Page 50 of Ruthless Mafia Daddy

Cassi hasn’t spoken a single word, so I glance at my friend who’s shaking her head.

“Lila, this is not good…”

“I know, I slept with the fucking boss! But if he’s anything like Max, we’ll mainly communicate through email, and we’ll see each other once or twice a week in meetings, where there will be other people around. I think I made it out to be this huge thing?—”

“That’s because it is huge. He bought the company where you work, Lila.”

“Not ideal.” I shrug.

“I don’t think you understand. It’s clear he went out of his way to find out where you worked, and now has done the ultimate power move. I don’t like this guy, it’s making me feel uneasy. This behavior is borderline obsessive.”

“He won’t hurt me.” I find myself needing to defend Andre’s character, despite us literally having a conversation earlier about me keeping his very dark secrets.

“You shouldn’t trust him. Maybe you should talk to Max, switch departments or something.”

I shake my head.

“I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am, Cass. I’m not going to let Andre ruin that for me.”

“It might be too late for that, babe.”

I force the conversation away from Andre until our food arrives.

Antonio wasn’t kidding when he said he would bring us some extra garlic bread, placing a plate beside both Cassi and me, along with two huge bowls of carbonara.

Usually, the sight of the creamy pasta would have my mouth watering, but instead, I swallow down the bile that rises in my throat.

Cassi tucks in, slurping the spaghetti lady-and-the-tramp style. Even the sight of her eating has my stomach rolling.

I get to my feet, placing a hand over my mouth, bolting through the restaurant, praying that I can make it to the bathroom in time and thanking all that is holy for the vacant sign on the bathroom door.

I barely lock it behind me before I’m hurling my guts up once more over the toilet, my body covered in sweat, and my eyes streaming.

“Urgh.”

I flush the toilet, closing the lid.

A knock sounds at the door.

“It’s occupied!” I croak, my throat sore.

“It’s me. Cassi.”

I move to unlock the door before sitting down on the closed lid of the toilet, wiping my mouth with some tissue.

“You ok?” Cassi locks the door and leans against it. Her brows are furrowed as she takes me in.

“I know, I’m a hot mess.” I sigh, wiping my forehead on the back of my hand.

“How long have you been like this?”

“Four or five days? Honestly, I’ve lost count.” I sigh.

“That’s a little too long for a stomach bug.”

“I think it might just be the flu,” I mumble, leaning back against the cold tile on the wall and closing my eyes.

Cassi steps toward me before placing a hand on my clammy forehead.

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