The Badass Mafia Boss Queen

UGO

When I woke up in the morning, I was wrapped around someone’s body as usual. But I felt less guilty because he said I shouldn’t get a teddy. So I didn’t expect him to complain.

But when I wanted to lift my head, he held me down and opened his eyes. “Let’s stop fighting Ugo, I don’t like it when we do.” He told me and I felt like he poured me some sort of chilled water.

“Okay.” I replied, clearing my throat. “I need to get a dress for tonight’s dinner.” I told him and he looked at me like I was some kind of alien. Then his lips twitched.

“The credit card is still with you. Do with it as you wish.” He whispered, I felt excitement coarse through his skin.

“Fine.”

It was safe to say that the day started out well enough for the both of us. We had breakfast with Maxine and Castello. Initially, I found the latter too funny to be taken seriously, until I saw him switch from funny to deadbeat serious when it was time to discuss real business.

It felt like I was watching someone with multiple personality disorder.

Later in the day, I left for the mall with Alessia while Hollis left for the club and we agreed to meet at the restaurant. Nero was to drive me down.

It was true that I had forgiven Hollis, but I still wanted to punish him a little. And I did just that by spending so much money from his fat bank account that when we finished paying for our order, I wanted to weep for my dear husband.

But then he said I didn’t do great the first time I used his card, I was hoping this time around, he would have no choice than to notice. I helped Alessia cart the shopping bags up into the apartment and left everything in the living room space for Hollis to see when he got home. Hopefully it would make him check his phone for his bank statement.

Then he’ll get to see the dent I’ve put into his bank account. I was able to squeeze in the bath I very much needed before getting myself ready for dinner. Did my makeup and put on the most beautiful white dress I’ve ever seen that had cost three thousand dollars.

I put on my shoes that cost almost the same, and spritzed on my personal favorite perfume, Raw.

“Reina,” Alessia called softly. “You might have to consider hurrying up a bit. The Boss hates waiting, and you might be pushing him a bit too much by making him wait.” She pleaded.

I surprised even myself when I grabbed my clutch that was empty save for a pressed powder and lipstick, then murmured a thank you and hurried through the bedroom.

“You didn’t tell me how I look.” I asked as I walked towards the corridor waiting for her to open the doors. I’ll definitely take up the issue of the doors with Hollis. We should be way past this prisoner style by now.

“You look breathtaking, Reina, always.” She complimented. “The Boss is a lucky man.”

“Yes he is.” I agreed.

Soon, we were downstairs and I got into the back of Hollis’s Audi while Nero drove me expertly into town. The restaurant Hollis had chosen was intimate and seemed nowhere close to casual. It was top class! Which made my dress work perfectly.

“I have a reservation with my husband…” I told the waitress I met at the entrance.

“Yes, Mrs. Genovese,” She said, giving me a service-smile. “This way please, your husband is over there.” She pointed, half-turning.

“Oh, there he is, I said, heading toward Hollis.

Hollis’s gaze found me right then, his eyes did a slow once-over of me before he got to his feet and pulled out a seat for me right before I approached him.

“You look heavenly, Ugo.” He struggled to breath out and I smiled briefly.

We placed our orders. I settled for a well seasoned steak while he went on to take lamb chops. We ate in silence. The friction of yesterday had died down. Yet there was a little tension between us. When I was done eating, I emptied my glass of champagne and Hollis refilled it for me.

The crazy Ugo surfaced. Looking at him, I gulped down the second glass. He arched his brow and gave me a warning stare before refiling the glass. I smiled and emptied the glass again.

“Damnit Ugo, you will get drunk if you don’t stop.”

“That’s my business. It has nothing to do with you.”

“That’s it, you are not going to drink another drop of wine.”

“Stop making decisions for me. I am an adult. I decide what I want to do, when I want to do it. You don’t decide for me.” I told him. The wine had kicked in at this point. But I didn’t give a fuck.

I took the champagne bottle and tried pouring more wine into my glass but Hollis was fast to grab it from me.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Can you fucking stop?” He whispered. “You’re still mad at me? I thought we’ve settled this already. If we’ve not, then let’s settle it. Because I’m planning on going to war with almost the whole world and I don’t need one with the woman I love.” He spat it out, his face showing hurt and a brief vulnerability before the shield he wears for the world came back on.

Neither of us spoke after that. He just confessed that he was in love with me at the height of his annoyance. ‘Holly Molly!’ He did say it, I heard it.

After a moment, I took his hand in mine, trying not to look at him. I squeezed his hand before letting it go. “I’ve never been a fan of love and marriage, you know.” I said and he nodded.

“Maybe great sex, but nothing deep. I will always be the one to run away. When a relationship seem to be leading to marriage, I always bolt. I’m yet to understand how I’m so calm about us. Maybe because I’m certain I’ll walk away at the end. Hollis…,” I whispered. “Let’s not make this more than what it really is. I’m open to having fun, a lot of it. But I don’t think I want an entanglement.” I confessed.

“Are you certain or you’re still in thoughts?” Hollis asked me.

“When I’m not certain, just know that the probability of things going the way everyone wants it to the way I want it would be thirty-seventy.”

“That’s not too bad. Thirty is actually a large number.”

“Hollis..” I called. “No.” I repeated.