AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I enjoy the feel of our mouths moving together longer than I should. Placing a hand against his chest, I push him back and he frowns. “But,” I repeat firmly, “if I’m going to be your employee, we can’t be sleeping together.”
There. I said it. Now the ball is in his court and all I want to hear is him say screw it then and that he wants me to be his girlfriend rather than his assistant.
Instead, a hooded look comes over his bright green eyes. He doesn’t seem very thrilled with my answer, but he doesn’t offer me an alternative, either. My heart sinks slightly, but I put on a strong outward appearance.
“We need to set some ground rules,” I tell him, deciding to be tough with him. The alternative is me winding up with a broken heart and I don’t want that. I need to protect myself. Seeing him every day in a professional environment means we need to act like professionals. Otherwise, things could get sticky fast. I also don’t want the other employees to judge and think the only reason I’m there is because I’m fucking the boss. That doesn’t sit well with me at all.
“What rules?” he growls, not looking happy.
I wave a hand between us. “This has to stop. As much as I enjoy being with you…” I clear my throat, flushing, “I’m a professional. I don’t want people thinking you only hired me because you consider me a piece of ass.”
“I don’t think that,” he hisses vehemently. “I’m hiring you because I believe it’s a good decision and you’re going to be a hard-working and competent employee.”
“Good. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to work for you.” Again, he narrows his eyes, glaring. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
“Fine,” he grits out. “Let’s finish dinner.”
And just like that I’ve lost him. Something in the air changes and I have no idea how we went from a scorching fuck on the kitchen table to this…to nothing. At this point, I don’t even know if we’re friends. My heart hurts as I reach for the salad bowl and begin to toss the greens.
A part of me still holds out, hoping he will tell me to forget the job and be his girlfriend. But he doesn’t. And that devastates me more than I care to admit.
You barely just met the guy, I try to tell myself. Get over it.
But that’s so much easier said than done.
From this point forward, I know our relationship will be strictly professional and platonic—and no matter how difficult it will be for me, I know it’s the right thing to do.
12
VIN
Iknow she’s right. She shouldn’t be sleeping with the boss at her new job. But I don’t think my dick got the memo. Of course, I agree with her, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. Nevertheless, come Monday morning, I’m determined to play the consummate professional. I’m not going to notice the way her slim skirt fits her ass so perfectly or the glimpse of a pink satin bra strap beneath her blouse or the sexy sway of her hips when she walks across the office in those high heels.
Nope. Not gonna pay any attention, I remind myself, eyes glued to her talking to another employee. She laughs and tosses her blonde hair over a shoulder and I stifle a groan. I’ve been hard all day, wanting to drag her into my office, lock the door, hike that skirt up and bend her over my desk.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I don’t see how this is going to work. How can I handle being in such close proximity with her every single day, but not being able to touch her. It’s sheer torture.
Later that afternoon, Hannah is in my office and she’s standing next to me, leaning far too close, and asking me questions about how to read a financial summary report. Her baby powder scent fills my nose and she looks so damn sexy. I love the fact that she wants to learn and do a good job, but she’s killing me. By the time five o’clock rolls around, I’m ready to lose my mind.
Unlike Enzo, I don’t enjoy working twenty-four hours a day. So when it’s time to leave, I encourage everyone to go home. I’m not the kind of boss to stay at the office until eight o’clock at night and expect everyone else to follow suit. As long as things are under control and in good shape, whatever work is left will be there when we come back tomorrow. Besides, the company is in excellent shape and making a hefty profit. Our board members are raking in the bucks and positively thrilled. Rossi Vineyard is and always has been a very profitable company and I’m happy to be steering us toward even more success.
I’m about to offer Hannah a ride home when my phone rings. It’s Miceli and I answer because I know he’s going to want to know how today went. I might be new when it comes to showing up at the office every day, but I’m very familiar with Rossi Vineyard and how it runs. I’ve actually been making a lot of important decisions behind the scenes and helped increase the revenue, so it only made sense that I was officially named President of the company. That’s one thing I love about my family—they like to give credit where credit is due. They reward hard work and make others feel appreciated.
Being the second son in a mafia family hasn’t always been easy. As the eldest, Miceli handles the sticky situations and sits on the throne, making decisions that I’d rather not. But, lately, things have been changing. We might run a large majority of this city, but we’re not the only ones. There are five families constantly vying for power and control. The Five Families are made up of the Rossi’s, The Bianchi’s, The DeLuca’s, The Caparelli’s and The Milano’s.
Up until recently, Miceli has been the only one to deal directly with the other families when it comes to going to meetings and making important decisions. The whole organization is quite civilized and we each have an area of the city that we are in charge of. Is it perfect? No, of course not. Are there fights and jealousy? Sure. But, for the most part, we work together when it comes to defeating and conquering our enemies. Ultimately, we know if the five of us aren’t on top then someone else will be. So, it’s important that we watch each other’s backs at all times and keep the lines of communication open.
This isn’t The Godfather. But, if someone crosses the line, it can become brutal fast.
Not too long ago, Miceli and Rocco Bianche came to blows over my brother’s wife, Alessia. Rocco ended up dead and that changed the dynamics of the Five Families. Instead of only the oldest figurehead representing each family and making all of the decisions, it’s evolved. Now we are all invited to attend meetings and be a part of the decision-making process and the voting. I’m not quite as involved in all of that drama as Miceli and much prefer to focus on Rossi Vineyard.
“Hey, Miceli,” I answer. The moment I greet my brother, Hannah appears in the doorway looking as delicious as a piece of creamy cannoli. One I want to sink my teeth into and savor. “Hold on.”
Lowering my phone, I look over at her. “Everything okay?” I ask.
“Is there anything else you need before I go?”
Yeah, how about a blowjob? Gritting my back molars, I shake my head. “No, but thanks. I can give you a ride home—” I can give you a different kind of ride, too. A hot, sweaty, hard ride that’ll make you scream.
