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Chapter 8: I’ll help you

Aurora

“Hey there Diego,” I smiled the moment I spotted Diego, my voice way perkier than usual. It had been exactly five days since Leonardo left and after hours and hours of brainstorming, I finally came up with a plan. Although it wasn’t full proof, it was better than just sitting around and waiting for Leo to do whatever it is that he brought me here for.

I won’t be around for a few days.

I need you to behave.

Let’s just hope something comes up and the few days would turn into a week or two. “How are you doing?” I pressed on when Diego didn’t say anything, my face aching from the force of my smile. I had spent the last few days trying my best to get on the good sides of everyone in the building. It was easy for the servants but as for the guards...let's just say they were quite skeptical about my sudden friendliness…well some of them actually. But it was fine…I didn’t need to get on everyone’s good side, just a few would do the trick. And then I could finally escape.

After all, staying here wouldn’t do me any good. It’s not as if Leonardo is even answering any of my questions or letting me into all parts of the mansion. My stay here was basically useless.

“Umm…I’m hungry. Can I get something to eat?” My smile didn’t waver.

Diego’s expression remained impassive. “I thought you had lunch an hour ago?”

I pressed my lips in a thin line as I realized I actually did have lunch an hour ago. I cursed, palming my forehead inwardly. I should have thought of something else. But that was the thing….there was nothing else I could think of that could spark up a conversation, especially when that conversation had to be with Diego. He was the grumpiest guard in the whole mansion. “Yes I did…” I let out a small groan as I rubbed my tummy. “But I’m still hungry…who knows…” I said switching to a hushed tone at the last part. “...maybe I could be pregnant.”

I know I sounded ridiculous but if I couldn’t get him to talk to me, at least I could get him to ask me questions. But as usual his expression remained impassive as he glared at me. It’s at times like this that I find myself wishing I was a lot like Em. Then maybe getting on everyone’s good sides would be a lot easier. “You know where the kitchen is.” He said, deliberately ignoring my pregnant comment. “You can tell the cooks to make something for you.

His expression turned colder. “I’m a bodyguard not a chef.”

“I know that.” I leaned against the wall, trying to sound more friendly. Maybe it was my tone that was the problem. “But you know….you’re the first person I saw and since you’re a gentleman I just thought you could get it for me.”

Never in my life did I think I’d be flirting with a guard just to get him to like me so I could escape but here we were.

His gaze didn’t waver. “The kitchen’s that way.” He pointed towards the stairs causing me to glance around, noticing the other guards that were pretending they were not trying to listen. I turned to face him again letting out a small sigh. What an incredibly rude way to turn down a woman.

“Okay…you got me.” I lifted my arm in a gesture of surrender. Maybe things would be a lot easier if I just came out clean. “I just wanted to find someone to talk to.” I wrapped my arms around my sides. I wasn’t going to tell him the entire truth, obviously. “It gets lonely in there….” I nodded towards my room. “…so I just thought maybe I could make some friends.”

“I heard you were doing just fine with the cooks in the kitchen two days ago.”

Dammit. What the hell was wrong with this guy?

“And Roberto and Gabriele? I thought they were your friends considering the amount of times I’ve seen you guys talking?” He lifted a brow and my jaw dropped at an opportunity to keep the conversation going.

“Diego?” I narrowed my eyes into slits as a smirk formed on my lips. “Are you spying on me?” I rested my hands on my hip but as usual, my smile faltered when I heard his response.

“No. I’m just really committed to doing my job.”

Ugh. This is pointless. Diego was right. I did make a couple of friends…or rather acquaintances but the more people I made my friends, the easier it’ll be to get out of here right?

I pursed my lips before forcing another smile on. I had definitely misjudged my approach. Maybe I should try befriending other guards and also keep an eye on him. Who knows maybe Leonardo had told him to also keep an eye on me. And now I have tried and failed to get on his good side, he'll be more wary of me. “Well Diego...it was nice talking to you.” I waved at him. His expression didn’t change.

Well…I wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking he’s secretly a robot. Who knows…maybe he and Leonardo are both robot brothers who are secretly trying to take over our world. They could both get an Oscar for the world's best poker face.


I had been waiting to see if I could get any info about when Leonardo would be coming back from his men but unfortunately they didn’t know either. Or perhaps they just wanted me to think that way.

One afternoon, as Gabriele came to deliver my lunch, I decided to push my luck. Since Leo didn’t want to tell me what he wanted with me, maybe his guard could.

“Gabe…” I called out, my voice barely above a whisper. He was the one who suggested I call him Gabe since we were friends now but little did he know that I was just using him to get out of this place. Out of all of Leo’s men he was the nicest and most gullible. Sometimes I wondered how someone like him got to work for the most ruthless and dangerous mafia boss in the country.

He lifted his head after dropping my food on the bed side table. “Hmm?” He raised his brows, gesturing for me to go on.

I cleared my throat as I gave it one last thought before voicing my question out. “Can I ask you something?”

Gabe’s brows dipped, forming a confused look on his face before he finally nodded. “Sure. What’s on your mind, Miss?”

“What’s your boss’ plan for me?” I inquired, my eyes locked on Gabe’s.

“What?” He blinked rapidly. I lifted a brow waiting for a response. His expression turned uneasy as he averted my gaze. “I don’t know, Miss. Honestly…I don’t even think the boss knows.”

My fake smile faltered. That maniac. This was all the more reason I had to get out of here….and this was my only chance.

You know I’ll never understand how people like you derive joy from pretending to like a guy you know that you don’t.

Because it’s fun. Don’t worry you’ll get it very soon.

I wasn’t entirely sure if this was what Emma was referring to but this better be worth it.

“Please Gabe,” I urged, my voice laced with desperation as I moved closer to tug on his clothes. “I just want to go home. I promise, no one is going to know that you helped me.”

Gabe’s gaze wavered and for an instant, I thought I saw empathy in his eyes. Oh come on. How long does it take to fool a man around here? He then glanced at the closed door before shifting his gaze back to me. Yes dummy, the door is locked so no one is going to see or hear us.

“I wish I could help, Miss,” he finally said, his voice firm but gentle. “But I can’t. My duty is to look after you.”

Oh fuck that. I immediately bit back my reply, trying to calm the emotions raging inside of me. This man was going to make me loose my mind. I decided to give it one last try. “If your duty is to look after me then you’re supposed to make sure that I’m happy. But how can I be happy when I’m trapped here?” I got up from the bed locking eyes with him.

Judging from the way he was looking at me, I could already tell what he was going to say to me next. “Okay…I’ll help you.”

Gabe had already told me everything I needed to know to escape. He said that there weren’t going to be many guards on duty so it would be best if I left tonight.

When I asked about Leo and the other staffs, he told me not to worry that Leo called to ask about me and when they responded, he told them how his flight was canceled because of the weather in California…apparently that’s where he was…and that he won’t be able to come back anytime soon and as for the other staff, he was going to handle them.

I wasn’t sure which exact part of our conversation it was that had pushed Gabe to help me…whether it was the begging or the fact that I disregarded my comfort zone just to cling to him. Whatever it was, I’m glad it worked. Now I was just a few steps away from getting out of this….prison.

Most people in my shoes would have felt sorry for Gabe but not me. His boss was the reason I got into this mess in the first place so they were all going to pay for his actions. Whether they were nice to me or not, didn’t matter.

“You ready?” Gabe asked, taking another peek before turning to me again. We had made it all the way to the front door without raising any suspicions. Now for the tough part. Getting out of the building without being caught.

“Sure.” I nodded, quickly tying my hair in a low ponytail so it wouldn’t disturb me.

“Okay…let’s go.”

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