I was born blessed by the god of fortune. No matter where I work, I can close major deals while lying down asleep.

The underboss of the Castellano mafia family discovers this secret. He shows up at my door personally and invites me to join as a consigliere in name only.

He offers me a six-figure annual salary and chauffeur service. He even installs a special ten-foot-wide massage bed in my office just for sleeping.

After I join the Castellano family, arms deals finalize one after another. Several stalled collaborations come back to life.

The Castellano family's reputation climbs steadily. Until the boss' girlfriend shows up to inspect for the first time.

She grabs a pair of scissors and, in front of everyone, shreds my mattress to pieces.

"Useless! We don't pay you all this money to sleep!

"Starting tomorrow, you're working as a bar hostess. And you'll be paid like one too."

I rub my sleepy eyes and stare at her in confusion.

Last night, to help the Castellano family finalize that casino operation rights contract, I didn't sleep a wink.

I barely fall asleep, so how am I useless?

The soldato beside her breaks into a sweat. "Signora, she's…"

"Shut up!" she cuts him off arrogantly. "From now on, I'm the one in charge of the Castellano family!"

Fine. Since there's no place for me here, I'll find somewhere else to sleep.

I hear the rival family's boss is willing to give me an entire luxury estate.

After tossing out the shredded massage bed, I immediately dialed the rival family's boss.

Six months ago, Lorenzo Romano had extended an offer to me—a million-dollar annual salary, plus a private estate with its own gated entrance, bodyguards, and a coastline.

At the time, I turned it down out of gratitude to the Castellano underboss, Nico Castellano, who'd given me my start. Now, that debt was paid in full and then some.

Nico had long since lost his real power. Some girlfriend who'd parachuted in as the boss' woman could rewrite family rules on a whim.

This place was no longer the Castellano family that had recruited me with restraint, order, and principles.

The phone connected instantly.

"Benedetta Gallo, I'm delighted to hear you're willing to join the Romano family. I'll come pick you up personally next week.

"On top of what I promised before, I'm adding 20% of the family's total income as your long-term dividend."

I curled my lips into a smile.

In the underworld, my luck had become legend. Before I joined the Castellano family, they were nothing but a third-rate operation living off protection money.

The moment I arrived, arms smuggling channels opened like a floodgate. They swallowed up neighboring territories one by one. Overseas expansion shifted from fantasy to reality.

But whenever I took time off, their cargo ships got seized by customs. Their casinos inevitably faced surprise tax inspections. Not once did it fail to happen.

Nico even brought in a medium over it, and the conclusion was blunt. I was born blessed by the god of fortune, a walking money printer.

Whoever had me would get rich.

He'd bent over backward to keep me, practically wanting to assign a whole squad to guard me 24/7, terrified I'd get so much as a scratch. Too bad he forgot about the girlfriend factor.

The boss' new girlfriend, Valentina Accardi, showed up under the guise of "inspecting operations". Wielding her future status as the Donna, she dismantled Nico's authority in three days flat. She even took scissors and slashed up the bed in my office.

I grabbed my resignation papers and knocked on Valentina's office door. There was no response.

Through the crack in the door, I watched her pour herself a glass of wine while giggling into her phone screen with her socialite friends. Clearly, she was making me wait on purpose.

Time crawled by. My legs went numb from standing. Finally, a lazy voice drifted out. "Come in."

I placed the resignation papers on her desk. She didn't even glance at them and just gave me a look dripping with undisguised contempt.

"So you're Benedetta Gallo? This is an office, not a strip club. Dressed like a cheap whore… Who exactly are you trying to seduce?

"No wonder you close the most deals. Turns out you're selling your body for them. Listen, the Castellano family has honor. We don't make dirty money like that.

"Take it off right now, or I'll cut that dress to shreds too."

In all my years in the underworld, this was the first time anyone dared insult me so openly. I looked at her, my voice going cold.

"Signorina Accardi, this is the latest haute couture the family sent me. I wear it so the Castellano family won't be looked down on at the negotiating table.

"I closed several major deals recently wearing this exact dress. It's probably worth more than you are."

My words clearly infuriated her.

Valentina shot to her feet, grabbed the half-glass of wine left on the desk, and hurled it straight at my face.

I dodged. The wine splashed all over the carpet instead.

"You bitch, how dare you dodge!"

Valentina's voice shot up several octaves. That delicate face twisted with rage.

"Don't think that pretty face will get men to protect you forever. Marco and I are getting engaged soon. I'm the future Donna of the Castellano family!

"Now get on your knees and apologize to me. Otherwise, one word from me, and you'll disappear from the Castellano family. I'd love to see what you can accomplish without the family backing you!"

She screeched like a lunatic, jabbing her finger at my chest over and over, practically trying to pierce through my skin.

Right then, Nico burst through the door drenched in sweat. He glanced at the wine-soaked carpet, shot me a sympathetic look, and then steeled himself to report to Valentina.

"Signorina Accardi, the boss of the Silver Triangle's Lombardi family just called. For that arms deal, he'll only negotiate with Benedetta."

Nico lowered his voice and leaned closer to Valentina's ear to explain, "Her situation is special. Ever since she joined the family, every deal has gone smoothly, and profits have more than doubled. Everyone calls her the 'Fortune Consigliere.'

"I know you don't like her, but for the family's interests…"

"Enough!" Valentina cut him off harshly as she rolled her eyes. "Are you an idiot? What Fortune Consigliere? I see nothing but a slut in heat. You think the Castellano family can't function without her? What a joke!"

She shot me a look full of malice. "Even this old fool is speaking up for you. What, did you sleep with him too? Will you spread your legs for anyone who throws you a bone?"

That line finally ignited the last of my patience. I looked straight at her, my voice dropping to ice. "I don't need to trade my body for anything. Just because you're dirty doesn't mean everyone else is.

"How did the boss of the Castellano family end up with a woman like you? You throw around 'whore' and 'slut' every other sentence. Are you that scared I'll steal your man?

"Then again, I'm not surprised. I heard all those deals you tried to close fell through. They wouldn't even let you through the front door. Does someone like you really deserve to be the family's Donna?"

I didn't hold back. I was leaving anyway. Why should I put up with her?

Hearing this, Valentina trembled with rage and glared at me through gritted teeth.

"So that's it! No wonder Marco keeps praising you lately. You shameless woman, you really are trying to seduce him!"

Mystery solved. She'd pegged me as the mistress and came here specifically to teach me a lesson.

Valentina stared at me like she wanted to flay me alive with her eyes. Then, she whirled around and screamed at Nico, "Did you hear that? This is your brilliant consigliere! Starting today, transfer all of Benedetta's deals to someone else! Send her to the club to work as a stripper!"

Nico looked horrified, like he'd just watched someone torch the vault. Sending their cash cow to strip was suicide.

He was practically begging, "Signorina Accardi, those important clients only recognize Benedetta. If we replace her, they'll be furious…"

Valentina waved him off impatiently. "Who turns down money in business? You think they'll dare complain if we replace her? Do what I said now!"

Then, she looked smugly at the envelope on the desk, a smile curling at her lips. "What's this? Your apology letter to me?

"I don't read printed garbage. Take it back and rewrite it by hand, and make it 30,000 words. You're not going home until you finish."

I let out a cold laugh and slapped the papers in front of her.

"Hate to disappoint you, but this is my resignation letter. I'm leaving the family."

After hearing my words, Nico nearly fainted from shock.

His face went pale. He grabbed my sleeve and practically begged in a low voice, "Benedetta, you're a core member of the family. The annual dividend from the Cirrane smuggling route hasn't been paid out yet.

"If you leave now, you're just handing that money to someone else! Please don't be impulsive!"

Valentina let out a scornful laugh. "Oh, please, stop the act! Core member? Who do you think you are?

"What other mafia family would pay you a six-figure salary? You've been spoiled rotten. That's why you have the nerve to threaten me with resignation."

She made it sound like a six-figure salary was some incredible gift. Too bad she had no idea that six-figure deals were just my starting rate in the underworld.

If it weren't for the fact that Nico had saved my life once, I'd already be sunbathing at the Cilian Island estate Lorenzo offered me. But explaining this to her was a complete waste of breath.

Once I left, the Castellano family would inevitably decline anyway. She'd understand exactly how valuable I was soon enough.

I said calmly, "I'll finish transferring all the partner contacts this week. Next week, I'm officially out."

Valentina looked at me mockingly. "Perfect. I'd love to see which family would take in trash like you, someone who only knows how to climb up by selling her body."

Nico was sweating bullets. Without the Fortune Consigliere, how long could the Castellano family's business even last? He was already calculating his exit strategy.

I didn't say another word. I turned and walked out. The moment I reached the hallway, several family members swarmed around me.

"Benedetta, are you okay? That woman's voice carried through the entire floor."

I shook my head and gave them a small smile.

"I'm fine. If she wants to throw a tantrum, let her. I'm leaving the family next week."

The announcement caused an uproar.

"You're leaving? What are we supposed to do?"

"Is she insane? She's actually driving out the Fortune Consigliere?"

"Maybe we should leave with Benedetta. The Castellano family is done for."

The chatter reached Valentina's ears. Her face flushed with rage as she stormed out and roared, "Don't you all have work to do? Who gave you permission to stand around gossiping?

"Everyone's getting fined 2,000 dollars. If I hear anyone else running their mouth, you're out!"

Her venomous gaze landed on me as she hissed, "Benedetta, go negotiate the contract with the boss of the Silver Triangle's Lombardi family right now. If you don't close the deal, you're not getting a single cent this month."

Seeing how frantic she looked, I could guess the reason. The Lombardi boss had probably refused the replacement and insisted I be the one to negotiate.

I'd just bought a limited edition sports car a few days ago. I really didn't have much money left on hand. With that in mind, I grabbed my bag and headed to the agreed location.

The moment Antonio Lombardi saw me in the private room, he rushed over with a beaming smile. "Signorina Gallo, you're finally here! The day after we met last time, my men took down two armed strongholds.

"It's just a shame you're always so busy. It's hard to even get a meeting with you."

As he spoke, he pulled an elegant box from his jacket and pressed it into my hands. Inside was a sapphire necklace crafted with Arupean royal techniques, priceless and impossible to find on the market.

This wasn't just a "gift" anymore. I instinctively tried to refuse. But he immediately put on a stern face, pretending to be angry.

"Signorina Gallo, are you disrespecting me? Refusing my gift can be very dangerous."

He'd already gone that far. Refusing now would be asking for trouble. I had no choice but to accept the necklace and walk him through signing the hundred-million-dollar arms contract.

When I returned to family headquarters, I went to the finance department to get reimbursed for the day's entertainment expenses.

The finance officer, Maximo Rizzo, was about to approve my signature when Valentina suddenly barged in. She snatched the receipt and frowned.

"50,000 dollars for one meal? Are you working with the restaurant owner to inflate the bill on purpose?"

Was she an idiot? I couldn't take the client to a three-star restaurant for a hundred-million-dollar arms deal? Should I have brought him to a food truck instead?

Maximo explained carefully, "Signorina Accardi, this is the rule the boss himself set. Any deal over five million dollars has no cap on entertainment expenses. Benedetta followed protocol."

Being contradicted made Valentina's face turn ashen with rage. "Who gave you the guts to talk back to me? I bet Benedetta slept with you too!"

Maximo's eyes went wide with shock. "Signorina Accardi, how can you question my loyalty to the family like that?"

"Loyalty? You think you deserve to talk about that?" Valentina's face dripped with contempt.

She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't bother coming in tomorrow. Pack your things right now and get out of the Castellano family!"