The Mafia Boss Brought His Secretary as His Fake Date—Then Got Jealous When Every Man Wanted Her
Chapter 1
By the time Elena Brooks realized her boss was standing behind her, she had already agreed to something she knew she would regret.
It was almost eight at night.
The office on the top floor of the Blackwell Tower had been empty for more than an hour, except for Elena and the quiet hum of the city beyond the glass windows.
She was typing the final numbers into a financial report when the door opened.
She looked over her shoulder.
Adrian Blackwell stood in the doorway.
He wore a black tailored suit, his tie loosened slightly, one hand in his pocket. His dark hair was still perfectly arranged despite the late hour. His expression was unreadable as always.
Most employees were afraid of Adrian.
Not because he raised his voice.
He never had to.
People were afraid because everyone in the city knew that Adrian Blackwell was more than a billionaire businessman.
He was the man who controlled the Blackwell organization.
A man whose name was whispered in restaurants, clubs, private offices, and places where respectable people never asked questions.
Elena had worked for him for three years.
She had learned two important things.
First, never lie to Adrian.
Second, never ask about the things he didn’t want to discuss.
“You’re still here,” he said.
“So are you.”
His eyebrow lifted.
Elena immediately regretted answering.
“Sorry.”
A faint smile touched his mouth.
“You don’t have to apologize every time you speak to me, Elena.”
“You make that difficult sometimes.”
He walked toward her desk.
She closed the laptop.
“What do you need?”
“Come to a party with me tomorrow night.”
Elena blinked.
She stared at him.
Then she laughed.
Adrian didn’t.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I need a date.”
Elena looked around the office as though someone else might be hiding nearby.
“You need a date?”
“Yes.”
“And somehow this became my problem?”
“It will be.”
She folded her arms.
“No.”
Adrian leaned one hand against her desk.
“No?”
“No.”
“You haven’t heard the offer.”
“I’ve heard enough.”
“It’s an important event.”
“Then bring someone who actually wants to go.”
“I don’t want someone who wants to go.”
His eyes held hers.
“I need someone I can trust.”
That made her pause.
“Why me?”
“Because you know when to stay quiet.”
“That sounded almost insulting.”
“It wasn’t.”
“You’re getting worse at compliments.”
“I wasn’t complimenting you.”
She sighed.
“Of course not.”
Adrian straightened.
“You’ll be paid.”
“I don’t need your money.”
“You’ll be protected.”
“I’ve survived working for you for three years.”
That time, his mouth almost curved into a real smile.
“You’ll wear whatever you want.”
“That is not enough to make me attend a mafia party.”
Silence.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“You know exactly what kind of party this is?”
“I have eyes.”
She had seen enough during her three years as his secretary to understand that the Blackwell business empire had darker roots than the financial pages would ever admit.
Men with bodyguards.
Unmarked cars.
Private meetings.
Threatening phone calls.
Documents that never appeared in official records.
But Adrian had never allowed that world to touch her.
Not once.
“Then you understand why I need you there,” he said.
Elena frowned.
“No. I understand why you don’t want to go alone.”
“That isn’t the reason.”
“What is?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“I need everyone in that room to believe that you’re important to me.”
Her heartbeat changed.
She didn’t know why.
Maybe because Adrian Blackwell had never said words like that to her.
Maybe because she suddenly understood that this wasn’t a simple favor.
Something was happening.
Something dangerous.
“Why?”
Adrian reached into his coat and placed a small black invitation on her desk.
“Because someone has been asking questions about you.”
Elena stared at the invitation.
Then at him.
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Her stomach tightened.
Adrian’s voice became colder.
“But I intend to find out.”
He walked toward the door.
“Elena.”
She looked up.
“Tomorrow night. Wear something that makes people look twice.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
He paused without turning around.
“Because I want them looking at you instead of what they’re really watching.”
Then he walked away.
Elena remained frozen behind her desk.
She picked up the invitation.
Only one thought kept repeating in her mind.
Why had Adrian Blackwell, the most feared man in the city, suddenly decided that his secretary had to become his fake date?
And why did the thought of being seen beside him make her heart beat faster than it should?
