Dark Romance | Mafia

Chapter Seven

Stella's POV:

"Was it him?" he asked again, his voice sharper this time.

Silence stretched across the room, thick with impatience. All eyes were on me, waiting. The boss let out a slow, irritated breath, he hated delays, and my hesitation was only making it worse.

I swallowed hard. "No."

A ripple of uncertainty passed through the room. The others exchanged glances, their suspicion growing.

"He wasn’t the one," I repeated.

"Then who could it be? It doesn't make sense. AK is our biggest enemy, if it wasn’t him, then who else?"

Then, it hit me. My breath caught. So, he wasn’t there to help me.

My fingers curled into fists. That’s why he stole my bracelet for the information hidden inside. The tracker. Every place I had been, every move I had made, it was all recorded. And now, it was in his hands.

A sharp chill crawled up my spine. He played me.

"If you see that man again, could you recognize him?" Mr. Giovanni asked, his voice breaking through my thoughts.

I didn’t hesitate. My jaw tightened. "Yes."

This wasn’t over. Not yet.

"Boss, she could be a great help. I have an idea," Albert said, his voice low but urgent. He leaned in, whispering something into Mr. Giovanni’s ear.

Mr. Giovanni’s furrowed brows eased, and the tension in his face melted into something else. A slow, mischievous grin spreaded across his lips as he turned his sharp gaze toward me.

"Okay," he finally said. "We’ll let you go, but on one condition."

A knot formed in my stomach. "What condition?" I asked.

"Come with me. We need to talk," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I instinctively glanced in AK’s direction, he was gone. My pulse quickened.

Swallowing my unease, I nodded and followed Mr. Giovanni’s lead, my footsteps hesitant but deliberate.

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I stood outside the massive mansion, my breath catching in my throat as I took in the sight before me. The towering estate was like something straight out of a dream. Luxury cars, each more expensive than the last, their polished surfaces gleaming under the sunlight.

My mouth hung open slightly as I admired the sheer magnificence of it all. If the exterior was this breathtaking, I could only imagine the splendor waiting inside. A crystal chandelier, golden staircases, velvet curtains, my mind painted a picture of an opulent paradise.

Snapping out of my daze, I stepped forward and knocked on the towering wooden door. The sound echoed slightly before silence settled once again. A few moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a woman dressed in a crisp, neatly pressed uniform. Her expression was unreadable, stern but not unkind.

"Who are you?" she asked, her tone professional.

I didn’t answer right away, my gaze drifting past her to the grand interior behind her. The floors gleamed like polished glass, and I caught a glimpse of a crystal chandelier hanging from a ceiling so high it seemed endless.

"Excuse me?" The housekeeper’s voice snapped me back to reality.

I blinked. "Oh! I’m sorry, I heard that Mr. Romano was looking for a chef, so I came to apply."

She gave me a once-over, as if assessing whether I belonged in a place like this. "Your name?"

"Stella James," I replied, standing a little straighter.

She nodded. "Okay, come inside."

The moment I stepped in, I felt as though I had entered another world. The scent of polished wood and faint traces of expensive cologne filled the air. The walls were lined with gold-trimmed paintings, each depicting scenes of luxury and power.

As we walked down a grand hallway, the woman finally spoke again. "My name is Hailey, I’m the head of housekeeping," she said proudly.

"Oh, that’s great," I replied with a polite smile. Then, curiosity got the best of me. "Does he live alone?"

Hailey shot me a sharp look, her eyes narrowing slightly. It was clear she hadn’t expected that question.

"Sorry," I added quickly, feeling a bit awkward. "I know I talk too much sometimes." I scratched the back of my neck, a nervous habit I had never been able to shake.

She hesitated, then sighed. "His parents were killed when he was a child."

A chill ran down my spine. "May I ask how?"

She glanced around the hallway as if checking for eavesdroppers, then lowered her voice. "By the mafia," she said in a hushed tone.

I felt my stomach drop slightly. "Oh…" was all I managed to say.

"Now, keep quiet, don’t ever bring this up again. If he hears, it won’t be good for either of us," she warned.

I nodded.

As we reached the kitchen, she extended her hand, holding out the menu for me.

"Take the menu and-"

"This mansion is so beautiful," I whispered in awe, my eyes still roaming over the intricate details of the grand interior.

Hailey sighed, clearly frustrated. She stopped mid-sentence and shot me a sharp look.

"Stop drooling over the mansion and listen to me carefully," she said sternly.

I snapped my attention back to her.

"You’re working for Alessio Romano, not an ordinary person, so your job won’t be easy,  keep that in mind. And one more thing, you are not allowed to change the menu. Sir doesn’t like to eat unless the menu is followed exactly," she added, handing me a neatly printed menu. "So, make sure you remember it."

I took the menu from her, scanning the list of dishes while trying to process everything she had just said. After that, she proceeded with my interview, asking me several questions before finally saying, "We’ll call you."

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Now, all I could do was wait.

...........

Until then....