His Fiancée Betrayed Him Publicly—Then the Mafia Boss Chose the Woman Everyone Mocked
Chapter 2
Elena thought she’d forgotten the strange conversation by morning.
She hadn’t.
She was back at the catering company at six a.m., wearing the same black uniform and trying to ignore the gossip surrounding Adrian Moretti.
Everyone had seen the videos.
His fiancée had publicly accused him.
Social media was full of theories.
Some people called Adrian dangerous.
Others called Isabella brave.
Elena didn’t know what to believe.
She only knew what she had seen.
A man humiliated in front of hundreds of people.
A woman smiling while doing it.
And a room full of people enjoying the spectacle.
At 8:15, Elena’s supervisor called her into the office.
“You’re done.”
Elena stared.
“What?”
“Bellagio complained.”
“About what?”
“You spoke to Mr. Moretti.”
Elena frowned.
“I gave him a handkerchief.”
“You spoke to him.”
“I wasn’t rude.”
“That’s not the point.”
Elena felt her stomach drop.
“So I’m fired?”
Her supervisor avoided her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Elena walked outside carrying a cardboard box.
Again.
Another job gone.
She had become used to being underestimated.
She was the daughter of immigrants.
She had left school at seventeen to help her mother.
She had worked in restaurants, hotels, event companies, and private homes.
People always assumed she was temporary.
Replaceable.
Forgettable.
She had stopped trying to prove them wrong.
As she walked to the bus stop, a black sedan pulled up beside her.
The rear door opened.
Elena stopped.
Adrian Moretti stepped out.
He wore a charcoal suit.
No tie.
No visible security.
But two men stood several feet behind him.
Elena’s heart raced.
“What are you doing here?”
Adrian looked at the box in her hands.
“You were fired.”
“How did you know?”
“I know most things that happen in my city.”
Elena sighed.
“Of course you do.”
He looked at her.
“I have a job for you.”
She laughed.
“I’m not qualified to work for you.”
“You don’t know what the job is.”
“Exactly.”
Adrian opened the car door.
“Come with me.”
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
“I don’t get into cars with powerful men who appeared outside my workplace after I got fired.”
He almost smiled.
“Fair.”
He removed a business card and handed it to her.
“My office.”
She looked at it.
“Why me?”
“Because you were the only person in that room who didn’t care who I was.”
“I cared.”
“About what?”
“You were bleeding too.”
He looked surprised.
She had noticed his knuckles were bruised.
He had hidden them.
Adrian looked down at his hand.
Then back at her.
“I need someone I can trust.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I know enough.”
Elena shook her head.
“I’ve never worked in an office.”
“Then learn.”
“I don’t know anything about your business.”
“Good.”
That confused her.
“Why is that good?”
“Because everyone who already knows my business thinks they know everything.”
He paused.
“I need someone who asks questions.”
Elena looked at the card.
“How much?”
Adrian named a salary that was nearly triple her previous income.
Her eyes widened.
“That seems excessive.”
“It is.”
“Why?”
“Because I expect honesty.”
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then she accepted the card.
“I’ll think about it.”
Adrian nodded.
“That’s all I wanted.”
As he turned away, Elena called after him.
“Mr. Moretti?”
He looked back.
“Is the job legal?”
For the first time, he laughed.
A genuine laugh.
“Mostly.”
Elena stared.
“That wasn’t reassuring.”
“No.”
He walked toward the car.
“But it was honest.”
