Page 1 of Mob Boss's Second Chance

Chapter One

Natalie

“You’re never going to believe this.” Danielle chatters away on the phone while I’m struggling to fit into my Mary Janes and going over the list of things I’m supposed to have in my bag.

My trusty notebook and ink pen?Check.

The event schedule?Check.

I spent the night going over every detail because I didn’t want to show up with an unprepared impression.

Contact list? Business card? My tablet? Power bank?All checks.

“Okay,” I say with a lengthy exhale after my foot finally slips into the left shoe. “You’ve got this, Natalie Monroe.”

“Are you there? Mia?” Danielle chirps from the other end.

I nod vigorously, even though she can’t see me. “Uhuh. I’m here. I’m with you all the way.”

She sighs. “What do you think I should do? Obviously, I can’t break up with him because he didn’t do anything wrong, but I have a feeling… actually, it’s more of a vibe,” she corrects herself in a tone that sounds unsure, “or maybe I’m just reading into it. What do you think?”

Ah—I don’t know.

I zoned out of the conversation after I answered the call because I realized I’d forgotten to fix my lucky pair of heels, which meant I had to go for the next best thing: a pair of Mary Janes that’s a size too small. And judging by Danielle’s dating habits, she’s probably talking about someone she met a couple of days ago.

They never last long enough for me to form an opinion.

Danielle makes a sound in the back of her throat, and I picture her rolling her eyes. “You were listening, were you?”

“I’m sorry,” I apologize profusely, “but you called me while I was getting ready to head out. Maybe we’ll pick this up later?”

There’s nothing on the other end for a moment. Then she comes back with a gasp. “Wait, it’s today? You’re meeting Ethan Cross today?”

I start to remind her that I’m notmeetingEthan Cross, but we’ve gone over the conversation enough times that I know it’ll fly over her head again. Instead, I sling my bag to my shoulder, patting it down to make sure I have everything in it.

“I’ll talk to you later, okay?” I say hurriedly as I snatch my keys from the bedside table, then dash to the mirror to look at my reflection.

It’s a basic outfit—a white print V-neck sleeve shirt tucked into a pair of jeans. My hair is pulled back in a tight bun, and I have stud earrings on. The earrings are the only thing that costs money since they’re real gold.

My mom gave it to me for my twentieth birthday… but it’s not something I like to remember often.

“Fine,” Danielle huffs, although I know she’s not trying to be mean. “Did you wear the black dress I picked out for you? You didn’t, did you?” She continues without waiting for a response. “I’m teaching you how to find a good man, Natalie.”

I snort as I walk to the door, pushing it open. “You mean a man that has money?”

“That’s the same thing,” she replies seamlessly. “Ethan Cross is a billionaire with a dating sheet shorter than anything I’ve ever seen. You know what’s even better? He lives here in Philadelphia. You don’t have to go across the world to find a good man.”

“Danielle,” I groan as I stab the elevator button. “I’m not going to seduce anybody. It’s work. And Ethan Cross did not hire me. His cousin, Anthony Cross, did.”

“Okay?”

In Danielle’s terms, that meanspotato potahto.“I’ll talk to you later, okay?” I say as I walk into the elevator. “Gotta go.”

Without waiting for her to remind me of how long it’s been since I last went on a date, I end the call and shove the phone into my pocket. Sighing, I run my hands down my pants and take a deep breath for good measure.

I’m more concerned about making a good first impression than I am snagging a wealthy man who, let’s face it, probably wants nothing to do with a woman from the middle class. If this goes well, I get to add the Cross family to my resume—the billionaire family with a multi-billion dollar empire that controls everything from real estate, entertainment, and shipping to oil and gas.

“No screw-ups, Natalie,” I remind myself, straightening my posture. “This is your one shot.”

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