Chapter 2

Aurora.

The grandeur of the ornate office was momentarily overshadowed by the tension that hung heavy in the air. My heart pounded in my chest, as I faced the enigmatic man that held the gun. His sharp gaze locked onto me, a piercing intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice low and laced with a dangerous edge. The words were accompanied by the ominous click of a safety being released, and I instinctively tensed, my eyes narrowing on the gun he held in his gloved hand.

I held my hands up in a gesture of surrender, my voice steady despite the racing of my pulse. "My name is Aurora. I’m here for the job as your new assistant."

The man's features remained inscrutable, his expression unreadable as he studied me. His dark eyes flickered with a mix of suspicion and calculation, the gun still trained on me. I couldn't help but notice the aura of power that surrounded him, the way his presence dominated the room even in the face of uncertainty. Tall and impeccably dressed, his tailored suits seemed to cling to his broad shoulders and lean frame as if they were designed for him alone. His raven-black hair was meticulously styled, the dark waves adding an aura of sophistication to his rugged features. His piercing eyes were a shade of deep, intense black—eyes that seemed to see through pretences and into the heart of the matter. There was a sharpness to his gaze as he stared right at me.

"You have two minutes to convince me that you're not an imposter," he declared. "Start talking."

His voice was a low, commanding rumble that brooked no argument, each word spoken with a measured weight that demanded attention. I took a deep breath, my mind racing to find the right words. "I was interviewed by Miss Isabella and I got the job. She told me to resume here today."

The man's grip on the gun didn't waver, but a flicker of recognition crossed his features. “Isabella?"

I nodded, my gaze unwavering as I held his gaze. "Yes, she showed me my office and told me to wait here.”

The seconds ticked by in tense silence, the weight of his scrutiny almost suffocating. I tried to remain calm, to project an air of confidence despite the unnerving circumstances. Finally, the man lowered the gun slightly, his features relaxing just a fraction.

"Put your hands down," he instructed, his voice losing some of its edge. "But make no mistake, if you're lying to me, I won't hesitate to pull this trigger."

I lowered my hands slowly, my heart still racing as the gun's barrel lowered. The danger had not completely dissipated, but a glimmer of hope began to blossom within me.

As if on cue, the office door swung open, Isabella’s familiar face. Her presence brought a palpable sense of relief, and I saw a subtle shift in the man's demeanour—a fraction of tension easing from his shoulders.

"Rossi, this is Aurora,” Isabella announced, her tone respectful and professional. "She's here for the assistant position, I told you about it and sent you her file yesterday.."

The man's gaze shifted between us, his fingers finally releasing the grip on the gun as he kept it in his back pocket. I heaved a sigh of relief as the gun was no longer in sight.

"Very well, to my office Bella," he said, his tone measured, I could tell he was resisting the urge to shout at her. Was I going to be fired before the job even began or would I quit before I even started?

He walks away into his office and Isabella flashes me an apologetic smile. “So sorry about that, I should have waited to introduce you to him, that’s my brother Rossi the man you will be working for.”

I nod my heart still racing from the encounter. Can I really work for him? What if I make a mistake while doing something? Will my head really be on a platter?

“Here, I got you breakfast,” she drops a tray of coffee and muffins that I hadn’t even realised that she was holding.

“Thank you,” I say softly while still trying to catch my breath. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat this though.

“Don’t worry you’ll be fine.” She flashes me another warm smile, pats my shoulder and walks into her brother’s office.

I couldn't shake the feeling that my first day on the job had taken a far more unexpected turn than I had ever anticipated. The danger of the mafia world had suddenly become all too real, can I really do this?

I get another notification from Emilia and I open it Hey, are you still there? Don’t tell me they murdered you already. If I don’t hear from you soon I’m calling the police Oh if only she knew how close I came to my death. I couldn’t possibly narrate all that just happened now because she would tell me that she told me so and tell me to quit and I also feared the consequences of telling her what just happened.

My hands shake as I start to type a message. I quickly reply to her telling her that I am fine, in one piece and everything is going just fine which is clearly a lie because nothing about this is fine. What type of boss points a gun at his employee on the first day? A mafia boss! my subconscious screams at me. Could he really be a mafia boss, are all the rumours true and if it is, what the hell have I gotten myself into?