Library
Maghanap
Home / Romance / Onenight with the Mafia / 51

Share

51

Author: Rachel
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-11-06 01:50:19

Maxine packed her portfolio and headed straight to Frank’s office, her pulse steady but expectant. The afternoon sun poured through the glass panels of the firm’s main hallway, casting golden reflections over the polished floor. She had spent the last few days finishing her sketches — fine, detailed renderings for her project — and today was the day to present them. Frank was known for being a perfectionist; he rarely offered praise easily. But lately, his demeanor toward her had softened. Maybe he was starting to see her potential beyond her internship.

When she stepped inside, Frank was at his desk, his reading glasses perched low on his nose as he scrolled through emails. He looked up when she entered.

“Ah, Maxine. Right on time,” he said, gesturing for her to come in.

She greeted him politely and placed her sketches on the desk. Frank adjusted his glasses again, examining each drawing carefully. Maxine stood silently, trying to read his expression, her fingers fidgeting with the e
Patuloy na basahin ang aklat na ito nang libre
I-scan ang code upang i-download ang App
Locked Chapter
Nakaraang Kabanata Susunod na kabanata

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • Onenight with the Mafia   58

    Frank’s office smelled faintly of cedarwood and coffee that morning, and his rare smile told Maxine something good was coming. She stood before his large oak desk as he flipped through a folder, finally closing it with a satisfied nod. “Thomas’s mansion is finally complete,” he announced, his tone carrying the satisfaction of a man who’d seen months of hard work pay off. “You did well, Maxine. The design turned out even better than I imagined.”Maxine smiled, relieved and grateful. The mansion project had been one of the most demanding assignments of her career so far. She’d poured her creativity and sleepless nights into the details—every corner, every structure. It was her work, her pride, even though her connection to Thomas made it emotionally complicated.Frank opened his drawer and handed her an envelope. “A bonus for all the hard work,” he said, smiling faintly. “It’s enough to take a vacation or buy something nice for yourself. Maybe even set up your own studio if you’ve been

  • Onenight with the Mafia   57

    Now that Maxine was only working for Frank, her life had taken on a quieter, more balanced rhythm. For the first time in years, she wasn’t buried under endless assignments or late-night deadlines. She still went to the office, still gave her best, but there was no longer the heavy weight of juggling studies, work, and motherhood all at once. Her days flowed more smoothly—structured, but softer at the edges. The air around her felt lighter, calmer. She could finally breathe without guilt.With the extra time she now had, she spent more of it with Noah. Those simple, precious hours with her son had become her favorite part of each day. They went on small outings—to the park, the nearby lake, or the tiny bookstore that Noah loved because of its reading corner filled with beanbags. Sometimes, they just stayed home, building forts out of pillows, baking messy cookies that never looked right but always tasted delicious, or watching his favorite cartoons curled up together on the couch.For M

  • Onenight with the Mafia   56

    Maxine walked out of the university gates with a smile that refused to fade. The sun was warm on her skin, the kind of golden afternoon that made everything feel possible. The air smelled faintly of chalk, books, and freedom—freedom she had longed for through all those late nights and endless revisions. Her hands still trembled slightly from the rush of turning in her final-year thesis—a thick, carefully bound piece of her soul that she had worked on for months. The weight of it had felt crushing while she carried it across campus, but now that it was gone, she felt light, unburdened.Her professor had been genuinely impressed. “Brilliant work, Maxine,” he had said, leafing through the pages with a thoughtful nod. “You’ve shown a deep understanding of the subject. I’ll be expecting to see your name in journals someday.” His words had made her heart swell. For someone like her, who had always fought for every bit of recognition, that kind of praise felt like sunlight breaking through h

  • Onenight with the Mafia   55

    After a couple of rings, the call connected, and a low, familiar voice spoke her name. “Max?”The sound of it made her chest tighten. He said her name like it had lived on the edge of his mind, like he’d been waiting for her to call all this time. Maxine froze, unable to find her words at first. She had imagined this conversation a hundred different ways, but now that it was actually happening, her throat felt dry.“I just… called to know what you were doing,” she finally said, her voice quieter than she intended. It sounded almost shy, hesitant, as if she needed to justify her own curiosity.There was a pause—a silence that stretched long enough to make her heart skip before he replied, “Oh, I’m fine.” His tone was gentle, reassuring in that familiar way that made it impossible to stay indifferent. “How about you? How are you doing?”“I’m doing great,” she said quickly, as if to convince herself. “And so is my son.”It felt strange, the way she said my son, when they both knew who the

  • Onenight with the Mafia   54

    Maxine’s days had become a blur of sketches, deadlines, and endless cups of coffee. Her thesis project—what had once felt like an impossible task—was finally complete. The moment she submitted it, an immense sense of relief washed over her. Her professor had praised her work, calling it one of the most detailed and emotionally profound pieces he had seen that year. His words filled her with quiet pride. After months of sleepless nights and self-doubt, hearing that her efforts had paid off made her feel as though the weight of the world had finally lifted from her shoulders.She stood in the studio one last time, gazing at her finished piece—the portrait she had poured her heart into, the one that had consumed her thoughts for weeks. There was something alive in it, something that drew people in, especially the eyes. Those eyes that once belonged to a man who shouldn’t have mattered anymore, yet still haunted her every quiet moment.Her professor told her that her work had been selecte

  • Onenight with the Mafia   53

    Maxine led Thomas quietly up the stairs, her heart pounding with each step. The house was silent, her parents asleep in the next room, Noah safe and dreaming. The only sounds were the soft creaks of the old wooden floor and the rhythmic beating of her own heart echoing in her ears. When they reached her room, she turned the doorknob gently and stepped inside first, switching on the small desk lamp. The warm yellow light filled the room, casting a faint glow over the cluttered surfaces — sketches, pencils, and scattered papers everywhere.And that was when she froze.Her stomach dropped. On the easel by the corner stood the painting she had forgotten to cover — the portrait of Thomas. His face, his eyes, every line of emotion she’d captured, all laid bare in the dim light. She had painted him from memory, from stolen glances and the strange magnetism she couldn’t shake. Those haunting eyes seemed to follow her now, and for a split second, she wished she could disappear.Thomas followed

Higit pang Kabanata

Maaari mong magustuhan

Galugarin at basahin ang magagandang nobela
Libreng basahin ang magagandang nobela sa GoodNovel app. I-download ang mga librong gusto mo at basahin kahit saan at anumang oras.
Libreng basahin ang mga aklat sa app
I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App
DMCA.com Protection Status