WHAT IT IS(Jessie's Diary)

ELENA'S POV:

Well, I was getting a clear picture of Leo's past now. And I could see what had been going on even while a teenager. It appeared he didn't even really fancy his father, but here it said something.

****My father had taken over the mafia temporarily, in place of the former mafia who was unjustly killed. But even at that period, I knew there was something that he wanted from me and I wasn't willing or ready to give something as priceless as that. Then I overheard him speaking with a man named Jack. Nothing else would have been able to describe my distaste at that moment. My father had no idea I was even home. I'd sneaked in through the window into my bed. The discussion went like this...

"Yes, Herr and I discussed the issue of our deal being disrupted."

"Yeah?" To say I was confused was an understatement, what deal? I didn't see how it was my business though, it was a mafia thing anyway.

"Herr and I had a deal, for my daughter to marry your son. It's a way to keep the business going." I cocked a brow at that statement. I wondered if my father had any other son that he'd hidden somewhere because that was sure as hell not me. I stood by the stair side, a corner where they wouldn't see me and watched them speak.

Grey, my father, leaned forward, clasping his hands in the process, seeming confused. I'd heard about the man named Herr as he didn't seem like the kind of man who would make deals just like that, besides that, he was a ruthless, selfish and arrogant man who had the body and face of a human, but the heart of a monster.

"Since when have you made this deal?" My father asked.

Jack sighed. "Last week."

His brows furrowed. "And what do you suppose I do about that?"

"Well, It wouldn't be polite if you weren't informed about the company's movement." The deal between Mr Herr and Mr Jacksonville was based on weighty circumstances including Grey's. Jack, having messed with the deal, had to look for a way out of this puzzle by giving a piece of dishonest information to the man who had put him in charge of the activities of the company.

Herr was no ordinary man, all his life had he immensely dealt with or eliminated barriers be it living or non-living, human or not. So cheating a powerful man like Herr was like going beyond your boundaries, which gave him the opportunity to lure one into his grave. It was that easy for such a possessive man like Herr. And Jack had gotten himself as another one of his prey.

He didn't want to betray the former CEO, as this was the only way to save the staff, and the business from Herr's grasp. Marrying me to Herr's daughter, was a preferable way than to give him full possession of the company that took years to build and to be noticed, although his mind didn't sit well with it. I didn't expect it to be. My father was a mafia man. Ruthless when it came to his dealings. It was in this kind of case that I knew that the mafia would always come first no matter what.

Jack leaned back against his seat. "I'm glad you're taking this business seriously. But you have just called instead of travelling all the way from Italy."

"But he wouldn't want to accept that," Grey stated.

"Who?"

"My son." I'm glad he knows this.

"He has to accept that the wedding is going to take place." I knew Jack was saying this because it could pay the entire money for his crimes, but that would mean losing his job and the trust Grey had for him. He sighed as he finally breathed. "If this marriage doesn't take place within a few weeks.... the repercussions are crucial. Not only the company will be at stake, but the lives of both the staff and owners."

The bewilderment on Grey's expression was evident as he stared intently at Jackson. "What the hell are you talking about?" His voice was no longer how it was a moment ago. It was deeper, intense and authoritative.

Jack squirmed inconveniently on the couch. He wouldn't bring up his fucked up deal to Herr. It'll make things more complicated. "Sir all I need is your help and your trust on this one."

"If I didn't trust you, you wouldn't be in front of me today."

Jack swallowed. Grey trusted him. And all he could do to repay his trust was to go against the will of both the owner and the company into making a crucial deal with Mr Herr. He collected a bribe from the other company in agreement to work for him, but eventually didn't, was forced to return the huge amount of money he was given, which he couldn't pay completely, and the only way out was marriage.

He was willing. I just knew it

Sensing discomposure in Jack, Grey asked; "Is there something you're not telling me, Jackson?"

He recomposed himself. At least he thought he did, and hoped he didn't look as tense as he already was. "No sir." Grey stared at him for a little while with a face masked with slight suspicion, but he brushed it off, thinking Jack would never do anything to harm the staff and the company itself.

"I should take my leave now." He abruptly stood. I was glad he was leaving because he just caused me to think twice about my future in less than ten minutes. I needed to get out of there. I instantly went up to my room and sneaked out again. I had somewhere to be. I wasn't going to let anything like an arranged marriage come in between me and my goals, there was no fucking way I was getting married.***

There was more to Leo than it met the eyes.