Page 14 of My Mafia Captor

She continued to talk about policies and rules for the building, and I texted Jimmy.

Me: I’m sorry. I tried moving in today, but they said something about needing to have been notified that I was going to be moving in, so they aren't going to let me. I tried.

I set the phone down in my lap, and as she was getting up to open the door to usher me out of her office, my phone rang. I had expected a text back, not a call. Sure enough, when I looked at the caller ID, it said “Jimmy.” I answered.

“Hello?”

“Put the manager on the phone,” he said. His voice was so sharp that I would be surprised if Sarah would make it through a conversation with him. I held the phone out to her.

“He wants to talk to you.”

Slowly, she took my phone from me. She didn’t have to even say anything. I could hear Jimmy’s voice talking to her on the other end. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he certainly wasn’t happy. Sarah’s face stayed frozen in a neutral business-like look, but I knew she was terrified. I felt a little sorry for her. I hadn’t meant to get her in trouble or make things difficult for her. I just wanted to get this over and done with.

After about two or three minutes of Jimmy talking to her, Sarah finally replied, “Yes, Mr. Morelli, sir,” and hung up the phone. I was a little disappointed that Jimmy didn’t want to talk to me, but I was sure he had better things to do.

“Mr. Morelli has requested that we help you in any way with moving your things into his residence,” she said, her voice shaky. “If there is anything you need, please feel free to ask. His floor is the top floor. His rooms are the only rooms on the floor, so you won’t get lost. Any furniture can be brought in through the back elevator from the parking garage. Mr. Aberdale will give you a ticket to get in and out of the garage until we are able to get a permanent garage opener installed in your vehicle for you. I will send up a sheet of paperwork sometime this week for you to fill out, but other than that, you are all set.”

She handed me back my phone and went around the desk to open the door for me. I felt bad because, if I didn’t know any better, I would have assumed he screamed at her although I hadn’t actually heard anything like that coming from my phone. From where I was standing, it had been a calm conversation.

She walked ahead of me down the hall and into the lobby where Nate waited. I waved at him, and he grinned at me before Sarah cleared her throat. Then his grin changed to a more formal smile.

“Mr. Aberdale, please be aware that Mrs. Morelli is welcome to come and go as she pleases. Assist her in any way she might need as she moves into our establishment.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.

I turned to Sarah and reached for her hand. She was startled but let me shake it.

“Thank you so much,” I said. “I realize how off the books this whole thing is, and I greatly appreciate your cooperation. I’m sorry if Jimmy treated you badly. I never meant for that to happen, but it does mean a lot to me that you are helping me.”

“Th-thank you,” she said, shook my hand, and then disappeared down the hallway we had just come out of. I turned to Nate.

“She said something about a back elevator and a parking garage that needs a ticket that you are supposed to give me?”

“Yes, Mrs. Morelli, follow me.”

“You can just call me Natalia, Nate.”

“Yes, of course, Mrs. Morelli.”

Chapter 9

Jimmy

Theconversationwiththebuilding management had left me annoyed. The manager would do as I told her, and Natalia would be moved in today. It was a relief to have things resolved, but I had to be very argumentative. I didn’t like that the manager had given Natalia a hard time. The girl was going through enough. She didn’t need to be speculated against in a place where I had told her she was allowed to be.

I understood why the manager hadn’t just let Natalia go up to my place, but she had my key. Wasn’t that proof enough that she was allowed to be there? I knew I was being a little headstrong, but it had been a trying morning, and that was just the last little push to throw me off the annoyance-paved mountain.

Aaron still hadn’t settled with the buyer he was trying to work with. I had had another associate question my ability to lead the company, claiming that I only got the job because my father had given it to me. I had had to fire three employees for not showing up when scheduled, and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet.

I needed a coffee, but Caroline had the day off. If I wanted one, I would have to get it myself. She did have an intern that I could ask, but Caroline was the only one who made it correctly. I also had the feeling that the intern was terrified of me. Every time I saw her, she either dropped or spilled something, which didn’t bode well for any coffee I requested. Eventually, I would have to go get one myself, but I had emails to answer first. Another thing I wouldn’t have to do if Caroline had been here. Maybe I should start looking for another assistant so they could overlap days off? I was just so picky about who I worked directly with and how things were done that it would cost more time and effort than it was worth.

I put the thought on the back burner and focused on the emails. I was about five in when there was a knock on the door. That was strange.

“Who is it?” I called out, possibly a little harsher than I had wanted to.

The intern opened the door a crack and stuck her head in. She had long blonde hair and a mousey face, complete with thick-rimmed glasses. Her forehead was creased with worry lines, and her mouth was drawn down into a frown.

“It’s um… me, Mr. Morelli. Ashley, Caroline’s intern?”

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