Seduction in shadows

Terms of

ulling her from a restless sleep. She reached out groggi

swered, voice t

e calm, authoritative

he heaviness in her head. "What now? Did I miss

s assistant. He's requeste

r eyes. "I thought I had a week. Is

ur. Don't be late," came the curt

there was no turning back. She couldn't undo the mess her brother had creat

-

ci Ent

nd marble, felt eerily sterile today-more like a corporate trap than a place for business

to Alessandro's office. As they stopped in f

ssandro's voice, sm

ndows casting long shadows across the room. He was leaning back in his chair

s tone making it clear

intimidated than she felt. "Do you always do the 'sit' thing?" she asked, trying to m

aise of an eyebrow. "Because if you do, I can al

Just wondering if you're gonna pull out a cigar and start ma

bling a smile, but his eyes stayed sharp. "You've got

mor," she shot back, not missing a beat.

the weight of his stare, assessing her. She was st

dro finally said, his tone businesslike, though the fli

ed. "I bet that's been

not going to take the money

not? Wow, I'm honored. That's a first for me. U

mediately stopped talking, realizing he wasn't playing

p with your telemarketing campaign? I hear that's the ne

nd, she saw the corners of his mouth rise. It was a f

on't need you to cold-call anyone. But you'll be working fo

Deliver a few envelopes? Run errands? Tell me this

sed. "Do I look like I need som

k. "You strike me as the type who's in

nt, but he stayed calm. "No, Amara. You'll be

lunch, bring you coffee, write your emails?" She leaned forward, eyes glinting with mischief. "Because

I need someone who can think on their feet. Som

so glad I'm not afraid to get dirt

rning cold. "You work for me, and in return, I'll forget about your brother's misu

crossing her arms. "I'd like to negotiate better terms

ement?-underneath his otherwise stoic expression. "You'll have one we

"Just one week? Can I get an extension? Ma

ied flatly. "You'll m

omer service would go a long way in this line of work. Maybe t

corners of his mouth turn

f this whole 'mafia boss' thing doesn't work out for you, telemarketing is

, calculating, but there was something almos

a," he said, his vo

left the office. It wasn't the usual look of someone siz

ek to figure out how to survive the c

out to back down