thehypotensivegrad

[thehypotensivegrad]

I

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (33/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3

Chloe leaned on the railings on the rooftop of Barden Tower. It was another long day of scheming and plotting. They had the ball rolling after all, they had to keep it going.

Beca had her back on the railing herself, sipping on the coffee she bought on the way back from their walk. The two of them not quite ready to return to the office yet.

The sun was setting, Aubrey had messaged them about dinner and take out, another long night in the office awaited. Chloe was starting to miss her home, her bed. Or late-night drinks alone with Beca…

How far had they come since they first met.

She never imagined for things to get too far out of hand. But Chloe believed things would quiet down soon enough, and it will be back to her usual routine soon.

Except not really.

She gave Beca a quick glance and smiled wistfully. "What?" Beca had asked as she felt Chloe's eyes on her. "What are you thinking about Chlo?"

Chloe hummed. "I'd want for nothing else than put Chicago in his place, for all this to end. Return to the normal swing of things," she said truthfully. "But with what you have to do…" she went on to say, trailing off as she thought about Beca's honest confession about her plans for Chicago and the Kommissar specifically. She gave enough details to paint a clear picture, only because it was Chloe who asked.

She felt conflicted about it. Not because of what Beca had to do exactly, but the consequences and what they meant.

Sure, they'd put everything to rest. End this fight once and for all.

But at what cost?

Chloe wasn't sure she was willing to pay the price.

"Don't worry about it," Beca then reassured her, as if she had read her mind. She turned around and placed her arms over the railings before bumping her shoulder against Chloe. "Don't you know I'm a miracle worker, or have I still not convinced you yet?"

Chloe chuckled. "You don't even know what I'm thinking about," she said, trying to deflect the fact that Beca seemed to accurately guess what it was.

"I do," Beca admitted. "Don't worry about it, Chlo," she then repeated. "The things that need to happen will happen, and whatever comes next, well, we'll deal with it. Things will settle back to normal soon."

"Yeah, but the normal I want has you in it," Chloe then found herself saying. It felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest with her confession, but she needed to say it at least once.

"Would you really miss me that much?" Beca then asked, looking rather smug.

"Everyone will," Chloe replied, not losing this battle. She'll miss her, yes. But she wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing how much.

"The future isn't fixed, and you're worrying about something that hasn't come to pass," Beca then noted. "Just have faith."

"Can a devil like you really say that?" she teased back.

Beca sighed and shook her head. She raised one hand and offered Chloe her pinky, despite looking away from her. Chloe laughed but nonetheless accepted by intertwining her own pinky with Beca. "I've never lived life in the traditional sense, I marched to the beat of my own drum," Beca said. "So, no matter what happens, I hope you know, I'll find my way back here to you. Always."

Chloe felt her cheeks burn bright as she stole a glance at Beca who still looked away. She wasn't sure if it was the orange glow in the sky brought upon by the sunset or if Beca was blushing just as hard as she did, but she took comfort in that promise either way.

"I'll miss you too, you know," Beca then admitted, stealing a glance off Chloe before pulling her finger away.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be distracted by your own plans and mafia business," Chloe teased in response. "You'll probably think of nothing else."

"You're wrong about that," Beca then replied, and her next words would be forever seared in Chloe's heart. "The truth is I won't think of anything else," she had admitted before turning towards the direction of the stairwell.

Chloe hid her face in her hands for a minute to keep her heart calm. Saying things like that…That's all they could ever admit to. Anything more would make things harder.

But Chloe hoped that perhaps one day, all of this now would be worth it.

And she could, in fact, get all that she wanted.

Those normal days, where Babel and DSM, where Chicago and his atrocities would be a distant memory.

Normal days she could spend with Beca.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (32/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter preview - read the rest on ao3

Beca stirred gently awake, blinking away the lethargy of a dreamless sleep. It's been that way for the past few days, and perhaps it would be that was for a while. Still, she was careful with her movements, not wanting to wake up a slumbering Chloe next to her.

She stayed still for a few minutes, taking in the view of her bland room in her apartment at Barden Tower, her mind still processing all that had happened over a week ago now. Beca took comfort in the arms around her waist, of the weight of the person pressed up against her, telling her she wasn't alone in all of this. In a way, it was Chloe's arms, her presence, that had held her together through the wake and funeral. She never thought it would be this hard, saying goodbye to her father, when she spent so long conflicted about her feelings about him. Perhaps it was the tragedy of it all, that just when she's finally sorted her heart out, when the glimpse of hope of reconciliation, and bittersweet memories of whatever days they could still share was there within her reach, it all had to be torn away.

The pain of regret stung deeply in her bleeding heart. This grief would not pass gently and quietly, she knew that.

But Chloe never abandoning her for one moment, never leaving her side, staying with her every night even when it was just to cry – for both of them, because Chloe had such a soft heart – to sleep, soothed her heartache, even just a little bit.

Chloe was the sun in her dark days. She was the only one who managed to get through to her, especially when it came to her father, and for whatever little comfort those precious last days she managed to spend together with him – days she didn't even knew would be the last – she would forever be thankful to Chloe for.

Beca carefully extracted herself from Chloe, not wanting to disturb her, and sat down the edge of her bed. Her eyes landed on the letter by her bedside, a letter she had read multiple times over. On the side of her bed, hanging on the corner of her headboard, was the scarf her father knitted for her. She smiled sadly, as her hands trailed over the scarf. This was not how he had thought it would make it to Beca, and this was not how Beca thought she'd read the letter and found out the truth that her father knew all along, and yet here they were.

In a way she was glad. He had entrusted his final gift to Chloe, and it was Chloe who wrapped it around Beca when she finally came clean about it the night following his death. Beca couldn't imagine herself falling apart again the way she did in front of Chloe to anyone else. Chloe simply understood, yet again, even without the need for words, what she needed. How she wanted to be held, how she didn't need comforting words, but just soothing arms around her to let her cry and process her feelings the way she best knew how.

Chloe didn't judge. She was simply there to be what Beca needed. She simply listened as Beca rambled on about how stupid she was. About how silly her father was.

They could have just dropped the act all along. But that's too late now. So much time was wasted, memories never made, love and forgiveness unsaid and lost because of what? The fear to face the truth?

Regret is the most painful thing in life. No matter how much Beca has of it, she'll never be able to turn back time. All she can do is make do of what she was given, of the time she managed to steal away with him back in her life, imperfect as it was.

Now she'd have to keep longing for her father's warm embrace at their reunion for the rest of her life, Chicago's brutality and lack of honor made sure of that.

And nothing would satisfy Beca's need for vengeance until he has felt the same pain he had dealt.

Three days, Beca processed her emotions for three days. She spent the following four sorting her thoughts and feelings, with Chloe. But the plans she made? Her grand designs? Her schemes? That's all in her head for the moment.

She'll tell them what they needed to know to carry out her plans when they need to know it.

Perhaps, the reason why she took a week before she summoned her allies again was for this very reason.

No more playing games, the next steps they take required cold hard precision. She told Chloe once to harden her heart, and Beca did the same for herself. But she still miscalculated the amount of ruthlessness she needed to use to pursue their enemies. She won't make that same mistake twice.

But to do that…

Beca glanced back at Chloe, still peacefully sleeping.

She knew what she had to do to enact her justice. But like everything, it will inevitably require a price to pay. Beca was a creature of the underworld, she can't afford to love. Her father was a prime example of what happens when someone like her loves someone.

Beca smiled at Chloe wistfully. If things had gone a different path, then perhaps…

Perhaps she wouldn't need to give anything up.

Because if she wanted to protect her now that she's seen and known how far Chicago was willing to go, Beca knew she can't afford to love. Because that it was, the feeling that Chloe evoked in her heart. That peace, warmth, and happiness she brought Beca.

To do what she must, she had to give up her love.

Beca wished there was another way. In fact, she tried all other ways, but now they've forced her hand.

Babel will pay.

DSM, the Kommissar, and most of all Chicago.

They will know what it means to pay.

But if Beca was honest, she knew she wasn't willing to pay the price of her vengeance. She knew very well what the path before her now entailed. She can't have it all, and something will inevitably have to give. But Beca didn't want to give Chloe up.

Her heart already felt like dying at even the thought of it.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (31/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter Preview - Read the rest on ao3

Chloe pulled Beca impossibly closer, thinking back to the day Beca visited her father's grave and the promise she made that she wouldn't kill anyone because Chloe asked her not to.

In a way, Beca had kept that promise to this day. Sure, she wasn't sure of what happened to the thugs they caught, the ones they captured and interrogated in the van. The ones who killed the family of Babel's victims. When she asked Beca what happened to them, Beca simply said she didn't let them go and asked Tommy and Justin to take care of things. That's all she said, and it was enough for Chloe to know that though she didn't kill them, she had at the very least she had signed off on their deaths.

She accepted it as it was. Beca was part of the mafia after all.

But this time? It felt like she was asking for permission to do the dirty work herself.

She could never quite wrap her head around the image of Beca killing anyone. She had always believed that if it were true, it would be like she was from another world. It felt like if it were true, then the distance between them were somehow greater, making Beca harder to reach.

But at this moment, Chloe knew that wasn't true. She was still Beca.

Chloe nodded, that was all she could give as a response. She pressed her lips on the crown of Beca's head and resigned herself to the only outcome left.

Babel had taken so much from them, and in return, they have given them so much grief, sorrow, pain, and loss.

"Do what you have to do to make them pay," Chloe then whispered.

Beca stirred and turned around. She pulled Chloe closer and wrapped her own hands around her, burying her head on her chest as she fully collapsed into her arms, allowing herself this moment to be comforted from the hurt and pain she had felt.

Chloe obliged and held onto her tighter. She didn't think much about what they just talked about. She didn't want to think of the worst or to judge either.

She had fallen in love with Beca Bella for all she was, both the light, love, empathy, and principles she saw in her and the shadows and darkness of the world she belonged in. Right now, she was in great pain, right now she had lost something very dear to her. All Chloe could focus on was to hold the pieces of her breaking heart together and be there for her.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (30/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3

“What are you thinking about?" Beca finally asked, taking a sip of her wine. Chloe managed to convince her to stay the night over her place for a change, just in case Babel had last minute murderous surprises that night. The two of them were back to their usual late-night drink and conversations.

Something Chloe had grown to love. Something born out of Babel's insane plans, and their need to take them down.

Something Chloe had a bittersweet feeling about, afraid of the day it would end.

Chloe sighed. Too many things were being left unsaid and simply felt, and once more she finds her head swirling, spinning, filled with too many thoughts.

"Is it because you found me in a chapel?" Beca then asked, breaking the silence. "Do I not strike you as the religious type?"

Chloe chuckled and shook her head before asking, "Well, are you?"

Beca returned the gesture and shook her head as she chuckled.

"See, and you ask why I would be surprised. Who would ever expect a self-proclaimed devil be in a holy place? I didn't know devils believed in God."

"Ah, but the devil was once God's favorite angel, you know?" Beca then replied. "I don't know why I ended up there, I was just running absent-mindedly. The last time I was there was when I was a kid."

"Really?"

Beca nodded. "My dad took me there to pray, I suppose, ask for a miracle. But then a week later he dropped me off at the orphanage…"

"Do you still – " Chloe had started to ask, but Beca shook her head and stopped her from finishing her question.

"I'm not mad, not anymore. And I don't hate him," she answered truthfully, guessing what was in her mind. "I just, I feel like I'm running out of time to feel that way, you know? You're right, I don't want to live with regrets, and I want to fix this thing between us. I promised him, after all, that when we clear his name, when we win, when he gets better, I'll be there, as his daughter. I'll be there," Beca replied with a genuine smile on her face and silent tears running down her cheeks.

Chloe leaned over to wipe away her tears. "Does that mean you'll tell him the truth soon?"

"Who knows when, but I know I will," Beca replied. There was a lightness in her tone, as if a heavy weight had lifted. "Thank you."

"For what?" Chloe asked, surprised by her words, but Beca didn't explain.

Instead, she pulled Chloe closer and wrapped her arms around her, burying her face in the crook of Chloe's neck. "Just, thank you."

And what else could Chloe do but wrap her arms around Beca too, and enjoy the stillness of the moment.

Some good was still born of the madness that surrounded them.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (30/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3

“What are you thinking about?" Beca finally asked, taking a sip of her wine. Chloe managed to convince her to stay the night over her place for a change, just in case Babel had last minute murderous surprises that night. The two of them were back to their usual late-night drink and conversations.

Something Chloe had grown to love. Something born out of Babel's insane plans, and their need to take them down.

Something Chloe had a bittersweet feeling about, afraid of the day it would end.

Chloe sighed. Too many things were being left unsaid and simply felt, and once more she finds her head swirling, spinning, filled with too many thoughts.

"Is it because you found me in a chapel?" Beca then asked, breaking the silence. "Do I not strike you as the religious type?"

Chloe chuckled and shook her head before asking, "Well, are you?"

Beca returned the gesture and shook her head as she chuckled.

"See, and you ask why I would be surprised. Who would ever expect a self-proclaimed devil be in a holy place? I didn't know devils believed in God."

"Ah, but the devil was once God's favorite angel, you know?" Beca then replied. "I don't know why I ended up there, I was just running absent-mindedly. The last time I was there was when I was a kid."

"Really?"

Beca nodded. "My dad took me there to pray, I suppose, ask for a miracle. But then a week later he dropped me off at the orphanage…"

"Do you still – " Chloe had started to ask, but Beca shook her head and stopped her from finishing her question.

"I'm not mad, not anymore. And I don't hate him," she answered truthfully, guessing what was in her mind. "I just, I feel like I'm running out of time to feel that way, you know? You're right, I don't want to live with regrets, and I want to fix this thing between us. I promised him, after all, that when we clear his name, when we win, when he gets better, I'll be there, as his daughter. I'll be there," Beca replied with a genuine smile on her face and silent tears running down her cheeks.

Chloe leaned over to wipe away her tears. "Does that mean you'll tell him the truth soon?"

"Who knows when, but I know I will," Beca replied. There was a lightness in her tone, as if a heavy weight had lifted. "Thank you."

"For what?" Chloe asked, surprised by her words, but Beca didn't explain.

Instead, she pulled Chloe closer and wrapped her arms around her, burying her face in the crook of Chloe's neck. "Just, thank you."

And what else could Chloe do but wrap her arms around Beca too, and enjoy the stillness of the moment.

Some good was still born of the madness that surrounded them.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (29/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3

Chloe wanted to ask how long would they need to wait to strike exactly when in came Theo, uninvited, into their law offices, strolling in with a bag of coffee beans in hand. Everyone turned to look at him, Emily quickly shutting her laptop close and hiding the drive for the Guillotine File. Stacie mimicked her actions, not wanting to tip off the enemy.

Aubrey scoffed at her presence. Chloe glared straight at the grinning idiot.

Beca looked amused, however. After all, Theo strolled in looking like an extra from an 80's yakuza movie with his current get-up and hairstyle.

Was this supposed to be an attempt for him to go incognito? Undercover?

Who knows?

"You're welcome," Theo said, proud of himself for some reason handing the bag of coffee beans at the four of them at the table. No one made a move. Chloe wasn't sure why he was there, acting all chummy, and it was clear that Stacie and Aubrey were quite suspicious of his presence. "What? Come on, I even brought you guys a gift, Kopi Luak. Do you know how expensive those beans are?"

Emily stood up and trudge along to pick up the bag of coffee beans. "I don't suppose this is poisoned?"

"After all I've done to save you, why would I poison you?" Theo replied.

"Isn't Kopi Luak those coffee beans isolated from a civet cat's droppings?" Chloe leaned in to ask Beca.

Beca nodded. "They feed the beans to the civet cat. The enzymes in their stomach contributes to forming its distinct flavor, but they can't fully digest the beans so they collect it from their droppings."

"No need to poison it then when he's literally giving us cat poop coffee," Emily replied monotonously before tossing the bag of coffee beans aside.

"And since when did you save us, Mr. Walters?" Stacie asked, an icy cold edge in her tone.

Beca clapped her hands, "Ah, so you were the one who called the fire department," she guessed.

"During the gas leak incident?" Chloe asked. "That makes sense, the MO was the same as with what killed those poor researchers… what happened? Had a last-minute change of heart?"

Theo sighed, pulling up a chair and directly addressing Beca. "Listen, I thought about what you said, and I realized you were right. I don't want to be a puppet to anyone anymore, and I meant what I said about changing Babel. But we first need to catch my brother."

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (28/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter preview - read the rest at ao3

Most of the drive was spent in comfortable silence, though Beca couldn't help but feel a sort of palpable tension in the air. For the good of the mission or not, they had crossed the Rubricon. There was no turning back from that. There was no fooling her heart about how it felt when they shared that kiss, or the thoughts of "maybes" and "what ifs" that briefly entered Beca's mind that moment.

It was Chloe who first broke the silence, keeping things focused on the business at hand. "Do you think she's arresting Chicago now?"

Beca hummed thoughtfully. "Probably. It all depends on how fast Kimmy Jin can mobilize her people, or if they were already on call for something like this. Stacie and Uni found a gold mine of info, so it might take time sifting through all of it. I suppose we'd know more in the coming days. There's no way an arrest or a major move from the prosecution against Babel wouldn't make headlines. I'd say a press conference in the coming days would be made for the official charges they're pressing, once they've sorted all the paper works."

Chloe nodded. "Good, but then I guess we have a few quiet days to deal with ourselves, huh?" she absentmindedly said just as the familiar sights of the Barden Tower came into view.

Beca pulled up to a side street parking. She studied Chloe's face for a minute, wondering what it was that she could be thinking about. There was something there, some kind of lingering sentiment, that Beca couldn't place a finger on.

"Guess we're here," Chloe noted, looking back at Beca expectantly.

"Mhmm," Beca agreed with a nod. "Welcome home… darling," she said with a teasing tone before leaning towards Chloe's seat, this in turn brought her face close to Chloe's. Beca chuckled lightly, watching Chloe's expression flash a brief look of panic, uncertainty, and then nervousness. The rather very visible gulp didn't escape Beca's attention either, it was hard not to notice when her eyes briefly looked down on Chloe's lips.

What am I doing? Beca asked herself. She was enjoying teasing Chloe a little, especially since the redhead seemed to be the one who always took her off her guard. It was nice to switch things up a little. To know that Beca had this effect on Chloe, that she could make her feel flustered and blush like a teenager.

And in any other circumstance, she would indulge herself.

But she knew that this was no ordinary circumstance at all, and once more her heart and mind were locked in a battle of logic and emotions. It would be very easy to just give in. She wanted to give in.

Beca knew, even when she silenced the thoughts in her head and buried it deep down in her heart, that she wanted to kiss Chloe again. Properly this time, and not under false pretenses of a mission.

It was clear to her. She wanted to be with Chloe Beale. She wanted her. She lo-

Okay, get a grip, Beca, she thought to herself. She reached out to the handle on Chloe's door and opened it, biting her lips as she looked away before pulling back to her seat.

Chloe let out a nervous chuckle, unbuckling her own belt in the process. "Thanks… honey."

Beca mimicked her reaction as she unbuckled herself from her seat as well and opened her door. "Of course, sweetheart," she said before the two of them locked eyes and exchanged a nervous laughter, followed once again by a comfortable silence between them.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (28/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Chapter preview - read the rest at ao3

Most of the drive was spent in comfortable silence, though Beca couldn't help but feel a sort of palpable tension in the air. For the good of the mission or not, they had crossed the Rubricon. There was no turning back from that. There was no fooling her heart about how it felt when they shared that kiss, or the thoughts of "maybes" and "what ifs" that briefly entered Beca's mind that moment.

It was Chloe who first broke the silence, keeping things focused on the business at hand. "Do you think she's arresting Chicago now?"

Beca hummed thoughtfully. "Probably. It all depends on how fast Kimmy Jin can mobilize her people, or if they were already on call for something like this. Stacie and Uni found a gold mine of info, so it might take time sifting through all of it. I suppose we'd know more in the coming days. There's no way an arrest or a major move from the prosecution against Babel wouldn't make headlines. I'd say a press conference in the coming days would be made for the official charges they're pressing, once they've sorted all the paper works."

Chloe nodded. "Good, but then I guess we have a few quiet days to deal with ourselves, huh?" she absentmindedly said just as the familiar sights of the Barden Tower came into view.

Beca pulled up to a side street parking. She studied Chloe's face for a minute, wondering what it was that she could be thinking about. There was something there, some kind of lingering sentiment, that Beca couldn't place a finger on.

"Guess we're here," Chloe noted, looking back at Beca expectantly.

"Mhmm," Beca agreed with a nod. "Welcome home… darling," she said with a teasing tone before leaning towards Chloe's seat, this in turn brought her face close to Chloe's. Beca chuckled lightly, watching Chloe's expression flash a brief look of panic, uncertainty, and then nervousness. The rather very visible gulp didn't escape Beca's attention either, it was hard not to notice when her eyes briefly looked down on Chloe's lips.

What am I doing? Beca asked herself. She was enjoying teasing Chloe a little, especially since the redhead seemed to be the one who always took her off her guard. It was nice to switch things up a little. To know that Beca had this effect on Chloe, that she could make her feel flustered and blush like a teenager.

And in any other circumstance, she would indulge herself.

But she knew that this was no ordinary circumstance at all, and once more her heart and mind were locked in a battle of logic and emotions. It would be very easy to just give in. She wanted to give in.

Beca knew, even when she silenced the thoughts in her head and buried it deep down in her heart, that she wanted to kiss Chloe again. Properly this time, and not under false pretenses of a mission.

It was clear to her. She wanted to be with Chloe Beale. She wanted her. She lo-

Okay, get a grip, Beca, she thought to herself. She reached out to the handle on Chloe's door and opened it, biting her lips as she looked away before pulling back to her seat.

Chloe let out a nervous chuckle, unbuckling her own belt in the process. "Thanks… honey."

Beca mimicked her reaction as she unbuckled herself from her seat as well and opened her door. "Of course, sweetheart," she said before the two of them locked eyes and exchanged a nervous laughter, followed once again by a comfortable silence between them.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (27/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Synopsis:

Beca Bella, the consigliere and adoptive daughter of the former boss of a powerful Italian mafia, seeks to deliver her own personal brand of justice against a powerful and corrupt business conglomerate and their devilish counsel, while working on reclaiming her hidden wealth confined within the old Barden Tower. Thankfully, she has the help of her right-hand woman and bodyguard, and an old friend with secrets of his own. But things are easier said than done. Especially when she has to win over the trust of the tower’s quirky and colorful tenants, confront the ghosts of a past she left behind, as well as deal with her unexpected but ever-growing feelings for a fierce and determined lawyer she meets along the way.

Can Beca accomplish her goals, find her treasure, and keep the woman she loves in her life?

Or will something have to give for Beca to topple her enemies, climb the ranks of her world, and become the new boss of the Bella family?

Chapter 27: Paper Company Shake Up

All hands on deck as Beca, Chloe, and the rest of the Barden Tower residents work on getting the dirt that would bury Chicago for good.

Chapter preview below - Read the rest at ao3

"What?" Chloe asked rather innocently. Beca's response was to simply look her up and down before giving Chloe a sympathetic look. "You're dressed casually," Chloe pointed out. Beca was wearing a chic grey sweater, the materials it was made from and the tag on in probably cost more than Chloe's whole ensemble. In her arms, neatly folded, hung a cream-colored blazer that paired well with her cream-colored pants. Chloe wasn't sure what they were made off but they both looked sleek, stylish, and comfortable. The shoes Chloe already knew were expensive. It was a brand she didn't know off, but the insignia had caught her attention – Loro Piana – and it was enough to prompt Chloe to look it up before. Beca kept the make-up and accessories simple, with her hair styled back. This was casual for Beca. Not undercover, regular street clothes casual. But her own personal level of casual, one that screamed affluence over anything else.

Chloe on the other hand was wearing her favorite black suite and skirt ensemble that she wore to court a few times now. "I look good in this," Chloe insisted.

"I know, but… Look, Chloe. We're replacing a man and a woman, one of whom had the audacity to book the entire gallery for a private affair for two, I think it's safe to assume it's a date. And if one of them is rich enough to make private art gallery dates a thing…" Beca started to explain.

"This really won't pass?" Chloe asked.

Beca looked at her wristwatch. "We still have time, and I know just the place, come on."

"Just the place for what?" Chloe had asked. But Beca didn't answer.

Instead, they found themselves in Beca's car, with Beca driving silently to some chic, invitation only type of boutique Chloe didn't even know existed. Beca had a light smile on her lips, looking a little proud of herself. When they got there, she had explained that she called ahead of time – so she already planned this from the start, Chloe thought to herself – before Chloe found herself whisked off into a dressing room to try out a few pre-selected outfits for her.

Chloe tried very hard not to chuckle, every time she had to march out and gauge Beca's reaction, "modelling" the outfits she had picked out for her.

Beca was fairly easy to read in that instance. Chloe knew she wasn't convinced every time she pressed her lips together and quirked an eyebrow, and so Chloe would march back and try the next one. Meanwhile Beca was busy looking at whatever was in the black velvety boxes brought out to her by the shop's attendants.

When Chloe stepped out with the third to the last of her pre-selected outfits on – a she knew she had found a lovely black dress with a black blazer that hugged around her figure just right – she knew she found the winner. Beca looked speechless for a minute before she motioned for one of the sales attendants to come back with a big black velvet box. Beca gingerly picked up the necklace inside. The chains were made of gold and attached to the intricate design of the pendant. Beca walked up behind Chloe and placed the necklace around her neck, careful not to touch Chloe directly. Chloe could pick up the scent of Beca's perfume, a delicate mix of floral scents. There was a softness to it that Chloe paired with the elegant yet soft casual style that Beca had for the night. Chloe couldn't help herself blush a little. It almost felt like this fake date was real.

A part of her wished it was.

Beca hummed her approval as soon as she clasped it close, proud of her own choices. The sales attendant walked up to Beca, the box still open. That's how Chloe saw the pair of earrings that matched the pendant of the necklace. Chloe's fingers briefly brushed against Beca's own as she reached for one of the earrings inside the box, sending electricity from where they momentarily touched racing through her veins, down her pulse, throughout her own being.

"Are you sure about this?" Chloe asked with a gulp, trying to squash the butterflies that were starting to wake in stir inside of her. "You're spending quite a lot for one 'date.' This might be too much."

Beca shook her head. "Not at all," she replied before looking away. She watched as Chloe put the earrings on herself. "They were made you," Beca then said rather awkwardly, turning around and walking on away before urging Chloe to follow her out.

This was bad, they have a mission to complete, but Chloe couldn't help but notice how they were both acting like teenagers

Still, a part of Chloe's mind was indulging in maybes and fantasies. Of how things would have been if she had met Beca in a different circumstance.

Beca briefly smiled and let Chloe put the earrings on by herself. Chloe kept looking back at her through the mirror but Beca's expression had become unreadable in that moment. She couldn't help but wonder if her – well, their – beloved consigliere shared the same thoughts as her.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (27/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Synopsis:

Beca Bella, the consigliere and adoptive daughter of the former boss of a powerful Italian mafia, seeks to deliver her own personal brand of justice against a powerful and corrupt business conglomerate and their devilish counsel, while working on reclaiming her hidden wealth confined within the old Barden Tower. Thankfully, she has the help of her right-hand woman and bodyguard, and an old friend with secrets of his own. But things are easier said than done. Especially when she has to win over the trust of the tower’s quirky and colorful tenants, confront the ghosts of a past she left behind, as well as deal with her unexpected but ever-growing feelings for a fierce and determined lawyer she meets along the way.

Can Beca accomplish her goals, find her treasure, and keep the woman she loves in her life?

Or will something have to give for Beca to topple her enemies, climb the ranks of her world, and become the new boss of the Bella family?

Chapter 27: Paper Company Shake Up

All hands on deck as Beca, Chloe, and the rest of the Barden Tower residents work on getting the dirt that would bury Chicago for good.

Chapter preview below - Read the rest at ao3

"What?" Chloe asked rather innocently. Beca's response was to simply look her up and down before giving Chloe a sympathetic look. "You're dressed casually," Chloe pointed out. Beca was wearing a chic grey sweater, the materials it was made from and the tag on in probably cost more than Chloe's whole ensemble. In her arms, neatly folded, hung a cream-colored blazer that paired well with her cream-colored pants. Chloe wasn't sure what they were made off but they both looked sleek, stylish, and comfortable. The shoes Chloe already knew were expensive. It was a brand she didn't know off, but the insignia had caught her attention – Loro Piana – and it was enough to prompt Chloe to look it up before. Beca kept the make-up and accessories simple, with her hair styled back. This was casual for Beca. Not undercover, regular street clothes casual. But her own personal level of casual, one that screamed affluence over anything else.

Chloe on the other hand was wearing her favorite black suite and skirt ensemble that she wore to court a few times now. "I look good in this," Chloe insisted.

"I know, but… Look, Chloe. We're replacing a man and a woman, one of whom had the audacity to book the entire gallery for a private affair for two, I think it's safe to assume it's a date. And if one of them is rich enough to make private art gallery dates a thing…" Beca started to explain.

"This really won't pass?" Chloe asked.

Beca looked at her wristwatch. "We still have time, and I know just the place, come on."

"Just the place for what?" Chloe had asked. But Beca didn't answer.

Instead, they found themselves in Beca's car, with Beca driving silently to some chic, invitation only type of boutique Chloe didn't even know existed. Beca had a light smile on her lips, looking a little proud of herself. When they got there, she had explained that she called ahead of time – so she already planned this from the start, Chloe thought to herself – before Chloe found herself whisked off into a dressing room to try out a few pre-selected outfits for her.

Chloe tried very hard not to chuckle, every time she had to march out and gauge Beca's reaction, "modelling" the outfits she had picked out for her.

Beca was fairly easy to read in that instance. Chloe knew she wasn't convinced every time she pressed her lips together and quirked an eyebrow, and so Chloe would march back and try the next one. Meanwhile Beca was busy looking at whatever was in the black velvety boxes brought out to her by the shop's attendants.

When Chloe stepped out with the third to the last of her pre-selected outfits on – a she knew she had found a lovely black dress with a black blazer that hugged around her figure just right – she knew she found the winner. Beca looked speechless for a minute before she motioned for one of the sales attendants to come back with a big black velvet box. Beca gingerly picked up the necklace inside. The chains were made of gold and attached to the intricate design of the pendant. Beca walked up behind Chloe and placed the necklace around her neck, careful not to touch Chloe directly. Chloe could pick up the scent of Beca's perfume, a delicate mix of floral scents. There was a softness to it that Chloe paired with the elegant yet soft casual style that Beca had for the night. Chloe couldn't help herself blush a little. It almost felt like this fake date was real.

A part of her wished it was.

Beca hummed her approval as soon as she clasped it close, proud of her own choices. The sales attendant walked up to Beca, the box still open. That's how Chloe saw the pair of earrings that matched the pendant of the necklace. Chloe's fingers briefly brushed against Beca's own as she reached for one of the earrings inside the box, sending electricity from where they momentarily touched racing through her veins, down her pulse, throughout her own being.

"Are you sure about this?" Chloe asked with a gulp, trying to squash the butterflies that were starting to wake in stir inside of her. "You're spending quite a lot for one 'date.' This might be too much."

Beca shook her head. "Not at all," she replied before looking away. She watched as Chloe put the earrings on herself. "They were made you," Beca then said rather awkwardly, turning around and walking on away before urging Chloe to follow her out.

This was bad, they have a mission to complete, but Chloe couldn't help but notice how they were both acting like teenagers

Still, a part of Chloe's mind was indulging in maybes and fantasies. Of how things would have been if she had met Beca in a different circumstance.

Beca briefly smiled and let Chloe put the earrings on by herself. Chloe kept looking back at her through the mirror but Beca's expression had become unreadable in that moment. She couldn't help but wonder if her – well, their – beloved consigliere shared the same thoughts as her.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (26/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

All Best Laid Plans (Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3)

Chloe chuckled as Dr. Mitchell recounted a tale of the nervous intern that came in with his doctors to check on him the other day. He was so rattled when the doctor asked him a question about an equipment that he mistook as for the shelf of Dr. Mitchell's bedside table. The doctor looked unimpressed, and the medical intern was all the more shocked with his own antics when he realized what had happened. Chloe wasn't sure how to feel about a medical intern messing up big time, but at least it didn't happen during a surgery or when a patient needed emergency assistance.

Currently, they have been taking turns to visit Dr. Mitchell at the hospital. Aubrey would visit with Emily. Sometimes she would go there with Chloe. On rare occasions it would be the three of them. But it was usually Beca who Chloe accompanied. Beca would mostly delegate herself with speaking to his doctors in private, checking in on how the staff on the floor was doing to make sure she gets on their good side and have them take good care of Dr. Mitchell. Her concern for him was genuine, that much Chloe could see, even when she tried her best to hide it. She couldn't really understand why, but it only made her love her even more.

ADMIRE, Beale, you admire her, not love her… you're not actually in love with Beca, right? Maybe have some stupid crush, but not actual falling in love kind of LOVE, right? Chloe chastised herself as she caught her thoughts slipping.

She didn't let Dr. Mitchell catch on, however. Or at least she hoped he did not.

Aubrey was not with them for their current visit. She was busy trying to de-escalate the situation with Kimmy Jin. The situation being that Chicago had wanted Beca arrested for the stunt she pulled. However, Beca was lucky. There was no proof it was her doing. Beca even put on her best acting chops on display as she said that she truly did hate Chicago, that's why he enjoyed in seeing him humiliated and drenched in pig's blood, when questioned by the police, but that it was not her who did it. She added in an "I wish it were me though, that would have been incredibly satisfying," to drive home the point of her innocence.

But of course, Chloe knew it was her. They all did. Beca was just incredibly crafty. She had hired actors assuming the names of the tenants show up at a sold-out theater show, using that as their alibies, so that they wouldn't even be considered to be part of her schemes. The actors were of close resemblance, at least good enough for the security feeds that Stacie may or may not have altered to fit closer to each of their builds and physiques. Beca personally ushered them in and said goodbye to each of them – as caught by the feeds as clear as day, while their beloved tenants carried out their assigned tasks – and Beca being late for the talk with popcorn was proof of her travelling from the theater and to the university. She also spent most of the last few days in highly popular areas with CCTV footage. She was no where near the university building. Unfortunately, the university also didn't have camera footage, whatsoever, for the auditorium, which means no evidence.

Kimmy Jin was still upset, however, by the antics, and they believed Aubrey was best equipped in talking with her about their next set of plans. They needed her for this, after all. Beca was cooking up something to serve Chicago and Babel on a silver platter for her.

"Is anything wrong?" Chloe asked after noting the few minutes of silence between her and Dr. Mitchell. "Are you alright?"

He nodded and smiled wistfully. "I was wondering, if it wouldn't be too much, if you could accept this gift from me," he then said, pulling out a paper bag from underneath his right bedside table.

Chloe stood up to try and help him, but promptly sat back down as he had managed to do the task by himself. She smiled a little, seeing that he seemed to be truly getting better. If only even by a little. Chloe accepted the paper bag and saw a beautiful blue knitted scarf inside, along with a folded white paper. She was about to reach in to grab it when Dr. Mitchell placed a hand on hers and shook his head to stop her.

"Oh, come now, please, it would embarrass me if you would read my letter right in front of me," Dr. Mitchell then said.

Chloe chuckled and nevertheless agreed. "Did you make this by yourself?"

Dr. Mitchell nodded in response. "I'm not one for television shows," he said, nodding towards the small flatscreen TV hanging on his wall. "And to be honest, I feel sensitive to some sounds and bright flashing lights from the screen sometimes. I don't know if it's the medicine or the cancer," he replied with a sigh. "But one of the night nurses, she knits by the info desk when it's not too busy and she talks about her knitting projects when she comes in to check on me. I told her I used to knit myself, and she started bringing her yarn and knitting with me at night, to keep me company."

"That's so sweet of her," Chloe commented. "Thank you," she added. "But I'm impressed. I wouldn't have guessed you knitted."

Dr. Mitchell laughed, a hint of melancholy in his tone. "My wife died young. And my daughter had a bad habit of tearing her clothes a lot even when she was still very little, I don't even know how she would manage it. I started to learn how to stitch and mend the tears myself, got curious and tried out knitting her simple things. I tried out a small sweater, and a pair of gloves. A beanie too. I never managed to give her a proper scarf, I was always worried she would somehow get tangled in it and hurt herself."

"I didn't know you had a daughter," Chloe admitted, giving Dr. Mitchell a soft smile. "Aubrey mentioned you had a child before, I was always curious if they ever tried visiting you or not. You kept insisting you didn't have any family left, and I wasn't sure if it's because of the case, if they had cut ties with you."

Dr. Mitchell shook his head. "I had to give her away because of my first cancer diagnosis. I had no other family who could take her in. Last I heard, she's been adopted by some other family already. She was very young when it happened. She's probably forgotten about me, or maybe she resents me?"

There was a crack in Dr. Mitchell's tone as he asked the question, and tears in her eyes. It was enough for Chloe to get rather glassy-eyed herself. She couldn't help but feel for him. She was already trying to figure out a way, if possible, for her to help Dr. Mitchell reach out to his daughter because of it.

Because it was too painful to think about, Dr. Mitchell dying without any resolutions with this matter, or even if he does survive his illness, going back to a world where you were nothing but a stranger to your own family?

Because losing her father still stung a little, and Chloe still regretted not making any amends with him before he had gone.

"Maybe she doesn't," Beca replied as she leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest, looking out the window. Chloe hadn't even realized she had gotten back. "Maybe she's fine and happy. You shouldn't think that she resents you. Stop feeling so guilty about it. You did what you had to do to be sure she had a good life, right?"

"Y-yes," Dr. Mitchell replied wiping his tears away.

Chloe was about to say something when Beca's phone rung. She watched as she looked rather amused to hear who was on the other line as she spoke.

"Who was it?" Chloe couldn't help but ask.

"I have to go, I'll have Lilly pick you up, I think it's best I go alone on this one," she replied.

"Wait, why? Who was it? Beca!" Chloe cried out as she watched Beca make haste to leave.

"I'll tell you all about it later!" Beca cried back, "I promise! I'll buy you dinner and tell you all about it, alright? It's just safer this way," she replied. In her eyes, Chloe could see that she was asking her to trust her about it.

And trust her she did.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (25/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

The Way of the Mafia (Chapter Preview - Read the rest at ao3)

The day for the seminar where Chicago was going to give a keynote address rolled in, with the days leading up to it going by relatively fast. Chloe and her friends have been hard at work in ensuring this was an afternoon to remember, and she was looking forward to how things would unfold.

She found a seat on the second level of the college auditorium where the seminar was going to be held, Aubrey right next to her. The two of them were mostly left alone on that seating level with only a scant few others scattered about in their level, and most of the audience sitting on the first level. Aubrey focused on her phone and coordinating with everyone else from the tower working with them on their "mission," leaving Chloe to her thoughts. She was a bit peeved that she didn't get the chance to see Beca earlier that day, as she claimed to be busy with a surprise, so she was looking forward to watching Chicago flail on stage when they enact their plan even more. She was, admittedly, also both curious and looking forward to the surprise Beca had promised her.

It was ridiculous. They see each other every day, but since she's moved back to her own place, she could feel the absence of Beca's presence grow intolerably more and more each day.

Chloe huffed when she saw Chicago walk in surrounded by her posse of the Kommissar, Pietro, and his bumbling brother, Theo. He was dressed in some chic business casual ensemble, a light gray coat looking suit paired with the same-colored pants, and a white shirt underneath matched with a pair of white sneakers. He was giving off a humble but wealthy aura, which was what he wanted his image to be in the first place.

Chloe sick to her stomach seeing him again in person now that the truth has become known to them. She's managed to avoid him for the last few weeks since he's been silent on his end from the moment Beca uncovered who he really was. She simply can't believe that she ever considered him a friend. Who would have thought he was someone so sinister underneath the charming and goofy persona he evoked.

It didn't help that his outfit looked so clean and pristine when she knows just how stained his hands were with the blood of the innocent people he had hurt. From RDU-90, to BLSD, and pretty much everything else Babel. It didn't sit well with her how easy he had washed his hands off of any responsibility for his actions and avoided – more like bought – his way through facing any semblance of justice as a consequence to his actions.

They were introducing Chicago when Beca arrived, dressed all suave in a blue suit and a black long-sleeved shirt underneath. She paired the suit with the pants, and shirt with her sneakers just like Chicago and Chloe couldn't help but think how they were such polar opposites of each other. Beca was a mafiosa who could rule the underworld if she wanted and Chicago a – wrongfully – celebrated CEO basking in the glory of living in the light, with a – false – reputation and image everyone would want to have. Yet here they were, the villain was fighting for the people, and the person one would think to be a white knight was the true evil master mind.

As Beca sat down, she offered Chloe some popcorn from a bucket she didn't realize Beca carried in one hand. Where she got the popcorn, Chloe wasn't so sure of. There weren't any outside.

"Is this your surprise?" Chloe asked and Beca quirked her eyebrow at her.

"This isn't even nowhere near it," Beca replied. "I'm hurt you think I'll disappoint you like this, Beale."

Aubrey cleared her throat before Chloe could even make any witty comebacks. "Am I invisible here or are you going to offer me some popcorn too?"

Beca chuckled and handed her the bucket. Aubrey grabbed a handful before passing it back to Chloe who did the same, all while Chicago started prattling on and on about leadership, innovation, and how Babel would like to save the world with its endeavors starting with their plans of developing new electric vehicles from renewable resources. He snapped his fingers at the projectionist in his own room a level above where Chloe, Beca, and Aubrey sat to start a recorded video promoting Babel Motors latest projects and showcasing their electric vehicles.

Beca smirked when the feed started rambling. Aubrey looked at a message on her phone and confirmed Chloe's suspicions on why.

It was showtime.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (24/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

The Guillotine File - Chapter Preview (Read the rest at ao3) Aubrey was doing her best not to laugh, and look as stern as ever, but Beca was making it very hard with her theatrics. She was currently oh so forlornly leaning towards one of the pillars in the middle of Cynthia Rose's restaurant while shamming the residents for doubting her intentions.

To be fair, they were right to doubt. But Beca was the rightful owner of the gold, so can she really blame her?

"I can't believe, that I did something out of the kindness of my heart for all of you, to show my gratitude, and you think… that-that I am some dastardly villain who would lie to you," Beca said, looking incredibly dejected.

"We're so sorry, Beca," Flo then said.

"We didn't mean to," Jessica and Ashley chorused.

"Yeah, lil consigliere," Amy then chimed in.

"It's not that we thought bad of you, but you know, gold can get to a person's greed," Cynthia Rose followed.

"I don't think, I can be here right now," Beca then said, with a sniffle, before dramatically stomping off to leave. Luke excused himself, shaking his head, explaining he was going home.

"Now look at what you've done," Chloe then chastised them before following Beca.

"Shame on all of you for thinking Beca would betray you all," Emily then said, before stomping off to.

Aubrey simply shook her head and sighed. "So much for a fun weekend with all of you," was all she said before shortly following her friends back to the office.

They have so many questions for Beca after all.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (23/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

In the Shadows of Obscurity - Chapter Preview (Read the rest at ao3)

It's been a busy past few days for everyone in the tower. Flo's head was spinning with all the new information.

One was who their real enemy was. Charles Walters, Jr. or rather, the person who they believed to be Chicago Walp. Someone who had walked the halls of the tower a few times over the last couple of months, either with Chloe, as her intern, on official business back when they were both still with DSM, and by himself, as Chloe's friend, when he was visiting Chloe after she had gone.

He had always been so cordial and nice. Discovering who he really was felt like a betrayal for everyone in the tower, maybe except Beca and Aubrey. Lilly didn't seem to care either way.

Two was the discovery about Beca being a… what was the term again?... mafia lawyer – Flo decided to stick with that term – something they found out when she got back with Aubrey and Chloe who managed to sort things out. How? They wouldn't say, but Beca made no attempt to deny it was the truth. Who knew mafia lawyers could be so cunning and dashing? So kindhearted too? The rest of the tenants had started spewing out their own ideas about what she could be doing in the tower, the most popular opinion was that she was hiding from someone, but Amy seems insistent that she had personal reasons to be there.

Third was, of course, the rumored hold in the tower. No one had forgotten about that. Since the truth about Beca had come out, the tenants thought it would be best if they told her so that Beca, with all her underworld connection, can help them. They even offered her a share of the hidden treasure. Beca scoffed at the idea but Lilly managed to convince her. She promised she would look into it and came back three days later saying that it seemed to be nothing but a myth. She said she tracked down Norman and he doesn't seem to recall the story he told the tenants, so perhaps, it was just nothing but a made-up tale he gave them in exchange for some food.

Four was the current plan to out Chicago. Beca had gathered all the tenants in Denise's dance studio and, together with Chloe and Aubrey, brought everyone up to speed with their fight against Babel. They had offered to help, after all, because they all wanted to fight hard for their home and show they shouldn't be trifled with, no matter how rich and powerful their opponent was.

The major focus of the meeting was how they could get Chicago to come out and admit who he was. It was the only way to bring him to justice, after all. Charles Walters, Jr. was behind everything, and so Charles Walters, Jr. had to be found guilty by the court of law and imprisoned for his crimes. He might use Theo as a patsy if he isn't brought to light.

How will they do it?

Beca seemed to already have a plan set in motion. It started as soon as she found out who he was, when Beca broke into his home and attacked him, promising she would eventually get him.

It seemed to do the trick in scaring Chicago, as Beca's intel indicated that he was currently staying in one of their vacation houses out of state. He was currently hiding away in coastal North Carolina, Wilmington to be exact.

"So, what does that mean? What's the plan exactly? Do we attack him there? Give him a scare? I can google up ways of effectively torturing someone…" Denise then said.

"Um, no, no we're not gonna do something that extreme," Beca then said, dialing down the situation. Aubrey shot Denise a disapproving look but Chloe seemed to consider it.

"If we need extra help, my Uncle Mauricio…." Flo then volunteered before Beca stopped her with a raise of a hand. She shook her head.

"I just need a few of you," Beca then said. "Lilly's coming with, but how about you Cynthia Rose? Ashley? Jessica? And Benji? I need a hand with somethings. We'll be going on a road trip."

"Count us in!" Jessica and Ashley chorused.

"Sure thing," Beca replied.

"How about me?" Jesse then asked, eagerly volunteering his services.

"Someone needs to run the restaurant while I'm gone," Cynthia Rose then responded.

"And we need capable hands to stay here while we're gone, just in case they plan another attack," Chloe added.

"It's also the reason why we decided that Bumper, Donald, and Uni stay behind," Aubrey pointed out, nodding towards the three new additions to their group staying at the back of the room.

"You can count on us!" the three reformed Trebles then chorused.

"Alright, sounds good and all, but what exactly do you have in mind, Beca?" Stacie asked, a fair question Flo thought. It doesn't seem like Chicago would give up his advantage quite easily.

Beca smirked. "People like him, they have dreams of grandeur and excellence. He doesn't really care about anything else, other than getting what he wants, even when he stays in the shadows. Even when people never find out that the success he wants Babel to have, it was all because of him. But that comes with a price… We'll make Chicago come out of the shadows and step into the light, by using the one thing a man like him fears."

"And what would that be?" Flo found herself asking out loud.

Beca gave a knowing smile.

"Fading into obscurity," Beca then replied. "His ego would never be able to accept that."

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (22/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

Secrets - Chapter Preview (Read the rest on ao3)

It's been three days since the incident. The incident being another attack at the building and the last broadcast that the rest of the tenants were apparently no longer a part of. Aubrey assured them that everything was being handled and that there was no need for anymore broadcasts. Cynthia Rose was curious as to why, but Beca said that she had the info that she needed and that she will handle things from there, and Cynthia Rose dared not argue back.

They were all still all kinds of bruised up and sore, but other than that, everyone seemed to be in high spirits. Either Aubrey or Chloe would update the tenants daily, even when there was little progress, just to loop them in. They were all in this together now after all.

That noontime was the first time they ended up all gathered up at Cynthia Rose's restaurant since the incident, further giving Cynthia Rose the feeling that they truly were one unit now. A strong team raising hell against Babel and fighting for justice. Even Beca was there, having been dragged along by Chloe. This of course gave Cynthia Rose all the motivation she needed to make a wonderful meal for everyone. She wouldn't dare disappoint Beca, not after she started sending her to culinary school.

They all pushed the tables together, eating together as one family – dare Cynthia Rose call it that? – for lunch, but no one touched their food until Beca was served hers and had a chance to taste it. When she gave Cynthia Rose a thumbs up, everyone released their breathes, relaxed and started eating too.

Most of the conversations during meal time were focused a little less on the business with Babel and more on the happenings on their personal life. Chloe had gone back to her father's home, Aubrey was busy tidying up legal matters on their recent assault while juggling things for Dr. Mitchell's case. The rest of the tenants had rallied behind him since the incident with Calamity and her parent's financial firm getting tied up with Babel. Chloe and Beca had been the one checking in on him recently, making sure he was okay. From the sound of it, he had some kind of complication. Surgery was nearly used to mitigate the situation. Cynthia Rose did her best to follow the jargons. Despite not understanding most of it, she did know that Dr. Mitchell is okay, and the treatment they administered had worked without the need for surgery.

After lunch, Cynthia Rose served everyone some tea and coffee and a plate of biscuits. Flo commented how this was the first time they had a proper get-together with no meetings and no schemes being plotted. Jessica noted that it was nice. Ashley suggested that, if they weren't all too busy, they should do this more often. Denise thought they could throw in a little bit of fun and have a game.

"What do you have in mind?" Benji asked.

"Oh, how about a game of mafia?" Bumper suggested.

And for whatever reason, Beca started choking on her coffee. Chloe laughed and Aubrey gave out a chuckle.

"No one's actually a member of the mafia in the game, Beca," Aubrey then said trying her best to keep a straight faced. Cynthia Rose would be lying if she said this wasn't the first time she had seen the attorney look so amused.

"It's technically like this," Emily then piped up as she tried to hurriedly explain the rules. "We write down different roles on a piece of paper and draw lots. Someone gets to be the narrator, or the game master, whatever you want to call it. They tell us if it's night time. If it is, we all close our eyes. Then they would ask for the mafia members, at least one or two, to open their eyes and pick a target by pointing at them. That target dies when morning comes. The narrator then gets the mafia to close their eyes and asks the doctor to open theirs, pick someone to save, and then close their eyes again. Lastly, the detective is asked to open their eyes, they point to someone they suspect and the narrator will confirm if they're part of the mafia or not. There's also a judge but they don't do much at night. Everyone else get to just be citizens. When morning comes and we get to know who is killed, we all get to discuss who we think is a mafia member and vote someone out. The narrator will confirm if we got it right or not and then a new round starts. If the doctor saves the right person, then they don't die. The detective, meanwhile, can't reveal their role but if they find out who the mafia are, they can direct the conversations and push on voting someone out. If the judge is killed, the mafia automatically win."

"I think I get the gist of it," Beca replied. "But maybe I shouldn't be the narrator, I don't want to mess It up."

"Then I'll take on that role for the games today, how about it?" Cynthia Rose volunteered. "And next time, we can draw lots for it."

"Great idea, CR," Aubrey agreed and so did the rest of the tenants.

And so, the games begun and the tenants drew lots.

They drummed on the table as the narrator talked about how it was night time and it was time for them. The two members of the mafia ended up being Beca and Lilly. They were pretty much in sync in selecting their victim, with their first being Bumper.

The doctor ended up being Bumper, who tried to save Amy. That was a good kill for the pair, Cynthia Rose thought, as the doctor can't save anyone. But the citizens still have a shot. She sat next to Aubrey saw she drew the judge role. She was partly worried they'd win in one go if Beca picked Aubrey – and she did consider it. She smirked before she finalized her decision on Bumper and Lilly quickly agreed. Cynthia Rose couldn't help but wonder if that smirk meant she had a feeling that the judge was Aubrey. Beca sat opposite her across the table, and Lilly was far down the left so neither could have known. Either way, Beca's instinct sure was spot on.

The next was the detective, who happened to be Jesse. He picked Bumper as his first suspect to which Cynthia Rose shook her head to clear him off suspicion.

Doesn't matter, he's dead anyways.

Cynthia Rose had everyone open their eyes and was getting ready to reveal who was out of the game, having been killed by the "mafia" when all of a sudden a group of four men walked into the restaurant wearing suits. They showed everyone their badges – FBI – and revealed a document. A warrant for the arrest of Beca Bella.

Things happened too fast for Cynthia Rose to follow after that. They read Beca her rights. They were arresting her for some trumped up charge, she figured. Babel had to behind this.

Why on earth would someone arrest anyone for being… What did they say again? Con-woman? No, that didn't sound right… it was more like corn salad?

What the heck does that even mean?

Beca looked unfazed, and was cooperative. Emily looked panicked. Jesse started rambling excuses about needing to go to the bathroom for an emergency really quickly. It would seem lunch didn't sit so well with Jesse. Or perhaps he gets anxious around law enforcement personnel? Aubrey and Chloe quickly scrambled on their feet. Lilly looked like she was about to murder someone and Emily was quick to reassure her. It would seem that Lilly was very passionate to prove Beca's innocence. In truth, all of them were.

But for now, what could they do, but hope that their trusted pair of attorney's would set things straight and set Beca free.

She was, after all, one of them now.

[thehypotensivegrad]

The Adviser (21/45) | Bechloe Mafia AU

The Consigliere - Chapter Preview (Read the rest on ao3) The two of them took their turns getting into something more comfortable, freshening up and having a shower before each pulling up a chair by the small dining table. Beca was sipping on her third glass of wine and Chloe was on her fourth bottle of light beer, chatting away about Dr. Mitchell's condition and the fight the tenants won, reading over Aubrey's updates on everything, as well as Lilly's and Emily's. At the back of Chloe's mind though, a battle waged.

She didn't want to leave the comforts of Beca's home. But she supposed she had to.

Because if she gets even more comfortable… if she lets those feelings grow even more… let them take root in her heart…

One day, she knew, she would have to let Beca go. Set her free. She was here for a reason after all.

But the other side of her already knew it was too late and fought hard, wanting to stay in her company. Enjoy it while it lasts.

"Are you really okay?" Beca asked, concern written all over her face.

Chloe sighed. "Yeah, it's just… Chicago let slip that DSM and Babel might be suspecting you're connected to the mafia," she said. She didn't want to admit the truth of what she was thinking, not to Beca.

Beca shrugged. "It was only a matter of time."

Chloe chuckled in response. Beca was too cool and too calm after hearing that her enemies may have found her out "You're not even worried, are you?"

"If they're smart, they should be the ones to worry," Beca replied with a smirk.

And what can Chloe do but be amused and gaze fondly at her consigliere.

It's been like a dream living with Beca. Full of adventure with all their underhanded tactics and shenanigans. They had a goal to achieve, and with Beca by their side, Chloe wasn't even the least bit worried. She made her feel safe, and brave. Not just her, but the tenants too.

It wasn't hard. In fact, it was the easiest thing to do. The most natural even.

Beca Bella was very attractive to begin with, add smart and confident and brave and capable, and she's practically irresistible.

But more than that, underneath the cool and tough demeanor, Chloe could see, she had a soft and kind heart. She hated to see the injustice being done to the innocent.

Everything really was like a dream. But if Chloe kept indulging the dream, she might never want to wake up.

So how could she ever let go then?

"I've made up my mind," Chloe then said. "Listen, Beca, the work done at my place is done."

"I know."

"You know?"

"I hired them, remember?" Beca said with a chuckle. "They also let me know you can move back."

"And you're not sending me packing out of here because?"

"I promised you could stay for as long as you need to," Beca replied matter-of-factly before looking away. "You-you don't have to leave yet, you know? If you don't want to."

"But I really should," Chloe replied thoughtfully. "But I'll stay for one more night, only if you can grant me a wish."

Beca looked at Chloe with a quirked brow. "What wish?"

"Stand up," Chloe replied, standing up herself and offering both her hands to Beca to help her get out of her seat. Beca obliged, still looking at Chloe curiously.

"Close your eyes," Chloe then said, taking a step closer to Beca.

Beca visibly gulped as Chloe kept inching closer. She looked all too adorable in that moment that she couldn't help but chuckle. "W-what?"

"Just do as I say," Chloe then said, placing both her hands on Beca's shoulder to keep her still. "I just want to test something."

Beca gave her a suspicious look. With a deep breath, she obliged.

Chloe's eyes landed on Beca's lips for a moment but fought hard against the temptation to steal from Beca Bella. That would be too dangerous of a thing to do for both of them.

In this game against Babel, there could never be room for romance, even if true feelings bloom from their circumstance. That would only ever be to their detriment.

That would only make it that much harder to let go.

So, Chloe settled for something else. She pulled Beca incredibly close and hugged her tightly. Beca jumped at the surprised contact, but nevertheless settled into Chloe's arms, instinctively placing her arms around Chloe's waist as well.

"What exactly are you testing?" Beca answered.

The extent of my feelings for you, you dummy, Chloe thought to herself.

"That's on a need-to-know basis, and you don't need to know," was the actual response she gave to Beca.

"For how long are we going to be like this?" Beca asked. "Not that I'm complaining, just curious."

"For as long as I want," Chloe replied. "Don't ever scare me like earlier, Beca, promise?"

"Okay, I promise," Beca replied.

And the two of them stood there in silence, simply holding on to each other for as long as they could that night.

Neither ever wanting to let go and end it.