“Hii!” The trouble said, showing me a nervous smile.

What? Wouldn't she be scared of me? How could she stand up on her chair and give a speech about....me kidnapping her and her being innocent? And didn't she realise at all what she is wearing right now? This girl was literally a trouble for us.

What was wrong with my men is that all of them were calling her cute. I have agreed that the trouble was pretty but they were overreacting to her.

"Enzo!" Carlo called my name, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I told you she-"

"Non! Non osare dire una parola!" It was a warning, but I kept it in low tones. (Don't! Don't you dare say a word!)

When he kept quiet, I turned to that trouble to get any hint if she understood Italian or not, so that we could easily discuss our work in front of her.

She looked at me with widened but nervous eyes. Does it mean that she understood whatever I said? But then she turned her head away from me and started talking to Max.

To get confirmation, I started to speak some words in front of her, but in a low voice so that only she could hear.

"Ciao nemico," I said. (Hey enemy.)

"Sei pazzo?" I asked my first question as a trial to see her reaction to my words. (Are you crazy?)

No sign of understanding. She didn't even turn towards me. So, I decided to say something to provoke her.

"Ricorda, qui è il mio desiderio, quindi dovrai anche accettare tutto ciò che dico." (Remember, here is my wish. So you will also have to accept everything that I say.)

Still no reaction. This time I thought to speak English.

"Do you hear what I am saying?" I asked her in a low voice but I guess it came out loud. She immediately turned to me along with the four boys as they were seated beside us.

"Pardon me. Did you say something?" She looked genuinely confused.

I first quickly gave a confirmation signal to Carlo that she doesn't understand Italian. He nodded and further informed the rest of the three.

Then when I faced the trouble, she was already looking at me like a puppy. Abandoned, scared... Wait- scared?

No way. One thing I had got clear is that she was not scared of us. She was just pretending to be scared.

"So, after what you did just a few minutes ago, you're acting to be scared of me?"

She first stayed silent, then she huffed a little.

"Nothing will happen to a stubborn and spoiled girl like you, that's why I want you to start practising from tomorrow to know what you are capable of so that you can be of some use." I can't tolerate her like this. If she wanted to stay here, she would have to obey my every word.

She bowed her head and began to mumble, "I am not stubborn nor am I spoiled. You don't know anything about me."

"If you are not, then don't act like one."

I calmed myself down and caught my breath. Then I asked her again but this time even more calmly.

"Why did you come here like this?" I pointed to my shirt which she was wearing. Even though my shirt was a lot bigger than her height, and by the length it was still above her knees.

"If it bothers you, then you should have left something for me to wear. Or just wait for my permission to change. You have no right to change a girl without her permission."

"What will you do if I say, I do have a right to you."

That was just to provoke her. She looked into my eyes, again making me shiver from inside. Anger flashed in her eyes and I noticed she curled up her fist.

"Do you want to punch me?"

Let's see what this trouble really could do without causing trouble.

I provoked her more by smirking at her. She stood up from her seat, stepped towards me and the next thing she did was pinched me on my arm.

Everyone was surprised by her move even though she just pinched me on my arm. That didn't affect me, as it was like an injection. This time she curled her fist and raised it to punch me in my face. I grabbed her wrists before they could even touch my face.

I raised an eyebrow at her, smirking even more than earlier. She pouted angrily which made them laugh.

After that, I felt a wincing pain in my toe which caused me to squeeze my eyes and cry internally and I did not make any sound out of my mouth. That girl was pressing her foot on my toe under the table while giving me a mocking smile.

Everyone was looking at me confusedly even though I am sure I was hiding my expression of pain.

"From next time, don't try to test me on what I can do or not. You have no idea about me." Finally, she removed her leg from my toe.

"Wow! I am afraid of your threats." Even if it was painful, I still commented on her sarcastically.

“You should be.”

I narrowed my eyes at her and smirked again.

She got confused by my reaction to her threats. Or maybe embarrassed?

"Sit down," I ordered.

She sat while staring at my face.

The trouble widened her eyes as surprised. Carlo, Rome, Galen and Max stayed quiet.

"That's why you need to practice on yourself. Just look at you... anyone can kidnap you or do anything wrong to you without even leaving any traces."

The trouble was getting angry. I could sense that she was thinking I was insulting her. It was only for her to realize that she had to be strong to live in this dangerous world.

"You will do exactly what I will say. I won't wait for your answer, I only want your action." I said in a calm voice.

"You don't tell me what to do." Her eyes filled with hate and rage.

"Remember! I am the boss! You! You are nothing." If she was stubborn, I was much more than her. "Got it?"

She curled her fist again, her eyes burning like a flame but still she nodded as a yes.

"Speak Alora!"

"Yes! I got it." She said in a calm voice.

"Much better." After being done with her, I stood up to face all my men together.

"Everybody, I want all of you to teach one of your special skills to Ms Alora. So that she can become like you. And don't join in anything else with her rather than just practice. Remember that we are members of the mafia. We have our rules to follow and stay in discipline. If by any chance, Ms. Alora does something wrong, you will come to me and explain it to me. No one will punish her unless it's me. If I got to know that someone disobeyed me, there will be a rough punishment for them. Is that clear?"

"Yes, boss!" All of them replied together.

After that, I got seated and turned towards her.

I faced her and she blinked again and again, processing what I just said.

"You said that..." She paused on her sentence.

"Yes. And we also have our manners."

"So does it mean, you didn't change me?"

"For your information, we have only one female cook and she changed you. And know that we are not going to kill you or do anything wrong."

"I already know that...I am going to be alive."

"Then why did you try to escape from us, earlier?"

"Because at that time I was scared about what will happen to me once I will be here? Would I even be alive?"

"So, what about now? What changed your mind?"

"Because of this." She gestured to everyone with her hands, except me. "They showed me that you won't hurt me. It means I am safe."

A gentle smile curved on my lips. She was right though. Everyone started to like her. And even if they didn't...I would never hurt her. That doesn't mean I won't torture her, I will but in a proper way.

Our dinner arrived and everyone started eating.

"Now, tell me why you came here like this. You could've worn something more lengthy below your shirt."

Suddenly she spoke again -

"First of all, it's me who should question you. Second of all, it's all true what I told them earlier about...you kidnapped me. Third….. " She looked up to the ceiling thoughtfully.

"What?" I asked because I wanted to know what things she wanted to question me about.

She must have remembered what she wanted to ask because her face lit up.

Oh God! How could someone be so innocent? Wait- what was I even thinking?

"Yes… third, why did you lock me in a room? And why am I wearing a men's shirt? Galen told me this is your clothes. Wasn't there anyone else's clothes to change me into? Why yours?" She inquired all of it in one breath.

"Anything else?" I asked her interestingly, before answering them one by one.

"Um… just answer me to those questions first. Then I will ask you another." She said taking a bite of her food.

The meaning of her name should have been the trouble instead of the dreamer.

"The first two points are irrelevant. So, I will only answer the third one. I put you in that room because your room isn't ready yet. I locked you because you tried to escape from me at the first point. So, there's no chance I could risk it. And you are wearing my clothes because your clothes and all the other things are not prepared yet."

"You put me in that room?" She made a thoughtful face again.

I sighed and replied "Yes."

The trouble stayed silent for a moment then spoke, "Okay...I am forgiving you for that one. But in the matter of these clothes... Why yours?" She raised an eyebrow.

I didn't know the answer either. I just thought to give mine. So, I stayed silent.

The four of them were listening to our conversation with full concentration.

She released a humourless laugh.

"You don't have any answer to that, do you? "

"Your room must be ready by now. So, you can move." I totally ignored her and stated.

"And where is my room?"

This time Rome replied to her, "Don't worry little one, you will be safe around us."

"Um...what do you mean by that?"

"He meant your room is with us, on the same floor," Carlo replied with a smile.

"You told me that you will bring everything that I need." She turned towards me.

I gave Carlo a look because it was his responsibility to send our men to bring everything she needed.

Carlo stayed silent. I knew what that meant. He had forgotten to do so. As I was going to question him, the trouble cut me off.

"It's alright. It's totally fine, you can bring them tomorrow. There's nothing to worry about. I can manage for tonight."

"Thank you, little miss." Carlo sighed in relief.

She nodded with a genuine smile.

"Are you sure, you don't have any problems?" Galen leaned forward on the table to see her face.

She smiled at him too and nodded again.

"What is your favourite food, little miss?"

Her face lit up and she immediately replied, "I love pizza. Do you order pizza here?"

"What pizza? " I was thinking in my mind but it came out loud.

All five of them stared at me while Carlo and Rome were giggling, and Max and Galen were confused.

"I mean... Pizza?" The right question.

"Yeah! A circular food...which is cut into many triangular shapes... " The trouble started explaining to me by gesturing her hands to make a drawing of it.

"I know what that is. And no, we don't order anything here."

Ignoring my presence she continued with her babbling, "Oh! I also have other favourite foods."

"Then I guess, I have to restrict some of your favorite things."

~~~~~

This morning I got the information about our money which was laundered by bin sources and deposited in a bank. The work of that money was done well. An Italian mafia should always stay active with his work otherwise you would never be known as a good boss.

Now for my goods, I needed a purpose to make a deal with the Russian mafia, so that my men could easily succeed in bringing the drugs. For that, I had to set up a call meeting with the Russian mafia boss and try to persuade him to promote my men. My father and he were very old friends, that's why his son and I also got along much well in our childhood.

Because of stress and lack of sleep over the past few days, I wasted more on that trouble rather than on my important work. I was feeling exhausted and she was already making me even more furious.

That trouble always had to complain about some things. At times like that, I regretted the decision to take her to my place and keep her in my team. I didn't even started her basic practice on things she will have to use in future if she stayed here. Because the mafia was not safe, even with hundreds of men and their protections.

I got up from my table and walked towards the window to get some fresh air. Usually, I keep my windows and doors locked, whenever I am in my place. I opened the window and looked outside, only then my eyes led on to her.

I noticed that the trouble was roaming around the mansion, alone. She had come to the poolside, standing in front of the pool.

Was she going to jump? Well, if she doesn't I would surely push her into the water. If I had already decided to be her enemy, then I must keep my promise to myself.

I was in my office room, looking at her from my window. It was funny to laugh at her while she wasn't doing anything foolish. But on the other hand, I felt she can do more than what she showed us.

Let's mess with her a little. Although the trouble needed to understand whom she challenged.

As soon as I came to the poolside, I stopped at a far distance and something seemed not well because she was still standing there looking down in the water.

Instead of my plan to push her into the pool which was not like a mafia boss would do, still I walked towards her and paused halfway by a sobbing voice.

Was she crying?

"Alora!" I called her by her name.

She turned to me. There was no sign of tears in her eyes. She was not crying. Then I spotted the coffee in her hand.

"You are drinking coffee?" I narrowed my eyes on her.

"So, what? Max gave me this coffee. Would you disallow coffee too?" She sounded annoyed.

What was happening to me? She was drinking coffee and my mind told me to look at her if she was crying.

The trouble was really making me crazy.

"No. That's not what I was saying. Coffee isn't restricted for you." I said confused by my thoughts.

After knowing that she liked junk foods and especially pizza, I restricted eating those things and gave her a warning to not do the opposite of my words. We don't even drink alcohol here, rather than at a party or an event. Just sometimes my friends did drink secretly from me. It is not that it was strictly forbidden, but we must keep our health right.

"Oh, thank you so much Mr Annoying Monster for not restricting it." The trouble was now being sarcastic.

"It was my fault that I came here." I sighed all my irritation out and shook my head.

The name I gave her was really suitable for her because she was literally a trouble for me.

The thing I hated the most is when someone controls me and... Alora was controlling me unknowingly. I hated that either.

*****