The Mafia Boss Brought His Secretary as His Fake Date—Then Got Jealous When Every Man Wanted Her
Chapter 5
Adrian’s private residence was hidden behind tall iron gates on the edge of the city.
Elena had worked for him for three years and had never been there.
That alone told her how serious the situation had become.
The house was enormous.
But unlike the Blackwell Tower, it didn’t feel cold.
There were bookshelves.
Photographs.
A grand piano.
A fireplace.
For the first time, Elena saw something that looked like Adrian’s real life.
“You stay here tonight,” he said.
She turned.
“I can go home.”
“No.”
“Adrian—”
“No.”
His tone left no room for argument.
She folded her arms.
“Then tell me what you’re afraid of.”
He looked at her.
“Losing you.”
The answer came so quickly that Elena didn’t know how to react.
Adrian seemed surprised by his own honesty.
He turned away.
“I’ll have a security team downstairs.”
She watched him walk toward the door.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“Was my father involved with your family?”
“Yes.”
“Did he trust you?”
Adrian looked back.
“Yes.”
“Did you betray him?”
His face tightened.
“No.”
She nodded slowly.
“I believe you.”
He looked genuinely surprised.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you could have lied better.”
A small smile appeared on his lips.
“You’re learning.”
“From the worst possible teacher.”
“Probably.”
She smiled too.
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“Send the file.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?”
“They found the car.”
“What car?”
“The one that followed us.”
“And?”
“The driver is dead.”
Elena stared.
“Who killed him?”
“We don’t know.”
Adrian sat down heavily.
Something about his posture made Elena realize how exhausted he was.
For the first time, he didn’t look like the untouchable mafia boss everyone feared.
He looked like a man who had been carrying too much for too long.
She sat beside him.
“You don’t have to protect me alone.”
His gaze moved to her.
“You don’t understand what you’re offering.”
“Then explain it.”
Silence.
“My father was betrayed by people inside my organization,” Adrian said. “I’ve spent years trying to find out who ordered it.”
“And you think the same person is after me?”
“I think your father’s evidence survived.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“What evidence?”
“That is what we’re trying to find.”
“Why now?”
“Because someone knows I brought you into my private life.”
She looked at him.
“You did.”
He nodded.
“I made a mistake.”
“Bringing me to the party?”
“No.”
His eyes moved slowly over her face.
“Pretending you were only my fake date.”
Her heart skipped.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian stood.
He walked toward the fireplace.
“There are things I’ve tried very hard not to feel.”
“Elena…”
He turned.
“Tonight, watching other men touch your hand made me realize something.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t acting.”
Silence filled the room.
Elena’s pulse raced.
Adrian approached her.
“Every time someone looked at you, I wanted them gone.”
“Adrian…”
“Every time you smiled at them, I hated it.”
She swallowed.
“That sounds like jealousy.”
“It was.”
He stopped inches away.
“And I don’t know what to do with it.”
Elena looked into his eyes.
Neither moved.
Then Adrian’s phone rang again.
He closed his eyes in frustration.
She almost laughed.
“Your timing is terrible.”
“I know.”
He answered.
A man’s voice spoke rapidly on the other end.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then his eyes moved toward Elena.
“Say that again.”
He ended the call.
“Elena.”
“What?”
“They found a storage locker registered under your father’s name.”
Her breath stopped.
“Where?”
“Three blocks from your old childhood home.”
“And what’s inside?”
“We don’t know.”
Adrian reached for his coat.
“We’re going.”
She stood.
“Now?”
“Now.”
Because somewhere inside that locker might be the truth Elena had been missing for fourteen years.
