Page 53 of Fatal Sloth

His brown orbs glide over me, starting from my shoes and traveling up until we lock eyes, ending with a sly smirk playing on his lips. It's clear he approves of my outfit.

Jackie for the win.

"Great, let's go," he says, shutting his office door behind us. As we make our way to the car, he places his hand on the small of my back, guiding me forward.

My eyes trail over his navy blue suit, tailored to perfection, hugging his muscles and accentuating his broad shoulders. The sight of him sends a warm sensation coursing through me. He's not just hot; he's scorching.

After a short drive, we arrive at Elli Enterprises. We walk into the high-rise, heading toward the elevator. Sebastiano’s hand never once leaves me, remaining firm at my lower back, as though he needs to keep his hands on me, or I'll bolt away.

When the elevator opens, we head toward Don Antonio’s office, only to be greeted by a young woman who can't be much older than I am.

“Who are you?” Sebastiano barks at the poor girl. I grab his hand, hoping he’ll take the hint and be polite.

“I’m sorry, we're here to––” Another outburst cuts off my words from Sebastiano.

He lets go of my hand, placing his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him, almost protectively. I’m not sure why he feels the need to be protective over a girl my size. “I asked who you are?”

“My name is Olivia. I am filling in until Cindy returns,” she says politely.

I extend my hand to her, “Hi Olivia, I'm Mia.” shaking her hand. She offers me a warm smile but keeps her eyes directed towards Sebastiano.

"If you'd like to have a seat, I'll let Mr. Morelli know you're here," she says as she gestures toward the lounge behind us.

Sebastiano looks like he wants to tell her no or barge into the office. But before he can act, the door to Don Antonio's office swings open. "Thank you, Olivia." Don Antonio's voice booms from within. "This is my son. Come in."

Sebastiano lets out a frustrated sigh, his hand running through his hair in agitation.

"You didn't have to scare the poor girl," Don Antonio mutters. "She's just a temp."

Sebastiano raises an eyebrow, and I cross my arms over my chest. "And why does that matter?"

He meets his gaze with a steely one of his own. "In all the years this company has been open, nobody else aside from Cindy has been sitting at that desk."

As we step into his office, the door clicks shut behind us. "Cindy's sick," he begins, "It's a busy week, and I couldn't afford to be down a receptionist. There wasn't time to move things around."

Then, as if realizing my presence, he turns his attention to me, his expression softening. "Mia," he says warmly, closing the distance between us with large strides. "I'm so glad you're here." His arms reach out instinctively, drawing me into a warm hug. I hug him back, allowing his big fatherly bear hug to envelop me.

"Alright, that's enough with the hugs. Let's dial it back a bit, yeah?" Sebastiano says to Don Antonio, breaking the embrace. But it's too late; I'm already engulfed in the warmth of the hug, feeling oddly comforted by the unexpected gesture from Don Antonio.

When I release myself from Don Antonio's embrace, Sebastiano immediately pulls me to his side. His grip is firm, almost possessive. If I didn't know any better, I would think he was jealous.

We chat for a bit, covering everything from the weather to recent news and events. Each topic seems to flow seamlessly into the next, as if we've known each other for much longer than we have. I mean, they have, but I'm new to the family. Sebastiano's attitude is what surprises me most. He's relaxed and even cracking jokes with his dad. It's funny to see this side of them––the humorous and playful side––given their reputation as the big bad mafia boss, and considering he's got this whole tough-guy vibe going on.

After some light banter, a few men walk in, mentioning something about loading the equipment requested and assuring that it's in Sebastiano’s car. I wasn't aware that we were picking anything up, but then again, I wasn't exactly told why we were coming here to begin with.

Now that the car is loaded, Sebastiano tells his dad we're heading out. Don Antonio embraces me in another hug, telling me he hopes to see us both soon. It feels like he's happy that I'm a part of his family. I hold back the tears threatening to come out because I don't want to embarrass myself. Sebastiano might not ask me to go anywhere with him again if I cry on the first outing.

We slide into the car, and my eyes catch the sight of several boxes in the backseat. They look like some sort of camera equipment, their sleek design, standing out against the car's interior.

"I have to drop these off before we head home," Sebastiano mentions casually, motioning toward the boxes with his thumb.

Pulling up to the docks, I spot Enzo and Dario waiting for us. Unsure whether I should stay put or follow Sebastiano out, I decide to join him as we step out onto the pavement.

Meeting me outside my door, Sebastiano takes charge. "There's ten to install," he tells them. "Make sure it's done tonight, and the feed goes directly to me. I don't even want Greg to know about this."

The men nod in agreement, acknowledging Sebastiano's instructions with a simple "Got it, Boss" before removing the boxes from the car. Neither of them spares me a glance or a single word as if I'm invisible to them. It's not like the warm welcome I received from Don Antonio earlier, leaving me feeling a bit sidelined and out of place.

We settle back into the car. I sit in silence, my thoughts swirling with a sense of dejection. I glance out the window, trying to mask the slight feeling of gloom creeping in.

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