MAFIA QUEEN

CHAPTER 5- everything I wanted

Gwen woke up earlier than usual, her eyes still heavy, but she forced herself to sit up. Today wasn’t like any other day. This was the day she started her “new job.” She wanted to at least look like she knew what she was doing.

She walked to the mirror and winced at her reflection.

Her hair was a mess—flat on one side, sticking up on the other. She normally didn’t care much; she was used to tying it into a low bun and leaving the house. But today, for once, she grabbed the curler. She didn’t know why—maybe she wanted to look professional, maybe she wanted confidence, or maybe part of her wanted to look nothing like the broken girl from last night.

She curled her hair loosely, letting some parts fall in soft waves. She put on light makeup—thin eyeliner, a bit of blush, and gloss. Nothing heavy. She looked like she tried, but not too much.

She put on black business pants, a white blouse, and a black coat. Simple. Clean. Mature.

By the time she got downstairs, Kian was already waiting in the car.

No “good morning.”

No smile.

Just silence.

The entire drive was quiet, stiff, and uncomfortable. Gwen kept looking outside the window, fidgeting with her fingers. Kian didn’t look at her once.

When the car finally stopped, Gwen blinked in confusion.

This wasn’t a company.

This was a mansion.

A huge, black mansion with sharp edges and dark windows. Expensive cars in the driveway. Bodyguards everywhere—big, tall, expressionless men wearing all black. Some held radios, some held guns tucked under their jackets.

Gwen felt her stomach drop.

Gwen: “…father…why are we here?”

Kian: “This is your workplace. And… you can live here if you want. It’s your choice.”

Gwen stared at him.

Gwen: “Live? Here?”

Kian kept his eyes forward.

Kian: “You’ll be working late. Decide for yourself.”

Before she could ask anything else, he drove away—fast. Almost like he was escaping something.

A woman in a black uniform approached her immediately.

Staff: “Please follow me, miss.”

Even the staff looked expensive. Straight hair, sharp eyeliner, perfect posture. Gwen felt underdressed and overdressed at the same time.

They walked through the hall until the woman stopped at a large door.

Staff: “Knock. Enter only when sir allows.”

Then she disappeared like smoke.

Gwen exhaled and knocked.

Luke: “Enter.”

His voice was deep, low, and cold enough to make her freeze for a second.

She opened the door slowly.

Luke was inside—halfway buttoning his shirt, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly messy like he had just gotten out of something. A woman slipped past Gwen, leaving without looking at her.

Gwen understood what that meant.

She didn’t react. She didn’t care.

Or she tried not to.

Luke glanced at her briefly before finishing one button.

Luke: “Sit.”

No expression, no greeting. Just an order.

Gwen sat straight, pretending she didn’t notice his shirt still open halfway down his chest.

Luke stood in front of his desk.

Luke: “Working here won’t be easy. You need to be around twenty-four seven. The money is good, but the job is not simple.”

Gwen nodded respectfully, even though her heart was pounding. She didn’t remember flirting with him. She didn’t remember brushing his lips. All she remembered was alcohol and anger.

Luke continued:

Luke: “I’m leaving for a mission today. You’ll be in charge of checking who attacks and who doesn’t.”

Gwen stared.

Gwen: “…attacks?”

Luke froze for a second, then laughed—but not a warm laugh.

A cold, dangerous one.

Luke: “Your father didn’t tell you.”

Luke shook his head with a smirk.

Luke: “Now I understand why it was easy to bring you here.”

Gwen’s voice dropped.

Gwen: “So… what job is this exactly?”

He looked directly at her. No games, no lies.

Luke: “I’m a mafia leader.”

He said it like he was saying his favorite color.

Gwen’s eyes widened. Her breath stopped. For a second, everything inside her froze. She wasn’t scared—she was shocked, confused, and strangely… excited? She always imagined danger in movies. But this was real. And he was real. And he looked like someone you didn’t cross.

But she didn’t run.

She didn’t scream.

She simply said softly:

Gwen: “…okay.”

Luke raised a brow.

Luke: “Not surprised?”

Gwen shrugged a little.

Gwen: “I’ve seen worse from life.”

Luke didn’t show it, but he was impressed. She was different from the girls he knew—no fear, no exaggerations, no dramatic reaction.

Just quiet acceptance.

Luke: “Good. Then let’s begin.”

His tone dropped lower, deeper.

Luke: “Stay close to me. I don’t trust anyone else.”

And even though he said it coldly, something about his voice made her chest tighten—not in fear, but something else she didn’t want to name yet.

Gwen stood in front of Luke’s desk, still trying to process everything. She had entered the mansion less than ten minutes ago and already felt like she had stepped into another world—one where people whispered, walked fast, and obeyed orders without blinking.

She cleared her throat a little.

Gwen: “How about the rules? No rules?”

Luke was adjusting the cuffs of his shirt, barely looking at her. He didn’t walk closer, didn’t soften, didn’t show anything. He stayed on the opposite side of the room like he was purposely keeping distance—professional, cold, detached. Maybe it was because she was new. Maybe because he didn’t want her to see he was interested… even if it wasn’t love yet. More like curiosity.

He finally looked up, his voice flat.

Luke: “Rule one: no revealing outfits.”

Gwen blinked.

Seriously? That was the first thing?

Luke continued before she could react.

Luke: “Rule two: hair stays down. No tying it up.”

Now Gwen was even more confused.

No revealing clothes? Fine.

But no tying her hair? What kind of rule was that?

And then:

Luke: “Rule three: no questions.”

Gwen stared at him.

These were the strangest rules she had ever heard. No questions? How was she supposed to work without asking questions?

She didn’t argue though.

Gwen: “…Okay.”

Luke’s eyes narrowed.

Luke: “It’s ‘sir.’”

His tone dropped even colder. Gwen straightened immediately. Now she could tell—this job was serious, strict, and nothing like normal work.

Gwen: “Yes… sir.”

Luke seemed satisfied and grabbed a set of papers off the desk, not giving her another glance.

Luke: “You’ll get a room here. You move in three days.”

Gwen’s head shot up.

Gwen: “Three days? I can’t stay at my home?”

Luke slowly lifted his eyes at her, the coldness returning like a switch flipping.

Luke: “Did you not hear my last rule?”

No questions.

Gwen exhaled through her nose, annoyed but hiding it. She nodded quietly.

Gwen: “…Understood, sir.”

Luke: “Good. Go home now.”

He dismissed her with a simple wave of his hand, already opening a file like she wasn’t even in the room anymore.

Gwen turned and walked toward the door. She didn’t slam it, didn’t roll her eyes, didn’t complain. But inside her head, she was thinking:

That man has the stupidest rules I’ve ever heard.

And yet…

She knew she wasn’t quitting.

Not after everything.

Not after the life she lived.

Not after the way Luke looked at her the first time… even if she didn’t remember it clearly.

She walked out of his office, still confused, slightly annoyed, and secretly excited.

This job was going to change everything.