When you keep secrets, your secrets keep you. It's really dangerous unless you find the right person to confide in.

Entering the elevator with Lucca felt stifling. It was only a few hours ago that he had kissed me senseless in here and now that I had no deposition to worry about; I couldn't get that kiss out of my mind.

In the confines of the elevator, I was thinking about it, again and again. The way his hands felt on my body, the way his lips moved against mine.

Claiming me.

Electrifying me.

I looked up at him to see him already staring at me, a slight shadow of that annoying smirk tilting his lips at the corners. The smirk growing more prominent by the second as I didn't look away. I couldn't, it was like my body didn't want to listen to me anymore.

Traitor.

"You are thinking about it, aren't you?" his deep, husky voice broke me out of my trance. I looked away immediately.

"About what?" I played dumb adorning my most serious, no nonsense expressions.

Of course I knew he was talking about the kiss. Because to be honest that was the only thing I could think about right now.

You could talk about finding life on fucking Jupiter for all I know and I would still be thinking about his lips on mine, moving with such passion that it made my knees weak and heart skip a beat.

"Don't play dumb, I know you are way more intelligent than that." He scoffed turning away.

"And what do you know about intelligence?" I scoffed back trying my hardest to deflect from entering into dangerous waters.

Because I knew that if he would kiss me again, I would kiss him back, hell if he so much as stepped into my personal space bubble I would jump him and that scared the living daylights out of me.

The attraction I felt towards him scared me. 

But it also excited me. 

 And this mixture of fear and attraction confused the living senses out of me.

"I like intelligence, tesoro. I think its sexy, maturity is sexy. Having a mentally stimulating conversation is big turn on for me. Having a great body and being fit is good, even healthy. But, mio dio, having brains and being able to use them is what I would think true seduction is." He said taking a step towards me, I immediately took a step back knowing that my self-control was hanging by a thread.

Seeing this, his smirk grew amused. His eyes glinted dangerously as he took another step towards me, but I couldn't move. Not because my body had gone on a lockdown, but because I had nowhere to go. And as clichéd as it was going to sound I was trapped between Lucca and the wall of the elevator.

Saved by the bell!

Lucca took a reluctant step back as the doors of the elevator opened only to greet us with a busy reception where no one was looking at us, thank god.

"Where are you supposed to meet Chris?" he asked guiding me to the exit door, the palm of his hand resting on the small of my back.

And I didn't mind it, at all.

"Starbucks, across the street." I was relieved that I didn't stutter while speaking.

As soon as I mentioned the location of our meet up, Lucca tensed but did not protest, so I did not ask him about it.

As we were crossing the road, I could feel his body tense. Why was he so cautious?

I did not voice my concern.

As soon as I entered the small outlet, the delicious aroma of freshly brew coffee and the constant chatter of people around me surrounded me. It made me smile, almost.

"Come osare mi chiami?!" (How dare you call me?!) I heard Lucca whisper yell and turned around to see him talking on the mobile. He looked vicious with his fists clenched and eyes blazing with uninhibited fury.

I felt sorry for the person on the receiving end of this fury.

Seeing that I stopped, Lucca looked at me and nodded to the far end of the shop where Chris sat at the table, waving at me. I looked back to see Lucca leaving the small shop, his mobile still firmly pressed against his ear as he walked out, furiously speaking in hushed Italian. No doubt cursing the other person senseless.

I had a very bad feeling that somebody was about to die.

"I ordered you a skinny mocha latte with extra espresso shots and a quiche." He said gesturing at the delicacies on the table. He himself had a coffee cup and a club sandwich.

"What was so important that you had to call me here?" I asked instantly skeptical of his behavior.

"The matter is...delicate. I needed to discuss it out of our office buildings. Too many chatty Cathy's there." He said in a non-chalant manner.

Okay, then.

I sat down taking a sip of the coffee.

Hmmm, Italian roast, my precious.

"Okay then, let's talk Christopher." I said looking at him only to see him smirking at me.

***

Ethan Nolan was an African American business entrepreneur who held a prestigious position in the Forbes Fortune 500 list. He was a middle aged man with two sons and a daughter who was all but a disgrace to him. I truly pitied him because I knew Ethan, he was a good man. And also because my first case I worked on as a law student was his. I had taken an instant liking towards him and looked up to him and he too treated me with respect.

So when Chris told me that Ethan's daughter, Jenny, was in trouble and Ethan had personally asked for my help, I couldn't say no.

"I assume he wants a private meeting with that little witch present?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"That little witch as you put it, is seventeen, so not so little anymore but yes he wants a private meeting and that too preferably in this week itself. Shay must've informed Clark by now." He said sipping his coffee. I took a bite out of my quiche.

After that, the conversation took a lighter turn with Chris telling me about his case that happened earlier this morning.

"I had to work double time to keep a straight face, trust me. That guy was so hopeless that he was messing up between section 231 and 234. The judge was so fed up of him that he didn't even hide the fact that he was rolling his eyes throughout the little bastard's closing argument." Christopher chuckled.

"And was this lawyer a novice or something?" I asked, unable to hold back my smirk.

"I was his first." His eyes danced with amusement.

"Poor thing." I said shaking my head in mock pity. "Must've been painful, being deflowered in the world of corporate law by you." I continued as I saw the shock register on his face which then quickly melted into amusement.

"Was that an actual joke?!" he asked pretending to be shocked and clutching the shirt over his chest. I rolled my eyes at his dramatics.

Suddenly he became all serious again. The amusement slowly left his eyes only to be replaced by something that I didn't see on his face often...nervousness.

Christopher Adams was nervous. This has to be big.

"What is it?" I asked slightly irritated that he won't just spit it out.

"Ethan was not the only reason I called you here..." he trailed off, looking a bit apprehensive.

"Just spit it out!" I sighed in exasperation.

"I wanted advice from you...on how not to be a total perverted asshole." The last part was almost a whisper, but I heard it loud and clear.

"Why?" I asked, never in my life had I imagined a day when Chris would ask me for such advice.

"Can't I change just for the sake of it?" he asked with a cocky smirk.

"No you can't, because you are you. It is physically impossible for you to have such a change of heart, so...drastically."I said, not buying his crap.

"Okay, you got me. I want to change just enough so I can get Shay to go on a date with me." he said, his features scrunching up into a scowl.

"And by date you mean, you want to sleep with her?" I asked, because the concept of Christopher taking any woman on a date was downright impossible.

He nodded with a sheepish look.

"Are you trying to tell me that you haven't still slept with her?" I asked in mock shock.

"Make fun of me all you want, but I will have her in my bed, screaming-" he started saying with a cocky smirk when I stopped him with a raised hand.

"I'll help you... just because I owe you and also so that you would stop bugging me." I said smirking to myself.

I swear to god if he ends up falling for this assistant of his, it would be the most clichéd thing ever and he would not hear the end of it for the rest of his life. I would make sure of it.

He just smiled back at me but looked a bit wary too. Wonder why?

"Is that all you wanted to talk?" I asked, getting up to throw the empty cup and paper plate in the bin.

"Yeah, pretty much." He said, winking at someone behind me.

I turned around to see a tiny brunette at the cashier looking at him with a flushed look. She could've been no more than 17.

I rolled my eyes and snapped my fingers at him.

"This is what you'll have to give up if you want that assistant of yours anywhere near your bed. And for God's sake Chris, she looks like a minor for crying out loud! Stick it in someone your age." I said walking away.

He followed me with his own cup and plate.

"You can't blame me Violet! Young pussies are delicious to fuck." He whispered low enough for me to hear. "And she is not a minor anymore; she turned eighteen a month ago anyway." His smirk didn't disappear.

"How do you know?" I asked staring at him in disbelief, he just smirked.

My guess is that he already slept with her. Ugh.

"I am positively disgusted and disturbed, are you happy now?" I snapped at him dumping the trash and walking out of the little shop with Chris hot on my tail.

I could hear his low snickers which made me all the more irritated.

I took a look at my watch to see that it was already nearing twelve thirty, I needed to be at Caley's school by two and it'll take me plenty of time reach that place. Dammit!

Since I had come in the morning with Luca, I had to hail a cab.

"Just what are you doing?" Christopher's annoying voice was way close to my ear then what I had expected.

"What does it look like, genius? I am hailing a fucking cab!" I said exasperated at his behavior. He was getting on my nerves today.

"Oh, I would've never would've guessed...I meant why?" he sassed rolling his eyes at me.

"I have to go to Caley's school." I decided that to answer his question in a straightforward manner, maybe he'll leave me alone sooner.

"Come on, I'll take you. I am free as it is." He said directing me towards his Audi A4.

"Thanks..." I said walking with him, I was a bit shocked.

He was helping me without expecting something in return; this behavior was very fishy for him. But I was happy; I hated public transport with passion.

"So...what did the little bugger do now?" he said starting the engine of his white beauty. I settled in the passenger seat fastening my belt.

"No idea...but she promises that she didn't do anything." I said, an involuntary smile curving my lips, it was small but it was there.

Chris looked at me with a little smile of his own, his face had lost that arrogant smirk he always held and was genuinely smiling at me now. My smile broadened, just by a millimeter.

"Whenever you talk about her, you always smile." he said, reserving out of the drive.

"And if you keep a smile like that on your face when you talk to your assistant, she may consider you to be a human and not only a womanizer...or worse, a pedophile." I said, changing the subject immediately, he saw through my attempt but let it go. Instead that small but genuine smile slipped off of his face only to be replaced by that cocky, arrogant smirk.

"Point taken...But does that mean that you think that my smile is sexy?" he smirked, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I just rolled my eyes, shaking my head in mock exasperation.

"Just drive, Christopher." His laugh was the last sound that echoed in the confines of the vehicle before we reached Caley's school.

***

The hallways of the school were empty except for the few janitors and teachers here and there. The way all the teachers turned around to give a second look to both of us walking down to the principal's office was almost comical too.

"Look around you Violet, even some of these goody-two shoes teachers look like they want to rip my clothes off of me and do the dirty to me in the middle of the hallway!"

"And your point?" I asked without turning around to look at him.

"My point is...why can't Shay?!" he almost whined.

"First of, stop being a crybaby, I don't think it'll be good for your humongous ego if someone sees you whining to me. Second of, these women, by the looks of don't see pretty boys like you that often, so they're just taking advantage of your presence, so shut up and let them ogle you ." I said turning to the last corridor that led to the principal's office.

Mr. Turner's office stood at the end of the hallway in all its intimidating glory. God only knows just about how many times I have been in there because of Caley, and not all visits ended well for her.

I knocked on the door twice before I got the green signal to enter.

Mr. Turner was a man in his late fifties but didn't look a day over forty. He was bald and wore frameless spectacles that made him look even more distinguished. Just now he sat on his chair wearing his usual attire- a band tee, jeans and a warm smile.

"Ms. Styles, don't look so anxious. Little Ms. Styles hasn't done anything wrong today." He assured me in that jovial voice of his. Caley who was standing next to him furiously nodded.

"And who is this you have brought?" he asked staring at Christopher.

Caley answered before I could.

"That's Christopher, he and Violet work together. He's okay; you can talk with him here." He nodded at her answer and told the both of us to take a seat. 

Caley immediately jumped up from her seat and crawled into my lap, I wrapped my arms around her tightly as she whispered a quiet 'hey' to Chris. He gave her a small smile.

"Ms. Styles, as you know that this is not just a middle school, but a high school too, right?" Principal Turner started. I nodded not knowing where he was going with this.

"So the other day I found Caley in year 10 A.P Algebra class." He continued as I shot a glare at Caley. What had she done now?

"Just listen to him!" she whispered loud enough for me to hear.

"And I found her solving problems that the best students in that class couldn't." he finished leaving me completely shocked. I could feel the shock coming off of Chris too.

I knew Caley was a smart kid, but this smart?

"So why am I here?" I asked cautiously.

"After I found out about this, I contacted the school counselor who made her take a few tests. Turns out your little sister has an IQ high enough to skip 5 grades and go directly to grade 11." He said with a small smile.

"Whoa." Christopher whispered from where he had been sitting.

Whoa would be an apt description of what I am feeling right about now.

For a while none of us spoke, I could feel several gazes boring onto me as I stared blankly at the desk in front of me. I am sure Caley would love to grab such an opportunity, it was an honor actually. But if she did, she won't be a kid anymore. She'll grow up faster than she should, faster than I'd want her to. She'll lose her childhood. 

Do I want that for my sister?

"Vi?" she whispered, effectively breaking me from my reverie.

"Hmm?"

"Can I?" she asked, her voice full of hope.

"Do you want to?" I asked my voice void of any emotions. I wanted this to be her decision and not a decision taken by her based on what I felt.

"Yes I do, but only if you are okay with it." She whispered, her big blue eyes lighting up a bit as she spoke.

"Baby, of course I am okay with it! But do you understand what this would mean?" I asked looking at the eleven year old on my lap.

"Uh-huh. More homework, older classmates, tougher subjects and maybe some bullying here and there. Nothing I can't handle Vi, don't worry."

"You come directly to me if somebody as much as tries to touch you when you don't want them to, get it?" Christopher almost growled from the seat next to me as I stared at her in shock.

Was she being bullied?

"Chill guys, I was kidding!" she said exasperated at our reactions. I rolled my eyes at her theatrics and became serious again.

"Wouldn't you want to have fun with children your age though Caley?" I asked as she looked at me with a weird look.

"To be honest, I actually find most of them really, really dumb and irritating. I have to work extra time to not actually snap at them every time they open their mouth to spew out something stupid or just cry. So technically shifting me a few grades is actually doing me a favor." She said as matter of factly whilst shrugging her shoulders.

"Ouch, that was harsh, bugger." Christopher chuckled unable to contain his amusement. I just stared at her.

She was more like me than I gave her credit for, I couldn't help but chuckle myself. Seeing me smile, her eyes lighted up looking at me with anticipation. I just nodded causing her to scream and squeal and throw her hands around my neck repeating 'thank you' over and over again.

From the corner of my eyes I could see Christopher typing away something on his phone, smirking at it with an amused expression. I chose to ignore it.

***

After half an hour and a shit load of paperwork that would've not taken more than 15 minutes had it not been for Chris who demanded to check over the paperwork again himself, Caley was officially a junior in high school and starting Monday itself, effective immediately.

Principal Turner handed over her timetable and list of books she needed for the semester. Then he handed her a separate pile of notes that she needed to catch up on considering that she was joining mid-semester and almost all her classes were advanced.

As we were walking down the hallways, Chris just couldn't stop talking.

"Damn Caley...Your subjects sound positively dangerous. A.P Algebra...19th century Literature...Art...Chemistry...A.P Physics and...are you serious?" he trailed off laughing like a complete fool.

"I thought that it would amuse you lot." Caley giggled rearranging the stack of notes in her hands.

Christopher passed me the time table and my eyes landed on the reason for his amusement.

"You're taking Italian as your second language?" I asked my little sister in disbelief as she giggled at me nodding her head furiously in affirmation.

"Sí, mia cara sorella! (Yes, my dear sister)" Caley squealed in an excited voice as we stepped out of the building only to see Lucca already on the verge of opening the door.

His eyes immediately lit up with amusement as he looked at Caley.

"Ciao, bambina. I hear you are going to be fluent in my language in no time." he said bending down to her level as he gave her a small smile.

"Sí, sí!" Caley squealed again, clapping her hands like an excited three year old making both men let out a small chuckle.

"Maybe you could even help me out some. Who better to help me top the class than you?" she asked in a small hopeful voice.

I was about to protest that no way in hell was he going to help her when he gave her a slight nod making her the happiest girl on the planet. I sighed.

It was turning out to be extremely hard for me to keep Lucca Santos away from my life...away from Caley.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, effectively cutting off their little conversation.

"Why, I came to pick you up, tesoro." He smirked getting up on his feet and taking a step towards me. I instinctively stiffened at his sudden proximity but tried my best not to show my discomfort.

It was not that I felt discomfort because of our proximity, hell no. I was uncomfortable because I felt no discomfort at our proximity.

Too much familiarity in too little time. And that spooked the shit out of me.

"Chris is taking me back." I stated staring at him with a neutral look. Before he could answer Chris answered for him.

"Actually, I called him here. I am done for the day so I will be heading home and am taking Caley with me and seeing you hitched a ride with him in the morning..." he trailed off shrugging.

"I'll give you a second with your sister, tesoro, as it is I need to talk to Chris about something." He told me and then motioned Chris to follow him to his car.

I bend down so I am eye level with Caley and look at her with a small smile. She immediately hugs my neck causing me to stumble a bit but thankfully I didn't fall down.

"I miss you Vi." She murmured, her head still buried in my neck.

"I know baby, I miss you too. But I swear-" I started to say but she cut me off immediately.

"But... I know why you are staying with Luca and I understand. Don't worry about me, I am having fun with Chris and Lia. I am fine." She said giving me a smile.

I instantly became vary.

"Why exactly do you think I am staying with Lucca, Caley?" I asked afraid to hear what might she even reply.

"Bad people want to hurt you and Lucca is helping you. And as for you staying away from me, you don't want them hurting me, right?" she said looking at me with those innocent doe like eyes.

"How did you...?" I trailed off looking at my little sister in shock.

"I overheard Chris talking to Lucca on his cell. He was talking with Lucca while his phone was on speaker because I had hidden his Bluetooth." She said casually shrugging.

Before I could react to that, the two men came back. Both looking equally grim and disturbed for some reason.

Chris's usual annoying aura had dulled into a calm and serious one after whatever Lucca had told him and Lucca himself looked annoyed and beyond pissed.

"Let's go Caley." Chris said attempting to smile and nodding at his car.

"Can I stop by your office after school, Vi?" Caley asked me.

I smiled a small smile and nodded.

"You know you can." I said hugging her once more before she followed behind Chris.

For some reason I knew that Lucca had been staring at me throughout this whole thing. I could feel his eyes burning holes in the back of my head. And my suspicions turned out to be true as I turned around only to see him staring at me. I raised an eyebrow; not willing to show how much, just his stare affected me.

Because it did, tons.

"Get in the car." He snapped at me walking back towards his Cadillac.

I scowled at him but did the same.

As soon as I was seated he put the car in reverse and sped out of the school grounds onto the freeway.

"We are going to the office and you are going to clear your schedule for the rest of the day and then we go directly to my house." He ordered his eyes never straying away from the road.

I scoffed.

"Why do you think you can dictate my life? Like hell will I cancel my schedule!" I snapped back.

"You have the option of telling your assistant face to face that you won't be coming for the rest of the day today or so God help me I will tell him myself and make sure you don't leave your room until I say so." He said in such a casual way, but I knew that his threat was real.

I chose not to respond to that, because as much as I would like to consider myself an independent woman who could do whatever the fuck she wants, reality was a bitch. I was living with Lucca who was a dangerous mafia boss and could have me killed or kidnapped without a second thought.

Seeing the resulting satisfaction on his face, he clearly saw my resignation to the situation.

"So what is it going to be, tesoro? Office or my house directly?" he asked, letting that god awful smirk curve his lips.

"The office." I gritted out, those two words ate up a huge chunk of my larger than life ego.

***

We reached the office in record time. There was not much chatter going about in the car with me pouting and sulking in my seat and Lucca babbling shit in Italian in his Bluetooth device, the car ride was silent and never ending.

I walked into the office building only to see Clark waiting for me in the reception. He had my files and laptop bag in his hand.

"Christopher called...I cancelled the rest of your day and these are all the files you need to go over. Two of them are for a follow up hearing and the rest are from your company." He said handing me the files.

"Thanks." I said taking my laptop bag and files from him.

"Are you coming in tomorrow?" he asked, but I already had a feeling that he knows the answer to it.

"I don't think so, shift whatever meeting I have to day after, adjust my schedule accordingly and email it to me." I said sighing in exasperation.

He had the balls to laugh at me. I just raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why do I have a feeling that he is going to give it to you good for the next two days." he snickered keeping a low voice and glancing back at Lucca who was standing at the entrance still talking to whoever it is, looking a bit pissed.

"Fuck off." I scowled at him, turning away.

"I know you are going to!" he said back as I made my way to Lucca.

"Do you ever not work tesoro?" Lucca asked eyeing at the files in my hand.

"Yeah, I do." I smirked recalling the times I didn't work.

I usually kicked ass.

I shot a text to Danny asking him where he was, he replied immediately telling me he was back at Lucca's place waiting for us to come back.

Good, I would need him as soon as we reached. I felt like not working and kicking someone's ass. And Danny would be the one to be fortunate enough to be on the receiving end.

The drive to Lucca's place didn't take more than twenty minutes. Throughout the car ride we both remained silent, but this time there was something heavy hanging between us and I couldn't, for the life of me figure out what.

As soon as he parked his car in the driveway, I decided to open my trap.

"Why did you make me cancel my schedule today?" I asked more curious than irritated.

He sighed looking resigned.

"You asked me why was I being so concerned about you, yes?" he started to say and my curiosity piqued.

I nodded looking in his tired green eyes.

"Well I think it's time you knew." He muttered getting out of the car, I followed his lead.

Finally I was going to get some answers! But why?

"Why are you telling this to me all of a sudden?" I asked following him inside, my laptop and files securely held in my right hand as my left one grabbed his bicep to pull him back.

"Not here, inside my office." He said, his long fingers held me by my elbow as he dragged me up the stairs. I was vaguely aware that Danny was following us.

As soon as we reached his office, he pushed open the doors, guiding me inside. I twisted out of his grasp as soon as we entered the room.

His office was a huge room bathed in gold and copper hues with polished wooden floors, much like the rest of his house. The entire wall to my right was converted to a ginormous bookshelf and right in front of me was a mahogany desk with various files, guns and paperwork scattered all over it.

"Now, tell me first why all of a sudden you want to open up to me?" I asked, his behavior was at an all time high of being suspicious. Even for him.

"I have been informed that the Russians have figured out just how involved you are in my life. And since Alexei, the current Russian leader was just murdered by his own brother, who is hell bent on destroying me, I am going to take some much needed measures to keep you safe." He said with a straight face and dead voice.

"Why the fuck do they want to target me?" I asked completely shocked at this.

"Because they think you are important to me." he said shrugging and sitting on his throne like chair.

"Am I?" I asked my mind numb and my body acting completely on auto-pilot.

"It's complicated." he muttered, looking away from me for the first time since we came in here.

"What the fuck do you mean, it's complicated?! You just have to fucking tell me that how the fuck they think that I am anything to you, let alone important!?" I seethed.

"You are." He simply said, looking me straight in the eye.

"I am what?"

"You are important to me."

"Why?"

"Because I find you fascinating." He simply murmured.

"You find me fascinating?! We have known each other for less than a month and have barely talked. How the fuck do you find that fascinating." I snapped.

"No, I have known you for much longer." he said, opening his drawer and pulling out a picture.

"How..when...where?" I mumbled, trying to rack my brain to find out where the fuck had I crossed paths with him only to come up blank.

"Lasciaci." Lucca said looking behind me and I heard the door of the office simply open and close.

Danny had left.

"Five years ago, we met at a gala." He said passing me the picture.

Robotically I reached out for the picture only to look at me in a tight white dress and a man in a crisp black suit wearing a mask, holding me close whilst dancing. And even with the mask hiding his face I knew it was him.

Lucca.

Be careful what you wish for, sometimes the past comes back to haunt you. 

A/N:

I AM SO SORRYYYYY!!!!!!!!

I know, I am so damn late in updating this time and I feel terrible. But I just started college and it has been very difficult adjusting to the changes.

But keeping that aside, what do you think? 

How much is Chris willing to change for Shay? How will Violet help him?

Where is Lia?

Why is Lucca so attached to Violet?

What happened at that damn gala?

The next Chapter is up, GO, GO, GO!!!! Maybe some of the questions will be answered. ;)