Taken By The Mafia Lord

The room Arianna entered was spacious with blackwood flooring and enough lightning to illuminate all corners. It wasn't magnificent yet plush, however, what captured her attention was the long rectangular table.

There were about ten people seated down on it with a hot feast served right in front of them. And no matter how much she stared at them Arianna had no clue who they were and all were immaculately dressed in suits. Not to mention that they were all males, no females. Not even a female company accompanied them. Not one.

Arianna was the only female gender in the room and she had never felt like an outcast, an odd number in her entire life until now. It was her against the men.

All eyes were on her upon her arrival and she felt like running away, as fast as her feet could take her. But her body didn't comply with her mind; Arianna stood frozen like a fish.

Looking to the right, she finally saw Big Joe seated adjacent to his guests and at that moment their eyes connected. He was on his throne-like seat again and Arianna could tell that the simpler, smaller seat beside him was meant for her - he was succeeding in announcing her status was below him.

Perhaps, because of the way Big Joe was struck dumb and his gaze grew hooded, Arianna gained a bit of confidence. As scary as the man was, at the end of the day, he was still a man with raging hormones and no different from the others. She just had to tread wisely and cautiously. She can only play her cards well if her head's still on her shoulder.

"Big Joe," Arianna said his name huskily, now walking with a swagger and trying not to dwell on the eyes of the other men in the room resting on her body. Oh please, who was she kidding? It was on her chest.

Cassie was right, this dress definitely called for attention and she needed Big Joe's attention on her, now more than ever. If there's anything she's learned from being with these crime families over the week, it's the fact that an object is deemed useless when it loses value and is subsequently discarded. There was no room for liability here.

"Arianna," Big Joe called her, his expression brightening. He gestured to her to take the seat beside him and Arianna could see the pride on his face. It wasn't that Big Joe was proud of her but he was showing her off to his guests as if she was an object of decoration. She wouldn't even be surprised if that was his intention of marrying her. He wanted a beautiful wife, like her. Sadly, Arianna needed a man she could look into his eyes while talking to.

Giving off the impression of a submissive wife - she didn't want to cause more trouble than she already has - Arianna obediently went around the table and sat on his left-hand side - he didn't even have his men pull out a seat for her since he couldn't.

"Thank you," Arianna said, nonetheless trying to be comfortable and putting on a mask of ease when in reality her stomach was churning and she hated this unexpected limelight.

It was quite obvious to Arianna that she would be humiliated before leaving here since Big Joe had already started the party with his lack of chivalry. Arianna couldn't help but scoff inwardly, all of this for what? To prove to his associate that he was in control? A tyrant who bends his so thought lover to his will?

Arianna thought Big Joe was different since he treated her kindly from the start and had always been attentive to her needs, but it seems she was mistaken. Just like ants are lured into a trap with sugar, it was a sugar-coated plan to lower her defenses. All of them were the same! That misogynistic thinking vexed her greatly. When would men ever learn?

No sooner had she sat down, Big Joe announced to his guest, "I called you all today to have breakfast with me and my wife-to-be, my sweet Arianna."

Although Big Joe didn't look the part of a leader physically, there was still an air of authority that surrounded him. It was a trait that most people currently at the table had and Arianna bet they were leaders of their respective local gangs.

"Our wedding would take place this weekend and I hope this meal strengthens our bond….,"

At that announcement, Arianna's head whipped up to Big Joe. Her eyes were wild and full of confusion. Whatever else Big Joe said, she couldn't hear because she was dwelling on the information he just released.

Their wedding was this weekend? Why didn't she know of this until now? If that was the case, this meant she was three days away from marrying Big Joe. How could he leave her in the dark?

So many questions ran through her head. Knowing the date to her wedding was fixed and fast approaching did nothing but fuel her desire to escape here.

And Big Joe must have seen through that which was why he kept her in the dark. She had escaped the first time, why wouldn't she the second time? That was why she had no clue the date of her wedding until now? What a great husband she had!

If Arianna was shocked by the sudden revelation, she didn't show many reactions because it hit her that Big Joe must be watching and reading her.

So although her eyes were wide at first, it slowly gave way to a blush creeping up her cheeks as if she was suddenly shy of being in the public eye - and that gesture seemed to have satisfied Big Joe. He didn't know she watched him out of the corner of her eyes as well.

He said to her, "You should introduce yourself to them. They should know I have a beautiful woman by my side, you're my greatest asset, Arianna," He said, showing off those white teeth that made her suddenly shiver.

All this while, she had thought Big Joe was the easiest chip to handle in this game but it turned out he was the king, the most shrewd player in this game of pretense.