You get a proposition that you will have serious difficulties to reject.

"So what brings you here? Last thing I knew was that you had a prosperous business in Dressrosa"

Doflamingo accepts the cup of coffee that Corazan offers him and you automatically tense when the man chooses to sit next to you in the table. For the way he smirks you deduce that he has done it on purpose to bother you, thing that he effectively achieves.

After Doflamingo and Trebol (yes, apparently that was the snot-man's true name) arrived at the shop, Corazon thought that it would be a good idea to offer them a coffee. And yes, obviously it was understandable that Corazon wanted to offer coffee to his brother and his friend, but you couldn't quite see why the hell Bartolomeo and you were also in that familiar reunion!

And well, Bartolomeo may be confused about the whole thing. The way he was looking at everyone with barely concealed curiosity proved it. But come on, how Corazon wasn't noticing the obvious (one-sided) tension that existed between you and his brother? Jeez, you really loved Corazon, but sometimes you preferred that he wasn't so oblivious.

"Oh, and I have", Doflamingo answers taking a sip of his coffee, that smile of his that makes you feel extremely uncomfortable never abandoning his face, "but that annoying policeman was beginning to ask too many questions, so until things calm down a little I've left Vergo and Monet in charge of everything there"

You and Bartolomeo interchange a brief glance. That has sounded as if Corazon's brother was involved in not-too-legal business. Well, that would definitely explain the gangster clothes that the man was wearing.

However, Corazon didn't seem particularly bothered by that fact because when hearing his brother's answer he simply hummed to himself and smiled teasingly.

"So at the end Smoker was more of a problem than you initially thought"

"Behehehehe!", you jump in your seat when suddenly Trebol laughs with a loud voice, "that man is just too stupid, neee?! If he knew what is best for him, he and his stupid official would leave Doffy alone, neeee?!"

"Careful, Trebol", you tense even more when suddenly Doflamingo turns to look directly at you with his flashy glasses still on, and not being able to see his eyes is enough to make you even more nervous, "if you talk too much maybe these children here get scared and run away"

"Hey, who are you calling children?!"

Bartolomeo's bravado turns completely off when Doflamingo slowly turns his head towards him and chuckles, causing the punk to gulp loudly.

"Corazon, we definitely have work to do on your fellows: a boy that doesn't know how to talk with respect, and a girl who insults our clothes before even saying hello"

"I wasn't insulting your clothes", your tongue is faster than your brain because you regret when Doflamingo's interest focuses on you again, causing you to speak with a little less of determination that you would like to show, "I-I just thought that they were costumes, that's all"

"And you don't consider that an insult?", Doflamingo asks with irony.

"N-No, because I said that they were 'awesome costumes', so I was saying it as a compliment"

Your defensive answer causes Trebol to laugh even louder than before.

"Behehehehe! This girl is funny, Doffy. Baby 5 would have fun with her for sure", Trebol turns to look at Corazon, "neee, Corazon, neeee: can you lend her to us?"

You blush with embarrassment and are about to reply offended that you aren't something that can be lent but this time Corazon intervenes before you can.

"Sorry, Trebol, but I don't have anything to say in this. She is free to choose whatever she wants to do"

You blush again but for another completely different reason. You are going to smile at Corazon with gratitude but at that moment Trebol leans over the table forcing you to press your back completely against your chair so that his swinging snot doesn't hit you.

"Nee, nee, would you like to come with us then? Doffy is establishing a new business here and since Vergo and Monet aren't here we need to hire more people"

"Is that true?", Corazon asks with surprise.

Doflamingo stops looking at you mockingly and nods at his brother.

"Yes, we arrived at this town a couple of weeks ago", Corazon frowns and Doflamingo keeps talking with a conciliatory tone, "I didn't warn you before because we have been quite busy finding a suitable place to stay, but now that we already have it I've decided to pay you a visit and not just because you are my dear little brother, but also for what Trebol has said: we need to hire two people to fill the gaps that Monet and Vergo have left"

Corazon smiles apologetically and shakes his head.

"Sorry, Doffy. The answer is no"

"But I still haven't said anything", Doflamingo protests jokingly, causing Corazon to chuckle.

"It's not necessary: you were going to ask me to join the family business again, right?"

"Fufufu. Am I so easy to read?"

"No, but you put that same face the two times that you asked me to join you, and the answer remains the same. I appreciate the offer but I am more comfortable with my pacific life and my costumes"

"My life is also pacific", Doflamingo puts his elbows on the table and rests his chin on his hands, "I concede you that when a deal doesn't go as planned things can become a little tense, but that's all"

Corazon laughs and takes a sip of his own coffee.

"Your concept of 'little tense' is too much for me, Doffy. I'm sorry"

Doflamingo sighs with resignation but he seemed to have been anticipating his little brother's answer because he doesn't insist more.

You are surprised for how well the two brothers seem to get along. In the few times that Corazon had talked you about Doflamingo you have learnt two things: that Doflamingo had left when Corazon was fourteen, and that since that time Corazon had just seen his brother a couple of times, being the last one almost fifteen years ago, so you had wrongly deduced that Corazon didn't talk more about his brother because he had hard feelings towards him.

After all, even if you were an only child you were pretty sure that in case of having a brother or sister that left you behind and just visited you twice in more than twenty years you'd certainly hate him or her, but this didn't seem to be the case at all.

You get lost on your thoughts while taking a sip of your cocoa. Definitely, there was something about the Donquixote brothers that you didn't know yet…

"And what about you, child?", you almost spill what you've just drunk when Doflamingo settles a hand in the back of your chair and turns his interest towards you once again, "would you like to work for me? I pay well, as long as you do your job right. And don't worry, since you are still little the job won't be so complicated so…"

"This child is 24 already", you say with irritation without even thinking, "and I've been working for Corazon for two years already, so he can tell you how capable I am of doing 'complicated things'"

You regret your words the moment they leave your mouth, but despite Doflamingo was super intimidating you were pretty tired of being called a child with such condescendence.

However, your fear that your insolent comment made the man angry vanishes when Doflamingo chuckles. Great. It seemed that you have reacted just the way he was expecting and that just frustrates you even more. God, were he and Corazon really brothers?! Because Doflamingo seems to be exactly the opposite than his brother, and considering how perfect you thought Corazon was that wasn't precisely good.

"Well, it seems that the little girl is able to bite when being pushed", Doflamingo says with a light approving tone that just causes you to feel more offended because although he had used different words, he has called you a child again, "I don't dislike that. I prefer when people under my command are able to answer back even when they are afraid"

You are about to answer that you were not afraid but who you were kidding? Just when remembering the way the man had leant over you before, you felt the chills in all your body.

"So is she saying the truth?", Doflamingo inquires looking at his brother, "she is a good worker?"

"Absolutely", Corazon says with no hint of doubt, "even if she works here part-time, she is so efficient that it feels as if she worked here all day. Besides, she has been the one who has created the web site of the shop with the corresponding database that allows us to keep all the inventory in check", Corazon looks at you with hesitation, "have I explained that right?"

You chuckle because certainly Corazon's technologic skills weren't the best and making him understand how everything worked had been a little of a challenge.

"Yes, you have", you say with a smile that right now could rival Bartolomeo's one. You know that you are probably redder than the fabric that Bartolomeo and you have found but you couldn't help it after Corazon praised you like that.

"So yes, Doffy", Corazon says with a proud smile signaling you and Bartolomeo with a wide gesture, "this 'little girl', this disrespectful 'boy' and another 'boy' that isn't here at this moment are really good workers, so maybe you want to try to convince them to work for you instead of doing it for me"

Doflamingo hummed to himself, but despite Corazon had named you and Bartolomeo, Doflamingo looked just at you when talking next.

"Interesting. I'll really think about it, little brother"

You feel a shiver running down your spine when Doflamingo subtly licks his top lip. You automatically avert your eyes from the man and take another sip of your cocoa. Jeez, you were desiring that the man abandoned the room once and for all. Definitely, the Donquixote brothers were unique to make you nervous, although not precisely for the same reasons.

At that moment the bell of the shop rings and Corazon's until now confident expression changes radically.

You understand immediately what he is thinking and rapidly check your wristwatch. It is 4 o'clock exactly.

"Is...?", Corazon gulps, "is it…?"

"I'll go take a look", you say, standing up from your chair and going towards the door, honestly happy to stop being so close to Corazon's brother.

Doflamingo doesn't bother to hide his curiosity while looking at his brother.

"Are you waiting someone?"

You are about to open the door carefully not to make a noise but suddenly Trebol situates next to you with a speed you didn't imagine he had, causing you a mini heart-attack.

"Neee, neee, who it is?!"

"Ssssh!", you hiss without thinking, but surprisingly Trebol obeys and just exhales his characteristic 'Behehehe!' in a tone acceptably low.

"Fufufu~, so you even dare to give orders to my subordinates. I like you more by the moment, young lady"

You decide that it will be wiser to pretend not having heard Doflamingo's comment since the man will probably keep provoking you. Well, at least he has called you 'young lady' instead of 'little girl' or 'child'. It was an advance.

Finally, you open the door enough to see through it and realize that yes, Trafalgar Law was the newcomer. You had to admit that the man gained without the white coat. Those fitted jeans and simple but fitting beige t-shirt suit him incredibly well.

"(y/n)?"

You focus again when hearing Corazon, and damn, his voice sounded so expectant that you can't help to feel a pang of jealously hitting you.

"Yes, he is here"

Corazon takes a deep breath before looking at Doflamingo, who by now is looking at his litter brother in utter amusement.

"Is there something that you have to tell me, little brother?"

Corazon gulps awkwardly, but before being able to give a proper answer Doflamingo talks again.

"Well, I suppose that it can wait", Doflamingo stands up and you can't help to feel impressed again for how tall the man was. Damn, compared to him, Corazon looked small, "I don't know why but I guess you prefer me and Trebol to leave by the back door"

Corazon exhales a nervous laugh.

"Thanks Doffy. I'll call you tonight, okay?"

Doflamingo nods, apparently satisfied with the answer. You are about to breathe again normally, relieved that finally Corazon's brother leaves, but just at the last moment Doflamingo turns to look at you.

You gulp. Damn, Doflamingo's smile looked even more devious than before. You don't know why but you had a bad feeling about it.

"It's mostly probable that I come to see my brother next week so I hope to see you around, young lady"

With that last sentence, Doflamingo abandons the room followed by Trebol and his loud laughs.

At the same time, Bartolomeo and you let out the air that you have been holding without noticing.

"Holly fuck", Bartolomeo snaps, passing a hand through his sweated hair and looking at Corazon accusatorily, "damn it, Cora-senpai, I've been about to shit my pants. You could have warned us that your brother was such a badass!"

You would laugh at Bartolomeo's comment if it wasn't because you thought exactly the same. Well, maybe the shit part was a little exaggerated, although honestly not much.

Corazon scratches the back of his head while laughing apologetically.

"Sorry, I know that my brother can be really…intense. If I had known that he was going to come I would have warned you beforeha-"

"Corazon-san?"

Corazon gasps when Trafalgar's voice is heard from the main shop.

"A-A-Alright", Corazon clears his throat but his voice keeps sounding unusually high-pitched, "l-l-let's going to attend the client a-a-and…"

"Corazon", you approach the babbling man and grabs his hands despite the embarrassment and nervousness that the action causes you, "breathing is important if you want to keep living, remember?"

Corazon laughs when hearing your ironic comment and after gulping he nods.

"You're right, (y/n)", he takes a deep breath and presses your hands a little, making your heart accelerate, "after you have given me this chance I'm not going to ruin it. At least not yet"

'Great', you think in self-mockery.

"That's better", you release (a little reluctantly) his hands, "you go first. Barto and I will carry the fabric to the measurement room"

Corazon nods and after taking another deep breath he leaves the shop.

When you are alone, Bartolomeo looks at you with his eyebrows raised.

"You promised that you wouldn't ask me anything yet", you say rapidly, causing Bartolomeo to bark a laugh.

"Don't worry, I won't", he said, finally standing up as well, "although I think I know more or less what's going on. The boss wasn't being too subtle right now. Didn't know he was gay"

You suppress a smile. Sometimes, you forgot that even if Bartolomeo acted goofily most part of the times, the guy was rather perceptive and definitely wasn't dumb.

"Come on, let's carry the fabric to the measurement room before the boss and the client arrive"

"You meant the boss and his date?", you offer a reproachful look to Bartolomeo, "okaaay, I won't say anything. Not even Cabbage"

You chuckle again and after sighing softly you both left the office, preparing yourself to spend a little hard afternoon.

Even if Corazon's nervousness was extremely evident when talking with Trafalgar, the moment he got into work Corazon entered his professional mode and got incredibly serious and concentrated. Indeed, you noticed that while the man worked, it was Trafalgar the one who looked more in tension.

Also, you discovered that the apparent serious doctor had some tattoos in his knuckles that you hadn't noticed that morning since the man was wearing gloves, and even if you were dying to know when and why he had something like that done, you decided that it was a little too soon to ask. After all, you have barely interchanged a couple of words with Trafalgar and you still weren't sure that the man didn't hate you, since even if he wasn't cold with you he wasn't friendly either.

And obviously, the way the doctor blushed almost imperceptibly every time that Corazon surrounded him a little with his arms to keep measuring him didn't go unnoticed by you. Definitely if things kept going like that your Casanova work wouldn't be necessary for much more.

At the end, the measurement process took Corazon almost an hour, because the man had decided that even if the whole thing had been an excuse so that he and Trafalgar met again, he wanted to create a costume for the good doctor. A costume that he hadn't wanted to share with you so that the result was more stunning.

Consequently, the confession was postponed once again until the next meeting, that would be the next Thursday when Trafalgar came back to the shop to try on the complete costume.

"Thanks a lot for everything, (y/n)", Corazon say once Trafalgar left, "and I'm sorry about my brother. Has he scared you a lot?"

'Yes'

"Nah", you say instead, "although I have to admit that he is pretty imposing. And his friend...he was a little peculiar"

Corazon chuckles.

"Yes, peculiar is the word. But despite his appearance that man helped my brother a lot when he was little so Doffy respects him a lot, and so do I"

You bite your tongue in time not to ask more about Corazon's past. You really wanted to know but probably it was better to wait. It was late already and the day has been long. You just wanted to go home, take a shower and sleep.

"By the way", Corazon says suddenly, "if at the end you decided to work for my brother, it would be completely fine. I'm sure he will pay you better than what I am able to pay you. Although in that case…", Corazon shows you an apologetic smile, "I would like that you keep working here at least until the end of the year, since these last months are the busiest"

For a moment you think that Corazon is joking, but then you realize that no, Corazon was completely serious, and honestly you didn't know how to feel: happy for the knowledge that Corazon let you choose with complete freedom what to do, or sad because Corazon didn't seem to mind if you worked for him or not. You thought the second feeling was winning.

"Don't worry, I also like to have a pacific live. But nevertheless, even if I eventually decided to work for your brother (think that it's never going to happen, you think) I wouldn't leave this shop. I like a lot to work here with you…guys. With you all"

Phew, that had been close! It had been about to sound really romantic.

At that moment Corazon smiles widely.

"I'm glad to hear that", hey, he sounded relieved!, "I have to admit that even if I can understand that you preferred to work elsewhere, I also enjoy working with you. And if you left, I would surely miss you, although I suppose that's what you'll eventually do"

You gulp. Damn it, why does Corazon say that kind of things so casually? Definitely that wasn't good for your heart.

"A-As I've said don't worry about it! For now I'm not going anywhere"

After that you say goodbye to Corazon and Bartolomeo and come back home. You have barely entered your apartment when you receive a call from Rebecca.

"(y/n), are you at home?"

"Hi, Becca. I've just arrived", you remove your coat and shoes and climb the stairs in your shocks.

"Great! I'm going to the Baratie right now to have something to eat with Nami and Robin"

"Oh, I thought that Nami didn't like that place because that cook was always trying to flirt with her"

"And she doesn't like but today it's Sanji's day off so he isn't here. So? Do you want to come?"

"Thanks, Becca, but I prefer to rest", you practically flop in your bed in your favorite position, "the day has been long"

"Yes, to help the man you love to be with someone else than you has to be tiring"

"Don't be mean. Besides, the doctor seems like a nice guy"

"I don't care how saint your rival in love is: you should be the one in being with Corazon, you dummy!"

You smile with patience.

"We've talked about this already, Becca. It's evident that Corazon loves that doctor, so there's nothing I can do about it. Besides, after discovering what a brother in law I'd have in case of being with Corazon, I think it's better if we aren't together", you joke.

"Brother in law? What do you mean?"

You find yourself gulping just with the memory of Doflamingo.

"Today I've met Corazon's brother"

"Oh? And is he as handsome as Corazon?"

"No", you answer too quickly but then you force yourself to be more objective, "okay, yes, he is rather attractive. He is tall, like, quite tall, I think he is more than 2,00 meters. And I also think he is more muscular than Corazon"

"Mmmm, that sounds like your type! Didn't you like bulky-blond guys?"

"Please, Becca, don't say 'bulky', I hate that word"

"Hehehe, I know. So what's wrong with that guy? In my imagination right now he is pretty hot so maybe he could be a better option than Corazon"

"HA HA HA, no way. You should have seen the man. He was super scary. If someone told me that he is a demon I would believe him"

"(y/n), are you sure you aren't exaggerating?"

"No, I'm not!", you say offended, "besides, he got on my nerves treating me like a little child all the time! And okay, he probably reaches the forties but that doesn't mean that I am a child and wait, Becca, why are you laughing?"

"Because I don't know if you're hearing yourself but this sounds as the typical romantic story that begins with the girl hating the guy for whom she'll eventually fall"

"WHAT?!", you shout, causing Rebecca to laugh more and you to become more exasperated, "okay, I've been mocked enough for today, you know? So have fun with your friends"

"Come on, (y/n), don't get angry with me, I was just teasing you a little!"

You huff in a sulking way but as always, you don't keep being irritated with Rebecca for long and when you hang up you have a smile on your face.

After taking a shower and having a quick dinner you immediately go to bed, and even if Morfeo catches you relatively fast, you can't help to keep wondering about what the past of the Donquixote brothers could be before your eyes finally close and you fall into a pleasant dream.

The rest of the weekend passes relatively fast and Monday arrives soon.

You attend your Master classes in the morning as always and after having lunch alone in your apartment you go to the costume shop.

Surprisingly, when you arrive the only ones in the shop are Bartolomeo and Cavendish.

"Hasn't the boss arrived yet?", you ask when seeing Cavendish in the counter, as always than the boss was absent because he was more suitable to deal with customers than Bartolomeo. The loud punk had tried to replace Cavendish once and the result was a little disastrous.

"No, he has gone to buy the fabric that he is going to use in his next costume"

Because of the silence that falls next, the studied casual tone that Cavendish uses and the guilty expression that appears in Bartolomeo's face, you immediately deduce what's happened.

"You have told Cavendish, right?"

"I-I didn't want to tell him but…umh…the thing is…"

"The thing is that this idiot can't keep a secret", Cavendish completes, "because this morning I've just commented that it was weird that Corazon-san went to buy personally the fabric instead of ordering it and Bartolomeo has put a super guilty expression"

"I haven't!", Bartolomeo says bright red, "it's you the one who has begun to ask questions like crazy!"

"Well, if you hadn't looked so secretive I wouldn't have asked anything, don't you think?!"

"Guys, GUYS!", you are forced to raise your voice so that the two men stop talking, "it doesn't matter if Cavendish knows, as long as you don't tell ANYONE else, okay?"

Cavendish and Bartolomeo nod at the same time obediently and you sigh.

"Okay. And now, until the boss arrives you, Cavendish, are in charge of the counter and you, Bartolomeo, try to put a little of order in the back shop. I will join you when I finish checking that everything is updated in the websit…"

At that moment the bell that announces the arrival of a customer rings.

At first, you assume that it was Corazon the newcomer, but when seeing the way Bartolomeo gets incredibly pale and how his mouth falls opened you discard that option.

You gulp. Okay, it couldn't be that the newcomer was…

"Oh, so my brother hasn't arrived yet? What a pity. I had to talk to him about several things"

You close your eyes.

Okay, it could be.

Doflaming has just arrived at the shop, and considering that Bartolomeo didn't seem very eager to talk and that Cavendish seemed a little lost, it was your turn to talk with the man.

Great. Just great.

After suppressing a gulp, you turn around to face the newcomer.

Doflamingo was standing in front of you, hands in his pockets and the same 'gangster clothes' that he wore during his first visit, a black suit with a red cravat, although today instead of a jacket he was wearing a pink feathery coat that, according to you, he was probably the only man who could wear something like that and keep looking extremely threatening.

Obviously, that devilish smile was adorning his face and his eyes kept hidden behind his lenses. Honestly, at the end you were going to think that there was something wrong with his eyes, otherwise you didn't know why he didn't want to show them.

"So since my brother isn't here…", Doflamingo approach you and your coworkers and you force yourself to remain in your place and not to go backwards, "…who is the one in charge now?"

You can physically feel the way Cavendish and Bartolomeo stare at you.

"It's me", you eventually say, and you know that Doflamingo knew what the answer was going to be for the way his smile accentuates.

"Perfect", he says, "because the thing I wanted to discuss with your brother is about you so can we talk in private?"

'In private?! I'm going to be alone with this man?!', you panic, but force yourself to keep a more or less calm attitude.

"O-of course", crap, your voice has faltered!, "let's go to the office"

Doflamingo follows you with an ironic smile on his face. When you stop at the office you are going to open the door but Doflamingo anticipates and opens it for you, allowing you to enter first.

Well, it seemed that chivalry was something that both brothers shared. Probably the only thing. Although well, they both were attractive. And wait, why have you thought that?! That wasn't important at all?!

When the door closes behind Doflamingo, you hesitate in sitting in the desk but you decide to remain standing and lean against it, just in case you need to run away in a hurry or something like that.

"S-So…", you clear your throat when your tone comes out a little trembling, "what can I do for you?"

For the brief pause that it follows it seemed as if Doflamingo was refraining himself for making a joking comment about your sentence, but at the end he seemed to let it pass.

"Alright, let's go direct to business", you feel yourself relaxing lightly when Doflamingo takes a chair and sits down on it, allowing you to look at him from above, and you don't know if he has done it in purpose but that way you feel just a little less intimidated, "this weekend, I've taken a look at the website of this shop and I have to admit that I'm impressed for the quality of it. It's really intuitive, well organized, and easy to use. You've done a great work"

You blink twice, utterly confused. Among all the things that you were expecting Doflamingo to say, to praise your website wasn't among them.

"O-Oh, thank you", you say, a little at a loss of words at first, but almost immediately you keep talking, "doing it that way was a little complicated but the main objective was that the potential customers were able to use it easily and comfortably"

Doflamingo hummed to himself, placing an elbow on the arm chair to lean his chin on his hand.

"Yes, you're completely right. And also, as my brother said the previous day, it's a really useful way to keep the inventory in check"

You nod.

"Yes, it is really comfortable, because you can automatically know how many products you have or you still have to order, together with the earnings"

At that moment, Doflamingo's smile widens.

"Very well, (y/n)", your eyes open wide. It's the first time that Doflamingo calls you by your real name. But your surprise doesn't last when Doflamingo keeps talking, "it's decided then. I want you to work for me from now on"

A silence falls in the room.

A rather tense silence.

"What?", you say, thinking that you have heard wrong.

"I've just made my mind", Doflamingo said, crossing his legs while putting himself more comfortable in the chair, "I want you to work for me. Of course I would prefer to have you exclusively but since Corazon found you first that wouldn't be fair, so I'll let you keep working for him. We can discuss with my brother when he arrives what days you'll be working here and…"

"W-Wait, wait a moment", you manage to say. You still haven't assimilated what you've heard, "are you serious?"

Doflamingo chuckles.

"(y/n), the fact that I am usually smiling doesn't mean that I'm joking all the time, and right now…", you gulp when detecting the slight change in Doflamingo's tone, "…I'm completely serious. As you already know, we are in process of opening a new business in this town, and I really need someone efficient that helps me to 'keep the inventory in check'. Until now, it was Monet the one in charge of it but she isn't available now, so I want you to fill that gap. I can assure you that no one is going to pay you what I'm going to pay you for doing this part-time job. If I were you, I wouldn't hesitate in taking this offer"

You stare at Doflamingo in disbelief, still expecting that the man told you that it was some kind of joke, but when some seconds passed and Doflamingo kept silently looking at you, you deduce that no, it wasn't a joke: Donquixote Doflamingo was really asking you to work for him.

You gulp. Honestly, the offer was rather good, but you didn't want to work for someone else besides Corazon. Besides, you didn't want to get involved in a business that probably was a mafia, and having a boss like Doflamingo was just too much for you. You just wanted to have a peaceful life, and that was assured for now by working for Corazon. Just for him.

"Look, it really sounds like a nice offer", you eventually say nervously, since you deduce that the man wasn't going to take very well your negative, "but with my Master and working for your brother I'm rather busy so…"

"I've told you already that I'll talk to my brother to reach an agreement", shit, goodbye to one of your arguments, "so I can assure you that you won't be busier"

"Y-Yes, but besides I don't think that I'm as good as you suggest", you insist, "I-I mean, doing a website is not the same as taking care of the inventory of a big company and…"

Suddenly, Doflamingo stands up from the chair, and your heart is about to leave your chest when the man cages you against the counter, both of his arms extended on either side of your body, stopping you for moving.

"You know, (y/n), if there's something that I can't stand is a liar", you gulp loudly, staring up at Doflamingo, whose face was suddenly really, really close to you, "so if you don't want to work for me, at least I want to know what's the real reason behind it"

You gulp again. You have been really stupid thinking that you could fool this man with such lame excuses.

"Okay", you manage to find your voice and decide not to risk and not to lie anymore, "the truth is that, the same as your brother, I want to have a peaceful live, and call me crazy but I think that working for you will be everything but pacific. I don't need the money that much and I'm more than fine working for Corazon. Besides, I prefer to work for someone who doesn't scare me all the time"

When hearing your last sentence, Doflamingo smiles amused.

"So do I scare you?"

You gulp a third time.

"A little"

Doflamingo makes a tsking sound in light disapproval.

"Told you I don't like liars", he says, but now there was a hint of joke in his tone, so you relax but just a little bit because you kept being caged between his strong arms, "very well, (y/n) thanks for being sincere with me, but still it's not enough. Another thing that I can't stand is not to obtain what I want, and right now…", you feel your heart pound hysterically in your chest when Doflamingo manages to get even closer to you, until your noses are almost touching, "…I want you"

You feel a shiver down your spine when hearing him almost purr that last sentence, but still you decide not to give up.

"But you can't force me to work for you if I don't want"

Doflamingo laughs in his characteristic way.

"Oh, it won't be necessary to force you", Doflamingo says with confidence, "You are going to accept to work for me on your own will"

You frown, now honestly confused.

"And why am I going to do that?"

And then, Doflamingo's smile turns even more devil.

"Tell me, (y/n)…", Doflamingo grabs your chin with one of his hands before keeping talking, and the words that he says make your heart literally stop, "…does my brother know that you are in love with him?"

It seems that Doffy has you against the cords :D What will you do now?