Page 5 of Vengeful Mafia Prince

I greet everyone and notice, at the end of the bar, that the new assistant has joined us. Johnny, that's his name. I was a little hurt when Kyra told me she wanted to bring in someone new, but I knew better than to argue. Besides, since I'm so new to this, I guess it's only fair that she bring in some backup to help me out.

He flashes me a grin. Oh, he's got a gorgeous smile, there's no denying that. His cropped dark hair frames his face perfectly, his dark eyes popping against his olive skin.

Feeling bold, I take another sip of my champagne and step toward him.

"I didn't expect to see you at this," I say as I lean on the bar beside him. He cocks an eyebrow.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That these things are generally more for the people who've... been here a little longer."

He chuckles. "You think I'm taking advantage of my new position at the company?"

"Well, you're the one who said it, not me."

He glances down at me for a moment. It feels just like it did before, when we came out of Kyra's office together and he leaned in a little closer than he needed to—that same flush of warmth and want throbbing through my system, the same desire that almost got the better of me.

"You got me," he replies. "I only went after this internship because I wanted one thing. The free champagne."

He reaches for a glass from a passing waiter and takes a demonstrative sip. His lips glide over the glass for a moment, and I can't help but notice the way his mouth moves. What the hell is going on with me? Is this champagne already getting to me this much? I need to pull myself together.

Luckily for me, Paula cuts in and starts talking to us about what's been going on between Jeff and Rhianna in the tech department. Office gossip, I have to admit, sure beats what we got in grad school, and soon, I'm caught up with the story she's telling. Johnny is a little more laid-back, taking it in and raising his eyebrows occasionally.

"I didn't realize I was coming to work at somewhere so scandalous," he remarks slowly as she finishes her story.

"Scandalous? I don't know about that," Paula laughs. "I think this is the most shocking thing that's happened in all the time I've been working here."

"Yeah, well, I guess I just didn't expect inter-office romance to be such a big deal." His eyes flick to mine for the briefest moment, and for a second, I feel a heat rushing up the side of my body in response to him.

"It's really not, I promise," Paula assures him as I hide behind another sip of my champagne. "But if the champagne keeps flowing tonight, who knows? We might get another exciting development."

"That's what I'm counting on," he says.

The rest of the night, I manage to keep myself from getting too distracted by him. No matter how much I might want to just let myself sink into his attention, I know this is a work event, and we're going to be spending most of our time together after this. I don't want to do or say anything that might bite me in the ass.

My father comes over to join me as the evening wears on.

"Who's that boy you were talking to?" he asks. It surprises me that he's even noticed. Sometimes, I feel as though I can vanish into the background when it comes to him.

"Which one?" I ask innocently, though I know who he's talking about without another word. Johnny and I have been chatting on and off all night, and there's nobody else here that he wouldn't know the name of.

"That one," he replies, pointing to Johnny, who's leaning on the bar alone, scanning the room like he's taking it all in.

"Oh, I think his name's... Johnny." I try to keep my tone vague. "He started work at this place a few days ago. He's Kyra's new assistant."

He shoots me a look. "I thought you were Kyra's assistant."

I feel my cheeks start to heat. The last thing I want is to seem like I'm not pulling my weight. My father was doubtful about letting me go to work at all, but at least here, it's easy for him to keep an eye on me.

"Oh, I still am," I correct myself quickly. "I'm just... uh, there's been so much going on lately, it's been easier for her to have a few more people around. That's it, nothing more to it."

"Right," he murmurs, and he pulls his gaze from me again. I can tell he's not impressed.

"Why do you ask?" I try to shift the topic of conversation again.

"About what?"

"About the guy."

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