In order to keep your love for Corazon in secret, you reluctantly accept to work for Doflamingo. You regret your decision almost immediately when receiving a 'present' for him that same night.

After hearing Doflamingo's words you try to keep you expression imperturbable to hide how much his question has impacted you, but it was something terribly difficult to do when you were panicking inside. Damn it, how the hell that man, who had just seen you twice, could have read you so easily when in two years Corazon's hadn't?!

"W-What are you saying? I'm not in love with Corazon. I just enjoy working for him, that's all"

Your attempt of showing surprise is ruined when inevitably your voice trembles with nervousness, but you certainly can't blame yourself. With Doflamingo's face so damn close to yours and with his hand grabbing your chin in a firm though not rude grip wasn't helping your usually impeccable acting skills.

Doflamingo chuckles mischievously.

"Oh, (y/n), we're going to work hard on that lying habit of yours. If you keep behaving in a bad way, maybe I will have to punish you"

You blush when Doflamingo purposely emphasizes that word that causes not-precisely- innocent things to begin to round your head. However, despite a big part of you fears not being able to win this battle, you decide to try to convince Doflamingo one last time.

"Look, it's true that I think that your brother is really attractive, and as I've said I like working for him. But I don't love him"

Doflamingo remains silent for several seconds without changing his expression, and you are silly enough to think for a brief moment that maybe the man has eventually believed you.

Obviously, that little hope disappears when Doflamingo, without stopping looking at you, extracts his phone from the pocket of his trousers and rapidly dials a number.

A cold sweat invades your body.

Wait, it couldn't be that Doflamingo was calling…

"Yeah, Doffy? What's up?"

Your heart almost stops a second time that afternoon when recognizing Corazon's voice at the other side of the line.

Oh damn it, couldn't that bastard be about to…?

"Little brother, I've just learnt something really interesting about (y/n). Apparently, she is in…"

"No!"

In an impulse you try to grab Doflaming's phone so that he doesn't complete the sentence but the man is faster and catches your wrists in the air with enough force not to cause you any harm but to convince you not to try to do that again.

"Doffy? I can't quite hear you, what were you saying about (y/n)?"

Without stopping smiling, Doflamingo presses the phone against his chest so that Corazon can't hear you both.

"This is your last chance, young lady", you gulp when this time the threat in Doflamingo's voice didn't leave space for doubt, "maybe you haven't realized it yet but I'm not a very patient man, so what is your answer going to be?"

You grit your teeth with impotence, but when seeing that Doflamingo was planning to talk with Corazon again you settle your free hand against his before beginning to speak with hurry, your tone bordering of begging.

"Okay, okay, I'll work for you so please don't tell him anything"

After some seconds that seem as ages for you, Doflamingo's smile becomes frustratingly satisfied.

"I knew that you were a clever girl"

You frown, showing your obvious discontent, but that only causes Doflamingo to chuckle while finally releasing your wrist. He approaches then his phone to his pierced ear again.

"Sorry Corazon, it seems that the connection has failed. I was saying that (y/n) is interested in working me as well"

There is a small pause.

"Really?"

You have to suppress a little smile when hearing Corazon sounding skeptic. Well, at least it seemed that Doflamingo was going to think in a good excuse to convince his brother that you really wanted to work for hi…

"Really. She can tell you herself right now"

Wait, what?!

Before having time to react Doflamingo has turned the speaker on and has placed the phone between you two.

"Come on, (y/n)…", Doflamingo smirks with amusement, "…tell Corazon so that he is convinced"

You half-close your eyes at the smirking man in front of you. Damn, you really wanted to remove that exasperating smile from his face but definitely for now your only option was to do what he said.

"Hi, Corazon, it's me", you force your tone to sound relatively animated so that the man doesn't suspect. You hope at least to be able to convince Corazon without problems.

"Oh, hello, (y/n). So at the end do you want to work for Doffy?"

'No, I don't!'

"Well, your brother has made an offer that is almost impossible to reject", you definitely wasn't lying when saying that, "but as I told you yesterday I'm going to keep working for you too, don't worry"

Doflamingo nods and mouths a soundless 'Well done' that just makes you angrier.

"Yes, don't worry little brother: I don't plan to steal your precious worker from you. She loves working for you so much that I've had to be very persuasive to convince her"

You glare at Doflamingo because you perfectly know that he has used that word on purpose. Oh damn, every second that passed you hated that man more.

"Well, if (y/n) agrees I don't have any objections", Corazon says eventually.

"Perfect then", Doflamingo concludes with a triumphant grin he doesn't bother to hide, "I have to go already but I'll email you later to reach an agreement about the days she will be working for me from now on"

"Okay. See you later, (y/n)"

"See you later", you answer back weakly.

Doflamingo finally hangs up.

"Well, it's done", Doflamingo chuckles when seeing your expression, "oh, don't be upset, young lady. You'll see that working for me is not so bad. And who knows, maybe eventually you end preferring working under me than under my brother"

You decide to ignore the possible innuendo that that last expression carried and snort.

"I really doubt that", you point at Doflamingo with an accusing finger, "and now before leaving promise me that you aren't going to tell Corazon"

Doflamingo shows an obvious fake confused expression.

"But I have done that already"

"No, you have simply said that you were going to tell Corazon if I didn't agree, but you haven't promised anything about not telling him from now on, so I want to hear you say that"

Doflamingo looks at you for a brief moment before beginning to laugh.

"How mean, (y/n). You sound as if you don't trust me"

"Of course I don't"

Your vehement answer just causes Doflamingo to laugh again.

"Very well, if this puts you more at ease I promise that, as long as you work for me as you've said you'd do, I'll never tell Corazon by any means that you are in love with him. Are you satisfied?"

You nod even if you detect the mock behind Doflamingo's words.

"However…", Doflamingo crosses his arm and you decide to ignore the way the action makes the fabric of his suit adjust more to his muscular chest, "who tells you that I'm not going to break this promise?"

You think for a moment and eventually exhale a resigned sigh.

"No one, but I prefer to think that even the most evil gangster is honorable enough to keep his promises"

Doflamingo laughs with amusement.

"I'll take that as a compliment"

At that moment someone knocks at the door.

"Yes?", you answer. The door opens slowly and Cavendish sticks his head in.

"Sorry to interrupt, but someone has called asking for an error that he obtains in his PC when trying to buy a product in the website"

"Okay, tell him that I'll call him in five minutes"

"Oh, it won't be necessary", Cavendish hurriedly moves aside when Doflamingo approaches the door, "I've already obtained what I was looking for, so I'll take my leave"

You suppress in time a frown when Doflamingo dedicates a last overly satisfied smile at you.

"See you soon, (y/n). I'm impatient for having you meet the rest of the family"

With that goodbye, Doflamingo abandons the office snickering to himself. The bell of the shop rings almost immediately, indicating that Doflamingo has left the shop as well. At that moment Bartolomeo stomps in the office, practically pushing Cavendish aside.

"(y/n) are you alright?! Just so you know we were prepared to enter in case he tried anything funny"

"Wait…", you feel yourself getting pale, "…have you been listening to our conversation?"

Bartolomeo is about to answer but Cavenish is faster.

"No, although that's what this idiot wanted to do", he accuses while situating again behind the counter, "The moment you both have entered the office he has gone to grab a glass to be able to listen at you two better"

"B-But I just wanted to make sure that that man wasn't going to do her anything!"

You suppress a relieved sigh. Well, at least they hadn't heard that you loved Corazon. Cavendish would probably be able to keep the secret in case of discovering it, but knowing how little subtle Bartolomeo was he would surely let it slip even if it wasn't his intention.

"So what did he want from you?", Bartolomeo inquires.

Time to lie!

"He has just offered me a job in the company he is creating, so from now I'm going to be working there some afternoons"

Bartolomeo's jaw is about to hit the floor when hearing your answer, and since you deduce rather accurately that the man was going to begin to shout again you continue talking.

"Yes, he is pretty scary, but the conditions of the job were pretty good", or you hoped that at least, since you were forced to work there, "besides, it will be good for my curriculum since working in a big company will surely give me points when I search for a full-time job", another lie, since you didn't have the least idea about what to do when finishing your master, "so don't worry, Barto: even if I prefer Corazon as a boss, his brother is not as bad as he looks like", yes, he totally is!

Bartolomeo hums to himself, although he didn't look completely convinced. At that moment Cavendish calls you.

"(y/n), that man is still waiting for your answer, what do I tell him?"

You thank Cavendish deep inside for the interruption and go to attend the already quite impatient client.

The rest of the afternoon passes quickly and by when Corazon arrives, struggling with several heavy bags full of first-quality fabric, it was almost time to close.

Corazon apologizes guiltily while Cavendish and Bartolomeo help him carry the multiple bags. Apparently fabrics were on sale at 50% off and Corazon had made the most of it.

As you were fearing, the moment Corazon sees you he asks you to accompany him to the office. The same as his brother, the man allows you to enter first and when you are both alone you feel even more nervous than when being alone with Doflamingo…

…Okay, no, it wasn't true: you were more nervous with Doflamingo but it was for a totally different reason.

"So Doffy has asked you to work for him and you have accepted"

Corazon's tone was soft but the man was staring at you with an intensity that made your heart accelerate.

"Yes", your are proud of yourself when you answer without hesitation, "as I've told you the offer was rather good, and since Tuesday and Wednesday are days in which there aren't usually many customers I've thought that I could work for your brother then"

Your nervous increases when Corazon just keeps staring at you without saying anything for several seconds.

"(y/n), can I ask you something? And please, don't lie to me"

Oh, shit.

"S-Sure, what is it?"

Corazon sighs and speaks with evident suspicion.

"Has my brother threatened you in some way?"

Crap. That had just been spot on.

"Threatening me?", show yourself confused, show yourself confused, "what do you mean with that?"

"Well, even if I love Doffy I know how…persuasive he can be when wanting something. And somehow it seems that you have caught his interest, so it wouldn't be weird that he tried not-too-good methods to convince you, and if that's the case…", Corazon's tone becomes serious, and you have to suppress the urge to gulp because damn if a serious Corazon wasn't hot as hell, "…I'll talk to him to remind him how to behave properly. So, (y/n): do you really want to work for Doffy or he has somehow forced you to do it?"

You think carefully your words and after some seconds you answer.

"Well, if I'm completely sincere, at first I rejected his petition because, no offense intended, your brother is scary as hell"

As you were expecting, Corazon relaxes a little and laughs when hearing your comment.

"However, I have to admit that the conditions that he offered me were pretty good, and as I've told Bartolomeo before (because he was also worried about me), working for a big company will be good for my future jobs. So don't worry, your brother hasn't threatened me. At least, not for now"

You make sure to smile and not to avert your eyes while talking, and it seems that your acting is good enough because eventually Corazon nods.

"Alright", Corazon smiles, "in that case everything is fine with me. However, before you go to work in my brother's company let me tell you a bit about the family. You have to know certain things about them if you want to cause a good first impression"

At the end you spend another twenty minutes or so talking to Corazon, or better said listening to him talk about the Donquixote famility, so by when you arrive your apartment later than night your head was full of names but the most important fact that you have learnt was that you must not laugh when hearing a man named Pica speak. That was the number 1 rule and you made sure to burn it in your brain.

"I'm home", you announce when arriving home.

You enter the small living room and see Rebecca in the sofa, reading a book.

"Welcome home", she looks at you with curiosity, "one question, what's Corazon's brother's name?"

Your eyes open wide. You have been desiring to go home to let out all the frustration you have accumulated for having to work for Doflamingo against your will, but you weren't expecting that Rebecca brought out the theme.

"Donquixote Doflamingo. Why do you ask?"

"Because you have received a package from him. The postman has brought it half-an-hour ago"

You blink a couple of times with confusion before climbing rapidly the stairs towards your room. There is a relatively big box on your bed and a letter directed to you. Rebecca follows you and arrives at your room when you are grabbing the letter.

"Sooo", Rebecca smiles teasingly at your while leaning against the door frame, "Corazon's hot brother sends you presents now? Is there something that you have to tell me, (y/n)?"

"Yes, I have: Doflamingo has discovered that I'm love with Corazon and I have to work for him if I want him to keep the secret"

As you were expecting, a silence falls before Rebecca reacts.

"WHAT?!"

Despite the situation, you laugh when hearing Rebecca's squeak.

"Yep. I'm a little screwed up"

"B-But he can't do that!", she exclaims, looking horrified, "besides, how has he discovered it?!"

"Beats me, but the thing is that for now at least he has me where he wants", you admit reluctantly.

"Damn, you surely have no luck", Rebecca says crossing her slender arms, "Corazon is hot but gay and his brother is hot but a demon"

"Hey, I haven't said that Doflamingo is hot!"

"Yes, you did the other day. And you are blushing right now so it has to be true"

"Becca, has you listened to me? He is blackmailing me, I don't care how hot he is!"

"You are right, you are right, sorry", Rebecca approaches you while you finally open the letter, "what does it say?"

You read it aloud.

"Dear (y/n). I've reached an agreement with Corazon and we've decided that you will work for me weekly on Tuesday and Wednesday, and bi-weekly on Friday, which means that you will begin to work for me tomorrow. For that reason, I have sent you the uniform that you will have to wear at work. If you have any questions my number is above, so feel free to contact me. Willing to see you tomorrow, Donquixote Doflamingo"

"So you are going to have to wear an uniform?", Rebecca asks while you place the letter aside.

"Well, you should have seen the gangster clothes that they were wearing", you say while opening the box, "so maybe I have to wear a gangster attire as well to fit the company imag…", you stop talking abruptly when seeing the mentioned uniform(1), "okay, this has to be a joke"

Rebecca looks over your shoulder at the clothing that you are sustaining and her eyes open wide.

"Umh…(y/n), are those velvet black panties?"

"Okay, this is a joke", you keep repeating, looking in horror at the next clothing that consisted of a extremely fitted black mini-skirt, "okay, that man can't be expecting that I wear this tomorrow!"

"W-Well, the mini-skirt is not so bad. I mean, the design is rather good and okay, I hadn't seen that he has transparencies in its sides"

"And this shirt hasn't even buttons! And these are fishnets?! Okay, to hell with this. I'm not wearing this tomorrow"

"Wait a moment, (y/n), maybe there has been some kind of mistake. Maybe this is not the correct package and just the letter has arrived correctly"

You hesitate but eventually nod. Doflamingo was a bastard but he hadn't struck you as a pervert who would make his workers be dressed like that, so as Rebecca had suggested there had to be a mistake.

"Yes, you may be right. I'm going to call Doflamingo right now"

"Hey, can you turn the speaker on so I can hear him as well?"

When seeing Rebecca's expectant expression you eventually accept.

"Okay, but remain silent"

Rebecca nods obediently and you dial the number. It doesn't pass much time until you obtain an answer.

"Good evening, Doflamingo speaking"

"Wow, he has a sexy voice…"

Even if Rebecca whispers the sentence you glare at her, causing the girl to cover her mouth while mouthing a soundless 'Sorry'.

"Hi, it's me, (y/n)"

" (y/n)? What a nice surprise, I wasn't expecting hearing from you until tomorrow. What's the matter?"

You detect the mock on Doflamingo's voice, which makes you think that the man was lying and that in fact he was expecting your call.

"It's about the uniform that I have just received", now that you weren't face to face with Doflamingo, it was easier to speak with determination, "I think that there has been some kind of mistake. The clothes that I've received are a little too sexy to be considered an uniform…"

"Oh, so you don't like it? What a pity. I've chosen them specifically for you. I thought that you would be rather gorgeous dressed like that"

You blush intensely with embarrassment and anger when hearing his teasing tone. So it hadn't been a mistake! The man was really expecting you to go dressed like that!

"Well, sorry for having made you waste your time but I'm not wearing this tomorrow. If you have a lover of something feel free to re-send it to her but not me"

You hear Doflamingo laugh at the other side of the name.

"Sorry, (y/n), but we have a deal. You accepted to work for me…"

"But this was not part of the deal and…!"

"…and in return I promised not to tell Corazon certain secret of yours. So the decision is yours: to come tomorrow wearing all those clothes assuring that way Corazon remains unknown of your feelings, or not to follow my indications letting your little secret out. It's your decision, young lady. Hope you are as clever as I think you are and choose wisely"

With a last devilish laugh Doflamingo hangs up and you keep staring at the phone in disbelief.

"This bastard", you are about to throw the phone but Rebecca manages to stop you, "he is just mocking me!"

"Yes, it seems that he wants to know how far you are able to go to keep your secret"

You curse and sit down on your bed, glaring at the scattered clothes.

"Look, I know that you don't like to wear this kind of clothes", Rebecca reasons cautiously, "but maybe now the best option is that you wear them just for tomorrow. After all, in the letter doesn't say that you have to wear them all the days, so wearing them just one day won't be so bad"

When hearing Rebecca's words, something about what Doflamingo has said clicks in your head and your face illuminates.

"You're a genius, Becca. I already know what to do"

Rebecca looks at your with surprise.

"So you will wear those clothes tomorrow?"

"Oh, I will. But…", you smile widely, "…not the way that bastard is thinking"

Rebecca looks at you with confusion while you open your wardrobe still smiling. If Doflamingo thought that you were going to play his game so easily, he was really mistaken.

(1) To see the sexy uniform search this fic in AO3. There is a image of the outfit there ;)

What could your plan be? :P In the next chapter, your work in Doflamingo's company begins. Will you leave a good impression in the family?!