back to me like nothing happened, her mask under her chin and licking a lollipop that I'm sure not yet paid.

"Are you done?" I asked and she nodded her head while smiling toothily. And that makes me confused as to why her mood suddenly change but I ignore it. "Ok, let's go. I need to buy ingredients." I said and push the cart while she's on my heels.

During the whole time we were shopping for what we needed, Lissie and I argued a few times, because she kept throwing and sneaking junk food in our cart and every time that I'll caught her, I secretly put everything back without her, noticing. Then she will put anything again, and that's when we'll start to argue, but she's so persistent and too stubborn, so at the end, I let her take what she wants.

Until I finally got everything I needed to cook for a real food, I decided to push the cart to the lane to pay the food. Of course, not with my money. I don't have enough money to pay all of this.

"That'll be 285 dollars, ma'am." The cashier said and I smiled at her before looking behind me.

"Where the hell is she?!" I asked again for the second time tonight. After I let her take what she wants, she hasn't come back yet.

"Ma'am?" The cashier called my attention.

"I'm sorry but I'm waiting for my company, she—." I paused when I saw Lissie pushing her own cart that full of box of cat food and cereals. "Oh God." I mumbled and when I looked back at the cashier, I smile awkwardly.

"Hey Jeane! I found this here!" Lissie beams and stood next to me. "My babies will never get starve for the next two years."

"That is too much." I breathed out.

"And? It's for my babies, nothing is too much." Lissie shrugs her shoulder and started to put every box on the counter.

The cashier smiled at Lissie while scanning the goods and Lissie was too excited to take everything home and show her cats that they have a lot of food.

"That'll be 1,280 dollar, ma'am." The cashier said. I was busy checking the bags when I felt a poke on my shoulder.

"Pay it." Lissie said that makes my mouth fell open in stunned surprised.

"You've got to be f*****g kidding me." I said and looked at her in disbelief.

"What? I told you, I don't have money."

"And I don't have money as well! What kind of billionaire you are?!" I asked frustratedly.

"What? You don't have money? Then why did you asked me to go here? And what about my babies food?" She asked, looks like she's more devastated than I am.

Really? She had the audacity to feel like that?

"Uh ma'am, if you don't have money to pay all of this, I'm sorry but we have to—."

"Tch!" Lissie flick her tongue and held out her hand to me. "May I borrow your phone?"

"Why?" I asked but still fishes it out from my pocket.

"Gotta call someone and I'm sure, I'm dead." She said as I handed her the phone and starts dialing someone. "Hello? Yes, this is Lissie, uhm would you mind to go here at the grocery around the vicinity of your house? I'll explain later, and please bring money." She said and ended the call. "Now let's wait."

"Who did you call?" I asked.

"My second mom." She sighs and we both move to the side to give way to other customers to pay for what they bought. "Why don't you have money?" She asked frustratedly, as if it's my fault why we look stupid for getting everything and doesn't have money to pay for it.

"You are unbelievable." I said while shaking my head. "In case you forgot, I'm here because of that man's debt and I don't have money to pay you yet."

"Even so, then why do you get so much? Now I need to call her and deal with her sermon, and it's your fault if they prevent me going out again." She scoffed.

"Wow, I can't believe that I am really dealing with such a brat." I hissed.

"Boss!"

I thought that Lissie, a billionaire who doesn't have money, was the weirdest thing that happened tonight. But no, after seeing bunch of men in a suit running to our spot and Dahlia walking explosively to us, she's in a rage, her eyes says so. And all people inside the store gets scared. I mean, who wouldn't? If there are lot of men running around the store as if we got attacked with some terrorist.

"Great." Lissie mumbles.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Dahlia asked in rage.

"Jeane forced me to go here!" Lissie said and she pointed at me. My mouth fell in mocked surprised and I don't know if I should get mad or feel stupid for bringing this woman with me.

"How many times do I have to tell you that it is dangerous for you to go out without a bodyguard!" Dahlia said and she stopped in front of us, she look at me and I could tell she's mad for putting their boss into this kind of situation. Which is really ridiculous!

"Did you bring any money?" Lissie asked.

"You're unbelievably crazy." Dahlia shakes her head and pulled out her wallet behind her pocket. "Next time, if you need something, just call any of your men, you don't have to go out."

"Just don't tell Nash—."

"Your cousin is outside, and she's itching to kick your ass." Dahlia said which made Lissie to groan.

"Why did you bring her?!"

"Because..." Dahlia paused after she payed the cashier and shoved back her wallet inside her back pocket and looked up to Lissie. "...this is the first time you went out and go to a grocery store and she's worried."

"You didn't have to bring her." Lissie said and look at me. "Let's go home." She took my hand and starts dragging me away, letting her men to bring all of the goods we bought. People are still not moving, as if they are too afraid to make a move because of what suddenly occured inside the store.

Lissie's men made a circle around us while we're both walking to the exit and as soon as we stepped out, Lissie grunts in pain while rubbing her hip and she let go of my hand.

"What the hell was that for!"

"Are you out of your mind?!" The bunny teeth girl, shouted.

"Nashly!" Dahlia immediately hold the girl to prevent her from coming near her boss once again.

"You made me so damn worried, Lis! What the hell are you thinking?! And what the hell are you wearing?!"

"Says to the one wearing a onesie and calm down, will you?" Lissie said as she stood straight and face her cousin. "There's nothing to worry about, I'm fine and not harmed, and besides, it's not that bad to go out sometimes and what's wrong with a hoodie and a track pants?"

"Do you hear yourself?" Nashly asked, seemingly holding back her anger. "You are not just an ordinary person, you are—!"

"I know, I never forgotten about that. But I just wanted to buy food, is there something wrong with that?" If anyone is in my shoes, watching these Mafias arguing outside the store, with men circling them. They would probably get scared and pissed on their pants.

Just imagine, there are almost 50 men around in every corner of the store, they are in alert, and there are another 20 men circling around us and four people in the middle, two are arguing, while one is holding the other woman and one is silent. I can't believe that I really end up dealing with these bunch of i***t mafias.

"That's enough." Dahlia rebukes and she looked at Lissie. "You need to go home, Lis."

"As I should." Lissie said and her gaze shifted to Nashly. "I'm sorry, cous. But you don't have to worry about me that much, I'm 19."

"Age is not a shield for bullets, Lis." Nashly said with a lungful sigh at the end and she looked at me. "I hope this will never happen again."

"I'm s-sorry." I apologize. And I couldn't believe that I still found my voice after all the time of being silent while watching them.

"Let's go." Lissie grabs my hand again and dragged me in her car. One guy open the door on the backseat, but Lissie shakes her head and she open the door in the passenger's seat. "Go in."

"Wait, you're driving?" Dahlia asked.

"Yeah, it's been a while." Lissie shrugs as she shut the door and walk to the other side of the car. "...gonna happen." I heard she said before hopping in and shut the door. "They are so annoying." She hissed as she buckle her seatbelt.

"They're worried." I said.

"And annoying." She scoffed before starting the engine and shifts the gear, maneuver the car and drove away. As we exited the parking lot of the store, I notice a guy sitting at the side of the road, bunch of teenagers standing beside him. Lissie stopped the car and she called one of the teenager. "Here's the card that I promised." She said and the kid took it with wide smile in his lips.

As Lissie continue to drive, I was looking at the guy, he seems got beaten by those teenagers and when one kid lifted his face, I was shocked to see the guy that I got stumbled into and my head snapped to the woman next to me.

"He deserves that." Lissie said even if I hadn't said anything.

"For what?!" I asked.

"For hurting you." Lissie said flatly.

"He didn't hurt me." I said.

"I don't care, he touched you." She insisted. I decided to shut my mouth and just released a sigh. What do I expect from a Mafia? It's normal for them to kill and to beat people, so it's not worth to have an argument with them once they did an unjustified moves.

The drive way back to her house are really different from what happened on our way to the store, she's more careful now and driving without overtaking in any vehicles. I don't know if it's because her men are tailing us behind or she really meant what she said earlier that she's going to drive carefully next time.

"Do you have school tomorrow?" Lissie asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah." I simply replied, eyes on the road and crossed arms.

She didn't respond to that but she pressed the button in her phone that attached in her car and on the dashboard. "Suvi, bring the twins with you and get all of Jeane's things in their house, I need that tonight."

"Yes boss." I couldn't help but to scoff and rolled my eyes after she ended the call.

"What?" She asked as she looked at me in confused then back to the road.

"You are really serious about keeping me in." My voice came out with a hint of snark.

"Yeah, that's already decided when your father said that he has a daughter."

I didn't respond after that and let my mind to wander. What life awaits me living with a mafia boss? With a billionaire without pocket money, a woman that's into woman?

"What are you thinking?" Lissie asked, she shuffle to face me and I didn't notice that we already arrived in front of her house and her men taking all the bags inside.

"Why me?" I asked out of the sudden.

"Because you look like a cat, you know how much I like cats." She said as she unbuckled her seatbelt and a men open the door for her.

Did she just indirectly told me that she likes me? Or I was just assuming things? We just met this afternoon, and it's really stupid of me to assume that way.

"Thank you." I thanked the guy who open the door for me and he smiled at me, but when he saw Lissie glaring at him while talking to Dahlia and Nashly, he immediately bow his head and he looks so scared.

I shoot Lissie a dagger look but she ignored me and turn her back against me, the three of them went inside and even if I really want to take that as an opportunity to run, there's no way that her men would let me out. And after all, that Suvi and the twin are in my house to take my things, so probably, there's no place that is safe for me.

Why don't I just call cops and ask for help? Well, that is the most dangerous thing that I'm going to do for that matters. Mafias are not a joke, especially if they are big and powerful. I'm not saying that they could control the law, but they could make a mess that there's a probability that my life will be at risk. So earning money and taking Lissie's trust is the only choices that's left for me.

As I got inside the house, I make my way to the kitchen and avoid the three women, I am looking for the goods that we bought but I only see the bags and the contents inside was all gone.

"Excuse me, where are the goods that we bought?" I asked the guy who's crumpling the bags.

"We already put them inside the refrigerator." He replied politely and bow his head before walking out of the kitchen, until all of them leaves and I was left alone.

And since it was too late, I just decided to cook a simple dish for Lissie and wait for my things to arrive so I can prepare them for my school for tomorrow. While cutting an onion for a chicken soup, I heard multiple cars left the driveway and the main door shut closed.

"What are you going to cook?" Lissie asked behind me.

"Chicken soup." I replied without looking at her.

"Sorry about what happened earlier, did they scared you?" She asked again and sat on the stool in front of the counter top, stroking Luca's fur.

"Who wouldn't?" I asked mockingly. "If there are almost hundred of men running inside the store and acting like there's a threat.

"I didn't know that Dahlia would bring men with her." She said, her voice seems too groggy and when I look at her, her head on the counter top, eyes were closed and hands still in her cat's body. The cat was staring her mom, as if he's wondering why Lissie stop from petting him.

"Why don't you sleep? I'll cook this for tomorrow before I leave to school." I said but she didn't respond. Her stable breathing are indicating she already fell asleep. Is she really that exhausted to sleep in a not comfortable position?

I stopped what I was doing and lower the heat of the stove before walking back to her, as I was about to touch her, a car stopped outside and a voice roared at the house.

"Boss! We're here!" Lissie's eyebrows furrowed and her eyes slowly opens. She moves to pushed herself up and walk out the kitchen groggily. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know that you're already asleep!"

I shook my head after hearing those words and decided to see my things, as I reached the living room, I saw the girl with narrow eyes on the floor, and the twin was holding Lissie's both hands.

"Geez! Next time know how to knock!" Lissie grumbled when she saw me and took back her hands from her men. "Bring her stuff upstairs and eat before you leave." She added and she walked to the couch in the living room, throwing her body onto it.

"She's not in a good mood." The girl with narrow eyes, said. "By the way, we took all of your things, and I'm surprised that it only occupied one box. Are you really living with mr. Keeves?" She asked.

"Just leave it there and I'll prepare the soup, your boss said that you need to eat first." I said and turn my heels, leaving the three of them and I enter the kitchen.

"Did they fight?" One of the twin asked when they thought I'm already away from their earshot.

"Maybe." The girl that I assumed, she's Suvi, said, before they broke into loud laughter but immediately shut up when Lissie groans.

I continue making the soup and serves it to the three people as a thanks for bringing my stuff, though it is their boss's order. The twin keeps bickering while Suvi is staring at me, I can feel her gaze but I chose to ignore it and walked outside the kitchen. I saw Lissie lying flat in her back while staring at the chandelier, her one arm in her forehead and another in her stomach.

"Aren't you going to eat?" I asked.

"I'm leaving for Cali tomorrow." She replied instead of answering my question.

"Okay and?" I asked again.

"I want you to come with me."

"I don't have any business with your own business, and besides, I have school for tomorrow and I have to attend my shift to my part time job." I said and pad to the stairs, I heard a shuffling sounds and Lissie speaks.

"Will you be fine here, alone?" She asked which made me to halt my steps and look back at her.

"You're going to leave me alone?" I asked in disbelief and she nodded her head. "And you're really not afraid that I might escape?"

"I already answered your question earlier, and I will answer it again. It's up to you if you want to run."

I stare at her for a moment and released a sigh. "I'll be fine. And as you've said, Suvi will drive me, so yeah. You don't have to worry that I might escape or run."

"I'll be back in a week, don't forget to feed my kids." She said before she stood up and went to the kitchen. I released another deep sigh before continuing to walk upstairs.

"She's really unbelievable, really different from what I heard from them." I mumbles to myself and enter my occupied room.

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