Ugly Ronney: mafia romance [English]

Chapter 16-1

Several days later, I was still having trouble sleeping because of the violent attack on my parents and me. Despite all that had happened, I had returned to work on Monday with Yeraz. He had tried to contact me many times all day Sunday, but I hadn't bothered to answer his calls or texts.

I was still upset, traumatized by the recent events. I was doing everything to avoid Yeraz. He would call me into his office, but I would send Timothy or Ashley instead. He would purposely increase the number of his trips to be alone in the car with me, but I would beat him to his business appointments on my own. With each passing day, the silence between us grew deeper and deeper.

Sitting in the living room chair, tablet in hand, I listened to Timothy list the last tasks we had to complete for the Thanksgiving gala the day after tomorrow. It was early in the morning and my assistant was energetically walking around the room while reading his notes aloud.

"...contact the valet service, check the insurances--"

"Done!" I cut him off.

"And the photographers?"

"Ashley's on it. The press will have to stay at the entrance, but our teams will cover the event."

Timothy exhaled a long sigh before coming to slump on the sofa.

"Ronney, you've done a wonderful job. Where have you been all these years?"

I shrugged to tell him I didn't know the answer myself.

He added, "You're an incredible person." His smile faded and his eyes became cloudy. My assistant said with sincerity, "It has been an honor to spend these last few months with you. You have made them less...difficult to bear. Soon we will part ways. What will I miss the most? Certainly not the tyrant we work for. I see you and Ashley more than I see my own family. I've always dreamed of leaving, of finally doing something I love and that makes me feel good, but now I have to confess that I'm afraid to leave all of this."

I nodded sadly. Timothy had spent so much time in Yeraz's service that he had unconsciously and involuntarily developed something like Stockholm syndrome as his only survival instinct. What if it was the same for me? What normal person could stand here and be berated all day? Who got shot at in a restaurant and went back to work for the person who had ordered it? A sudden fright ran through me. Was I sick, too? Had I become completely dependent on Yeraz? Timothy's voice brought me out of my stupor.

"Fortunately, this is all coming to an end soon. With the credentials we'll have, we'll be able to work with anyone. Once we've had Mr. Khan as our boss, no one can scare us anymore. Right?"

I tried to smile, but my lips refused to obey. Timothy turned his head toward the living room and jumped up from the couch, his face tense. I followed his gaze and saw Yeraz burst into the room, looking grim. From here, I could see the large dark circles shading his eyes.

He said to my assistant in a reproachful tone, "I don't pay you to rest or talk! Have you prepared the material for my meeting this morning?"

Timothy was about to speak, but an imperious gesture from Yeraz silenced him.

"Put it away. Miss Jimenez and I are expected at Mr. Saleh's house."

I stood up and stared at him warily.

"Miss Jimenez, Isaac is waiting for us outside. Hurry up and join him!"

"But--"

"Hamza doesn't have much time for us. He wants to talk to us after I told him about the changes that will have to be made to the Kayser plan. He insists that you be present."

I couldn't refuse to go to this meeting with him. My parents' restaurant was at stake. I had to stop this cycle, which they had been in for so many years.

I turned to Timothy.

"I'll be with you as soon as I'm done. You can find the person to contact for the insurances in the tablet."

Timothy complied without wasting any time. Yeraz was waiting for me at the entrance of the living room. As I left the room, he moved aside to let me pass. Our eyes met. As hard as I could, I repressed the strange feeling I had for him.