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2025-11-10 20:04:17
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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
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