Taken By The Mafia Lord

With Marcel's concise yet uncanny high persuasive ability, he was able to turn the tide in his favor and successfully claimed Adele as his underboss.

For such a high position, there was no congratulatory message given to Adele, if anything, the atmosphere was bleak as if someone died yet Adele didn't care. That was one of the reasons Marcel liked her, the girl had backbone - he needed no scaredy-cat. Clara was enough problems already.

With anger capable of tearing through the heavens, his dear uncle Robert left, more like strode out of the hall. No sooner had he left, his sons followed suit almost, and just like that, the meeting was dismissed.

Marcel was the one to offer congratulation to her with his hand stretched which she enveloped firmly, "I hope to have a good working relationship with you," He meant every word he said.

"I should thank you for giving me the opportunity to work to my fullest potential," Adele said to him, her heart full of gratitude.

"It's nothing, you deserve the honors and not some cocky bastard," Marcel didn't bother to hide his dislike for her cousin. If they were going to start working closely together, it's time she learned his likes and dislikes.

"I know but I still want to thank you," Adele added at the last minute, "Sir," showing her respect and as well hinting she knew her place in the organization, "You don't know what you did for me"

"You don't worry about that," He pulled his hand away, "Report to my office when you're free for a small congratulatory party and you can resume your work officially," Marcel told her before he turned to leave, only for his gaze to connect with his father's.

Marcel was weary of him and he simply put his hand into the pocket of his pants with a sigh as his father walked up to him and stopped at his front.

"No matter how much you deny it, my blood runs fluidly through your veins. You are just like me, Marcel," The man pronounced proudly.

"Old age must really be getting to your head that you have nothing else to do but to play a game of chess with the family members," Marcel retorted, unamused by his comment. He was nothing like him.

Daniel was not offended by his son's comment - at least he didn't look the part - however, he asked, "So now you stole your opponent's Rook, what do you plan to do with it? As much as you can use her to sweep the entire board, this particular Rook could evolve into the Queen in the future and bite the hand that feeds it,"

"You don't have to worry about that, after all, I would soon marry the woman you made available for me and produce the King who can never be taken off the board,"

And while both father and son were speaking in chess language, Adele made it out of the elevator and just stepped into the hotel lobby when someone pulled her into a corner without warning.

"W-what….?"

It was her brother. Correction, half-brother.

"Gabriel?" Adele was surprised by the gesture. Looking around she wondered if they were being followed which explains why he pulled her into a secluded corner. Or he just needed privacy.

Having recovered from the surprise, Adele calmed her emotions, asking with her arms folded across her chest,

"What is it?"

She and this particular brother of hers, no, all of them didn't have the best relationship.

Adele could already guess why he sought her out but she didn't rush to a conclusion; she gave him the benefit of the doubt.

"When did you and Marcel begin to see?" He asked her.

Just as Adele thought, her brother thought she and Marcel had a previous relationship which was why he made her underboss. Everyone knew Marcel's side of the family and theirs don't get along well and for good reasons. The feud between both sides of the family would probably never end until the Luciano crime family was annihilated forever.

"Never," Came her reply and she was about to leave when he pulled her back again.

"You should reject that position,"

As soon as he said that, it seemed like someone threw shit on Adele's face, and the mask she had been donning finally cracked, revealing a pissed-off face.

She cocked a brow, "And why should I do that? Because I'm a girl?"

"Adele…"

"I'm not changing my mind, not now, not ever. So you can shove your request up your ass!" She said through gritted teeth, hands clutched at both sides till her knuckles were white. Nothing would change her mind, not after her years of working unfulfilled.

She could remember the implicit and sexist comment her superordinates used on her and the prejudice she suffered all because she worked in a field populated by men. Even some of her subordinates did it too but they usually talked behind her back since she was quick to put them in her place. Now luck finally shined on her, she would never let go of the opportunity.

"This position is not a blessing but a curse! All Marcel did was to put a target on you and Arthur would never give up until he has what he wants," For a moment there, her so-called brother was honestly scared for her.

But Adele laughed cynically, "Then he should come then," She said, "I am not scared of bullies just the way I was never scared of you and your family throughout the years. We'd just see who the better opponent is," Adele was fearless.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Gabriel left unsatisfied that she hasn't taken his advice. She would change her mind eventually with time.

Meanwhile, after a hard time persuading his mother that he would come to visit, Victor was finally free to leave with Marcel and he threw his arms casually across his cousin's shoulders.

"Take those hands off me or you die," Marcel warned him, but as usual Victor did whatever pleased him, and instead, he drew Marcel closer to his side.

He pouted, aggrieved, "You kill me just because I place my hands on your shoulder yet you let those foxes trample over you like that,"

Marcel stopped and turned to him, "And who said anything about them leaving freely?"

"Huh," Victor was confused until the mirth in Marcel's eyes held a dark promise.

Victor smiled in understanding, he was so going to love this.