The inner Circle 2

Chapter 9: The Inner Circle

Kristen's friendship with Victor continued to grow, and he began to introduce her to more members of Antonio's inner circle. There was Marco, the clan's second-in-command, a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression.

As Kristen spent more time with Marco, she started to gain a deeper understanding of the clan's operations. Marco explained the clan's business ventures, from real estate to construction, and how they used these legitimate businesses to launder their illicit earnings.

Kristen was fascinated by the complexity of the clan's operations, and she found herself drawn into their world. She began to see the clan as a well-oiled machine, with each member playing a vital role.

One day, while Kristen was walking through the estate, she ran into Sofia, Antonio's personal assistant. Sofia was a petite, elegant woman with a cold, calculating gaze.

"Kristen, I've been looking for you," Sofia said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Antonio wants to see you in his office."

Kristen's heart sank, but she nodded and followed Sofia to Antonio's office. She wondered what Antonio wanted, and whether it was good or bad.

As they walked, Kristen noticed that Sofia seemed to be watching her every move, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Kristen felt a shiver run down her spine, and she knew that she had to be careful around Sofia.

As Kristen entered Antonio's office, she felt a sense of unease. Antonio was sitting behind his desk, his eyes fixed on her.

"Kristen, I've been thinking," Antonio said, his voice cold and calculating. "You've been here for a while now, and I think it's time you started earning your keep."

Kristen's heart sank, but she tried to keep her expression neutral. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Antonio leaned forward, his eyes glinting with menace. "I mean that you're going to start doing some work for me. You're going to help me with some... business dealings."

Kristen felt a sense of trepidation, but she nodded. "Okay, what do I need to do?"

Antonio smiled, but it was a cold, cruel smile. "You'll do what I tell you to do," he said. "And you'll do it without question."

Kristen felt a shiver run down her spine, but she tried to keep her expression steady. She knew that she had to be careful around Antonio, that she had to tread carefully if she wanted to survive.

Antonio leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "I have a meeting with some associates tomorrow night," he said. "I want you to accompany me."

Kristen's heart sank. She had no idea what Antonio had planned, but she knew it couldn't be good.

"What's the meeting about?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Antonio's smile grew wider. "That's need-to-know information, Kristen," he said. "And you don't need to know."

Kristen felt a surge of fear, but she tried to push it down. She knew she had to stay calm, had to think clearly if she was going to survive this.

"Okay," she said, trying to sound neutral. "I'll accompany you to the meeting."

Antonio nodded, seeming to approve of her response. "Good," he said. "I'll send someone to fetch you tomorrow night."

Kristen nodded, trying not to show her fear. She knew she was in grave danger, but she was determined to survive.

As she left Antonio's office, Kristen couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap. She had no idea what Antonio had planned, but she knew it couldn't be good.

What happens next