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CLAUDIA

Claudia preoccupied her mind with the phone call. It was surprising. After Dominic's interview, she didn't expect it. The interview itself was unconventional. Her brief meeting with him while seated was unusual. She did not become intimidated, despite her weird behavior. The mystery of the call piqued her interest more. It stimulated her. Regardless, she wanted to succeed in business. But that road wasn't always fascinating. It had several routines and required a lot of confidence. She finally joined a restaurant supply company. Something she didn't believe would happen after being turned down many times before.

Dominic's comments lingered over the weekend. A man like him was surely too busy to confirm her time. Was she looking into this? Did she make everything up in her head? Why call her instead of texting? Claudia sought answers.

Concentrating on the interview distracted her. She attempted to stay composed, but Dominic's eyes lit up in her mind. She knew that he enjoyed talking to her. Even though she didn't want to admit it, she liked talking to him from the opposite side of the table. Claudia was excited about her first day of work, but not for the right reasons. Dominic was her main concern. She was interested in their new friendship.

Dare she admit that her goal was to find more sexual chemistry between them? Maybe she just needed another activity in her life.

"You know he's involved with the Mafia." Claudia visited her friend Kayla at her Times Square penthouse. She informed her about these theories as if Claudia hadn't heard them before. Her friend had once dated a man in the Mafia, so getting a little guidance about that lifestyle helped.

"People at the office talked about what Mr. Beretta did outside of work. I checked about it, but I'm not even convinced the Mafia still exists." Claudia sipped her champagne while watching TV. She needed her friend's mafia expertise.

"The Mafia exists," Kayla said after finishing her tequila. "But in another way. Do you really want to work with someone involved in all of that?"

Claudia cocked her head as if to say, "What did you expect?" Could she turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because Dominic Beretta was a mafia member? That idea was unsettling.

"His company oversees other industries." She realized her slip. Claudia continued to talk to highlight her argument. "It's an opportunity I can't pass up. A business that thrives. Dom and I won't be working in a private room together. There will be people everywhere."

Kayla stared at her and set her drink down. "Calling him pet names now?"

Claudia smiled. "What should I call him? Mr. Beretta? Come on. He told me to call him Dom."

Kayla laughed and laid her dark hand over Claudia's shoulder. "I was kidding. I'm just saying that you probably should be careful around this guy. He may be a criminal, which doesn't help your case. Playing with the Mafia is no joke."

Claudia gravitated toward that last sentence. She hadn't contemplated Dominic killing someone. That disturbed her. He went from a sophisticated CEO to a brutal convict in a flash.

She snapped out of it and told Kayla, "If the whole point of this conversation was to scare me and make me not like this guy, then you succeeded."

Her friend smiled. "I am only giving you advice, Dee. New York has several mob families, and you're now working as a personal assistant for an important member of the Beretta family. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Claudia appreciated Kayla's candor, even though it spoiled the rest of her evening. It was like a parent urging a child to be careful before going outside. The child remembered their mother's warning while trying to have fun. And that's what happened with Kayla's declarations.

Before starting work, Claudia focused on Kayla's remarks about the Mafia and her boss's reason for the phone call. On Monday morning, she rode a posh Times Square taxi to Manhattan. Her friend's statements didn't inspire her, and she didn't realize what she was getting into when she took the job.

Claudia brought coffee and went to 67th Street. She enjoyed watching people rush to work. They were probably considering what to eat for lunch, and she wasn't hungry. She checked in and sat at a window-side desk with a list of the day's duties. The messages, worksheets, and everyday tasks fired her up, as she was starting everything fresh.

Dominic was absent when she arrived thirty minutes early. Her leg shook. Starting her day and getting into the company's rhythm differed from waiting for their next interaction. He was no ordinary boss. He was an executive who called her at random one night and made her feel like she was part of his illegal business. She could probably blame Kayla for that.

But she was happy because she started everything early. In twenty minutes, Claudia finished her email tasks. After an hour, she completed most of Dominic's paperwork. When he finally arrived at work, she was at peace.

Dominic came at nine-thirty. She understood his workload and importance to the organization. But his arrival an hour and a half later annoyed her. He brought his briefcase and coffee, so she knew he wasn't in a meeting. His cologne made her stomach tighten. His cinnamon scent reminded her of Christmas.

"Good morning, Dia," Dominic said as he walked by her desk.

He glanced at her. His attitude was different, and she didn't know why. She remained calm. Despite their dysfunctional interactions, she needed to act normal. "Good morning, Dom."

He walked straight to his office, sat down, and opened his laptop. That was strange. He didn't bother to say anything else. An ocean of unease overcame her entire body. It wasn't the usual discomfort. It was this strange discomfort that kept her drawn to him. She wanted to prod him to talk, plus she was still interested in learning more about the weird phone call.

Claudia hurried into his office and closed the door. "May I ask you something? Why did you call me the other night? I hadn't started working here yet when you called without saying goodbye. It was strange."

Dominic looked at her. "If I had said anything else, would that have made our conversation less awkward?"

He acknowledged that it was awkward. But why did he call her? She had a million questions after asking one. "Well, yes. It would not have been awkward. We could have continued talking and getting to know one another."

He blinked. "You're attentive on your first day, Claudia. You're curious about everything but work."

"I think there is something you're not telling me, Mr. Beretta," she said, frowning. "Call me paranoid."

"You're paranoid."

She laughed. Claudia did not want to smile, but it happened. Dominic penetrated the walls she had built. It didn't take long before he broke through her resistance.

"Okay. I'll stop asking about it for now. Since I know you're lying, I'll just finish my assignments."

Claudia's honesty surprised her. If she were him, she would fire herself immediately. She had no clue where her confidence in this man came from, but she maintained it. Claudia enjoyed challenging him. Exploring his layers was fun. He broke her barriers without even trying, and she intended to reach him.

"You know, you shouldn't be talking to me like that, Miss. Marcello. I called you the other night to discuss work. That's all. I don't like your sarcasm or how you're speaking to me."

His voice was dark. It cut deeply. Despite her denial, Dominic had embarrassed her. She went back to her desk and sat silently as her gaze fell on his computer. She should have apologized, but she couldn't say it.

Claudia felt awkward after that. It was dead silent in the room. She worried that this would be their work dynamic in the future. How can anyone recover from that? She couldn't get back on track after crossing that line.

She then worked discreetly. She occasionally checked Dominic's status. He was absent-minded. He clicked and focused on his project. Was this man part of the mafia? She was suspicious. He seemed average. She saw his compassion behind those dark eyes. She couldn't compare him with the people her friend had brought up recently. Even when he snapped, Claudia couldn't imagine it.

Her turning point came during lunch at a sandwich shop. She realized her time away from work had clarified some things. Claudia decided to quit Beretta Co. She chose to leave after realizing Kayla was right about everything and the circumstances were bothersome. The phone call was strange, and she failed to understand it.

She gasped while eating her turkey panini. Dominic had become a mafia man now, and she was nervous to see him again. After her 45-minute break, Claudia went to his office. She entered the space quietly and stood until he turned to face her.

From a psychological point of view, it was a way to keep him in line. Dominic's dark eyes finally found her but lingered on her breasts. She figured that the man didn't like her but liked other parts of her.

"What's up? Do you need something?"

She could tell he clenched his jaw after finishing his sentence just by looking at the muscles on his face.

"There is a problem, Mr. Beretta. Your tone of voice bothered me. Even if I went too far, I'm not a pushover. I'm here to tell you that I quit."

She relieved and terrified herself when she said that. Claudia quitting her job was not the reason. She defended what she believed in.

Dominic left his desk and went to the door. He closed it, and her heart bounced. Her leg would have shaken if she were sitting.

"Claudia, I'm the CEO. You spoke to me inappropriately. It had nothing to do with work. You went off-topic talking about my phone call. If that makes you want to quit, go ahead. I won't be your doormat, either. If you can't take the heat, there's the door."

When Dominic said that, Claudia hated knowing her toxicity came out. Why was she this peeved? He was her boss. Why did she try to aggravate him even further? She had to quit her job, since this was a major problem. She wasn't trying to alternate between studying his lips and his eyes. But with the stubble surrounding those parts, she longed to feel them against her skin. She wanted his beard to tickle her if they kissed. But kissing him was not an option. She should not have allowed that fantasy to enter her brain at all.

"I think you can't handle being spoken to by a strong woman, Dominic. You get all defensive like a child."

He chuckled. It was a mocking laugh. "I get defensive? It was you who gave up. After I said what I said, I moved on. Because I reacted, you were fuming. Maybe you aren't used to a big man talking to you."

Only a centimeter separated Dominic from her lips, and his expression was as icy as a glacier. "I don't want to fight, Dia."

"I agree."

"I'd rather talk about something else."

"Just talk, Dom?" Claudia noted while leaning toward him. "Is that all you want to do?"

His hand moved to her shoulder while his eyes searched hers.

She said, "I want to kiss you, and I know you want to kiss me. You can't deny that."

Dominic nodded and cleared his throat. "You're right, Dia. I want to kiss you." Towering above her, he licked his lips slowly. "But we can't."

"Why? I quit, and you're single like me, right?"

He nodded once more.

"Then what's the problem?"

He leaned forward against her nose. "You quit verbally. Technically, you're still on the clock."

"Clock me out and record my resignation."

"No, Dia. Don't quit on me. I need you here."

Claudia's heart pounded as she touched his scruffy jaw and stared into his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be an intern for you. That is, if you can handle me, Dom."

"Oh, I can handle you, Dia. Trust me. I want you."

"Then make me yours." She rested his palm over her heart. "You want to touch me. Your eyes show it."

His Adam's Apple stirred as the atmosphere stiffened. Dominic stayed quiet as she noticed his chest rising and his breathing becoming quicker.

He stared.

"Dom, take me off the employee list so we can fulfill what we want. I know you're thinking about it."

He shook his head. "Not here."

"Is that because we're at work, or are you afraid to give in?" Claudia pushed.

"Both, Dia. I've never done this in my office or had this relationship with an employee."

"Well, I'm no longer working for you. Remember?"

"Don't do that. You need this job."

She withdrew and chuckled softly. "But I need you more. Why deny what we feel for each other? Take me off your list. It's okay."

Dominic's eyes widened as he observed her and turned to his laptop. She was in the employee log. While composing a brief statement about her employment and resignation, he gazed at her.

"Is this really what you want to do, Claudia?" he asked. "To quit? Because sending this to Human Resources is permanent."

She smiled, nodded, and took his hand. "I'll find another job. Maybe not something like this, but a job. Anything that can pay the bills."

He again shook his head. "I will help you find a good job. Or you can stay here. You finished all of my work before noon, which was impressive."

She suppressed her blush while standing next to his desk. "As I told you during my interview, I can handle administrative duties."

"I'm sure you can handle more than . . . that."

She was ready to give into her primal urges as he continued to hold her cheeks with his hands.

After sending a note to HR, Claudia smiled. Once Dominic turned to face her, she took control. Moving in, she did yet another thing that was different for her. She kissed him.

Claudia waited for the two-second "one Mississippi, two Mississippi" phase to swing them on the desk. It was a quick decision, and she became driven. Following her instincts usually leads to better things. This time, it worked. Dominic explored her mouth like a cave, surprising her.

Holding her neck, he kissed her deeply. She kissed his mouth and beard. Her fantasy came true. He began rubbing her shoulders while kissing her neck. His tongue danced with hers.

Dominic made Claudia forget who she was and where she was. Was she his employee? Not anymore. She became the woman he was kissing. He kissed her deeply, and she didn't want to forget this moment. She wanted to strengthen it.

She did just that. Dominic's ass moved to the edge of his disorganized desk, and Claudia grasped his hips, pressing their chests together. Through her thin purple shirt, she wondered if he could feel her supple breasts. She didn't mind if he did.

While exploring each other's bodies, Claudia's thoughts turned dirty. She yearned to feel if he was poking behind his pants. She quickly felt his anatomy along her bottom. Long and solid. Excitement filled her entire being.

Claudia knew Dominic wanted her. She wanted him. And this kiss changed their connection. Things would change. There would be no going back or putting their small argument to shame. But what is life without enjoying it?

She followed her heart. 

She chose happiness.

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