Page 44 of Ruthless Mafia Daddy

“You know I don’t like taking time off.”

“Well, I don’t like you working yourself into the ground, so there is that too.”

I roll my eyes.

“I’m fine, honestly. Why don’t we grab dinner after work? I’ll make a reservation at Alessandro’s, my treat.”

“Seeing as you’re ditching me for work, you owe me,” Cassi mutters.

“How dare I go to my grown up job because my bills refuse to pay themselves.” I laugh.

“We wouldn’t be in this problem if you got yourself a sugar daddy. Oh, wait, you could’ve had one, you just chose self-respect instead.”

“You’re the worst.” I chuckle.

“You love me, really,” Cassi says. “See you tonight, Lils.”

Even though it's barely seven in the morning, the subway car is packed, and with the heat radiating from all the bodies around me, I’m already sweating and feeling nauseous as I enter the office building twenty minutes later.

I discreetly dab my upper lip with a tissue as I cross the foyer, trying to slow my breathing so the redness in my cheeks will die down.

Max doesn’t normally arrive until eight, so I’m hoping to get a head start on emails before then.

I hope he doesn’t mention my sick days, but there’s nothing I can do apart from being honest. I’ve been with the company for three years, and these are the first sick days I’ve taken, so I’m hoping they’ll be brushed over.

As I wait for the elevator to take me up to the fifteenth floor, I decide to check my email. The email at the top of my inbox is from my boss, and the subject reads: urgent.

My heart stops as I click it open and scan the contents.

Meeting in my office at eight.

This can’t be good…

I’m a nervous wreck as I watch the clock, pacing around my office as each second ticks by.

This is it. Everything I’ve worked so hard for over the past three years is about to be ripped away from me. I’m going to lose my apartment, my insurance, my 401k.

“Oh god, I’m going to have to move back in with Auntie.” I let my head fall into my hands. That thought alone has my stomach twisting.

A soft knock comes from my open door, and I look up to see Max’s assistant, Ally, hovering.

“He’s ready for you.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

This has got to be a sign, right? A bad sign.

“Great,” I choke out, running my hands down my dress. “I’ll be right there.”

Ally offers an encouraging smile before disappearing from sight.

I quickly change out of my trainers, sliding into my black heels, and head down the corridor toward Max’s office.

My heart is pounding in my ears as I mentally rehearse answers to any possible questions he might throw at me.

“You’ve got this,” I whisper, bracing myself as I push open the door to Max’s office.

Only, it’s not Max sitting behind the large desk.

It’s Andre.

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