You discover by the hard way that there are things Doflamingo does not want you to know about the company.

After spending a whole relaxing week in Dressrosa, the return to reality was something difficult to assimilate, especially when you had to immediately begin the new semester the following morning after coming back. Also, the fact that Carnival was close meant that you were going to be even busier at Corazon's shop, with high possibilities of ending with overwork because of your boss' incapacity of say 'no' to last minute requests.

However, you perfectly know that you couldn't complain too much, since thanks to Doflamingo (and his unique capacity of 'conviction') you had enjoyed some improvised, awesome holidays in advance, so now it was time to behave like a responsible student/double worker.

Despite your resolve you can barely suppress your yawns when that morning Lao G drives you towards the University even if you have slept your good full eight hours that night. However, the accumulated tiredness of that week was still within your body, because, as much as you have also rested during those seven days, you have spent most part of the nights going to sleep rather late, being it for the escapades with the Family, or (mainly) because Doflamingo and you could barely keep your hands off each other when being back in the beach manor. And, certainly, you couldn't blame Doflamingo entirely for this because in more than one occasion it had been you the one who had decided to crawl over Doflamingo in the middle of the night to initiate a simple kiss that predictably evolved in a less innocent (and funnier) manner.

"We have arrived, Miss (y/n)"

Lao G's comment makes you jump while stopping dozing off against the car window. You rub your eyes and exhale a long sigh before smiling at the old man through the frontal rearview mirror.

"Thank you, Lao G. This afternoon I work at the shop so you don't need to come pick me up"

"As you wish, Miss (y/n)"

You wave your hand as a goodbye while the limousiner disappears down the street before finally entering the main building. The class is practically full when you enter because you had overslept and have arrived a little later than you used to, but fortunately Kalifa and Koala were already there and had saved you a seat.

"So how did your improvised holidays go?! You barely contacted us"

You chuckle when hearing Koala's light reproaching tone, taking a seat next to her.

"Sorry, we did so many things that I barely checked the mobile, but it's been really fun", you leave your satchel on the table, rapidly extracting some papers and pens from it, "what about you?"

You are to slow in seeing Kalifa shaking her head negatively, so before you can stop it Koala is already rambling about her wonderful 'Sabo-kun' and about their perfect romantic week. You perfectly know that once Koala began to talk about her boyfriend she was unstoppable, so you are really glad when the teacher finally enters the classroom, putting an end to the general murmur and to Koala's tireless chat.

"Wait a moment…", you turn towards your friends and frown, talking in whispers, "where is Vivi? She never misses a class"

Koala shrugs softly while Kalifa adjusts her glasses.

"We met with her yesterday and she was fine, so I don't think she is sick"

"Well, but remember she planned to go out with Kohza for some drinks after that, so who knows if she ended being home a little later than planned"

"WAIT, Vivi asked Kohza out?!"

"No, but Koala eventually convinced her on sexually harassing the guy by sending him chocolates"

"That's not sexual harassment, Kalifa, but anyway you didn't miss too much, (y/n), because they can't be going out. Vivi would have told us for sure. She knows I wouldn't forgive her in case of not telling us"

At that moment the teacher clears his throat while glaring at you three, causing you and your friends to jump in your seats while muttering apologetic 'sorry's. It wasn't a good idea to start the semester by antagonizing with a teacher so you force yourself to pay attention during the rest of the class, pushing away the temptation of taking your mobile and send a quick message to Vivi to ask her how her almost-date had gone.

Having 5 full of hours of classes after a relaxing week makes you regret having told Lao G not to come pick you up. Fortunately Kalifa had brought her car that morning and proposes you to take you to the costumes shop. During the trip you send Vivi a message but spend the rest of the time listening to Kalifa talk about her boss Iceburg (who she obviously liked despite she was always denying it), 'protesting' about how much work she had to do because of him.

"…and the other day he had the nerve to say that I took my job as a secretary too seriously and that I should take some days off. That's sexual harassment!"

"No, it isn't", you answer automatically as always before continuing, "and he is probably right: you arrive home way too late every day just to help him"

"Well, it's not my fault that he is a disastrous boss, incapable of taking care of everything by himself"

You hum to yourself, looking at your friend with a teasing smile.

"And how are your advances going?"

"Oh, please, not you too, (y/n). I have enough with Koala", however, after a little pause Kalifa's lips end in a thin line, "but not too well. Don't tell Koala but I gave him chocolates and the man simply blushed and stuttered but nothing else"

"But did he accept them?"

"Yes. I actually caught him eating one of them once of the times I entered his office, even if he pretended not being doing so."

"Then you have a chance!"

"I don't know, he is even more distant than before, which can clearly count as sexual harassment"

You bite your tongue, trying not to activate your Casanova mode on, but you can't win against your nature at the end.

"By the way, Kali, wasn't he going to hold a party for the next week?"

"Tsk, yes, but he hasn't even begun to think about it. Why do you ask?"

"Well, Carnival is pretty close. You could suggest him to make a masquerade party. I'm sure Corazon would make you a special price for it if you order in his shop"

"Mm, it doesn't sound bad but I will have to talk to Iceberg about it because he didn't want to make anything too big and-"

"And everyone knows that people tends to get more… disinhibited when there is something partially concealing your identity"

"…"

"So who knows what a disinhibited Iceburg could finally do if his efficient secretary would decide to go dressed for the kill"

You see Kalifa gulp loudly before suddenly stepping on the gas pedal, managing to reach Corazon's shop in less than 2 minutes. You step out of the car barely suppressing a laugh, and when Kalifa snaps the door of the costume shop open you have time to see Corazon looking towards you two with a startled expression before Kalifa snaps both of her hands on the counter, making the blond giant jump in his seat with surprise.

"Good afternoon: I need to find a costume that allows me to accuse my boss of sexual harassment"

Obviously, you can't possibly hold your laughter anymore when seeing Corazon's eyes about to leave their orbits after hearing such a bizarre petition.

The afternoon is way more amusing that you had anticipated, since looking at Kalifa search for a suitable costume under Corazon's astonished gaze was rather funny. However, coming back to routine was harder than you expected, and you don't realize that you have fallen half-asleep in front of your computer until you find a big, gentle hand settle on your shoulder from behind, causing you to snap out of your sleep with a soft snore.

"You should go home already, (y/n)", Corazon says with a smile, crossing his arms while you shake your head, trying to be more awake without success, "Bartolomeo, Cavendish and I can take care of it for the rest of the afternoon"

"But it's just 4.30 p.m.", you protest, "I can resist another two hours and half. I just need a couple of coffees and-"

"And nothing, go home", Corazon insists, forcibly shutting down your PC while ignoring your multiple 'Wait' and 'no's, "the next days are going to be way busier and we will probably end doing extra hours, so make the most of today and take it easy"

You sigh, but the truth was that you feel your eyes about to close on their own, so after exhaling a grunt you stand up.

"Okay, boss, your wishes are my command"

Corazon snorts and kisses softly your forehead.

"Come on, tired beauty. I'll call Lao G to take you home"

You barely remember Corazon leading you towards the backshop, where a sofa had recently been installed, so that you lied there while waiting for Lao G. While lying on the back seats of the limousine you do remember fragments of Cavendish whispering angrily at Bartolomeo while trying to prevent the punk from drawing some silly drawings in your face with a permanent marker, but it seemed that the old man's training was now ingrained in your subconscious because when your green-haired friend tried to lean over you to draw a probably phallic drawing on your forehead, you raised your knee automatically, performing an adapted version of 'Malfunctionin-G Crotch' that caused Bartolomeo to let out a strangled course while falling into the floor bended in two. The dizzy memory causes you to smile in dreams, and that goofy smiles remains in your face when Lao G finally stops in front of the manor.

"Miss (y/n), we have arrived"

Lao G gentler tone than usual is enough to make you wake up once again. You summon up enough strength to climb up the stairs towards your shared bedroom and to greet with a half-snore to the members of the Family you pass by. You even manage to undress, leaving your clothes scattered on the floor, but since the temperature of the manor was more than ideal you don't bother with putting a pajama on, entering the bed simply with your panties and your handle t-shirt.

You fall asleep before your head even touch the pillow, without even remembering to check your mobile.

The next morning you wake up with the sound of the shower sounding in the adjacent room. You frown with your eyes still closed, slowly open them and exhale a loud gasp when seeing the hour.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!"

You almost trip over with the sheets in your hurry to leave the bed. You rapidly undress in the process of reaching the bathroom, causing your underwear to end on opposite sides of the room. You snap the door of the bathroom opened and, for once, you barely pay attention to Doflamingo's objectively impressive naked form under the shower before joining him.

"Oh, good morning", Doflamingo observes you struggling with your shower gel with a smirk, "have you slept well?"

"Yes, too well", you give up on trying to open the damn bottle and passes it to Doflamingo so that he does it for you, "I'm going to be late for sure. Damn, you could have warned me"

You are not surprised when your accusing tone just makes Doflamingo chuckle.

"(y/n), the teachers of your University won't dare to protest for you being late unless they have a death wish"

You fail to suppress a smile when hearing Doflamingo say that as a matter of fact.

"Doffy, we have talked about this already", your close your eyes while beginning to wash your hair, to avoid the shampoo for entering them, "I was happy to go on holidays with you and the Family but from now on, please, keep your threats to a minimum for me, okay?"

"Fufufufu. As you wish, my dear"

You were in part expecting when Doflamingo makes the most of your closed eyes to kiss you 'by surprise', but exhale a small cry of surprise when suddenly Doflamingo raises you in the air and presses you against the shower wall, your arms automatically hooking around his shoulders.

"Doffy, Doffy, please don't, or I will really be lat- ahn~"

Your whole body shivers when Doflamingo languidly begins to grind against you, causing his member to teasingly slide between your folds, making your mouth to fall half opened in a needy moan as Doflamingo begins to lick the side of your name.

"Are you sure that is what you really want to say, young lady?", he purrs against your ear, not stopping his sensual rocking for a moment.

Doflamingo seems to be right in doubting your words because that 'don't' is soon replaced by urgent and needier 'more's. The only things that can be heard in the bathroom during the following five minutes are your moans calling Doflamingo's name and the wet sounds of your body sliding up and down the wet shower while Doflamingo ruthlessly pounds inside you, and you feel a little like an hypocrite when some time later you hurriedly abandon the bedroom while finishing getting dressed and tell Doflamingo an offended 'I will kill you if I'm late!', because a contented, satisfied smile is threatening to split your face in two.

However, before you can set foot out of the manor Jora practically tackles you and forces you to take a gigantic bag with breakfast despite your protests, since the woman wasn't going to allow yourself to skip food in her presence (you also deserved Rebecca's teasing comment saying that it was your fault for preferring morning sex over food).

Fortunately, Lao G plays his magic and manages to take you to the University in time record. You manage to reach the University labs just when the teacher was entering the class, and are in part glad that you don't share that subject with Kalifa, Koala and Vivi because otherwise she would have thrown reproachful looks at you…

…and now that you mentioned Vivi shit, you just remember that you haven't checked if she had answered, and because of the hurry you had left your mobile at home. Well, you had no other choice than waiting until the end of the day to talk to your friend, because after your classes you had to immediately go to the Company and to Corazon's shop. Today was surely going to be an intense day.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"What the hell, Baby 5, don't shout so suddenly, you are going to cause us a heart attack!"

"SHUT UP, BUFFALO! (y/n), (y/n), look at this! Sai has just messaged me again! I think he loves me! "

While Buffalo rolls his eyes exaggeratedly you almost end cross-eyed when Baby 5 snaps her mobile in front of your face, inches apart from your eyes.

"Well, it seems he really needs your help to prepare the next competition in the gym, congratulations!"

Buffalo half-closes his eyes at you and shakes his head when your comment causes Baby 5 to giggle happily, hearts almost popping out her eyes while rapidly messaging Sai back in her usual too-effusive way.

"You shouldn't encourage her so much", Buffalo says with a resigned tone, "Doffy will have to intervene again when that man decides to run away from this crazy idiot"

Buffalo avoids effortlessly the stapler that Baby 5 throws at him while still typing in his mobile, causing the object to fall loudly on the floor, but you are so used to that kind of attacks by now that you don't even flinch.

"I don't think Sai runs away", you say sincerely, "and I really think he can be interested in Baby 5, otherwise I wouldn't be helping her"

"See, you jerk?!", Baby 5 says with a rude tone while sticking her tongue out at Buffalo, causing this one to roll his eyes again before focusing his attention on the computer screen again. You are about to do the same when a couple of knocks sound and the door opens to reveal Senor Pink, dressed in his usual impeccable suit, his pink bonnet and his pacifier.

"Hi, Senor Pink", you greet with a smile, "what brings you to the IT department?"

"Hi baby", you were more than used to be called it by now and you have given up on stopping him from calling you that way, "the boss is about to have a pretty important reunion and has asked for some reports"

"Which ones?", Buffalo asks in your place.

"58 and 113"

"Okay, we will send them to him in a minu- (y/n), what are you doing?"

"Hm?", you divert your attention from the screen to the Donquixote members and are surprised when seeing Baby 5, Buffalo and Senor Pink looking at you with really serious looks, causing you to feel a little taken aback, "uhm…I am accessing the database to recover those reports"

The silence that falls next is accompanied by a tension you were not expecting.

"I-It's okay, (y/n)", Baby 5's tone tries to sound cheery but the fact that she hesitates a little causes you to frown, "we will take care of it"

You look at the three Donquixote members without understanding.

"Okay, can someone explain me what is this about?", you eventually ask with your usual bluntness, because if there was something you hated was not to understand something that all the rest did.

Baby 5, Buffalo and Senor Pink interchange respective looks before Senor Pink briefly nods, which Buffalo seems to take as an indication to speak.

"Doffy has given us orders to limit your access to certain information related to the Company, and those reports are included in that restriction"

Your impatience turns into confusion.

"Why?"

Again, a new interchange of looks makes you bite your tongue not to snap again, specially because this time the silence is even longer and it is full of a little of nervousness.

"Honey…", to your surprise, Senor Pink clears his throat a little awkwardly, "I'm trying to find a way to explain it so that you don't get angry"

You raise an eyebrow, not realizing at the moment that it was rather impressive that your possible reaction managed to make three members of the Donquixote family that nervous.

"If you are having so many difficulties to let me know I think I'm going to get angry anyway so shoot, what did Doffy tell you?"

Senor Pink sucks at his pacifier louder, which breaks a little the tension at least until he talks yet.

"That you are not ready yet"

Definitely Senor Pink was right in assuming you weren't going to like the answer because all your body tenses.

"What?", when your tone comes out too rude you make a little pause and try to talk more calmly, but without success, "but why? I mean, I don't want to brag but I have managed to find mistakes in the system that you have overlooked, so I think that whatever those reports are about I will be able to understand them-"

"It's not about knowledge, (y/n)", you are surprised when Baby 5 talks with a serene tone, "It's more related to the content of those reports"

It takes you a moment to understand what Baby 5 is implying.

"So…you mean that in those reports there are some things written that I better not read?"

"Exactly, baby! And now that everything is clear I should go. See you in the dinner!"

You are about to protest that nothing was clear but by then Senor Pink has already left the room rather hurriedly. You exhale a resigned sigh before turning to look at Buffalo, and your (e/c) eyes must show the frustration you are feeling because the man jumps a little in his chair.

"It's okay, Buffalo, I'm not angry at you", you say with sincerity, "you are just following Doffy's orders"

Your answer seems to calm Baby 5 and Buffalo down because they exhale respective sighs.

"Look, (y/n), don't worry about it", Baby 5 says, trying to sound nonchalant, "I'm sure Doffy will let you see them soon"

"Yes, and besides there's nothing too interesting about them"

You perfectly know that Baby 5 and Buffalo are lying (pretty badly) to make you feel better, but you force yourself to smile and pretend to be focused on working even if your mind was elsewhere.

If you were completely honest to yourself, you had kind of expected that something like this eventually happened, because you weren't dumb. You knew that Doflamingo didn't tell you everything about the company, and about his reunions and business trips. In fact, you were aware that the things that he omitted to say were more than the things you knew, but somehow until now you haven't been too bothered by it. After all, even if you hadn't spoken to Doflamingo or to the Family about the particular 'services' the Donquixote Family provided, you knew that they consisted of, basically, everything that a client asked for as long as he was willing to pay.

You sigh, unconsciously beginning to type with more force in your keyboard. Up till now, you thought that you would be fine by not knowing all the details of the Donquixote Family, and that accepting the fact that not-too-legal business were taking place on the company and that Doflamingo's methods were not precisely orthodox was more than enough.

For the frustration that was now invading your body, it seemed that you had been mistaken all this time.

The words Senor Pink had said, 'You are not ready yet', Doflamingo had surely said them exactly like that, the same way that he did when he initially rejected to send you to your first mission, and despite Baby 5 and Buffalo's attempt of belittling them, for you they were more important than they could think.

Because up till now you had chosen to separate the personal from the professional, to separate Doflamingo as your boyfriend from Doflamingo as the Donquixote company boss. Up till now, you had thought that knowing about Doflamingo's past and be okay with it was the proof that you accepted the man the way he was, but now you realized that it wasn't enough. Yes, you know a part of Doflamingo, but that part was mainly in the past. What about the present? You had purposely decided to ignore it, or better said, not to give it as much importance… but saying that you were not ready to know everything about the company was similar to say that you were not ready to know everything about Doflamingo, which lead to a question that made your stomach clench even more.

Could you really claim to love Doflamingo, to want to be with him, when there was a part of him you had refused to know?

You exhale a new sigh and rapidly stand up from your chair, causing Buffalo and Baby 5 to jump in their seats.

"Sorry", you say, trying to pretend to be calmer than you were, "have to go to the toilet"

You don't wait to see if Baby 5 and Buffalo have believed your lie and exit the office, walking to the elevator with rapid steps. You choose the 49th floor, reviewing in your head what you were going to say to Doflamingo. A part of you wondered if it was better to wait until he finished his reunion but it wasn't the first time that he told you that you had priority over them, so eventually you decide to listen to him and when the doors of the elevator open you walk through them with determined steps…

…just to see that, apparently, Doflamingo's reunion had just finished, and not in very good terms for the client for the way Gladius and Machvise were grabbing the man by his arms, trying to drag him out Doflamingo's office.

"Hey, take your hands off me right now! I have not finished yet!"

You don't know why but, in an impulse, you hide yourself from the others' view, pressing your back against the parallel corridor wall with your heart beating fast. When some seconds pass and no one calls for your attention you risk yourself to pry and slowly pokes your head out of the corner to observe the scene.

The client, a man rounding the fifties with long, curly black hair and a tied-off beard, was shouting with fury and also a hint of desperation, that just seemed to increase when Doflamingo chuckled cruelly while remaining on his door frame, observing the whole situation with amused interest.

"Maybe you haven't, but I'm afraid that I have. I warned you about the conditions of the contract beforehand and you agreed on them, so there's nothing else to discuss"

"Of course there is! This wasn't what I agreed on!"

"Well, you can try to convince your lawyers about that but your signature is on the contract, and it was made without any coercion"

"But that last clause was ambiguous on purpose! I would have NEVER agreed of selling you the 75% of my company if I had known-"

"What you thought to know is not my problem. Your sign is on the contract, and that is the only thing it stands, so I recommend you to accept my generosity and walk out of here without causing a fuss. Unless you want to keep embarrassing yourself which is, I have to admit, quite funny."

"Generosity?! You tricked me! I thought that there couldn't be anyone worse that Baroque Works but this is much worse. You are much worse!"

"Fufufufu~ I will take it as a compliment, Mr. Nefertari."

"You DAMN-"

"Come on, sir, the Boss has finished with you, iiiin"

"Yes, and if I were you I would calm down not to naturally combust. Leave that to the bombs, please."

You miss the rest of the conversation (which basically consisted of the man insulting Doflamingo a little more and this one looking completely unbothered by it), because you could just focus on the name of the client.

Because that name, Nefertrari…it was the same than Vivi's one.

You gulp loudly, a cold sweat invading your body because the chances of such a thing being a coincide were really slim. First, because 'Nefertari' wasn't such a common name, and second and more important, because now you remembered a conversation that Vivi and you had held just before Valentine's Day, during which the girl commented that her father planned to contact Doflamingo.

But on the other hand, if that was the case, Doflamingo would have let you know, right? He knew Vivi was your friend, if he planned to ruin her father's life he would have let you know. Right?

"Doooffyyyy!"

Suddenly Trebol and Diamante appear from the corridor next to Doflamingo's office.

"We are ready to establish connection with Kaido in Wano. Are you still busy?", Diamante asks, looking at Mr. Nefertari struggling uselessly against Machvise and Gladius' grip.

"Oh, we have finished already", Doflamingo's nonchalant answer makes Mr. Nefertary grit his teeth, especially when Doflamingo mockingly bows his head a little towards him, "It has been a pleasure to do business with you, Cobra. Hope you enjoy the rest of the day"

Your heart stops for a moment when hearing that name.

Okay, it had just been confirmed.

Cobra Nefertari was, without any doubt, Vivi's father.

However, you don't have to assimilate the news because at that moment Gladius and Machvise begin to approach the elevator, so you walk down the corridor all the fast and silently as you can and begin to climb down the stairs.

Each fiber of your body is desiring to go to Doflamingo and give him a big piece of your mind, but your priority now was to know how Vivi was. The problem was that you didn't have your mobile, but maybe you could use the phone of the resting area…although you didn't know Vivi's phone number, damn, so the only option was to take a taxi to go to see her.

Resolved to do so, you try to think about a plausible excuse to give to Jora to leave work sooner. Maybe you could say you were sick, you were far from feeling good, so maybe it would work.

However, once again, you stop on your tracks after leaving the stairs through one of the lateral doors of the company entrance, because in the middle of the room there were not just Cobra, Machvise and Gladius but also Vivi, looking so worried that your feel your heart clenching in your chest.

"Vivi…", Cobra seems as surprised to see his daughter there as you are, "what are you doing here?"

"I couldn't simply wait", Vivi glared at Machvise and Gladius, "could you please release my father already?"

"Sorry, miss, but we have orders to-"

"Let him go"

The words leave your mouth before you can hold them inside, causing everyone in the room (which also included Jora and other workers that were passing by) to look at you. You suddenly feel nervous because you haven't planned to sound so commanding, so you relax your tone while talking next, approaching the group at the same time.

"Please", you say with a softer tone, looking at the bodyguards, "I doubt he tries to do something"

Machvise and Gladius interchange a look but almost immediately they release Cobra, who immediately adjusted his suit. Just then you dare to look at Vivi, finding her looking at you with such desperation that you feel a lump forming in your throat.

"(y/n)…", your lump increases when she suddenly approaches you and takes your hands between her trembling ones, "look, I don't know how this happened but Doflamingo is going to take my father's company from him. T-There has to be some kind of mistake! That wasn't the initial deal and-"

"Vivi, sweetie, it's enough", Cobra interrupted his daughter in a defeated tone, "there's nothing else we can do here"

"But we can't just go!", Vivi exclaimed, looking at your again with her big eyes now brighter, showing she was about to cry, "(y/n), please, I know you. I'm sure you didn't know anything about this, and that surely you didn't know that your boyfriend was such a bastard either, but please, please, you have to convince Doflamingo to undo the deal"

You take a deep breath, feeling the eyes of everyone in you with more intensity.

It hurts.

It hurts so much to see Vivi, probably one of your best friends after Rebecca, asking for your help in such a way.

But, as angry as you are with Doflamingo right now for not having let you know about this, there was one thing that was crystal clear for you.

"Vivi…", you gulp, trying that your voice sounded firmer, "I can't do anything"

Vivi blinks several times, looking at your with astonishment.

"What do you mean by that?"

You gulp again. Damn, this was going to hurt even more.

"I warned you, remember? When you told me that your father planned to contact Doflamingo, I told you that he should read the contract from cover to cover before signing anything"

When hearing your words Vivi rudely releases your hands, looking at you with stupor, as if she was looking at you for the first time and she didn't like the result.

"So then you knew that this was going to happen"

"No, I didn't", you immediately say, managing to keep your voice firm with your next words, "but what you have said about Doffy being a bastard, I knew it. And, as hard as it sounds, you have to be like that in this world. You can't success in business if you are not willing to destroy your competitors, making the most of their weakness and mistakes. And in this case…", you exhale a soft and finish your sentence with a light guilty tone, "…your father made a mistake"

After you talk, a new silence falls in the room. But soon, that silence is broken when Vivi suddenly raises a hand and slaps you in your left cheek with force.

You are barely able to feel the sting of the hit though, because fast as lighting Machvise and Gladius begin to approach the girl, who manages to keep a firm stance despite the threatening image.

"Don't", you rapidly say again, placing yourself between Vivi and the bodyguards, "let them go"

A little reluctantly Machvise and Gladius obey and you turn towards Vivi once again. Your chest physically hurts again when seeing the way her usual amicable and tender expression is contorted in hatred and disappointment, tears rolling now her big grey eyes, and even if you were expecting her next words, they still hurt when she finally opens her mouth to spit them.

"Don't you dare to get close to me again"

You are honestly proud of yourself when you manage to observe your former friend take her father by his arm and abandon the company with her head held high.

Once the sliding glassed doors of the company close behind Vivi and Cobra's, you don't waste any time and rapidly walk towards the elevator, ignoring the way the members of the Family call your name.

You practically smash the 49th button again, your hands turning into fists during the ride up and your jaw tense, and when the doors of the elevator open with the usual 'clink' sound you exit it so fast that you are about to bump against a couple of employees that were going to enter the elevator.

The expression showing in your face right now make them apologize hurriedly for being in the middle even if the almost bump was your fault, but you ignored them. You walk down the corridor with rapid steps, the indignation you are feeling showing in the way your heels loudly sound on the floor. This time, you don't feel any hesitation when snapping the door of the meeting room open, without bothering to knock.

The Executives turns towards the door with glares that soon turn into surprised looks when seeing you there but you don't notice it. Your eyes are only for Doflamingo, who is sitting at the end of the long table with his long legs crossed, his elbow leaning on the table and his cheek on his fisted hand. He was talking at the moment with the man you guessed it was Kaido via video-conference, thanks to a laptop connected to a gigantic screen installed on the wall, but his speech is interrupted when you enter. Of course he was wearing his sunglasses in the meeting but even if you can't see his eyes you know him already to picture the way his eyes were showing deep surprise.

Or well, maybe there was something completely different in his eyes because you weren't that sure of knowing the man well enough anymore.

"We need to talk"

Doflamingo doesn't even ask if it could wait. At least it seemed the man hadn't lied when saying that you had priority over all the other subjects.

"Diamante, can you take care of this while I'm absent?"

"Of course, Boss"

While Diamante continues with the meeting Doflamingo stands up from his chair to walk towards the door. Without waiting for him you go to his office and enters, waiting for him inside with your arms crossed tightly against your chest. In just some seconds the door of the office opens again and Doflamingo enters. You can feel your annoyance growing when his smirk is still in place and there's not a single trace of tension on his imposing body.

"Well, I guess you haven't interrupted the meeting just because you missed me"

Obviously, Doflamingo's mocking reply doesn't help.

"I want to know everything"

Certainly you can't blame Doflamingo when this one frowns without understanding, because you couldn't have been less clear. You should probably calm down a little and think about what you had to say instead of just blurting things out but your impatience and anger are just too difficult to control.

"About the company, about you, and about everything. I know there are things you don't want me to know, but I don't care. I deserve to know"

Doflamingo remained silent for a moment before suddenly raising his hand to grab your chin, turning your head softly to your right.

"Who has done this?"

You realize now that probably Vivi's slap had made some kind of mark, but you push Doflamingo's hand away.

"Vivi. She came here to watch over Mr. Nefertari, her father, and hit me with very good reasons when I defended the bastard I have as a boyfriend. And no, spare me the threats towards her", you added when seeing Doflamingo tense, "what I want to know is…why you didn't tell me that you planned to trick Vivi's father? You knew who he was, didn't you? And all those calls you got in holidays, and that you didn't want to tell me anything about…", your (e/c) eyes shined with even more fury while looking at Doflamingo, "…it was about this, right?"

Doflamingo's smirk is nowhere to be found now, since it had slowly vanished while you spoke. After a brief pause he takes a deep breath, crosses his powerful arms in front of his broad chest and talks with a serious tone that lacked all the initial mocking.

"(y/n), what good would telling you sooner have done? The result wasn't going to change, so I considered that it was better if you enjoyed your holidays instead of worrying about something unavoidable"

"Oh, really? How considerate! Then why didn't you tell me today?", Doflamingo tensed, making you snort, "come on, admit it: you didn't tell me because you were worried that I tried to warn Vivi"

"And wouldn't you have done that?"

You open your mouth ready to protest but after a couple of seconds you close it, and avert your eyes. You realize that, as annoying as it was, Doflamingo is right: if you had known that Doflamingo was going to harm Vivi's father, it would have been really difficult not to warn her about it. In fact…you doubted that you would have been able to remain silent.

Doflamingo exhaled a deep breath before talking again.

"(y/n), I love you"

Your eyes snap open and your heart almost leave your chest when Doflamingo suddenly says that, making you look at him again. It was probably the first time that Doflamingo told you that directly, using those three words. Damn, what a timing. Doflamingo could have told you that sooner, when you weren't feeling so confused.

"But I also know how good-hearted you can be. You are really similar to my brother in that aspect. And for that same reason…", Doflamingo's tone managed to become even more serious, "…I know that there are certain things that, for now, you are not ready to handle"

After recovering from your previous stupor of hearing that sudden 'I love you' drop, you talk again with all the confidence you can summon up.

"Doffy, I may be young but I'm not a child. I'm sure I can handle everything you throw at me"

"Everything?", Doflamingo repeated with a light skeptic tone, "must I remind you what happened during your first mission?"

"Okay, I admit that it became a little dangerous at the end but you yourself told me that I had managed pretty well!"

"And you did but you couldn't pull the trigger with Crocodile, could you?"

You freeze when hearing Doflamingo, remembering the exact words that he had said after you yourself mentioned that after the mission.

'And regarding not being able to shoot at someone don't worry: there will be more chances'

You gulp, feeling cold sweat invading your body.

"Are you really insinuating that in order to know that I have to shoot someone first to prove my value?"

Doflamingo chuckling lightly makes you feel a little more at ease, but just a little.

"You don't need to, young lady. But…", his deathly serious tone was back once again, "you do have to be ready to do anything it takes for the Family, and for me. Anything. The same way we are willing to do that for you without the least hint of hesitation. Which includes betraying your friends if necessary, and never to interfere in the Family business"

"But I have never interfered in the business until now!"

"No, you haven't. But if you have reacted like this when knowing that I'm going to simply take over most part of Cobra's company, I can guarantee you that, at your current state, you are not ready to know everything about this company. Not yet"

You let out a little hysteric laugh.

"So what, you are waiting me to evolve or something?"

Using sarcasm with Doflamingo doesn't work, and the fact that he still talks with a rather patient tone just makes you feel even more impotent.

"No, just until you are more used to this way of living that you decided to get yourself into"

You aren't expecting that Doflamingo grabs your chin again, using his thumb to subtly caress left cheek in a surprisingly soft gesture that makes your heart accelerate.

"And I know you will eventually be able to handle it, young lady. Because if I wasn't sure of that…", Doflamingo leans down until his face is really close to yours, causing you to automatically focus on his mouth, holding your breath, "…I wouldn't have put so much effort in making you become mine"

When Doflamingo captures your mouth in a searing, breathtaking kiss after snarling those last words, you forget to retort as every time he used that sentence, finding yourself unable to resist to Doflamingo flaming passion.

This was a mistake, you think while letting Doflamingo walk you towards his desk before sitting you on it, his mouth still furiously locked with yours.

This was surely wrong, you think while almost ripping Doflamingo's expensive shirt apart in your hurry to open it, while allowing him to do the same with yours.

This was not the way you planned to answer back, you think while rapidly fumbling with Doflamingo's belt to open it, just before allowing the man to practically destroy your skirt and panties in the process of lowering them.

And definitely, this wasn't the way to handle your current fight, you think while moaning in pleasure as Doflamingo rocks into you hard and rough, fucking you in lost abandon against his wooden table, your legs and arms hooked around Doflaming's body and his hands on your hips while looming over you, his mouth not leaving your exposed skin for even one second, leaving marks all along all the way with his tongue and teeth.

Normally, it's you the one who moans Doflamingo's name nonstop while having sex, and even if you do the same this time you notice Doflamingo calls your name more times than usual, almost beating you on it. In fact, he is the one who ends groaning your name in a growl just in your ear after climaxing seconds after you, in a tone that carried the usual satisfaction, product of the mind-blowing sex, but also a really subtle hint of insecurity, as if with that breathless groan Doflamingo had wanted to claim that previous 'You are mine' once again without being entirely sure about that anymore.

After spending way more time than usual embracing Doflamingo against you, the man eventually receives a call from the Executives saying that they were really sorry to interrupt but that it was probably better that he attended the rest of the reunion, so you put yourselves all the presentable you could and when Doflamingo kisses you goodbye, you made sure to put your best smile, even if your heart is still racing and not just for the recent sex.

You were aware that what had just happened hadn't been too clever, but you didn't care. You needed to do it even if it was just to push away the feeling that, soon, some things may change between Doflamingo and you. And, maybe, not all them would be for the best.

The remaining hours are pretty productive for you even if your efforts are not devoted to company work, so when finally the clock announces it is 6 p.m. you have to suppress the urge of leaving the company in a run and wait for the rest of the Family members to enter the gigantic limousine that carried you home.

The reunion with Kaido had been a success and Doflamingo and the Executives had to take a last-minute flight to Wano to ultimate the details of the deal. Probably they would just be out a couple of days at most but that gave you more than enough time to do what you wanted.

Even the trip home lasts as usual, you can't barely contain your impatience, and when the car finally stops in front of the manor you steps out saying that you had to hurry to help Corazon in the shop, thing that was completely true if it wasn't because you had sent the younger Donquixote a message an hour ago saying that, eventually, you couldn't go (of course Corazon hadn't protested at all, being the kind man he was).

You make a quick stop in your room to finally recover your mobile. You had several unread messages: a couple of them were of Bartolomeo complaining about Cavendish as usual, another couple of them of Cavendish doing the same about Bartolemeo, and then another three that caused your heart clench a little:

One of them was an old one from Vivi, saying that she had missed class because 'sth is wrong with my dad. Let you know when I learn more about it'. Another was from Kalifa, saying that she had thought better about the costume party and that she would offer Iceburg another alternative. And finally, the last was from Koala, who was basically a long-ass message full of reproached and several insults for what happened to Vivi. You also realized that you had been expulsed from the message group that you had been sharing with them since the master began.

You let out a deep sigh before closing the mobile. Well, it seemed that you would have to look for new classmate to do the works of the new semester, you think, trying to take it with humor and obviously failing.

Once you have changed clothes to more suitable ones, you leave the manor again as fast as you can in order to avoid members of the Family suddenly running on you to ask for something that delayed more what you planned to do.

You walk your good 10 minutes before deciding to take a cab to your destination. You just hoped you attire was enough to conceal your identity from the paparazzi that could be around, you think while casually waiting in the sidewalk of the opposite side of the place you were observing. According to the data you had gathered before, the person you planned to see had to leave that building at any moment.

When 10 minutes had passed from your prediction and there is no sign of that person, you begin to feel nervous. Fortunately, just another 5 minutes are necessary so that your objective leaves the building.

Feeling your heart about to leave your chest, you subtly begin to follow it, remaining in the opposite sidewalk to avoid being detected. You manage to follow its tracks for almost a couple of minutes when, suddenly, it stops to enter a rather slim alleyway.

After cursing, you rapidly cross the street in a rather reckless fashion, causing several cars horns to sound. By when you manage to reach the alleyway you are pretty sure that you have lost it, but still you try not to rush to avoid being detected in case it still was there…

…all your efforts go to waste, because you are about turn the corner when suddenly you feel your arm be rudely grabbed and in a matter of seconds your back is against the wall and a hand sustaining a cigar slams against the place just next to your head, pining you there.

"You should take espionage classes, Miss (y/n). You are pretty awful at it"

You can't help to exhale an embarrassed chuckle while removing the ridicule big sunglasses you were wearing.

"Maybe you are just too good at catching spies, Inspector Smoker"

The man chews at the second cigar he has between his teeth and snorts, stopping pining you against the wall.

"So, what do I owe the honor of Doflamingo's girlfriend stalking me?", the inspector says with a mocking tone.

You take a deep breath, but before you can talk something in your expression makes Smoker frown.

"Did something happen?"

You suppress in time a smile. The man could want to pretend he disliked you all he wanted, but his concern for you was palpable, despite all the problems you had caused them. He was surely admirable. And also kind of cute.

"Yes", you admit, "do you remember the report you sent me some months ago?"

Smoker raised an eyebrow.

"You mean the one you rejected to take and that came to return?"

You nod.

"I-", you hesitate for a moment but eventually end the sentence, "I would like to read it. And also I would like to know everything you know about Doflamingo. I know I'm asking you too much, but…please?"

Smoker half-closes his eyes at you inquisitively, as if he was just trying to decide if you were trying to trick him again or not.

Apparently, he decides that believe what he sees in your eyes because after exhaling a long breath he places his other cigar on his mouth and shakes his head slightly to his left.

"Follow me, Miss. If you really want to know everything, there's a lot to talk about"

Exhaling a relieved sigh you begin to follow Smoker down the alleyway, coming back to the main street.

This decision would have consequences, because you knew that Doflamingo wasn't going to like one bit discovrting about this, but you couldn't wait until he decided that you were ready.

You had never been good at waiting, and, besides, everyone knew that the sooner the bad news was delivered, the sooner you could begin to get used to them and accept them.

Or, at least, you really hoped so…

Weeeell, after so many fluffy, smutty chapters some problems have to happen... Hope you have enjoyed the chapter nevertheless despite the light cliffhanger ^^U