The BOSS'S ASSISTANT

CHAPTER 7. DAMAGE CONTROL

The next morning, Alessandro Moretti walked into his office already pissed off.

Not tired.

Not distracted.

Pissed.

Because he’d spent the entire night thinking about one thing—

Her wrist in his hand.

Her breath catching.

And the fact that he’d stopped.

That alone annoyed him more than anything else.

Elena was already at her desk.

Of course she was.

Calm. Collected. Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t almost crossed a line that would’ve burned everything down.

He shut the door harder than necessary.

“Morning,” she said.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Just stared at her.

“You’re early,” he finally said.

“I didn’t leave late,” she replied.

A beat.

Then he scoffed. “Right. Because you storming off into the night after getting grabbed by your boss wasn’t dramatic enough.”

Her fingers stopped on the keyboard.

Slowly, she looked up.

“You don’t get to talk about that like it was nothing.”

His jaw tightened.

“Then what was it?” he snapped. “Because from where I’m standing, you were about ten seconds away from getting yourself into something worse.”

“I can handle myself.”

“Clearly,” he shot back. “Because running off alone at night is a brilliant f*****g plan.”

Silence.

Tension snapped tight again.

Elena stood.

“Don’t talk to me like I’m helpless.”

Alessandro stepped forward instantly.

“I talk to you like you’re someone I don’t want getting hurt,” he said coldly.

That hit the air differently.

He realized it the second he said it.

Too honest.

Too exposed.

So he fixed it the only way he knew how—

With attitude.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” he added sharply.

Her eyes narrowed. “Then don’t make it my business.”

Silence.

Heavy.

The office phone rang.

Neither of them moved.

It kept ringing.

Eventually, Alessandro grabbed it, still glaring at her.

“What?” he barked into the phone.

Pause.

Then his expression shifted.

Not softer.

Darker.

“Cancel it.”

Pause.

“I don’t give a damn who it is.”

He slammed the phone down.

Elena watched him. “What now?”

He grabbed his jacket.

“Board dinner tonight.”

“I wasn’t informed.”

“You are now.”

“I have work.”

“You don’t.”

She stared at him.

“Is that an order?”

His eyes locked on hers.

“Call it whatever the hell you want.”

Silence.

Then she said quietly, “I’m not going.”

That made him stop.

Slowly.

Dangerously.

“You just told me no?” he asked.

“Yes.”

A beat.

Then he laughed.

Low.

Cold.

Not amused.

“You’re getting bold,” he muttered.

“I’m being professional.”

“Bullshit,” he snapped. “You’re being difficult.”

“I’m being honest.”

That landed wrong.

Too clean.

Too direct.

He stepped closer.

Again.

Of course he did.

“You don’t say no to me in my world,” he said low.

“Then maybe your world is the problem.”

That did it.

Something in his expression darkened instantly.

“Careful,” he warned. “You’re starting to talk like you want a reaction.”

“I already got one,” she said quietly. “Last night.”

Silence.

That one hit harder than either of them expected.

For a second—

The room felt smaller.

Too tight.

Too charged.

Alessandro’s voice dropped.

“You keep pushing me,” he said, “like you want me to lose control.”

Elena didn’t look away.

“Maybe I just don’t believe you have control.”

That was it.

The line snapped.

He slammed his hand against the wall beside her desk.

Not touching her.

But close enough that she felt it.

“Listen to me,” he said, voice low and sharp. “I don’t lose control.”

A beat.

Then colder—

“I choose when I take it.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Electric.

Elena’s breath caught—just slightly.

And he saw it.

Of course he did.

But instead of backing off, he leaned in just a fraction.

“Tonight,” he said, “you’re coming.”

“I said no.”

“And I said I don’t care.”

A pause.

Then softer—but more dangerous—

“You’re not staying away from me right now. Not after last night.”

That was the truth.

Unfiltered.

Ugly.

Elena stared at him for a long moment.

Then quietly:

“You don’t own me, Alessandro.”

Something dark flickered in his eyes.

“No,” he said. “But I’m starting to act like I do.”

Silence.

For a second—

Neither of them moved.

Then he stepped back sharply.

Like he’d burned himself.

“Get back to work,” he muttered.

“Before I say something I can’t take back.”

Elena didn’t move immediately.

Then, softly—

“You already have.”

And sat back down.

Alessandro stood there for a long moment after.

Jaw clenched.

Chest tight with something he hated admitting existed.

Because the truth was—

She wasn’t obeying him.

She wasn’t scared of him.

And worse?

He wasn’t sure he wanted her to be.