Lucrezia didn't know how long she stayed on the floor, but she could hear the light murmuring and whispers of the women, as if she were an outcast thrown among them.
Due to the lack of food and water in her system, her body was extremely weak and tired. However, she didn't falter or loathe as she pushed herself up, standing face-to-face with the women.
Scanning the room with her eyes, she observed how it smelled like soap and old fabric, absolutely nothing like her room back in the Alexandro mansion.
"You should clean yourself." One of the women finally spoke, coming forward to inspect her with slightly furrowed brows.
Lucrezia locked gazes with the woman, noticing how mild, yet firm, her tone was and she didn't realise when she leaned in to her, allowing her to lead her to the bathroom.
They bathed her silently, scrubbing the patches of dirt and dried blood all over her body but also combing her tangled hair like they were handling something fragile but unwanted.
By the time they were done, they tossed her a plain maid uniform made of cheap fabric along with an apron.
Lucrezia stared long at the black dress, her throat tightening as so many thoughts crossed through her mind.
"You should put it on quickly. Miss Carla doesn't like waiting." One of them murmured in distaste, avoiding her eyes.
Lucrezia slid into the dress and followed the women out, leading her to the kitchen where she was given something to eat before she would begin her chores and she didn't realise how hungry she was until she sat to eat the food, a handful of shame flashing by as she gulped each spoon of porridge.
She observed how the maids stood watching her the whole time she ate and though, she didn't mind, she knew none of this still made sense.
No sane person- not even the wealthiest Mafia bought a human for two hundred million dollars and kept her as a maid.
Perhaps Carla was yet to tell her all about it but she was no fool. She knew something worse awaited her.
Carla had also mentioned this man to be the new Don. It couldn't have been a mistake since she knew just how much people wanted to usurp the kingpin from her father for years now. Since he had been assassinated, it was no surprise that his position had been replaced so quickly.
But that also meant that whoever had bought her at the black market today also had something to do with her father's death.
Her heart clenched at the thought, remembering the horrified look on Meshach's face.
If she had really been sold to the new Don, then she was in deeper shit than she thought. It simply meant whoever bought her was a core enemy of her father and she didn't want to know what he could do to her.
Something struck her the next moment, pulling her from her thoughts as she turned around.
"I believe you are done eating." The begrudging voice of Carla filled the room as one look from her sent the other servants out of the kitchen, leaving her with only Lucrezia.
Carla strutted to where she sat, one hand on her waist and the other on the table, leaning beside it as she glared at the girl.
"You have lost the right to eat to your satisfaction." She shoved the plate on the table straight at the ground, the ceramic shattering into pieces, splattering the remaining porridge over the spotless floor.
Lucrezia flinched, standing up and shifting back instinctively before throwing the girl a puzzled look.
"You should get cleaning." Carla nudged towards the mop and broomstick staked at the corner of the kitchen, raising her brows as if asking what she was waiting for.
"I'm not a maid!" Lucrezia snapped at her in anger, her face contorted in defiance as she stared at the mess on the floor.
She could see the way Carla's expression changed, her eyes blazing, like she was questioning her audacity.
"Bought for a whooping two hundred million..." she pushed her hand from the table, slowly walking towards Lucrezia who took a step backwards.
"You should count yourself lucky if scrubbing floors is the only thing the Don wants you for," she whispered, leaning closer and noticing the way Lucrezia shivered at her statement, which was a delightful sight.
Lucrezia had never used a mop before.
In fact, she'd never even held one. The only activities she performed were at the hospital which were to save lives. That was her job.
Besides that, everything else came to her on a platter of gold which made Carla's request more humiliating.
If her father was alive, he would have skinned this woman alive for even insinuating such a command.
"Be quick with it." Carla's voice rang again, pointing at the mop.
With her utmost control, Lucrezia walked to where the mop was before picking it up, scrunching her face at it.
It took her over an hour to figure out the right way to use the equipment before she was finally able to clean off the mess Carla had created, all while the vicious woman watched her.
Only when she was done did someone barge into the kitchen abruptly, grabbing their attention.
"Gavin." Carla smiled at the man who appeared in a black suit, his blonde hair combed neatly to the back, holding a gun in his right hand.
His eyes scanned the kitchen briefly until they settled on Lucrezia and his brows lifted slightly.
"The Don is back." He said, facing Carla whose smile faltered almost immediately.
Lucrezia's eyes widened, hearing those words and her heart skipped a beat, feeling a lump in her throat.
"He wants to see the girl." He glanced at Lucrezia again, not giving away any expression this time.
"Great." Carla forced a smile, facing Lucrezia. "She'll be with him in a minute," she assured the man who only nodded before shutting the door and disappearing from there.
The alley was long and empty by the time Lucrezia was led to the Don's room. Her hands clutched the gown she wore tightly as beads of sweat formed on her forehead, simply at the thought of being alone with a dangerous man.
She knew she couldn't escape it if he chose to have his way with her so it would only do her good if she prepared her mind and heart for the worst.
"We're here," she heard Carla say when they came to a stop in front of a high door. Lucrezia looked up, noticing how this wing was built away from other parts of the mansion and the security was tighter.
It had guards- men in black suits, positioned at different spots inside the quarters and her curiosity piqued, eager to see this new Don.
Carla raised her chin up with arrogance, pulling a strand of her hair outward before taking a step forward, about to enter the wing when one of the guards blocked her, stumbling her backwards.
She glared at him.
"Don Maverick asked for only the girl." He deadpanned.
Carla chuckled, straightening her hair before looking between Lucrezia and the guard, "I was asked to escort her,"
"And you've done your part," the guard nodded. "The girl will now come alone." He replied to her before giving way for Lucrezia to pass, still blocking Carla's way.
Carla saw red in an instant, her face flushing out of embarrassment as she stepped aside, letting Lucrezia pass.
Lucrezia didn't bother sparing her a glance as she went into the wing with the guard who led her to Don Maverick's room.
"Come in," She heard a deep voice answer just as the guard knocked on the door, almost like he had been waiting for her.
The door opened and Lucrezia felt like she was suffocating even with the cool air that hit her the moment she stepped inside the room.
There was a strong masculine scent and the first sight she was greeted with was the broad muscular shoulders of someone backing her, black inked tattoos covered his back and he stood there unmoving as though he wasn't aware she was here.
The door banged shut behind her, and Lucrezia's heart plummeted as the sound echoed through the room.
For a moment, she didn't move. The air felt heavier, charged with something she couldn't name when he suddenly spoke.
"I've been waiting for you…"
The voice was deep, steady, and threaded with something that made her spine stiffen.
"...Lucrezia." Maverick slowly turned, already aware she was watching him.
Their eyes met when he faced her and Lucrezia froze, drinking in his appearance instantly.
Her name slid from his lips with an intimacy that didn't make sense and something sharp flickered in her chest when she locked his gaze again, meeting his dark eyes that screamed control and dominance.
She blinked at him with confusion, almost like a memory hit but she couldn't really place it.
"You–" she whispered, brows drawing together nervously.
Maverick's gaze didn't waver as he took a step forward, catching her off guard.
She took two steps backwards as well, her pulse racing loudly in her ears.
"You haven't changed one bit," Maverick continued moving forward, so slowly like he had all the time in the world and just then, Lucrezia's eyes widened.
"You..." Her mouth parted slightly as the memory hit more clearly now, making her gasp in shock.
"No," she murmured, almost to herself, shaking her head. "That's not possible…"
He tilted his head slightly at her, now merely inches away from where she stood.
This wasn't just any Don who had taken over her father's empire.
It was Maverick Alexandro, the boy her father had adopted years ago and brought into the Alexandro estate.
He was now the new Godfather of the criminal world and was currently before her as her owner.
The mysterious man who had bought her for two hundred million dollars!