“What is it that you want very badly but couldn't have it even once?”

I heard Carlo asking this question to someone when I was passing through the corridor. Then I found that that someone was none other than Alora.

The two of them were standing on the side talking over something I couldn't get to know.

For a moment I thought that I knew her answer. Obviously it would be ‘Love’ as always, by how she talked and dreamt. Girls like her always think only about love and all, there's nothing new in that.

“Death.” She replied.

And it made me frozen like a stone at that moment where I was standing and hearing their conversation. I stood stunned in my place.

I never expected such an answer to come from Alora. I could not muster the courage to go ahead and ask her about this. So, I walked away from there.

~~~~~

It seemed like my job as a Mafia doesn't suit me. I should just open a restaurant here, so that I can cook and feed people.

This was the second time I made pizza for that girl. I don't know what I was doing, why would I be doing all this?

And she made the request in such a way that I couldn't even refuse her. If this continued, one day I would get stuck in the kitchen forever. She would keep making request after request and I will be present here with a nod to fulfil her demands.

Maybe it's all because of Dad as he never refused Mom, in anything. But then also, me and her? We were not even a couple. Then why was I becoming like this? Why was I doing this for her? Why couldn't I just say no to her face?

Now why am I even asking? I was even done making pizza for her. And watching her eating with peace. And this madam had already finished half of it. Didn't even ask me once.

She lifted her head to peek at me while taking a big bite and gave me the ‘My love’ look whenever she ate it.

Yeah, her love was being eaten by her.

“Don't give these looks and finish it fast.”

No reply. She was eating with so much concentration that she didn't care what was happening around her. Right now even if we get surrounded by our enemies then I know she would finish her pizza first while telling the goons to wait and then after she finished, she would realise that situation.

I was watching her interestingly because she was no less than a cartoon character.

“You want a bite?” Her sudden question surprised me.

It's not like I was waiting for her to ask me if I wanted to have a bite or not. So, I just shook my head while rolling my eyes at her while she lifted her shoulder with a ‘Your loss’ look.

“Come on! You are lucky that I am offering you…” She said, hopefully extending one piece in my direction.

“Look, it's not a right question to ask a Mafia boss. I don't–” I couldn't even finish my sentence as she pushed the food in my mouth. And until I took it all, she was pushing it, so as I took it fully, she also closed my lips together with her fingers to make me chew all of it.

It happened before too. This same scene had happened on the second day of her coming here. Then with bread and now… anyway.

“I am obsessed with these pizzas. I don't like to compliment you but your cooking skills are pretty good, that I have to admit.” She showed me a thumbs up.

“Don't tell me you are obsessed with me too. I would not mind if you confess your feelings right now.” It really slipped out of my tongue but I had no regret at all.

Before I could even realise, it came out of my mouth. What was I even doing? No, I don't regret it. Just a few words. It didn't matter whom I said it to.

I am not embarrassed. I am not embarrassed. I am NOT embarrassed.

I thought some retort would come from her but... when I glanced at her, did her face turn red? Alora didn't even try to hide the shock from her face. She cleared her throat and fixed her posture on the chair.

“Hey, Enzo.” She looked at me hopefully and said, “Let's make a deal.”

“Not interested.”

“Listen to me once.” She requested.

“Whatever it is… I am not interested.” A mischievous smile grew across my face as I said that.

Although I could sense that it pissed her off, she remained calm.

“Breath, calm down. Don't think about it. I can't kill him. I need to deal with him.” I heard her talking to herself as she dramatically calmed herself down.

“Are you done with your dramas? Or does anything else remain to act?”

“You are not going to listen to me even once?” The way she said it with such innocence in her eyes and a pleading face that by looking at her, my heart started beating so fast.

I couldn't tell if this was also a part of her act or a real request. No matter how much I tried to stay cold with her, no matter how much I made her cry or hate me, she never really hated me. But it was also true that she didn't seem like me either. Also she never feared me.

What surprised me the most is that the Boss, whom every single person fears and becomes like a rat in front, this girl was controlling that man. She demanded that man, she made him cook for her, she didn't hesitate to blabber before that man.

From the first day she came here, I always listened to her nonchalant talks and agreed to whatever she requested. But I also tried to break her heart with anger and rage, still she didn't show a single bit of rage towards me. About my calm towards her, there is no comment.

Snapping her fingers before my face, she raised her eyebrows with a questioning expression. Then I realised that I was continuously looking at her face while thinking about all this.

“As you stared at my face for too long, you have to listen to me now.” She lightly banged her hand on the table. Trying to look serious in front of me.

What was this deal that she was not giving up at all. Now curiosity had hit me and I wanted to hear it from her.

“Alright. Say it.”

She sat properly while again fixing her posture. Her eyes were now shining as if she had victory.

“Do you want us to be enemies with benefits?”

What was going on in her head?

That shocked me. No, that frightened me. This girl must be crazy to ask something like that. She was definitely crazy. I shouldn't have agreed to listen to her in the first place.

“What?” I couldn't hide my shock.

“Yeah. Enemies with benefits. You and me?”

“Have you lost your mind?” I yelled and she furrowed her eyebrows.

Did she even understand its meaning? Surely those idiots must have asked her to say this to me. If I find out that my friends were behind this nonsense idea then I would surely be going to give all of them an unforgettable lesson if this is what they really wanted.

She looked somewhat confused, “Why? I think it's a good idea to help each other, you know…”

I interrupted, “JUST STOP IT! Don't say a word!”

I was feeling uncomfortable now. For real. I was not feeling safe with this girl anymore. She was crazy. Alora Gray was crazy. People should be aware of her mentality.

“Don't worry, Enzo. I will also help you with your…”

What was she doing? She was convincing me for that? So dirty minded. Where did I get myself stuck?

I kept my voice calm but enough to make her understand, “Alora… just shut up!”

She lightly shrugged her shoulders and started speaking again. “I know what you are afraid of… don't worry I will not ask you to do it every day. Just three days in a week–”

Three days in a week?

At this point I didn't have any other option rather than keep her mouth shut by myself. So I did what I needed to. I put my palm on her mouth, covering it carefully and shut off that unstoppable mouth of her.

She started mumbling with my hand on her mouth, not stopping her blabbering for a second. She even started to free her mouth with her hands by slapping and pulling my arm. Then I pulled out my hand from her lips and she huffed.

“Are you crazy?” She yelled at me leaving a long sigh.

“Me? Am I crazy? You are crazy. You are a crazy girl. And listen… we are not doing this.”

Not for now at least.

She pouted her lips, rolling her eyes at me.

I scowled as I said, “It's not happening.”

“Please, Enzo. Please.” She gave me an innocent look.

“No. No way. Do you even realise what you are asking for? I thought you were smart but you… are totally cracked.”

“But Enzo–”

“Alora, I said it's not gonna happen.”

“But it would be great if you agree to make pizzas for me whenever I want to eat one.” She mumbled in her low voice but enough to make me hear.

Something heavy released from my inside. And I tried to process what she had just said. So, it meant… was this the benefit she was talking about?

“This is what you want?” I asked her to clear my thoughts.

Alora stared at me with annoyance in her eyes and said, “Of course, I want this. I like pizza, that's why I offered you this proposal.”

I was not embarrassed. She didn't know what I was thinking. I was so relieved by that.

“Then why did you say enemies with benefits?”

“This will be called enemies with benefits. We are mostly enemies and if we deal with each other about this thing then it will benefit both of us. That makes it enemies with benefits.”

Such an innocent person. The same innocent person who was giving me a heart attack just a minute ago.

“Wow! What a thought.” It was my sarcasm but she didn't understand it.

“I know, right? Sometimes I think that I should use my intelligence for this world to make it better.” She high up her head with a thoughtful face.

Seeing her like that only made me chuckle. “Yeah, whatever. Tell me what the deal is. I won't ask twice.” I finally agreed to listen.

“See… you will benefit me by using your cooking skills in making pizzas for me. And I will…” looks like she hadn't thought about it yet.

Why don't I take advantage of this? Maybe she would really benefit me with something.

“You will do whatever I will tell you to.”

Without wasting a second, her reply came. “I am okay with that. Okay, then deal?”

“Deal.”

Perfect. A perfect deal of the day.

“Don't tell anyone about our deal.”

This was important. I couldn't let anyone else get the wrong idea about this. Especially those four. If those guys find out, they would think the same thing which I thought a little while ago. Because this girl would not tell them so many details.

“Why not?” She asked.

“Just like that.”

“Fine. I won't. Anything else, boss.” She blinked.

“Just finish it and go away.”

This trouble was literally not leaving me. But as for the deal, let's see what comes in future.

~~~~~

Today was very hectic because we did a lot of work. Here ‘we’ meant Carlo, Rome, Galen and me. These two children kept having fun the whole day. And now look at them eating as if today's entire workload was on their shoulders only.

But it's good, at least I didn't get irritated by them for the whole day today. I declared today as my peace day.

“Try it!” I heard Max saying to Alora while patting on her shoulder.

Having dinner together was the only time I watched both of them being active and full of energy.

“No way. It's so cringey.” She replied to him making a disgusting look.

“It's called flirting.” I heard Max convincing her.

“No! I can't. What if he gets angry?” Alora asked him.

“He won't. Trust me.”

Still I did not say anything. After all, I was eating peacefully, why bother with that trouble.

“Um, hi Enzo.”

That's how my peace came to an end. Now let's begin with the irritation I was going to tolerate from her.

*****