The Mafia Boss Is The Man Of My Dreams

Chapter 6

After dragging my feet to drop off the marketing transition documents like I was supposed to, I walked back to my department with my head entirely in the clouds, my thoughts completely consumed by that mystery stranger. I had so many questions swirling around in my mind—both perfectly sane and utterly insane ones.

Who was he?

Why was he here?

How on earth was he so freaking attractive?

And did I actually hear him mutter the word cute under his breath… or was I just completely tripping because I’d gotten lost in his sharp looks and that suffocating, dominant aura that clung to him?

Hell, I wasn’t even angry that he had arrogantly assumed I was one of Conan’s little playthings. I was far more curious about his actual identity than some ridiculous label I knew wasn’t true.

When I arrived back at the office, I slipped into my rolling chair and finally let out the biggest, most dramatic sigh I could manage, my eyes drifting toward the frosted glass of Conan’s corner suite. Conan was the only person in this entire building who might actually know who that man was. But was I really willing to willingly walk back into his office to ask, knowing he was a sleazy weirdo who clearly wanted nothing more than to use his new power to get me into bed?

Yeah. I was still going to ask.

I wasn’t exactly one to shy away from something this incredibly interesting. Besides, getting the information out of Conan might even be easy—the man already seemed entirely down bad, which was deeply bizarre considering we’d literally just met. But hey, who was I to question the logic of the male mind? As long as I found out exactly who that stranger was, that was good enough for me.

I didn't even know what I planned to do once I actually had a name, but maybe this relentless, gnawing sense of familiarity would finally disappear once I had some concrete answers.

Work ended before I even realized it, the hours blurring together in a haze of spreadsheets and daydreaming. The moment the clock struck five, I packed my bag and sped off toward the employee parking lot where I knew Jean’s car would be waiting. The moment I spotted it, I marched over, motioning through the glass for him to unlock the passenger side. I slipped inside the second the lock clicked, slamming the door shut before turning to him with a dry, breathless chuckle.

“So,” Jean said, shifting the car into park and leaning against the steering wheel. “What is it now, girl? What dramatic corporate catastrophe happened to you this time?”

“You would’ve already known if you actually checked your text messages, friend,” I replied with a heavy pout. “I was in there literally fighting for my professional life while you were out here living your best, oblivious life.”

He dug through his work bag for his phone, a guilty smile spreading across his face as he swiped it open.

“In my defense, my department was absolute chaos this afternoon—” He stopped short, his eyes widening in pure shock as his gaze snapped up to meet mine. “Tell me you’re shitting me right now.”

“Like I’d ever joke about something this serious,” I said, reaching over to stop his frantic hand waving, physically pushing his hand down.

“So that elevator pervert is really our new CEO,” he muttered, letting out a heavy, defeated sigh. “Wow. I always say drama follows you around like a shadow, Aria, but this—this is on an entirely new level. What happens if he makes your daily work life a living hell because you don't give in to his disgusting offers?”

“That’s not even the most important thing right now, Jean,” I said sharply, shifting in my seat to face him entirely. “Conan doesn’t genuinely bother me. He's predictable. I can handle a textbook creep.”

I hesitated, a sudden warmth hitting my cheeks before I forced myself to continue. “I met someone else today. Someone who actually, deeply bothers me.”

Jean raised a skeptical eyebrow as I stared past him, out the passenger window. “He felt intensely familiar and wildly distant at the exact same time. Jean... his mere gaze made me want to completely submit to him.”

“Uh—can I get a little more context here before you dissolve into a romance novel?” Jean said, snapping his fingers to bring me out of my thoughts.

“Let’s just get out of this parking lot first,” I said with a long sigh. “I’ll fill you in on the drive.”

He nodded, ignited the engine, and we smoothly pulled out into the evening traffic.

“How spectacular did this guy look to have the unbothered Aria this completely flustered?” Jean muttered under his breath after I finished recounting my brief hallway meeting with Mr. M—yes, that was the temporary title I’d decided to give him. “The Aria I know has never been shaken by a single man in this city. You’re always the one in total control.”

“Right?” I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “I feel like a ridiculous high school freshman who just saw a hot senior in the hallway and is going completely out of her way to find out what homeroom he’s assigned to.”

I laughed softly at my own absurdity. “But he was incredible, Jean. A razor-sharp jawline, a gorgeous but intensely hard face, lean but clearly built muscle beneath that tailored suit.” A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. “The absolute ideal kind of man to spend a sinful night with.”

Jean rolled his eyes dramatically as we finally pulled up to the curb in front of my house. “Honestly, I think your weird recurring dreams and your severely s*x-starved life are the real problem here,” he said calmly as the engine shut off. “You saw a stranger exactly once, and suddenly he feels familiar? Please. Your brain is just playing tricks on you because he’s drop-dead gorgeous and you’re craving a good lay.”

I frowned at him, crossing my arms. Way to completely downplay the absolute electricity I had felt.

“Well, if you’re really that consumed by curiosity,” he continued, giving me a supportive nudge, “just ask your sleazy new boss tomorrow. The guy was coming out of his office anyway, wasn't he?”

“I’m definitely doing that,” I said, a mischievous spark returning to my eyes as I unbuckled my seatbelt. “And trust me, I’ll find a way to get the relevant information out of him.”

“I’ll be waiting anxiously for the morning update,” Jean replied with a grin. “It better be incredibly juicy.”

I stepped out onto the pavement and shook my head affectionately at him.

“Say hi to your sister for me!” he yelled out the open window.

“I will!” I called back, turning to walk up the front steps to our door.

“I’m home!” I yelled out as I stepped inside the quiet house. After calling out a few more times and receiving nothing but silence, I figured Excelle wasn’t back from her shift yet. I dragged my exhausted feet to my bedroom, dropped my purse on the floor, and collapsed face-first onto my mattress, my mind instantly replaying the chaotic events of the day.

By the entire day, of course, I meant my fleeting interaction with Mr. M.

I simply couldn’t shake how deeply familiar his presence had felt. His dark, piercing eyes seemed like they were trying to tell me something—some ancient secret I was just too slow to fully comprehend. I had felt so incredibly small under his intense gaze, but for the very first time in my life, that lack of control hadn’t frightened me.

That realization alone said a terrifying amount.

Conan was my only solid lead. If he didn’t give me the answers I needed tomorrow morning, I might never see that dangerous stranger ever again.

Somewhere in the middle of my racing thoughts, exhaustion finally won, and heavy sleep claimed me.

Like clockwork, that familiar, scorching heat crept into my subconscious. I was dreaming again—pressed firmly against a cold, solid wall, the faceless stranger looming directly behind me in the shadows. His large hands were tangled possessively in my hair, his heavy, relentless movements making my skin burn. My breathless moans filled the empty room, mixing with the low, gravelly grunts of his voice. In that exact moment, within the safe confines of the dark dream, I belonged to absolutely no one else but him.

But as the scent of expensive leather, cedarwood, and smoky spice suddenly filled the dream, the shadows parted. Why—why did the striking, breathtaking face of Mr. M flash vividly through my mind just a microsecond before the dream faded entirely away?