Chapter 31 Eric

"Okay, Eric. But you need to be careful. And Ariele needs to be by your side, showing him how happy she is with you. If she shows any hesitation or unhappiness, it can be used against you."

I agreed, knowing that Josef was right.

"Understood. I'll talk to Ariele and see if she agrees to come with me," Josef nodded, looking satisfied.

"Very well. Now, we need to discuss what you're going to say to him. You need to be prepared, Eric. He won't settle for superficial answers."

I nodded, feeling a bit irritated. Josef was meticulous, and this fact bothered me.

"What do you suggest, Josef?"

He leaned forward, speaking in a low, confidential tone.

"You need to show him that you're loyal to the family and that you'll do whatever it takes to protect it. He values loyalty above all else, Eric. And if you can show him that you're loyal, he'll be your ally."

"I understand. I'll do that."

"I've been thinking about Guilda's fate," he touched on the subject. "And I think we should set her free."

"Set her free?" I asked incredulously. "Why would I do that?"

"Because, even though she betrayed the mafia, she's still one of us," Josef explained. "And besides, she might be useful to us in the future." With Ariele's arrival, Guilda had become expendable.

"I disagree," I responded cautiously. "She betrayed me, and now she'll pay."

"I understand your concerns, Eric," Josef said. "But you need to understand that her father is a very powerful man. And if he finds out where his daughter is being held, he could become furious."

"This matter is not up for discussion. You may leave now."

I was happy. Things were going well. Business was progressing, my plan to marry Ariele was underway, and I was feeling more confident with each passing day.

I had just returned home after a long day at the mafia headquarters and decided to take a relaxing bath to relieve stress. As I lathered up, I felt the hot water flowing over my body. It was a moment of peace, a break from my turbulent and dangerous life. I knew I had to savor every moment of tranquility I could find because I never knew when the next crisis would arise.

When I stepped out of the bath, I felt the cold air conditioning hitting my damp body. I dried off and put on comfortable clothing, ready to relax for the rest of the night. That's when Cassandra barged into my room.

"Eric, about the ring," she said, entering my room, knowing she shouldn't.

"I don't want to hear any more of this, Cassandra. I won't tolerate this behavior in my house," I said to her angrily, making it clear that I wasn't willing to listen to her anymore.

"You're wasting your time with Ariele; she's plain, and you'll get tired of her soon," Cassandra said with a smug smile. She was a blonde bombshell, but she had no substance within her.

"I don't want to hear that from you. You know nothing about Ariele, and you have no right to speak about her like that," I said, feeling my anger rising even more.

"I'm the right woman for you, Eric. We've always been good together, and you know it," Cassandra said, trying to get closer to me once again.

"Enough, Cassandra. Go to your room now. There never was an 'us,'" I said, being firmer and tougher than before.

She fell silent for a moment, looking at me with wide eyes. Then, finally, she shook her head and left the room. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my anger and frustration. I knew I would have to be more careful with Cassandra in the future because she wouldn't give up easily. But I was determined to maintain my relationship with Ariele and protect her from anyone trying to separate us. Nothing would take away my throne. I bitterly regretted having taken Cassandra to bed during a moment of weakness we had in the past. She was a beautiful and fiery blonde, and I was a man—I couldn't resist the temptation. But it didn't go beyond two or three times; I barely remembered, and when I realized she wanted something more, I made sure to put her in her place. Still, she seemed to be dreaming of those nights from the past.

I got out of my bed and walked through the silent hallway of the house, careful not to make any noise. I knew everyone was asleep, except for me and Cassandra, who was clearly watching me.

I went to the room of my sweet future wife, Ariele, who was sleeping peacefully, like an angel. I stood there for a few minutes, just looking at her. Her features were so delicate and soft that they seemed to have been taken from a fairy tale. She was such a beautiful, perfect sight. I smiled to myself, knowing that I had hit the jackpot—the famous "two birds with one stone."

Suddenly, Ariele stirred in bed and opened her eyes. She looked confused for a moment, but when she saw me, she smiled sleepily.

"Eric, what are you doing here?" she asked, yawning.

I approached the bed and sat down beside her.

"I just wanted to see if you were sleeping well," I replied. "I didn't want to wake you, but I couldn't resist coming to see you."

Ariele laughed and sat up in bed, hugging me.

"You're so sweet, Eric," she said. "I love it when you do these romantic things."

I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I would do anything to see that smile on your face," I told her, the absolute truth. Ariele had the pieces of the game I needed.

She smiled at me and kissed my cheek. We sat on the bed for a while, talking and laughing together until Ariele fell asleep.

I couldn't resist the sweet and seductive scent of Ariele's hair as I held her in bed. I was so intoxicated by her scent that I couldn't think of anything else. My thoughts were only about how nice it would be to wake up next to her every morning.

I knew that, as a mafia man, I should be thinking about more important things, like business and power strategies. But for the moment, none of that mattered. Being with Ariele, smelling her scent, made me content.

I started stroking her soft and delicate hair as I thought about our future together. I knew we would have some challenges ahead, but I was ready to face them.

"It won't be so bad playing house with you after we get married," I said to her as I held her even tighter.

I could feel her body moving gently as she slept. I nestled closer to her and let sleep take over.