Chapter 171: Pressure
I read through the new contact given to me.
My eyes shifted to the little girl, staring at me. I didn't expect a child within the mafia, especially in one as tense as this.
I looked back at the contract she had given me.
It was identical with the Contract 21 except I'd be the main receiver of this one, and not my father.
Should I see it as simply changing autonomy? I knew Theoden could be sneaky. I rubbed my temples. Why did I bother overthink?
Theoden has no reason to secretly betray me. He already had a good cut, though I didn't know how much. I should still be aware of these things.
Our last conversation sounded like he had my best interest in mind. I should give him more trust.
"Pen please?" I stretched my hand to the girl.
Her fingers tightened around the pen. I knew that reaction all too well from teaching at grades ones, during summer. This girl didn't like me.
That was odd since we were meeting for the first time. There had been a knock on the door, and she showed up when I opened it.
How confidently she walked in despite my confused expression made me understand she wasn't a guest here. She might've even grown up here.
"Your guardian, Rufus, would want me to sign the contract."
First, guilt-tripping her to realise that her actions could make her favourite person disappointed in her.
There was no change in her expression. "Fine," I gave up quickly, dropping the contract on my bed, and putting my legs on the table.
"I'd just wait till Theoden comes to take it then I'd sign—"
Her expression changed subtly. She looked at the contract, even taking a step to read it.
She had reacted to Theoden? Did he scare her? I didn't say anything as I didn't want to promote her fear of him.
"Pen." She dropped it on the contract. Such a strong voice. "Sign." She pointed to the contract.
She even knew what it was?
Now, she made me do it on her own terms.
I smiled and did as she said. She took the contract and left the room.
I shook my head as she left the door open, even if she had used her tippy toes to open it when she walked out.
Yet the brief encounter with a child felt refreshing amidst everything that had happened this week.
When my eyes fluttered open, I realized that I had slept for three hours. The door was still open as I hadn't taken a step to close it.
There was a box package in the room.
Blood flooded to my cheeks at the thought that someone walked in on me asleep, drooling, with my legs still on the table.
I faintly remembered hearing "sleep well, Donna-Belle."
I hurriedly slammed the door closed and had a moment of silence. That was so embarrassing. My feet trudged to the box. It was my old belongings.
I pushed them under the bed, and left for a shower.
In roughly forty minutes, I'd be required to join lunch downstairs. I would also be meeting other members of this community as the new heir of a company.
The thoughts made the warm water feel cold on my skin. I finished my shower and covered myself in the warm sweaters found in the closet.
I made a small spin in front of the mirror before walking out of my room. My happy steps stopped when I saw Theoden.
He rested on the elevator a few steps away from my room, waiting. His eyes were closed and his hair fell gracefully over his face.
I shouldn't be caught staring but when he wasn't teasing me, and was being considerate, he looked like a work of art.
His eyes slowly opened and he left the wall. I went towards him since he must've sensed my presence.
"Good afternoon." I said curtly.
He glanced at me and subtly shook his head. Did he not want me to be that curt? "We are having sushi as dessert today. If you don't like it, tell the cook."
How often did he think I tried foreign food? Yet I didn't try to act like my life was miserable even if it had been. "I understand. Will there be… others?"
A part of me wanted to get the big introduction out of the way. I had seen movies. A few about mafias. The new 'member' was always introduced in a grandiose way to the older members.
"Just my family. We have no guests today."
His family? They would consist of the top bosses that were feared the most. I swallowed a lump of saliva. My steps slowed down.
"The food will get cold, Donna-Belle."
I quickened my pace. Hearing my name again, I confirmed he had been the one in my room earlier. Had he been waiting outside my door since then?
A small smile reached my lips.
The elevator opened to a tall hall with a long wide dining table in the middle. Apart from the dining table, the hall was mostly empty.
Theoden let me walk out first. My eyes scanned the area. Picture frames, covered with a black cloth, hung on the walls. There were only six seats.
The seats were large for one person, and it seemed they were filled except for two.
I breathed in and out, preparing for the dangerous ones I'd be meeting. Rufus stood up from a seat and pulled an empty chair for me.
My heart rate normalised when I saw him amongst the bosses. I never assumed he was such a well-ranked official here already.
I smiled and sat down. I turned to the rest.
"Nice to meet you, miss." A young man greeted me with a warm smile. I blinked, doubting what I saw for a minute. There were no bosses.
Rufus, the little girl that had entered my room, an old lady who I heard was a nanny, and the young man.
The last chair was filled with pillows and a cat slept there. This was the family Theoden talked about?
I never assumed he meant it literally.