Amelia’s POV
The whole room felt like it was holding its breath, tension thickening with every passing second as Kai and his father, Don Alessandro, went back and forth. I hadn't expected the situation to spiral this way—I'd just thought a pink dress would ruffle Kai's feathers a little, not crack open an entire power struggle between him and his father.
Watching them, I felt a hint of fear and regret. I’d broken more than a dress code; I’d crossed a line into something bigger, something that I clearly didn’t understand. Kai, calm and collected as he usually was, seemed to reach his breaking point. He finally moved the papers aside, his jaw tight, his eyes locking onto his father’s furious glare.
“Don,” Kai started, his voice low but cutting, “you might be my father outside these walls, but here, you’re just an ordinary retired mafia member. And you have no right to go against my orders. When I say sit and shut up, you sit and shut your mouth!” His fist slammed the table, and even the most hardened men around the room flinched.
Don Alessandro’s anger shifted to surprise, his authority now openly challenged by his own son. The weight of their power struggle filled the room, leaving me feeling like a spectator to a storm I’d unintentionally set off. This was a different side of Kai than I’d ever seen—he’d always come across as calm, almost gentlemanly. Now, it was clear that calm surface was merely just an act. Guilt crept up my spine for sitting there while these two men argued because of me.
Without thinking, I found myself standing. “Excuse me,” I said, my voice coming out small but steady. The room fell silent again, everyone’s eyes on me, some looking shocked, others intrigued.
Kai’s gaze turned to me, a mix of annoyance and surprise in his expression.
My heart pounded, but I managed to keep my voice even. “I... about my outfit,” I began carefully, choosing my words. “If it’s causing a problem, I can go back to my room and change into a black dress as you originally instructed.”
The room seemed to freeze, all eyes shifting from me to Kai, like they were waiting for him to pull a gun or explode in anger. But instead, he just gave me a cold, authoritative stare. “Sit down, Amelia.”
I sat, feeling the tension ripple through the room. Don Alessandro held his ground a few seconds longer, then his shoulders dropped, and he took his seat. Everyone else let out the breath they’d been holding, but the tension stayed, lingering like an echo of the fight.
Kai’s gaze fell back to his papers, his face calm, but his hands clenched like he was fighting the urge to do something drastic. I could tell he’d already lost interest in the meeting; his frustration was obvious. After a few tense minutes of silence, he abruptly pushed his chair back, the sharp scrape ringing through the room. Every head turned to him, eyes wide with anticipation and a bit of fear.
Kai’s voice cut through the tension with a sharp, cold "Dismiss," and before anyone could respond, he strode out of the room, every step purposeful. The others hesitated, glancing at each other before following him out, leaving me alone in the huge hall, a mix of guilt and worry swirling inside me. As Don Alessandro passed, he shot me a glare so full of hate it almost made me shiver. I hadn’t even known him a full hour, yet he already looked like he would kill me if he could.
Once the room was empty, Carlos came over, a sympathetic smile on his face. “You’re quite a trouble maker, aren’t you?” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
I managed a small smile, my heart still racing from the fallout. “I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I was just trying to mess with Kai a bit.”
Carlos chuckled softly. “Welcome to the Alessandro family, where nothing goes as planned.”
I hesitated, then asked, “That man… he’s really Kai’s father, right? Don Alessandro?”
Carlos sighed, nodding. “Yeah, unfortunately.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I think I went too far. I can’t believe I just caused an argument between them.”
Carlos scoffed. “You don’t need to worry about that. Kai and his dad? They’ve always been like that. They’re constantly at each other’s throats, like they’re not even related. Don Alessandro treats his own son as a competition.”
The memory of their argument replayed in my mind. “He said he could take back power from Kai. What if he tries to? I’d probably be first on his hit list.”
Carlos sighed again, leaning against the table. “He always talks about it, but it’s mostly hot air. For him to regain power, he’d have to kill Kai first, and even though he hates kai, he wouldn’t go that far… I think.” He paused, seeming to rethink his own words. “Honestly, Don Alessandro was never a good man. His leadership was… brutal. He only gave up power because he was forced to by the rules, not because he wanted to. And even now, he still insists on being called ‘Don.’ It’s kind of pathetic, actually.”
A typical psychopath….just like his son
I glanced at him. “So, was he worse than Kai?”
Carlos gave me a small smirk. “You don’t really know Kai yet, do you? If you’re getting your information from the internet, keep in mind it’s probably exaggerated. The media always twist things, especially for outsiders. It’s… unfortunate you’re American.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Americans tend to believe whatever the media serves up,” Carlos said with a grin. “And you bought it all, probably because of that.”
“That’s such a dumb stereotype,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. But a thought crossed my mind, making me pause. “Carlos, how important am I to Kai? I need to know if he’d actually kill me for what happened today.”
Carlos tilted his head, thoughtful. “Right now? You’re pretty valuable. You hacked into the Alessandro family bank account, which is supposedly impenetrable. They’d be crazy to kill you when you’re one of the best assets they’ve got. If Kai lost you, it’d be tough finding someone else as skilled.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, but Carlos added with a cautionary note, “Still, watch out for Don Alessandro. You’ve made an enemy of him now.”
“Why? Just because I broke a rule?”
Carlos shook his head. “No, because Kai challenged him just to protect you. Don hates being challenged, especially by his own son. He might be retired, but he still likes to meddle in Kai’s business. You’re safe from Kai for now, but his father? Don Alessandro won’t hesitate if he sees a chance.”
I stayed quiet, the weight of what Carlos said sinking in. Don Alessandro’s hatred was obvious from his glare, but I hadn’t really thought he’d be a threat without power. I’d have to be careful not to underestimate him.
“I’ll go talk to Kai,” I said, getting up from my chair.
Carlos moved to follow, giving me a look. “Why would you do that?”
I shrugged. “Maybe I should apologize for ruining his meeting.”
He groaned, looking exasperated. “Don’t bother. It won’t fix anything. Honestly, I’d suggest staying far away from him so he doesn’t get tempted to put a gun in your head, we still need you to be alive.”
With a roll of my eyes, I left the room, heading to my room instead, unsure if I’d take Carlos’s advice or not.
************************
It was about 11 p.m., and I needed a break. After that intense confrontation and everything Carlos had told me, my head was spinning. I figured a little time to myself might help, so I made my way to the rooftop pool. As I stepped out onto the deck, a gentle breeze touched my skin, carrying the sounds and lights of the city up to me. The view was incredible—endless city lights stretching out in every direction, the kind of scene that made you feel both small and alive.
The pool was beautiful, its clear blue water mirroring the night sky. There were cozy lounge chairs scattered around, and a small bar with a few drinks. For the first time in a while, I actually smiled. Even in the middle of all this chaos, there were still moments like this to enjoy.
I quickly changed into my black bikini and slipped into the water, the coolness washing away some of my stress. I floated on my back, staring up at the stars, letting the water hold me up. It felt peaceful, like the world’s worries couldn’t reach me here.
Eventually, I swam over to the edge and grabbed my glass of wine. Leaning back, I took a slow sip, savoring the warmth as it eased the knots in my shoulders. The city sounds mixed with the gentle lapping of the water, creating a kind of calm music that quieted my thoughts. I’d lost track of time, letting myself get lost in the quiet, when I heard footsteps behind me.
I opened my eyes and turned, spotting Kai standing by the rooftop’s edge with a glass of wine. He was staring out at the city. The silence hung between us, thick and full of things neither of us was saying.
I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry about today. I hope you work things out with your father.”
He finally looked at me, his expression intense. “it must be nice toying with me and getting away with it?”
I smirked, shrugging a little. “I like to think I’m just adding a bit of excitement.”
There was the faintest twitch of a smile on his face, though his eyes stayed guarded. “You definitely have a unique way of making an entrance.”
“Life’s too short to be predictable,” I shot back, meeting his gaze.
He moved closer, his steps slow and deliberate until he was standing right by the pool’s edge. His eyes held mine, and there was a tension that sent a chill down my spine.
“You’re doing all this because you think I wouldn’t kill you, aren’t you?” His gaze was sharp.
I pushed myself up a little, meeting his look head-on. “Wrong. I’m doing this because I know you wouldn’t kill me.”
Silence stepped in as we both stared at each other quietly, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a stack of photos. Without saying a word, he crouched down, letting the photos fall gently onto the water’s surface. I watched them drift, a strange feeling twisting in my stomach.
“Take a look, Amelia,” he said in a calm voice that felt anything but reassuring. “Tell me if the person in those photos looks familiar.”
I picked up one of the photos, and my heart dropped. It was my mother. It was an image of her getting into a cab, something that must’ve been taken not long ago.
I looked up at him, my voice shaky. “Where did you get this?”
His lips curved into a cold smile, seeing how much the photo had on me, “Since I couldn’t kill you, I thought someone else might be better suited to face the consequences of your actions. She is your family, after all.”
The weight of his words hit me like a punch. I clutched the photo tighter, a mix of fear and anger rising inside me as I tried to process what this meant for both of us.