"Should you leave already?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Well, you have something important to do."

"It's only one," Colten stated. "The meeting isn't until later."

"And your daughter?"

"I'll make it up to her," he said, drawing circles on my arm with his finger. "But what are we doing, Niki?"

What are we doing?

Colten only had five minutes before he had to leave but since one thing led to another, it ended up being a whole hour. Fucking - or whatever we do - was never meant to happen. We were supposed to sign some documents and then plan a press conference. That was it. Not fucking Colten on my marble floor. He was supposed to go to his daughter but I kept him.

"Niki, I know that-"

"You should leave." I said, standing up.

"What?"

"This was never supposed to happen," I said, getting dressed. "I should've left you alone and let you leave."

"So what? This is what we are?" he asked, getting dressed.

"No," I said, walking over to my desk. "We're nothing but business partners."

Saying this, I couldn't look at him. This man was changing me. He made me fall in love with him and it's been what? Two weeks and a half? I'm supposed to be a powerful woman that other companies were afraid of. Not weak and falling in love. This man can't change me. I will not let him.

"We're just business partners, Mr. Donvan." I said, looking him in the eye.

Taking my response to heart, Colthen shook his head while chuckling.

"Well, then. Have Jenny call Arianna to set up another meeting.

"Alright," I said, sitting down. "Have a good day."

"Yeah." was all he said as he walked out.

Leaving me alone, I wanted nothing more than to run after him. Fuck my powerful and fearful mindset. I wanted him. I wanted Colten Donavan. It was clear as fucking day that he wanted me, but whatever the fuck was going on in his life, it was never going to happen. It was either there was something actually going on and he wanted to protect me or he just didn't want what I wanted. But on the bright side, he's still my business partner and I get to see him every now and then.

"Ms. Antonelli," Jenny said, grabbing my attention. "Your grandfather is on the line."

"Thank you," I sighed, picking up the phone on my desk. "Hello pap."

"Hello, my love. How are you?"

"You should know me, papa," I said, turning in my chair to look out the window. "Antonelli Enterprise is doing great."

"I'm not talking about the company, honey," he laughed. "I'm talking about you."

"Oh," I said, ending up thinking how I'm doing. "I guess I'm doing good."

"She guesses," he said to himself. "I talked to Jenny and she said that you didn't have any important meetings for the rest of today.

"And?" I asked as both Vanessa and Jadon walked in.

"Would it be too much to ask to see my granddaughter?"

"I guess since I don't have anything to do." I said, standing.

"Great," he said. "Should I send a driver over?"

"No," I said, packing up. "I'll be over in thirty minutes."

"Okay. See you then."

Hanging up, I put my head in my hands. Wanting to scream, I remember who's in my office.

"I'm about to leave. What is it?"

"We just wanted to know if you were open to tell us why Mr. Colten Donavan was here for an hour." Jadon said.

"We were fucking but then ending up that us being business partners was the best." I said, swinging my bag over my shoulder and grabbed my keys. "So, if that was all, I have to go see my grandfather."

Not wanting to hear what Vannessa has to say, I walk out. Taking my personal elevator that takes me to my car, I head over to it, climb in, and head over to my grandfather's. On my way there, I tried to figure out why my grandfather wanted to see me. Giving up on trying, I sit in silence until I finally arrive at my grandfather's very huge mansion.

Climbing out, I hand over my keys to the valet driver. Once the driver takes my car off, I'm greeted by two guards.

"Hello Niki."

"Hello, Jordan," I said as he opened the door. "There's new guards?"

"Your grandfather added them," he said, waving the guards off. "Said that they're for you."

"So, I'm assuming you know why he wants me here." I guess as he leads me to where my grandfather is.

"For the first time, no," he said. "While Avery is away, I have been left to do the planning of the family gala."

"Ask Nathern to help you if you need it."

"Actually, I am just planning it. You are to make the changes."

"First it's the entire company and now this," I groan. "What more is he going to give me?"

"The entire kingdom for his princess."

"You just made my day," I said, running into his arms. "I thought you weren't allowed back."

"Well, with the help of your grandfather, anything's possible."

"Well, just know that it hasn't been the same without you, Uncle Mathew."

Uncle Mathew isn't really my uncle. Not by blood though. Way before my grandfather gave me the company, Matthew was working for Colten's father. The next thing I knew, Matthew was fired, his company broke down to the ground, and was completely kicked out of the state. When my grandfather heard this, he was very upset and said that he'll do something about it, but seeing my uncle alive and well, makes my day.

"I will leave you two alone." Jordan said, removing himself.

"Why are you here?" I asked as we linked each other's arms.

"Your grandfather needed my help with you."

"With me," I asked. "I don't need help with anything."

Sighing, Matthew stops walking, looks down at me, and caress my check.

"You're in love with the enemy," he said. "Colten Donavan."

"How is he the enemy," I asked, pulling away. "He isn't in any mafia shit."

"He wasn't," Matthew sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Until my men fucked things up and tried to target his daughter."

"So, he thinks it's you," I said, realizing why Colten has been the way he is. "What if I tell him the truth?"

"No, my love," grandfather said, walking toward us. "He does not know that the Antonielli family is in the mafia business."

"So, if that's the case, how am I supposed to go to that meeting tonight?" Matthew asked.

"We have Steven." Papa sighed.

"Isn't that a good thing," I asked as he came down. "Brother?"

"I have to go," he said, kissing my cheek. "They called."

"Be careful, my son," Papa said, hugging him. "We are the enemy while you're out. Never forget that."

"I have to go." Steven repeated before running out.

I knew that my grandfather was a mafia leader, but before my grandmother died, she made grandfather promise her that he wouldn't put us through the same. I never wanted to go into the mafia business. It was because If I fell asleep, I wouldn't know if my loved one's were safe and alive. Never in my life would I have thought Steven would be. And because of this, I have to get in to it to make sure he's safe.

"We'll cut down to the point," Papa said, taking my hands. "Even though I have a son, your father, I do not trust him with my title. Just look at the mess you had to clean up because of your parents. But since I can trust you with every breath in my body, I'm giving you the keys to the kingdom."

"Papa, you promised grandma."

"Well, things changed," Papa said as Jordan helped him put his jacket on. "And while I'm gone, you're taking over."

"While you're gone," I asked as the new guards accorded papa out. "Where are you going?"

"Jordan is your new assistant," he said, behind his back. "He'll explain everything to you."

Before I could make a statement, he was already out. Grandfather has never given me anything to explain why himself. Because of this, the only thing I can think is that something bad is going on, but since I love my grandfather, I'd do it. It's only until he comes back, right?

"If you didn't catch it," Mateww stated. "Your grandfather just passed his title down to you."

"Just until he comes back." I said as he looked over at Jordan.

"There's a lot you don't know," Jordan said, taking my hand. "But it'll be too much for you."

"This is all too much already dealing with the company. How am I supposed to do both?"

"That's why we're here, love," Matthew said. "Whatever you need, we help you."

Having too much going on just in one day, I just turn around and run out of the garage. All without stopping, I managed to climb into the car and drive off. Not knowing where to go and not wanting to go back to the office, I go over to the one place I know I'll feel better.

"Call Nathan."

"Calling Nathan." my car responded.

After a few rings and afraid that he wouldn't answer, the sound of his voice calmed my soul.

"What's up?"

"Are you at the house?" I asked, heading that way already.

"Yeah. Why," he asked, considering. "Is everything okay?"

"No. Papa just gave me his title," I explained. "This whole day has been too much and I don't know what to do."

With a long pause and having to see that no one lost connection, I wonder if all this was a bad thing. I had nowhere to go and my elder brother is the only place where I can feel better.

"Nathen?" I asked.

"I might have an idea why." he stated. "We'll talk when you get over here."

"Alright." I said, hanging up.

Not caring about the speed limit, I went way above the speed limit. Swerving in front of a whole line of cars, I took the exit taking me to my brother's house. Not waiting at the red light, I went through, getting honked at. I did this a few times until I finally got to Nathen's house. Climbing out, I saw Misty and their daughter driving off.

Is it because of me?

Walking into the house, I saw all of my new newspaper clips all over the coffee table.

"Nathen."

"Did papa leave already?" he asked as I sat next to him.

"Yes," I said, wondering where this was going. "What's going on?"

"Papa gave you the 'kingdom', Niki," he said, standing up.

"But I don't want it. I never have. Steven nor I wanted no part in it but here we are."

"I just found out that Steven is a part of it. I didn't know you were too."

"I'm the bastard's right hand," he sighed. "It's a fucking tough job but I get through it, but it's just not Steven and I."

"Who?"

"Niki, it's best not to say because-"

Before he could finish, his phone rings. Checking who it was, he immensely answered it.

"Hey, what's up... Man, I'm going to stop you right there because I don't want to hear about your sex life... Why my house? Don't you know your cousin has a house... But I-"

Before Nather could finish whatever he was going to say, whoever he was talking to had hung up.

"That was Colten," he said, gathering all the papers. "And he's on his way right now."

"Then where am I supposed to go?" I asked, standing.

"I don't know, Niki," he said, putting them in a drawer. "Hang out with your friends. Do whatever. Just go."

Feeling so much pressure, I walked out. Nathen had called out for me, but I just kept walking. I needed to be far away from his house to make sure Colten didn't catch me and then put two and two together. My brother's are the only family I have. I don't want to get them in trouble if something bad happens.

Not wanting to be alone, I go to my only friend I see as a sister. I head over to Dallas. I would've gone to her house, but since it's two and she's at her restaurant, I head there. Whenever I needed to talk to someone and my brother's were unavailable, I'd go to Dallas and we'd talk.

Arriving, I walked in. Stooping in front of the host's stand, I asked to see Dallas. With just one look from me, the host nodded and led me over to Dallas. Following her, I noticed that the areas I was being led to were more high end than any other section. This area had high corner booths that made me wonder what else could you do but eat.

Finally getting to Dallas, she seemed very busy and stressed. Never seeing this in my friend, I wondered if it was a good idea to come.

"Is this a bad time?" I asked.

"Niki," she said, standing. "Are you kidding? You coming here is never a bad time."

"I just thought because you looked stressed out and busy." I said as we both sat down.

"I'm just cleaning up a mess someone did," she said, placing her papers on the booth beside her. "But I'm here for you."

Telling Dallas about the mafia and everything being put on me was nothing I had to worry about because she was a part of my family and she knew everything. Not having to think about it nor ask, I had already known that she was also working for Colten but loyal to the Antoinelli name.

"So why is he starting all of this again?"

"William met up with one of Mathew's men. As of right now, no one knows what the meeting was about. Hell. Matthew doesnt even know because he didn't make the order," Dallas explained. "But what I do know is that Drake caught them."

"Then how did William get shot?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "I can only guess that William had Mathew man 'shoot' him, but that wouldn't explain why William went to Colten's home."

"Maybe there was a deal and it went wrong." I suggested.

"Maybe," she said, standing. "I have to go. I'm Colten's assistant while Arianna is watching Sara. But besides this, take the title. I can't explain everything to you now but later I can."

"Alright."

Walking out, we climb into our cars, driving to our destinations. While driving back home, I think about what Dallas said. Was there more to why my grandfather hates the Donavan family? If so, why am I the last to know?

Anyway, getting home, I hand my keys over and walk inside. Making eye contact with Mathew, I think about heading over to him but then head up to my room. Inside, I'm met up with the most beautiful dress anyone from the royal family would die for.

I had the royal family's designers hand make this entire dress for you. I wish it came closer to the family gala but sadly it came right after you left. I hope we can talk. Maybe over a candle lit dinner tomorrow if that's not weird or anything. I just want to catch up on everything I've missed. - M.C

As the years went by, Matthew became less and less of an uncle to me and more of a love interest.

Gently picking the dress up, I take it to my walk-in closet and lay it on my stand. Walking out, I get everything I need for a shower. Jumping in, my mind goes back in time. A time I wish I'd never had to go back to.

"But dad, she will never have what it takes. She's nothing but her mother. Weak."

"She'll have what it takes Leo," Papa said. "She may be weak right now because she's only a young one, but when she grows up, she will have the keys to the kingdom."

"But it's not her birthright," Dad claimed. "It never was."

"It was yours, yes, but the route that you're on, you will never have what is given to you," Papa said, picking me up. "She will be better than the other mafia leaders. She'll be better than her parents."

Growing up, both of my parents made it clear that they never wanted me. The only reason why they had me was because my grandfather was going to give my father the company, but things changed. The amount of times that they caused me pain would kill me if I went through it again. I'm just grateful to be alive by the amount of times that they tried to get rid of me.