The Mafia’s Wanted Desires

ASHLEY

I smoothened off the crease on my black blazer dress, pulling my hair in a neat low bun. I smacked my bold red lips together, winking at my reflection before slipping on my black stilettos. I sprayed my cologne and grabbed my bag, heading out of the closet.

I strolled to my reading table, packing up my laptop and files, proceeding to arrange them in my laptop bag. I zipped it up and went to the nightstand to get my phone. My eyes landed on my husband, who was sprawled on the bed, the covers barely covering his shirtless back. His hair was a total mess, and judging by the position he was sleeping in, he was deeply asleep and I found it adorable.

But then, all it would take would be me kissing his hair or hovering above him and we would be tangled underneath the sheets in no time. I couldn’t afford that again. The last time was wild. So, I retreated, resolving to not wake him because Arden needed all the rest he could get.

And with that, I exited the room.

Alberta was waiting with a cup of coffee at the bottom of the staircase by the time I got to her. I grinned widely at her.

“Good morning, Mrs. Gray.” She smiled politely at me, handing me the coffee. I leaned over and kissed her cheek before taking a sip from the mug. I took a long sip. I relished in its creamy taste, proceeding to drop it on the saucer and then she took it from me.

“Good morning, Alberta. Thank you.” I flashed her a smile and walked past her, heading over to my guards that were positioned at the front entrance.

“Where the fuck is Duncan Wright?” I demanded sternly when I got to one of them, handing him my laptop bag. Maybe it was a good thing that Arden was still asleep because I was really in the mood to kick someone’s ass. The guard I handed my bag opened his mouth to answer my question but he stopped.

“He is right behind you, Ma’am.”

I saw Red because the speed at which I swung my head in his direction almost had me believing that a bone in my neck had snapped.

My face was scrunching in a deadly frown, anchoring on his tall frame that was advancing from one of the numerous hallways in the house. He had his phone pressed to his ear and I could deduce that he was either on a call or was just getting off it. With the speed of light, I charged towards his stiff frame, undiluted rage coursing through my veins. I swung my palm across his face, causing his head to swing sideways.

“You bastard!” I fired at him.

I smacked my bag across his face, tears welling up in my eyes.

“HOW DARE YOU HURT HER AND TOSS HER AROUND LIKE A RAG DOLL?” I bellowed. Duncan didn’t flinch. He just stared right back at me with his busted lips and bruised face. I furrowed my brows at him, wondering how he could be so cold despite everything he did to her. He didn’t even look like he cared. He was not feigning it in the slightest. I moved backwards and scoffed.

“Rot in hell, Duncan Wright!” I spat venomously at him, storming out of the house with my guards trailing behind me. They caught up with me because of their long strides, pulling the car door open. I slid into the car, tossing my bag beside me. I squeezed my eyes shut, dragging out my breath as slowly as I could, trying to keep my anger at bay. I fell back onto the leather seat, sighing softly.

“Just take me to the office,” I told my chauffeur, and he began driving out of the compound.

Duncan Wright was a cold-hearted monster and nothing, absolutely nothing, could ever change that. It was all his fault. Zelda was in so much pain because of him. I knew what it felt like to hold on to that shred of hope that he might change. I knew what it felt like to allow him to use you, hoping it would change him…what it felt like to be manipulated and that was exactly what Duncan did to her. He didn’t even feel remorseful.

I couldn’t help the truckload of guilt that was barrelling towards me, hitting me in the face and reminding me that all that was happening was my fault. If I had kept a proper eye on her, she wouldn’t have fallen prey to him. She was supposed to be my sister and I was supposed to look after her.

I failed. I failed her.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Arden was fighting for his life then. The tiny voice echoed in my head, reminding me. It didn’t do anything to quench the guilt, it only made me feel worse.

There was nothing you could have done. It added.

Even after hitting him the way I did, I still didn’t feel satisfied. I wanted to do more than hit him.

I looked up, my eyes settling on the building of my firm and I sighed. The Chauffeur drove into the compound, pulling over at the large front entrance. The guards stepped out of the car as quickly as they could, helping me with the door. I let myself out while they trailed behind me, one of them carrying my bag.

The workers that walked to and fro on the first floor, tending to one issue or the other, bowed in respect and mumbled greetings at me. I flashed them a forced smile because I knew that would be better than me ignoring them.

One of my guards punched in the digits of the top floor on the elevator buttons. The doors slid open and we got in, then it transported us to the top floor.

“Good morning, ma’am,”

“Good morning, ma’am,”

“Good morning, ma’am,”

Greetings were thrown at me from every corner of the lobby. I tried my best to mask my irritation with a smile, walking past them and heading to my office. There was absolutely no way in hell that I could get used to my bodyguards trailing behind me. It felt suffocating but there was nothing I could do about it.

“Good morning, Mrs. Gray!” Riley’s chirpy voice greeted me. She strutted out of her office that was just a stone’s throw from mine, in her eight-inch heels which I still found myself questioning how she walked comfortably in them. Every blessed day.

The redhead’s energy was very contagious and I could feel it rubbing off on me already, dissolving all the anger I had in me. She had a white chiffon blouse tucked into a black midi skirt that hugged her hourglass shape. Her hair was pulled in a neat ponytail, highlighting her bright grey eyes.

“Good morning, Riley.”

“Coffee?” She queried with a smile.

“No, I am fine.” I told her dismissively, stepping into my office. I threw my bag on the desk and proceeded to kick off my heels when my eyes landed on the black gift bag that had red roses imprinted on it as a design. For one, it was very attractive, but then, I couldn’t help but furrow my brows.

“Riley?” I called in a questioning tone, turning to her.

“When did this come in?” I demanded.

“Not quite long ago, Mrs. Gray. A delivery man dropped it off and I signed the papers, so it could be handed over to me.” She answered me.

“Strange,” I mumbled.

“He didn’t tell you who it was from?”

“No, he didn’t.”

I kicked my heels off my feet, still staring at the bag.

“Thank you, Riley. You can leave.” I dismissed her.

I was a little bit skeptical about the bag, but then, It might just be Arden up to one of his numerous surprises. I chuckled, snatching the bag off the table. I pried the contents open, taking out a black velvet box. The curiosity that niggled at my thoughts was only fuelled at the sight of the box. I unboxed it, releasing a gasp at the overly blinding jewelry set in it.

It was a simple necklace, earrings and a bracelet. But the fact that I have lived long enough with Arden to recognise pure diamonds had my jaw dropping to the floor. I took them out, examining it.

“Wow,” I mumbled. I dropped them carefully, not wanting them to garner even the slightest scratch. I retrieved the next item from the bag, which happened to be a huge box of Victoria’s secret perfume. It was a set of four but in one box. And from the scent that oozed off the medium-sized bottles, I knew they smelled amazing.

The next item was a single rose, followed by an expensive bottle of red wine and chocolates, alongside a pair of black Yves Saint Laurent heels. The small red card I picked out of the bag had me chuckling. Arden would always drop a small card in a gift bag. It was his thing. I was grinning from ear to ear in no time, bringing the card to my face.

Just so you know, these gifts don’t measure up to how beautiful you are.

My smile dropped abruptly.

There were no initials. The only time Arden never put initials on the cards was when the whole ruckus about him wanting to marry me was going on. He stopped doing that. A long time ago. There were always the initials, A on his card. He was too possessive not to put one.

It was like a rude awakening that jammed right into me, jolting me back to reality. This gift wasn’t from my husband, I was so sure of it. If it wasn’t from him, who was it from then?

I shifted the gifts aside, hopping on the desk with furrowed brows. The first thought that struck me was to call my husband and speak with him about it, but Arden was bound to go overboard with anything that had to do with me. I knew what I went through with him when he was assigning body guards for me. There was no doubt that he might triple them in numbers, just to keep me safe.

He doesn’t have to know. I’ll just tell him I just bought them.

It’s probably from a secret admirer in the company. The thought of it made me chuckle. I found it cute and adorable.

And with that thought in mind, I returned to my desk to start my work for the day.