The Mafia’s First Love

The Gilded Cage

MAYA

The moment the car started moving, I realized I had made a terrible decision.

I sat as far away from Dave as the leather seat allowed, my bag pressed tightly against my lap.

The door beside me was locked.

At least, I assumed it was.

I didn't dare reach for it.

Outside the tinted windows, the city moved past in a blur of buildings, traffic and people who had absolutely no idea that I was sitting inside a car with a man who had just threatened to destroy my employer.

My heart still hadn't slowed down.

I looked at my reflection in the dark window.

My glasses were slightly crooked.

I pushed them back into place.

Get yourself together, Maya.

Panic wasn't going to help me.

Questions would.

How had Henderson's records become so badly corrupted?

Why had Garun Holdings become interested in the company?

Why was I specifically being targeted?

And, more importantly, what exactly did Dave Garun want from me?

I glanced at him.

He sat beside me with an irritating calmness, one arm resting against the door, his attention seemingly fixed on the road ahead.

He looked like he belonged here.

Like dragging unsuspecting women into his car was simply another part of his day.

I looked away.

"Where are we going?"

He didn't answer immediately.

I turned toward him again.

"Mr. Garun?"

His eyes finally shifted to me.

"Garun Holdings."

Of course.

I swallowed.

I had expected it, but hearing it still made my stomach tighten.

"Why?"

"Because that's where you'll be working."

I stared at him.

"You've already decided that?"

"Yes."

"Without asking me?"

His mouth curved slightly.

"You got into the car."

I almost laughed.

Almost.

"That wasn't exactly a free choice."

His expression didn't change.

"You still made it."

I looked back through the window.

I hated that he was right.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then the car slowed.

I looked ahead.

A massive glass-and-steel building rose above the surrounding structures, its exterior reflecting the morning sunlight.

I stared.

This wasn't an office building.

It looked like an entire city had been compressed into one structure.

The car turned into an underground entrance.

As we descended, I caught sight of the security cameras positioned along the walls.

Too many.

Men in dark suits stood at intervals throughout the parking area.

My fingers tightened around my bag.

This wasn't normal corporate security.

Dave stepped out first.

I followed.

The moment we entered the building, something changed.

People who had been talking stopped.

A receptionist immediately straightened.

Security guards moved aside.

Employees lowered their voices.

No one needed to announce that Dave Garun had arrived.

The entire building seemed to know.

I followed him toward the private elevator.

The doors opened.

I stepped inside.

When they closed behind us, I finally breathed.

"What exactly am I supposed to do here?"

Dave looked at me.

"Work."

I gave him a flat look.

"I gathered that."

A faint smile touched his mouth.

"You'll find out soon enough."

The elevator opened.

We stepped onto another floor.

This one was different.

The office was enormous.

Rows of desks filled the open space. People in suits moved between departments, carrying files and speaking quietly into phones.

But the moment Dave stepped out of the elevator, the entire floor seemed to freeze.

I noticed it immediately.

People stopped talking.

Some lowered their eyes.

Others pretended to become very interested in whatever was on their desks.

I looked at Dave.

So this was the effect he had on people.

Fear.

Not respect.

Fear.

He stopped in the middle of the floor.

I stopped beside him.

"This is Maya."

Every head turned toward me.

My stomach tightened.

Dave's voice carried easily across the room.

"She's my new executive secretary. She works directly under me."

A murmur moved through the room.

He continued.

"She reports only to me. Any schedule, file or directive coming from her carries my authority."

I felt several pairs of eyes settle on me.

Some curious.

Some suspicious.

And a few openly hostile.

Especially from the women watching me.

I resisted the urge to adjust my glasses again.

Dave turned toward me.

"Come with me."

I followed him back into the private elevator.

The doors closed.

Only then did I realize how many people had just watched me become the newest subject of their gossip.

I sighed.

"This is going to be fun."

Dave glanced at me.

"You don't seem impressed."

"I've never had an entire office stare at me because my boss introduced me."

"You'll get used to it."

"I'd rather not."

The corner of his mouth lifted.

The elevator opened again.

This floor was quieter.

Far quieter.

Dave's office stood at the end of the corridor.

Two guards stood outside.

I slowed.

"Do you always have guards outside your office?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I can."

I stared at him.

He opened the door.

I walked inside.

His office was almost as intimidating as the rest of the building.

Everything was clean.

Expensive.

Controlled.

There wasn't a single thing out of place.

Dave walked behind his desk and sat down.

I remained standing.

He looked at me.

"Sit."

I sat.

He picked up the phone.

"Cecilia. My office."

A few moments later, the door opened.

A woman stepped inside.

She looked calm and professional, unlike almost everyone else I'd seen since entering the building.

"Yes, sir?"

Dave gestured toward me.

"Cecilia, this is Maya."

She turned to me and smiled politely.

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

Dave leaned back.

"Cecilia will take you to your office and show you around the building."

Cecilia nodded.

"Of course."

She started toward me.

Then Dave spoke again.

"When I'm done addressing her, I'll send for you."

"Yes, sir."

Cecilia left.

I watched the door close behind her.

Then I turned back to Dave.

He was already watching me.

"A guard will be assigned to you during work hours," he said. "If you need anything, tell him and he'll handle it."

I shook my head.

"I'm not sure that's necessary."

His eyebrow lifted.

"I'll figure out what I need and ask questions if I need help."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"If that's what you want."

There was something about the way he said it that made me suspicious.

I ignored it.

I had more important things to worry about.

My old job.

The corrupted records.

Henderson.

And whatever mess I'd just walked into.

Dave folded his hands on the desk.

"Now that you work here under me, let's discuss the nature of your employment."

I straightened in my seat.

Finally.

This was the conversation I'd been waiting for.

I had agreed to come here.

But that didn't mean I intended to remain ignorant about what I'd just signed myself into.

Dave's gaze held mine.

And somehow, I had the feeling that whatever he was about to tell me would change everything.