Page 8 of Mafia Rules

"Nothing. Don't touch anything." Stella grabs her coat, then swiftly turns back to put all the papers on her desk in a drawer and locking it. “Nothing,” she mouths to me on her way out the door.

"I won't touch a thing." I offer a smile, but she does not respond with one of her own.

"Eve?" I hear from behind me.

When I hear his voice, a wave of warmth spreads through me as if my insides are melting. "Yes, Mr. McKenzie."

"Ash is fine. Come." He waves me back into his personal space. "We need to talk about this meeting."

I follow him through his lounge into his office. He closes the door behind us. His desk is back to being organized, with neat paper piles across its surface. I can feel the weight of his hands on the back of the chair as I sit, a subtle reminder of his authority.

"My brothers will be hard to win over." Ash sits next to me instead of behind his desk. I watch as he places his elbows on his knees, contemplating his next words.

I sit silently, waiting for an explanation of what he wants from me. He knows I have no experience; I'm only hindering him at this point.

"My brothers are not on board with how I’ve been handling things in the company, and some of that is rightfully so. But I need them to trust me to close this current deal.”

Wanting him to continue and clue me in on my part of his plan, I say, "I'm not sure what you want me to do. I didn't seem to do anything right today according to Stella."

"That's just Stella's way. She does like you." A sly grin appears on his face.

"Oh, that's what that was?" I laugh, hypnotized by his boyish looks when he isn't in business mode.

"I have no doubt you'll win her over. But first, and more challenging, are my brothers. I need them to think you are my secret weapon in this deal."

"You want me to lie to them?" Squinting, the pieces start falling into place. Wasn't it obvious to him I was incredibly awkward and incapable of lying?

"No. Not lie. Be my backup."

"But I don’t know what business you're even in. All I know are the rumors…" I trail off, instantly wishing I hadn't spoken those words.

"Rumors?" The corners of his lips turn up in amusement.

"Well, you know." I lower my eyebrows.Surely, he knows.

"And are they true?" He pulls his sleeves up more, revealing more of his ink. His eyes are hooded, and his lips are ever so pouty.

Of course, they are fucking true, but I needed this job, so I wasn't about to admit it. "You tell me." I push back into the seat, lifting my shoulders up.

He sits up with a smirk. "Back to my brothers. I need you to agree with what I say, hand out the packets in my briefcase, and take notes."

“How will that impress them?”

"Because you're you, Eve." He takes my hand in his. "Sweet. Innocent.” He shakes his head like he’s said too much. “And you're a terrible fucking liar, and they will see that."

The skin that touches his tingles. His hands are surprisingly soft and give off a certain warmth. I pull back from him, intent on keeping this professional. "I still don't see how this will help you."

"You're honest. That's more of an asset than anything," he offers with a firmer tone.Was he mad I pulled away from him?

Wanting to make amends, I say, "I’ll go. I mean, it’s for my job. I’ll do my best.” Although I’m uncertain I can pull off what he wants when I still don’t understand. And if I miss his mark, what will he do to me then? This seems too important to him to fuck it up.

“Thank you. Keep questions that you have until after, when we are alone. It will make more sense after the meeting.” Ash stands, unrolling his sleeves and putting his tie back on, but it’s crooked. “Would you?” He gestures toward his pitiful tie.

Finally, something I could do. Growing up, I tied my foster father’s tie every morning, even though I knew he fixed it later. Eventually, I learned how to tie them correctly and we’d had some of the best talks when I helped him get ready for work.

I approach him and reach up; he is a good foot taller than my 5'4". I rest my hands on his chest as I work the tie into form. His body is warm. He has the most incredible brown eyes; they seem to see right through me. “There.” I step back when I’m done, happy with how it looks.

“Thank you, Eve.” With a gentle smile on his face, he looks down at me, his eyes filled with warmth that immediately calms my nerves. His voice, with its gentle and soothing tone, has a calming effect.

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