Page 4 of Mafia Rules

My face flushes, wondering what he considers appropriate clothes. Leaving the room, I can't help but feel let down that he didn't stop me, just like before, despite the clear dismissal. Tomorrow morning couldn’t come fast enough.

3

ASH

"No. I haven’t had a chance to call him." I'm lying to Ford, but he doesn’t need to know anything yet. I have this handled.

"Don't fuck this deal up, Ash." His voice is cold on the other end of the phone. “It needs to close by the end of the month.”

"It will. On my terms," I push back, careful not to be too hard but not to be a pushover either. My latest fuckups are playing more into my brother's hands than I wanted them to.

"Dad wants to get involved," he warns. Ford was the youngest of my brothers, but our dad spent more time with him and reminds all of us how Ford had "the knack" to do business where the rest of us would fuck it up. The reality was that Dad never paid attention to any of us growing up, and Ford was his redemption. He looked up to him like a father, while the rest of us barely knew him.

"Fuck." I couldn’t let Dad know how deep I was into this deal. I broke all the rules because this was too good not to pass up.He wouldn't understand. He's been in power for most of his life, and no one ever challenges him, but with him retiring, there's an unknown to whom all his power would transfer to, and we needed it to stay in the family. One of us needed to be named as the leader in his absence, or our businesses would be challenged.

"I’ll hold him off for a bit, but he’s keen on closing this deal if you can’t.” Ford's voice shows as much empathy as expected of the golden child.

“I’d appreciate it if you could hold him back. Set him off on another trail?”

“Ash…”

“I’m close, Ford.”

“Update me at the meeting tomorrow.” Ford’s tone is strained, and he hangs up before I can say anything else.

I run my hand through my thick hair, my thoughts immediately returning to the purple-haired girl. Looking into those too-expressive eyes, I felt an instant connection, like this girl is going to be important to me. So pure and innocent. If she comes through for me tomorrow, impressing my brothers, how I’d have to try not to fuck her. She could be the key to all of this. But if I could tame and mold her to my liking—

“Mr. McKenzie?” Stella knocks on my door.

“Yes.” I didn’t hurry to pick up the mess on the floor. Stella knew us brothers better than anyone.

“Veronica’s been terminated. They have a new temp coming on Friday. I can assist you until then.” Stella avoids the office mess, stepping over papers, knowing it's best not to ask questions. “I’ve called Vern for clothes for the girl.”

“Thank you, Stella. I trust you to handle that situation.”

“She’s different.” Stella's warm smile carries an undertone of warning.

“She is.” I pull out her resume from my drawer, scanning each section wondering if anything is true.It took some balls to come her today with this.

“I sent her home in a cab, so we know her real address.” Stella takes her resume from my hand, and her whole body shakes with a chuckle. “She reminds me of someone.” She files the resume in the garbage.

Indeed, she does. That face and green doe eyes, watching me. Studying my body, biting her plump bottom red lip…

4

EVE

Five boxes and six bags clutter the living room when I arrive home from my last shift at the diner. Apparently, Ashton thought my wardrobe only comprised of the tight pink suit I wore for the interview.

"It took great restraint not to tear into these while you were at work." Macy stands beside me, her mouth drooling at the potential clothing she could borrow from me. "The blue box first." She grabs the large light-blue box with a red ribbon holding its contents safe. A card taped to its top says, "For Eve."

I rip the card from the box, wondering if this was his actual handwriting. No, he'd be too busy to take the time to write me a note. I tear it open to find a handwritten note.

Pleasure meeting you today. Thank you for waiting patiently for me to finish my meeting. I think these should work for the next two weeks. Don't be late tomorrow.

– Ash

Heat rises at the reminder of his “meeting.” I distract myself by analyzing the messy, almost-illegible handwriting and wonder if it is his after all.

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