Cruel Boss, You Are My Destiny

Clueless

Valeria's POV

I turn on my laptop and search the internet for information about the Morgans. A ton of pages about the family pops up right away, specifically about Luciano Morgan. He is a millionaire Italian with a lot of businesses, including liquor factories here in America and in several countries around the world. My jaw drops when I realize he is the incredibly hot man who took my friend from Phillips' wedding, and I am even more surprised when I remember Mattia.

“I saw him in the helicopter.”

Now I remember his face clearly. He was there that day, the day Luciano Morgan took Paula away. That meant Mattia is her brother-in-law.

“No wonder their eyes look alike.”

Not only have I been having crazy encounters with a mobster's brother, but I also can't get him out of my mind.

“What if he kidnaps me or kills me?”

My hands are shaking as I peek out the living room window, thinking he might be out there spying on me. But no, there is no one there. I take a deep breath and put my hand to my chest in relief, when I suddenly smell something burning.

“s**t, the soup!”

I run to the kitchen and see smoke billowing everywhere. I turn off the burner in a panic, and grab the fire extinguisher, quickly putting out the fire.

The vegetables are burned, as well as the chicken wings. I curse under my breath and start cleaning everything up, then I decide to order takeout. An hour later, the delivery guy arrives with my order. I take it, pay him, and sit down at the dining room table with a glass of orange juice, all the while trying to figure out how to avoid owing a mobster.

“Should I call him?”

I shake my head. I shouldn't get involved with those kinds of people, much less with someone who is my boss's brother.

“Even though he's sinfully handsome.”

His eyes come to mind again, and with them, a flutter in my lower belly. My face flush, and suddenly, I am short of breath.

Did the fact that he is the brother of a mobster, or possibly one himself, turn me on?

No, no, I've always been a girl who likes good men, quiet men, not the kind who grab you by the neck and make love to you like in “365 Days.” I press my lips together, feeling my panties dampen.

“I'm a degenerate.”

How can I be like this over a stranger? Over a man I've only seen twice and who is also my boss's brother?

I push the pizza aside and decide to call my friend. I haven't spoken to her in days, but apart from Paula, she is the only one I can talk to about this. I pick up the phone and wait for it to ring, and as expected, she answers on the second ring.

“You finally deign to call me,” she says from the other side.

I see her with a sideways smile. Her curly hair is a mess, and her lips are as red as an apple. Luisa and I have been friends since college, but two years ago, she went to England to get her master's degree, and since then, we only talk once or twice a week because of the time difference.

“I've been busy,” I excuse myself.

“What's going on?” she asks immediately.

“Nothing's going on. Does something have to be going on?” I ask, furrowing my brow.

“I know you well, Vale. I know when something's wrong. Your eyes turn into raisins, and you're holding back tears without any luck.” And as if it were a curse, tears spill down my cheeks.

“William and Laura are a thing, and they're getting married,” I blurt out.

“That bastard! He's a damn bastard, Vale! I told you, I told you those two were up to something back in college, and you didn't listen to me. You insisted on marrying him, and look at you now, suffering over that brown lizard who I'm sure has a tiny d**k,” she says, making me laugh.

“If I tell her the rest, she'll definitely fly over and stab him in his sleep.”

“That's not all, Lu. He asked me for a divorce, and it seems I also signed some papers where I sign over everything my father left me,” I sob.

My friend's mouth drops open like the vampires in Van Helsing, and she immediately furrows her brow.

“I'm a lawyer, Vale. Why are you signing crap without telling me first? Damn it!” she exclaims angrily.

“I already did it. It doesn't matter. You're not here, and I don't know what to do.” I watch her pace back and forth, thinking.

“We're going to sue him. We're going to fight for half the assets. You just say the word, and I'll drop out of my master's program and go over there. I want to make Laura eat dirt, and especially that bastard, William Cruz,” she exclaims.

“You know William. He'd destroy you in a heartbeat. I don't mean to discredit you, but you don't have the resources, Lu. I don't want to get you involved,” I tell her, sighing.

“Are we just going to sit here with our arms crossed?” she asks angrily.

“For now, yes. I'll try to talk to him, Lu. That's not the only reason I called you. I wanted to tell you that I met someone sexy, handsome, and dangerous.” She settles back in her chair and toss her hair back.

“Just how I like them, my God!” she exclaims, fanning herself.

“He's the brother of a mobster,” I say, making her jaw drop.

“There you go! That's the solution to your problems. Tell him to kill William, and that's it, Vale. As his widow, you'd inherit everything,” she says foolishly.

“What are you saying? Have you gone mad? I'm not a murderer. Besides, he's the brother of a mobster, married to my friend Paula, remember?”

“Yeah, your best friend since I left America.” She rolls her eyes.

“She's so jealous.”

“The very same. The truth is, he's cute, but I'm scared to go out with him,” I tell her honestly.

“Oh, Vale, those mobsters are more loyal than men like William Cruz. I advise you to see him. Maybe you'll get rid of those cobwebs.” I purse my lips.

“Yeah, I'll think about it. I'm going to let you go, Lu. I love you.” I say goodbye as the urge to cry washes over me again.

“Okay, girl. I have night class today. I love you, and remember you're not alone. You have me.”

I hang up with Luisa with a kiss and walk out to the garage when I hear William's car pull up. My heart immediately begin to race when I see him get out with Laura. They are both laughing, and he picks her up in his arms to walk over to me.

“What are you doing?” I ask, furrowing my brow.

“Can't you see what we're doing? Laura has moved in with me. She's my fiancée, and I'm going to marry her.”

“You're married to me!” I shout, clenching my fists.

“I don't give a damn. You're not my wife, Valeria. Just sign those papers and get out of my life.” He walks past me.

Laura smiles maliciously at me as tears stream down my cheeks. I hate them. I hate them with every fiber of my being.

***

In the following days, I go down the stairs, ready to go to the publishing house. I have been holed up in my room since Laura moved in with us. I only come down for food and then lock myself in the four walls of my room.

“I don't know what to do with my life.”

Paula hasn't been to the publishing house. I am afraid to see the Italian, and I have also hired a lawyer who called to tell me he couldn't take my case.

“I want to die.”

I grab the mail from the mailbox and get into my car without looking back. Once inside, I tear open the envelope and find an invitation to my boss's sister's wedding.

“Paula must have sent it to me.”

I think about tearing it up because, again, I don't want to get involved in that world. What I saw at Paula and Phillips' wedding was enough, but instead, I put it in my purse.

I start the car and drive off, unsure whether or not to go to the wedding. Maybe this Mattia guy isn't a mobster. He is different. Besides, I have to pay him what I owe him. Luckily, I received my paycheck from the publishing house a few days ago.

“What if I call him and ask for his account number?”

Who am I kidding? I'm dying to see him, and not only that. But I've also been having wet dreams about this man like I've never had about another.

I park outside the publishing house and get out, my heels clicking. As soon as I get to my floor, I hear everyone talking about the boss's sister's wedding. They say she’s marrying a huge Russian guy who’s also very handsome.

“I don't doubt it.”

I guess having the mobster gene make them all sexy. I take the invitation out of my purse and think out loud.

“What could happen if I go to a simple wedding?”