The Mafia Boss's First Love

Chapter 14

BY MORNING, Samara was still sleeping comfortably in her bed. She was hugging one of her pillows tightly, with one leg draped over it. She was enjoying her deep slumber when she suddenly felt someone shaking her body.

"Stop shaking me, Teresa! I’m still sleeping, you’re bothering me!" Samara complained.

"I didn’t plan on waking you up, Sleeping Beauty, but I have to!"

"I’ll just clean the bar counter later myself. I promise I’ll make it up to you once I wake up," Samara mumbled. Her eyes flew open in shock when Teresa abruptly pulled her up into a sitting position, standing right in front of her.

"Teresa!"

"Don’t you dare complain to me! Why are you still sleeping instead of getting ready? Are you out of your mind, making Mr. Penelton wait for you?" Teresa scolded, making Samara furrow her brow in confusion.

"Mr. Penelton? What about Mr. Penelton?"

"What about him? I should be asking you that, Samara Cortez! Why is Mr. Penelton here so early looking for you?" Teresa said. Samara froze for a moment, trying to process what Teresa just told her.

"Mr. Penelton is here… looking for me? At this hour?"

"Do I look like I’m making this up? If I were you, Sam, I’d get up and get ready right now," Teresa replied before walking out of the room, leaving Samara utterly confused.

"Why is Mr. Penelton here this early? My duties as his underwing don’t start until next week, don’t they?" Samara wondered to herself. She quickly scrambled out of bed when Teresa shouted her name loudly from outside.

Samara hurriedly grabbed some clothes and headed straight for the bathroom right next to their room. She took a quick shower. She couldn’t understand why Elijah was already at the club so early in the morning.

After her shower, Samara put on a pair of black pants and a white fitted shirt. Because she was in such a rush, she completely forgot to put on shoes, and left the towel wrapped around her wet hair as she rushed out of the room.

Upon entering the main area of the club, she immediately spotted Elijah standing near their manager. Her coworkers were all around them, and Samara could clearly see the look of admiration in their eyes because of how handsome Elijah was — everyone except Teresa, that is.

"Did Samara do something wrong, Mr. Penelton? Is that why you came here again personally?" the club manager asked.

"Manager, Samara is here," one of Samara’s coworkers announced. Everyone turned their attention toward her.

Elijah’s gaze remained fixed on her as she walked closer to where he was talking to the manager.

"Samara, why are you so slugg—"

"—I told you that I would pick you up at eight, didn’t I?" Elijah cut the manager off, making Samara look straight at him.

"Did you? I didn’t hear anything about us going somewhere today. Besides, I don’t officially start until next week, right?" Samara answered. She glanced at Teresa, who was signaling something to her from the side, but she couldn't understand what she meant.

"I told you last night before you entered this club. You just weren’t paying attention, were you?" Elijah complained, making Samara turn her focus back to him.

"I really didn’t hear anything, Mr. Penelton. If we had plans, I would have been ready."

"With that appearance?" Elijah asked, making Samara frown.

"What is wrong with my outfit? This is what I usually wear. Why do I need to dress up, Mr. Penelton?" Samara asked. She felt someone pinch her arm hard and turned to see it was her manager.

"You surely aren't planning to go with Mr. Penelton while you still have a towel wrapped around your head and you’re wearing house slippers? Have some dignity, Samara," their manager scolded.

Samara immediately felt her head, then looked down at her feet at the same time.

She was overwhelmed with embarrassment.

"I’ll just go back to my room for a moment. How was I supposed to know we had plans, Mr. Penelton?" Samara said, humiliated.

"You have already kept Mr. Penelton waiting long enough, Samara. Mr. Penelton does not like to be dela—"

"—Take your time. I’ll wait for you in my car. Just make yourself presentable and neat," Elijah interrupted the manager before turning around and walking out of the club.

Samara sprinted back to her room to fix herself up properly. Once she was ready, she immediately left the bar and headed toward Elijah’s car, which was waiting for her outside.

She quickly got into the passenger seat. Elijah was in the driver’s seat, glancing at the watch on his wrist.

"Don't complain to me about having to wait so long, because I honestly didn't hear anything last night about us going anywhere early today."

"I didn't say anything," Elijah said, turning to look at her.

"So where exactly are we going today, Mr. Penelton? My duties start next week, right?" Samara asked as Elijah started the engine and drove away.

"Wait a minute… aren’t I supposed to be the one driving?"

"Just sit still. I drive my own car," Elijah answered, making Samara roll her eyes slightly.

"You don’t trust my driving skills, do you? I know how to drive. I can even drive a truck if I wanted to," Samara muttered, finally putting on her seatbelt as they reached the highway.

"You still haven’t answered my question, Mr. Penelton. Where are we going this early in the morning?" Samara asked again.

"To my manor."

"To your manor? Why did you even bother picking me up from the club when you could have just called me and told me to go there directly?" Samara asked, confused by Elijah’s actions.

"You could have just sent Tadeo, or any of your men, to pick me up, Mr. Penelton."

"I wanted to pick you up myself," Elijah answered, causing Samara to fall silent for a moment.

"Are you just bored at your manor or something?" Samara blurted out.

"I don't have your contact number, so how could I call you? And I didn't want to f*****g bother Deo just to send a message to you," Elijah explained. Samara looked at him, utterly confused.

"Tadeo is your underwing, Mr. Penelton. You can order him to do anything; that man never complains."

"Why are you complaining when I already picked you up anyway? And why did you want Deo to pick you up instead?" Elijah snapped.

"Why does it sound like you’re annoyed, Mr. Penelton?" Samara asked back. Elijah paused for a split second.

"I’m not into phones, nor am I quick to answer calls," Samara said. She noticed Elijah’s phone resting on the dashboard, picked it up, and quickly saved her number into his contacts before placing it back exactly where she found it.

"I already saved my number in your contacts. If you need me to come to the manor, just give me a call. You’re the Don of Senza, not a driver whose job is to pick people up," Samara stated.

"What can I f*****g do… I just wanted to see you," Elijah muttered so quietly that Samara didn't hear a word of it.

After the long drive, they finally arrived at Elijah’s manor. They stepped out of the car together. Samara immediately saw an elderly woman walking out of the main house and heading straight toward them.

"Where have you been so early in the morning, Señor?" Corazon asked, glancing over at Samara.

"And who is this young lady with you?"

"She is a new member of my underwing starting next week. And she will be staying here at the manor’s guesthouse," Elijah answered. Samara turned to look at him, shocked.

"At the guesthouse? But Señor, that part of your estate is meant for fa—"

"—Clean up the guesthouse, Corazon. It must be spotless and fully prepared by next week," Elijah ordered, cutting her off. He then turned his attention to Samara.

"Follow me, Samara."

He began walking toward the entrance of the manor, and Samara quickly followed behind him.

"Wait, Mr. Penelton… what do you mean I’m staying at the guesthouse? What was that all about?" Samara asked, trailing behind him.

"You are now part of my underwing. That means you must stay within close proximity to me for easy access and contact. I won’t accept any refusal from you. You have no right to decline this. It is an order," Elijah stated firmly.

"Wow… you really make decisions on your own, don’t you, Mr. Penelton? Do I really have no choice in this matter at all?"

"You think you do?" Elijah asked back, making Samara scoff.

"What about my job at the club?"

"Now that you are my underwing, you will no longer work at that place. You need to focus entirely on your duties serving me. Is that clear enough?"

"Do I even have the right to object? You’re the boss," Samara replied. A small, faint smile slowly formed on Elijah’s lips.

"And starting today, as your Don, I order you to call me by my first name. No buts, Samara."

"Call you by your first name? But Tadeo and the others don’t call you by your first name, do they? So why am I—"

"—Are you objecting already?" Elijah interrupted, his expression turning slightly stern.

"I’m just asking a question! Is it wrong to ask? An order from the Don must be obeyed… happy now?" Samara complained.

"Then call me."

This man is really so bossy?! Samara thought to herself. If his connection and influence weren't so important in helping me find my parents' killer, I would never have agreed to work under him. Ugh. She forced a polite smile on her face.

"Elijah," Samara called out his name. The sound of it was pleasing to his ears.

"Much better."