Can I keep you? book 3 of a love he never wanted

feeling a little off.

"Well, are you coming?" I slowly stand up, not sure if he's serious.

"Really?   I thought you'd want an hour to yourself."   He smiles and gestures with his hand to come.  I grab my bag, and lock my desk. I hurry past him and wait in the hallway as he locks his office.

"I told you, this morning and afternoon- well the whole day really, was scheduled for me to be free for you." I nod in understanding.

"Do you do this with every new assistant?"

"No, which is why I'm doing it with you. Maybe if I had done this, I wouldn't have gone through 20 of them in the past year."

"20!" I whisper yell. "How do you go through 20 assistants in a year?" As the elevator doors open he places his hand on the small of my back ushering me in.

"Like I said this morning, I heard your new boss is a real hard ass."  He's back to leaning on the hand rail again. I scoff at his comment.

"Or you're human resource employee just hires a bunch of morons. Though it's still a little early for me to give you a definite answer."  He picks up on my sarcasm and gives a deep chuckle.

"You maybe right about him though. Most of the women he hired had a high cup size and low I.Q.   I think he just got lucky by hiring you." The doors open to the lobby, and he guides me again with his hand on the small of my back.   Something Gio always did when we were in the office.

I don't say anything, and just keep it to myself. He isn't being inappropriate. It's just my old ghosts popping up to haunt me.

John takes me to a cute little restaurant that sells hot and cold flatbread sandwiches and salads. Very casual, and comfortable.

The waitress brings our drinks, and takes our lunch order. I take a sip of my sweet tea, before asking him a question that i'm not sure I want an answer to. I look up from my glass, and his eye's meet mine as he puts his down.

"John, I have to ask you something." I bite the inside of my corner of my lip debating on whether or not I really want to ask.

"I think I know what you're going to ask, but go on." I hesitate resting my face in my hands for a second before finally coming out with it.

"If you were at that party, then you know about Gio. Are you involved with both business's or just his legitimate business?" He sinks back in his chair, one elbow rests on the armrest of the chair, his face rested on his hand, his middle and index finger covers his lips. while his other arm is extended onto the the table and his hand plays with his scotch glass.  He slightly narrows his eyes at me. Probably wondering how much he can share with me. His fingers rub his lips a few times before he sits up, and rests his intertwine fingers on the table in front of him.

"Normally, I wouldn't share anything with my assistants. Especially not my outside dealings that I have." I put my hand up to interrupt him.

"Please, I wasn't involved in those dealings in the past and I want nothing to do with them now. That's not why I asked. I assure you."

"But to answer your question, yes."

"Are you the one people answer to, or do you have someone higher that you answer to?"

"Getting specific now." He chuckles. "Yes I am the one who people answer too. I'm on the same Level as Marino.  And rumor has it that he'll be passing the torch to Giovanni, in the near future." I look down giving a tight lipped grin, and nod.

This whole thing was a big mistake.  I never should've taken this job. I should've stayed out of the city. Maybe even moved out of the state.  This isn't starting over fresh.  This is just more of the same, and a constant reminder of Gio.  I don't know if its all the talk about the mafia, or if it's just because I haven't eaten anything yet today. But without warning I start to taste bile in the back of my throat.