Page 99 of Arianna

“Celene.” I breathe, knowing she will assume I have forgotten about her childish stunt. She assumed wrong.

“Yes, boss?” Her voice lowers.

“What happened today at my home will not be happening again.” You don’t refer to me as anything except boss or Mr. Kenton. We are not close, and you are my employee. Nothing else.” I hear a long intake of breath, but it does not stop me. I was pissed when she did it, but I needed to see what she would do. Arianna Parisi and I got what I wanted. “Know your fucking place. One more out-of-place conduct and you are gone.”

“Boss, I didn’t mean an–”

“This is my last and only warning, Celene.” Not giving her a chance to explain, I hang up the call. Gripping the steering wheel, I take deep breaths. Hours later, I am still furious. My mood has only worsened as the day went by.

Droll meetings that lead to nothing but ass-kissing from both allies and opponents.

And the news has been all about me and my nameless Sugar baby, as the media is now calling her. I still feel the dread that took over me when I saw all the cameras crowding her. A feeling I have never felt before, Ellaiza and now Arianna.

She seemed so small compared to the crowd, and the only thing I could think of was how one instant I was far away from her, she would have gotten hurt.

It only takes a second, and that is one thing we both know all too well.

Then I lost my mind when I ran outside, lifted her into my arms, and kissed her senselessly.

With all the want, fear, and frustration that lives inside me when it comes to her.

I know what I feel towards the brat, although I am not quite sure where it all started. I feel it, and it is like a sickness spreading through my body with every second I spend with the girl.

But today… today, I saw the same sickness in her eyes.

The need.

The want.

Hell, even the crazy jealousy that is rooted deep in me when I see her standing too close to Banning or when she smiles up at him as if he hangs the stars for her.

She might not realize it, but she does it, and it messes with my head.

Every second they spend together, I need to remind myself that he is not only a valuable member of my team but a good man and friend so I don’t kill him.

Turning the engine off, I take in the sight outside the car.

This place reeks of sin and debauchery.

The same as its owner.

I come here once a month and play my part to keep my name in the mouths of the underground area of Chicago where the Sandoval family reigns.

I do whatever it takes to keep myself at the top of the food chain without becoming a mindless criminal. Not many men can achieve to install fear in the hearts of men without the use of their fists and guns.

I did.

I also managed to quadruple my parent’s legacy and made it my own.

My empire.

Because you don’t get this rich playing by the rules and that is something I learned at just fourteen.

Just when I am about to open the car door, my phone pings twice. Alerting me of two new notifications. One from Banning and the other from that Godawful app that has turned me into a goddamn stalker. I choose to open Banning’s message first, just in case of an emergency. A smile stretches on my face when I open the image he sent with a caption that reads cupcake monster.

Ella is safely strapped to her highchair in the kitchen with three burned birthday confetti cupcakes on the tray in front of her while she has pink frosting all over her onesie, face, and hair. Pinching the screen, I zoom in on the picture.

Her smile.

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