{ Andrea's POV }

This morning after ——— I shower and everything. I put my hair in a pony tail, I do my makeup, and then I slip on a pink silk cardigan with a white lace tank top, and white skinny jeans that has holes over the knees, and for shoes I slip on a pair the color of my cardigan. I also throw on some cute earrings.

————

I walk out my bed room door shutting it behind me ; only to walk into a body. I look up and see Luis.

"Oh I'm sorry." I say politely

"Its fine. I thought Samuele's room was on the top floor.." Luis says

"It is." Is all I say as I start walking down the stairs I go to the garden for breakfast with Isla. I can't help with breakfast when we have guests because it makes Samuele feel embarrassed...but I'll still be eating in the garden because that's how I stay sane.

————

Once I get to the garden I see Isla standing beside Donte who was sitting in a chair at the spiral table. I didn't expect to see this.

Suddenly I hear footsteps come up behind me, I turn around and see Luis again.

"I hope you don't mind us intruding on your breakfast, but Nicolás and Samuele are in a meeting." Donte explains clearly seeing my confusion which is a first.

I just nod and sit at the table, I'm seating beside Donte, and Luis takes the seat in front of me. Leaving a chair in between Luis and I.

The breakfast is already on the table. It looks like fresh omelettes, and fresh fruit on the side.

"How long will they be in their meeting?" I ask politely to any of them willing to answer

"Probably another hour." Donte answers

"At least.." Luis says in a tone letting me know he knows a lot more than that.

"Is there anything else Mrs.?" Isla asks about to excuse herself. Like hell she will. She's my only constant, and there is no way I'll allow anyone to push her out of my life even in the smallest of ways.

"Yes, Isla sit down, and eat with me like normal..I'm sure the gentlemen won't mind." I say with a smile while looking directly at her

Her eyebrows raise slightly in shock.

"Are you sure?" She questions giving me a look

"I'm sure, have a seat. You've worked hard enough this morning." I answer knowing I didn't help her, and the other maids and butlers aren't in this early, because of the fact that I normally do. She must be pretty tired already. She needs a break. "Yes ma'am." She says politely as she sits in the chair beside me slowly, as if waiting for someone to shout at her.. but they won't — it was in the marriage contract. Along with some other things.

Such as I didn't have to take his surname, I get to keep my things separate like bank accounts and such, and Isla has to be treated with respect by everyone, or all bets are off. It was the best I could do with the little bit of say that I was given.

I may allow a lot of things but after everything she has done for me, and even Artemis when he was alive and on his death bed.. there is no way I would allow her to be treated as dirt or as anyones slave. She's family. Real family, not blood, and not sworn. She's just family. It's as simple as that.

"Isla you can relax now, and stop with the ma'am and Mrs. Call me Andrea, like usual." I tell her

"Don wouldn't like it." Isla says quieter

"He isn't here." I remind her and then I look at Luis and Donte and say "And they aren't going to say a word.. because they are grateful for the food you've cooked for them out of the kindness of your heart. Right?"

Both of the men give a nod.

"My lips are sealed and thank you Ms." Luis says to Isla with a slight smile. Which gains a little of my respect with it.

"What if he catches me or you?" Isla asks quietly I can tell it's more for my safety than hers.

"I'll cover." Donte jumps in and says

Isla seems shocked and surprisingly so am I. However Isla accepts it.. and we start eating our breakfast. Which is delicious.

"Why aren't you allowed in your bosses meetings?" Luis asks Donte seemingly on to something

I've always wanted to ask the same thing to see if I was right with my suspicions or not.. but I never have. Donte stops eating, and glances at me, and then looks back at Luis.

"I've been to a few of them.. but he's very private." Donte says which is bull

"mierda" Luis says quieter and more to himself than to anyone else. I almost smile because I thought it but he said it.

"He doesn't have respect for any of you, how can you for him?" Luis asks trying to figure it all out knowing that he is in fact on to something and just has no idea what.

"Who said we did?" Donte resorts back calmly

Luis stops for a second, and then he looks at me. I just shrug and continue to eat. They don't want to hear what I have to say. So I'm not going to waste my breath, because when it comes down to it they don't care, and they won't do anything about it.

We continue eating in silence until Samuele and Nicolás walk through the glass doors into the garden clearly trying to find us.

Nicolás looks at everyone and then stops at me. I have no idea why or what he's thinking. Samuele's face starts to turn red as they walk closer. I feel Isla tense beside me, and when Samuele literally snaps his finger and points up, Isla all but jumps out of her seat. That's odd. She's never seemed that jumpy before. Isla cleans up her mess and walks inside looking back at me for a quick second in sadness.

I realize Nicolás watched the whole thing, and seemed to pick up on the tension because as I gave my last glance to Isla, my eyes caught his. He seems concerned. Only I have no idea why he would be. No one else has been.

Samuele sits down and I can tell he is mad, and when he's mad he likes to prove points. He makes a gesture of me to sit on his lap by looking at me, and tapping his leg.

"Come on, so Nicolás can have a seat." Samuele says in the fakest tone of his yet

In that moment I honestly wanted to throw up, or stab his hand with my knife.. but I was raised and taught to be strong and respectful. So I get up and slide onto his lap, and he grips my hip painfully tight. I almost make a sound of pain but I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself.

"Sit down Nicolás, we still have business to discuss." Samuele says still not letting go of my hip, or even loosing up. Nicolás glances at me as he sits down, I see Donte tense up, and Luis seems to be observing me more than anyone at the moment.

"Before we get started, what was the maid doing here?" Samuele asks me griping my chin turning my face towards him. The whole time I'm resisting the urge to punch him, or better yet grab his gun and shoot him. Not to kill him but just badly injure him. I'm not a killer. Although I'm not fully against it...

I knew Donte was about to answer to cover for me but I beat him to it.

"I didn't think you would want me to be alone with two men, it wouldn't look right. So I asked Isla to sit and eat with us. I thought you would prefer it if she stayed."

The lie came out smoothly, and I said it in such a gentle and sickening sweet tone, that I wanted to punch myself but also clap. Because I deserve an award for my acting skills.

He nods and grips my hip tighter making me flinch a little but I compose myself.

"Why don't you go do something you like today. Go to the mall, and do some shopping? Maybe pick out something nice for you to wear tonight.." He says and I'm instantly confused until he traces his hand down my neck, and looks down my shirt at my boobs, and then he says a little quieter "For when we are alone.." Then he smirks evilly

I know the others heard it but were pretending not too. I just faked a smile, nodded, and then I asked "What time should I be back?"

"By dinner." He orders and I nod like some trained dog as I fake another smile, and stand up. Just as I'm about to walk away I feel a slap on my butt. I immediately tense up, and walk away.

I didn't expect it but he always acts like this in some shape or form when other men from different parts of the mafia visit.

————

I do as he asks.

I go the mall.. even though I hate it. I just walk around for a bit then I go to the food court, and get a coffee and sit down.

I have no life outside of that mansion, and most in the mafia don't.. but I don't even have a life inside of the mansion.

I'm living but it's not a life.....

and if it is then it isn't mine.