“I Have Dinner Plans This Friday” — The Obsessed Mafia Boss Snapped When His Accountant Said She Was Seeing Another Man
Chapter 1
Mia Bennett had learned one important rule during her eighteen months working for the Romano organization.
Never surprise Luca Romano.
The second rule was even more important.
Never make Luca angry.
The problem was that Mia had somehow managed to do both before noon on a Thursday.
She stood inside his private office, holding a folder against her chest while rain tapped against the tall windows.
Luca sat behind an enormous black desk.
He was thirty-eight, controlled, intimidating, and famous in Chicago for reasons Mia had never allowed herself to discuss aloud.
To the public, he owned a chain of nightclubs, logistics companies, and private real-estate investments.
To the people who knew the real structure behind those businesses, Luca was something else.
A mafia boss.
Mia had known that before accepting the job.
She had also known the risks.
But she had never expected the quiet man behind the terrifying reputation to become personally interested in her.
At first, she had been grateful simply to have a job.
Her previous accounting firm had closed.
Her younger brother was in college.
Her mother needed expensive treatment.
Mia had taken the highest-paying position she could find.
That position happened to be chief accountant for Romano Holdings.
Luca had interviewed her personally.
He had looked over her résumé for less than a minute.
Then he had asked:
“Can you keep a secret?”
Mia had answered:
“Can you?”
He had stared at her.
Then laughed.
It was the first time she’d seen him smile.
Now that same man was staring at her as if she had personally offended him.
“You said you had something to report.”
“I do.”
She opened the folder.
“Quarterly figures.”
He nodded.
She began explaining the numbers.
Everything was normal.
Revenue.
Expenses.
Cash flow.
Then she reached the final point.
“There is one discrepancy.”
Luca’s expression changed.
“How much?”
“Eight hundred thousand.”
“Where?”
She showed him.
“One of the shell companies received payments that don’t match the approved invoices.”
He leaned back.
“Who handles it?”
“I do.”
“Fix it.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
Mia closed the folder.
Then remembered something.
She hesitated.
Luca noticed.
“What?”
“I need Friday evening off.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Why?”
“I have dinner plans.”
The room became silent.
Mia immediately regretted saying it.
Luca stared at her.
“With who?”
She shifted her weight.
“That’s personal.”
His jaw tightened.
“I’m aware.”
She tried to smile.
“It’s just dinner.”
“With who?”
Mia looked at him.
“A friend.”
Luca’s voice dropped.
“Male?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
He stood.
That was when Mia remembered rule number two.
Never make Luca angry.
He walked around the desk.
“You’re telling me my chief accountant has plans with another man.”
Mia swallowed.
“My chief accountant has a life.”
His expression darkened.
“You work for me.”
“Yes.”
“Then you understand why I need to know who you’re meeting.”
“No.”
The answer escaped before she could stop it.
Luca stopped.
Mia’s heart pounded.
He looked at her.
Most people would have apologized.
Mia didn’t.
She had learned something during her time with him.
Luca could intimidate almost anyone.
But he respected people who stood their ground.
She continued quietly.
“You hired me to manage your books.”
“Not my social life.”
He stared at her for several seconds.
Then smiled.
It wasn’t a friendly smile.
“Who is he?”
Mia sighed.
“His name is Daniel.”
Luca repeated the name.
“Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“How long have you known him?”
“A few weeks.”
His smile disappeared.
“I don’t like him.”
“You haven’t met him.”
“I don’t need to.”
Mia shook her head.
“This is exactly why I don’t tell you anything personal.”
He stepped closer.
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to know what’s happening around you.”
She frowned.
“Why would you need to know?”
Luca didn’t answer.
That silence told her more than words could have.
He was jealous.
Not mildly.
Not jokingly.
He was genuinely jealous.
Mia looked away.
“Friday is my night off.”
Luca’s voice softened.
“You can go.”
She looked surprised.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
She headed for the door.
Then heard him say:
“Mia.”
She turned.
“Be careful.”
She nodded.
“I always am.”
She left.
Luca remained alone.
For the first time in years, he felt something he hated.
Uncertainty.
He could control businesses.
Territory.
Money.
People.
But he couldn’t control Mia Bennett.
And somehow, that was exactly what made him want her more.
