Chapter1
1416 Words
Welcome to the Devil’s Kingdom
The city beneath her buzzed like a restless beast....horns, sirens, neon lights slicing through the fog...but up here, high above Manhattan's mayhem , everything was silent, cold, controlled and impervious.
The top floor of the Blanco tower was all black walls and silence. A sleek empire in steel and leather. The scent of aged bourbon lingered in the air, mingling with power and polish. Not a single item confounded the massive desk; just a crystal tumbler of half-finished bourbon and a matte-black phone. Everything about this room screamed
supremacy.
And seated behind the desk, a queen without mercy.... Griselda Blanco.
Twenty-nine. Mexican American blood. Italian stock mogul by name, underworld empress by nature. Her tailored charcoal suit hugged a body carved from discipline, not vanity. Broad shoulders soften by subtle curves, a sharp jawline, and warm olive-toned skin that glowed under low light. But it was her hazel eyes; flecked with hints of green and gold, unreadable, predatory; that held the world hostage.
She didn't run a business. She ran a damn empire, cartels, brothels, borders,banks. Politicians bowed. Rivals vanished. She trusted no one, not even her own shadow.
Her eyes skimmed across a confidential document when Drego walked in.
"Boss," Drego said, placing a black leather folder on the desk. "This is the candidate for the new executive Personal Assistant position. His name's Carlos Brim."
Griselda barely glanced up. But when she opened the folder, everything stopped.
A photo stared back at her. It wasn't charm that caught her eye. No rehearsed pose, no airbrushed perfection. She was caught mid-turn, hair falling over his forehead, eyes wide and soft like twilight, skin dusky and untouched by artificial light. His lips were full and slightly parted, and her chest tightened at the sight.
He looked... real. Unaware of how handsome he was. Dangerous in his innocence.
"Damn," she muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing.
She flipped the page.
Age: Twenty-four
Background: Orphaned.
Education: English Literature & Technology graduate.
Work: Freelance assistant. Clean record.
Debt: None.
Family: None.
"He’s an orphan?" she asked, her voice low.
"Yes, boss," Drego replied. "His parents died in a car crash when he was eleven . Raised in a sanctuary. Quiet life, no red flags."
"And you trust him?"
"Like family," Drego said, standing straight.
"He’s loyal, obedient. Has no idea who we are, thinks it's a corporate position."
Griselda leaned back, her eyes flicking back to the photo. Something in her itched. A curiosity she hadn't felt in years. "He’ll stay at the villa,
" she said. "I want him under my roof.
Under my control. I'll pay him thirty thousand a month. Add allowances."
Drego hesitated.
She shut the folder. "I want to meet him.
Tomorrow. Make it happen."
********
Next Morning - Blanco Estate, Upper East Side
The estate stood like a citadel , enrobed in luxury and secrets. Beyond the towering black gates and manicured hedges, the villa stretched out like a five-star resort draped around a military-grade bunker.
Inside, marble floors gleamed under golden light. Security cameras fluttered quietly.
Everything exuded power, wealth... and danger.
Outside, by the skyline pool that overlooked the city, Griselda swam like a panther in water. Every stroke precise, every movement deliberate. Tattoos twisted along her arms and etched around her toned chest, dark ink against olive skin. Water shimmered on her shoulders as she cut through it with effortless control.
On the edge of the pool lounged Miguel, the villa's personal assistant...or, as he preferred to see himself, more than that. Dressed in swim shorts, his legs cutting through the pool, a confident smile tugged at his lips as he caught her gaze.
"Griselda, baby..." he purred, his fingers tracing the curves of her shoulders. "Need a little help relaxing?"
She emerged from the water, droplets sliding her skin, hair slicked back, face unreadable. "You never wait for permission."
"You don't seem like a woman who says no," he whispered, a slow smile tugging at his lips.
He stepped closer, letting the water cling to him. She reached out, hands gliding along his torso, feeling the taut air beneath, and the air between them cackled with unspoken desire.
"You smell like s*x," He breathed against her neck.
She chuckled, dark and slow. "Good. I'm not looking for romance."
His lips skimmed her jaw. She didn't flinch, but she didn't lean in either. He began massaging
her shoulders, slow and sensual.
Then....
Knock. Knock.
Drego’s voice echoed through the glass doors.
Boss , Carlos is here."
Griselda raised a brow, sighing. "Bring him in."
Miguel’s pout deepened, lips twitching with mock frustration. "Now? Seriously?"
"Shut up," she said flatly, not even looking at
him.
Minutes later, the sound of footsteps clicked against the marble.
She didn't turn. She felt his presence before she saw him. Something shifted in the air, like the breeze had changed direction.
She opened her eyes. And for the first time in years... she stared.
Carlos Brim.
He wore a simple pale shirt tucked into dark jeans. No cologne. No designer labels. Just presence. His steps were measured yet confident, sharp brown eyes scanning the room like he’d entered another world. His dark hair fell naturally, catching the light like silk.
Griselda rose from the pool. Water dripped from her skin, every curve and line gleamed with raw intensity. Her eyes locked onto his and didn't move.
Drego cleared his throat. “Boss, this is Carlos Brim. Carlos, this is....
"Griselda Blanco," he said softly, already
bowing his head. "Nice to meet you, ma’am."
His voice was gentle but steady. Too calm for someone facing the devil.
Griselda stepped forward, towering over him with predatory elegance. Her gaze swept over him boldly, unapologetically. "Such a handsome Personal Assistant," she murmured. "You're hired."
The people around gasp.
Miguel scoffed loudly. "Griselda , seriously?
You're hiring him based on his face now?"
Griselda didn't turn. "Call me 'boss’ when you speak in my presence. And don't question me again."
"But.....
She stepped closer to Miguel, her tone cold as ice. "You're just a servant here. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're more than that."
Miguel’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Drego turned away, hiding his laughter behind his hand.
Griselda turned back to Carlos, lifting her hand. He hesitated but placed his in hers for a formal handshake. But to her, it wasn't just formal. His touch was soft, different...warm. A jolt went through her. "Welcome to my kingdom," she whispered, her voice low, edged with desire. Carlos‘s face stiffened. He forced a smile, eyes darting away from her intense stare. Her grip lingered just a second too long.
"Thank you... ma’am," He said calmly.
Griselda walked off, water dripping from her arms as she returned with a file.
"Here. Sign this and you can start immediately. If you have anything important at home, bring it here.... I'll provide you with everything. "Clothes, food, whatever you need," she said, the smirk returning to her face.
He reached for the file hesitantly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Something felt...off. Too quick. Too intense.
Just as he was about to flip through the pages, his phone rang.
Tring... Tring...
He glanced at Drego. He nodded. "It's okay."
He quickly signed the last page without reading.
Inside, his instincts screamed at him . Something didn't sit right. But he brushed the feeling off.
Maybe she was just one of those flirty, arrogant bosses.
"You signed without reading it," she said in a whisper only he could hear. "Bold."
"I trust Drego," he replied.
Griselda smiled, not the kind that made people feel safe.
He handed the file back and turned to leave.
Griselda stood silently, watching him go. The way his shoulders moved. The confident set of his jaw.
That innocent look in his eyes.
As he disappeared around the corner, she exhaled sharply. "Such a man ," she muttered under her breath. "I never expected someone like him in my life, that face, that presence, that….aura ."
She laughed, low and full of wicked pleasure.
She reached for the contract he had just signed and tapped her fingers on the table, a smirk growing on her face.
"Welcome to my kingdom, once again" she said. "You just sold yourself to the devil." She ran a finger slowly across his photo again, her smirk spreading. "Such a handsome man ," she muttered under her breath. "And he walked right into my trap.
- Writer
