Chapter 5

FLORA

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding against my chest. For a moment, I couldn't remember why I felt so anxious. Then it all came crashing back—the execution I witnessed, the deal I made with Dante Romano, and my new job which was starting today.

It was still dark outside. The clock on my nightstand read 4:30 AM. Sleep had been impossible at first as my mind had been racing with thoughts of what I had gotten myself into. Working for the most feared man in the city wasn't exactly on my career vision board.

At least I had won the small victory of staying in my own apartment. The way that negotiation with Dante turned out had surprised even me.

"You're moving into my mansion," he had stated the day before. His tone made it clear he expected no arguments.

"No," I replied, crossing my arms. I don't know where I found the courage. Maybe it was the desperation of having no other option than working for him.

His eyebrows shot up. Nobody said no to Dante Romano.

"Excuse me?" he said.

"I appreciate the job offer, but I'll be staying at my apartment. It's the only thing I have left that's mine." I stood my ground, even as his dark eyes bore into me. "Besides, how would it look if your new secretary moved in with you on day one? People talk."

A muscle in his jaw twitched. I feared he might explode, but then something unexpected happened. The corner of his mouth tugged up slightly.

"Fine. Keep your apartment for now. But my driver will take you to and from work. It’s non-negotiable."

And just like that, I’d won a small battle which had proved tough at first.

***

By 7:30 AM, I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down my only decent pencil skirt. The woman staring back at me looked tired but determined. I applied another coat of concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes.

When the sleek black car pulled up outside my building at exactly 8:00 AM, I was ready. Rex nodded at me before he opened the door.

"Morning, Ms. Flora."

I slid into the backseat while clutching my large purse tightly. "Good morning," I returned.

The entire ride was silent. We pulled up to the gleaming high-rise in the financial district, with the name "Romano Incorporation" displayed in large silver letters above the top five floors.

My stomach heaved as I rode the elevator to the top floor. The doors opened to reveal a space that screamed money and power. It was all glass, chrome, and expensive artwork. These were details I hadn’t been able to take in the other night.

A woman sat at the reception desk with her already graying hair pulled back in a tight bun. When she looked up at me over the rim of her glasses, her expression hardened.

"You must be Flora," she said. Her voice was as cold as her eyes.

"Yes, I'm—"

"I know who you are." She cut me off, standing up briskly. "I'm Vivian. I've been Mr. Romano's executive assistant for 10 years."

I offered my hand, but she ignored it.

"So you're the new girl," she continued, looking me up and down. "Don't expect special treatment just because he picked you personally. Mr. Romano goes through secretaries like tissues. PAs, he likes to call them."

Before I could respond, a door opened behind her. Dante stepped out, wearing a suit that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. His eyes found mine immediately.

"Flora, you're here." He gestured for me to follow him. "Vivian, hold my calls unless it's Salvatore or my cousin."

Vivian's lips pressed into a thin line as I followed Dante into his office.

"Your desk is there," he said, pointing to a workstation positioned directly outside his private office door. "I want you where I can see you."

"I thought I would be working with Vivian," I said in surprise.

"Vivian handles the business. You handle me." His eyes lingered on my face a beat too long. "My schedule, my calls, my meetings. Nothing gets to me without going through you first."

He handed me a stack of files. "Start by organizing these. I need my schedule for the next two weeks sorted today."

I nodded, taking the files. "Anything else?" I asked.

"Yes." He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Whatever you heard that night stays in this building. Understood?" He fixed his cold, dark eyes on me as his gaze pierced me deeply.

I swallowed hard. "Yes."

"Good girl." He returned to his office, leaving the door ajar.

***

By noon, I had barely made a dent in organizing Dante's chaotic schedule. The phone rang constantly, and each caller seemed more important and impatient than the last.

"Mr. Romano's office," I answered for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Tell him Salvatore is here," a gruff voice replied.

Before I could respond, a man pushed past me into Dante's office. He was tall and broad-shouldered with a scar running down his right cheek. He radiated danger.

I jumped up immediately. "Sir, you can't just—"

"It's fine, Flora," Dante called from inside. "Close the door."

I did as I was told, but not before catching Salvatore's words.

"We need to talk about cleaning up those loose ends from that night."

My blood ran cold. I knew exactly what "that night" meant. It was the execution I had witnessed in this same office building. Dante had mentioned it just this morning

As I returned to my desk, trying to focus on my work, my ears were still straining to hear their conversation. The door wasn't soundproof, and their voices carried over to my desk.

"The cops are asking questions," Salvatore said. "Lorenzo's friends are making noise."

"Let them do whatever they want to do," Dante replied calmly. "They will find nothing."

"And what about the girl? We should take care of her."

My heart stopped. I knew without any shadow of doubt that they were talking about me.

Dante's response came quickly, and his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "She belongs to me now. Touch her, and you'll wish for a quick death."

A shiver ran through my spine instantly. His words sounded both terrifying and strangely reassuring. At least he didn't want me dead.

Their conversation shifted to business matters I didn't understand. They talked about shipments, territories, and people with Italian surnames. I pretended to be engrossed in my computer screen when they finally emerged.

Salvatore paused at my desk, eyeing me before he drawled, "So this is your new toy."

"She's my PA," Dante corrected, his hand landing possessively on my shoulder. "And she's off-limits."

Salvatore smirked. "Whatever you say, boss." He turned to leave, but not before giving me one last look that made my skin crawl.

***

By 6:30 PM, my head was spinning from information overload. Dante had barely left his office all day, only emerging for a brief lunch meeting. I had organized his calendar, answered countless calls, and filed more paperwork than I had seen in my entire life.

I was gathering my things when Dante appeared.

"Ready to go?" he asked, pulling on an expensive-looking coat. But then, everything about Dante Romano was expensive.

"You're leaving too?" I was surprised. I hadn't expected him to work normal hours.

"I have dinner plans." He checked his watch. "Rex is waiting downstairs. He'll take you home first."

"I can take a cab—" I started, but he cut me off immediately.

"Not an option." His tone left no room for argument. "Rex drives you. Always."

In the elevator, we stood in uncomfortable silence. I could feel his eyes on me.

"You did well today," he finally said.

"Thank you." I was surprised by the compliment. "I'm still learning the ropes."

"You'll catch on quickly. You're smart." He studied me with those dark, unreadable eyes for a moment. "That's why you're still alive."

The elevator doors opened before I could respond to that disturbing statement.

Rex held the car door open for us. Dante helped me in first, his hand lingering on the small of my back.

"Take Ms. Flora home," he instructed Rex after sliding in beside me. "Then come back for me."

The drive to my apartment was tense. I could feel Dante watching me while his presence filled the spacious backseat.

"Thank you for the ride," I said as Rex pulled up to my building.

"Remember our agreement," Dante replied. "Rex picks you up at 8 AM sharp."

I nodded, while still reaching for the door handle at the same time.

"One more thing," he added, his voice softening slightly. "If anyone bothers you—anyone at all—you call me. Day or night."

He handed me a business card with his personal number scrawled on the back.

"Thank you," I said, slipping it into my pocket.

As Rex drove away with Dante still in the backseat, I noticed a black sedan parked across the street. The driver watched me intently before pulling out to follow Dante's car.

I hurried inside my building, locking my apartment door behind me immediately I got in. The question echoed in my mind as I climbed the stairs to my apartment: Did Dante not trust me enough to leave me alone, or was he actually trying to protect me?

Either way, I was trapped in a world I didn't understand, working for a man who both terrified and fascinated me. And something was telling me that this was just the beginning.