Every Mafia's Favorite Girl

Chapter 64: "A Nice Café, Perhaps?"

Without waiting for an answer, Jeremiah stepped gracefully toward Daria and, with all the effortless elegance of a true gentleman, reached for her hand, intending to offer her a courteous hand-kiss.

Daria immediately panicked.

She withdrew her hand at once, taking a hurried step back before dipping her head deeply.

"Sir, I’m no noble lady like my mistress," she said, visibly flustered. "I’m merely a maid serving at the Sartori estate."

"Ah... a maid," Jeremiah mused, showing not the slightest hint of offense. If anything, his smile seemed to brighten. "I didn’t know you kept such company, Lady Ariana. How... refreshing."

"Daria is helping me choose flowers," Aren explained. Her gaze drifted toward Marco, who was still discussing the order with one of the florists. "What about you, Mister Castellano? It seems like... you’re buying quite a lot of flowers. Are they for someone very special?"

"I told you," Jeremiah corrected with a smooth smile, "just Jeremiah."

He stepped a little closer, lifting a hand to partially shield his lips as though he were about to reveal an exciting secret. His voice dropped into a conspiratorial murmur.

"As for the flowers... they’re not for someone."

He paused deliberately, letting the suspense linger.

"They’re for something."

Aren blinked.

"...For something?"

Jeremiah nodded.

"Indeed."

His brilliant teal eyes sparkled with mischief, followed by a playful wink.

"And that something has to do with you. Would you like to find out?"

Aren pointed awkwardly at herself.

"Me?"

Jeremiah laughed softly at the adorable confusion written all over her face.

"Of course it’s you. But enough about me." Tilting his head with genuine curiosity, he asked, "Who’s the lucky person receiving your flowers, my lady?"

Aren smiled shyly.

"Ah... they’re for my father, Don Gian. We’re meeting this Sunday, and I wish to bring him something special."

Jeremiah laughed, warm and genuine.

"Oh? What a thoughtful daughter you are."

A trace of amusement crossed his face.

"So... unlike everything I’ve heard about you."

He leaned just a fraction closer, lowering his voice until it became a murmur meant for her ears alone.

"Truthfully, I’d been hoping to arrange a private meeting with you. It seems fate has decided to save me the trouble."

Aren tilted her head, curious.

"You wanted to speak with me? Is it about the contract?"

"It is indeed." Jeremiah nodded. "But the details are... somewhat sensitive. Why don’t we continue this conversation somewhere else? A nice café, perhaps?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Daria went on full alert.

’No.’ freewebnovёl.ƈom

’Absolutely not.’

’You’re not stealing my prey.’

She stepped forward at once, arranging her features into an apologetic expression as she lightly grasped the sleeve of Aren’s cardigan.

"But... my lady... What about our café plan? If we don’t leave soon, I won’t have much time before I need to return and report to Mrs. Pecora."

Aren looked at Daria, then back at Jeremiah, her expression apologetic.

"Yes... that’s true. We were just about to visit a nearby café."

She considered it for a moment before her face brightened.

"Why don’t we all go together?"

Daria’s eyes widened.

"...Together?"

"Yes." Aren shrugged as though it were the most natural suggestion in the world. "That would make four of us, including..."

She turned toward Jeremiah with an awkward smile. "What is the name of the gentleman with you?"

"Marco," Jeremiah supplied, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Yes, Marco." Aren nodded. "The four of us could simply go together."

Daria felt her carefully laid plans begin to crumble before her eyes.

’No... wait.’

’If I’m careful enough, I could drug her even with those two nearby. Then all I need is a convincing excuse to separate her from them.’

’I can still do it.’

’I’ve handled more difficult situations.’

Her brief panic disappeared beneath another perfectly warm smile as she turned toward Jeremiah.

"That is a wonderful idea, my lady. I’m sure Mister Castellano and Mister Marco would enjoy the café as well."

Her smile lasted precisely until Jeremiah spoke.

"It is indeed a gracious suggestion."

His own smile remained dazzling, perfect, almost angelic. Yet something beneath his voice had shifted.

It deepened ever so slightly, and the quiet menace concealed beneath all that effortless charm became unmistakable as he turned his full attention toward Daria.

"But I’m afraid the matters I wish to discuss with Lady Ariana are highly confidential. I’m certain Daria here wouldn’t wish to interfere with something so important."

Daria stiffened instantly.

She considered suggesting they simply arrange another meeting, but before she could speak, Jeremiah’s smile widened by the faintest degree.

"And if you’re thinking of postponing my conversation with Lady Ariana..."

He sighed with dramatic regret.

"...I’m afraid my schedule isn’t nearly that forgiving."

He began counting lazily on his fingers.

"Photoshoots. Spa appointments. Yoga classes... A free afternoon like today is surprisingly rare."

His gaze returned to Aren, the smile never wavering.

"So... what do you say, Lady Ariana?"

Aren’s expression immediately became troubled.

She didn’t want to inconvenience Jeremiah by forcing him to squeeze another meeting into an already packed schedule. At the same time, leaving Daria behind after already agreeing to spend the afternoon together didn’t sit right with her.

Meanwhile, Daria was only barely stopping herself from glaring openly at Jeremiah.

Every word leaving his mouth sounded graceful, elegant, utterly irresistible. Yet the meaning behind every sentence was crystal clear:

’Kindly fuck off while I’m still asking nicely.’

Daria’s jaw tightened.

’Goddamn this sleek bastard.’

She forced herself to breathe.

’No.’

’I can’t let the target suspect that I have ulterior motives.’

’She has to believe everything I do is for her sake.’

Her nails dug painfully into her own palm. The sting steadied her. By the time she leaned closer to Aren, a gentle smile had returned to her face, as though nothing at all had happened.

"Of course," she said warmly. "I wouldn’t dream of interrupting such an important discussion, my lady. Please go ahead and enjoy the café with Mister Castellano."

Aren blinked, still looking conflicted.

"But, Daria... I just promised you, and it’s not often you get time away from work."

"It’s alright, my lady." Daria smiled reassuringly. "We can always visit together another day. The place is called Primavera, alright? Just head that way and you’ll find it."

"Ah." Jeremiah nodded thoughtfully. "Primavera? On Fifth Street?"

Aren looked at him in surprise.

"You already know it?" freeweɓnøvel.com

Jeremiah replied with an easy smile.

"I do. It’s an excellent place."

His grin turned slightly teasing.

"As a matter of fact, it’s the very place I intended to order your little dessert request from."

The moment he mentioned that request, warmth rushed into Aren’s cheeks.

’If everyone knows about Primavera...’

’Then the pastries must really be amazing.’

The thought of enjoying such wonderful desserts after joining his fight club filled her with a quiet, almost childlike joy.

Turning back to Daria with a bright smile, she said,

"Then I’ll make sure to bring you lots of pastries. And gelato too."

Daria smiled warmly.

"My lady is far too thoughtful."

She offered respectful bows to both Aren and Jeremiah.

"If everything is settled, then I’ll excuse myself and head back now. I’ll simply take a taxi, so please don’t worry."

With that, she turned and walked out through the flower shop’s doors. The warm smile remained on her face, only until the glass doors swung shut behind her.

Without another glance back, she crossed the sidewalk and slipped into a narrow, empty alley. Her eyes swept carefully from one end to the other, making certain no one was nearby.

Satisfied that she was alone, she pulled out her phone and hurriedly dialed a number.

The call connected after a single ring.

"What is it?" a man’s voice answered.

"Cancel today’s operation immediately," Daria whispered urgently. "Tell the boss the target was taken away by Jeremiah Castellano. I need to return to the Sartori estate before anyone grows suspicious."

"Jeremiah Castellano?" The man’s voice darkened. "How?"

Daria grabbed a fistful of her hair in frustration.

"He walked into the flower shop out of nowhere and insisted on taking the Lombardi girl with him! He said he has something important to discuss with her. I don’t know what it is!"

The man’s voice remained cold.

"Fine. When’s the next opportunity?"

"Sunday," Daria replied at once. "Ariana Lombardi is visiting the Lombardi estate to meet Don Gian. I’ll do everything I can to accompany her. If the plan moves forward, you’ll know immediately."

"Good." The man sounded almost pleased before his tone hardened once more. "Just don’t fail again. The boss is growing impatient."