Falling for the Ace Assassin

The Offer

It was a few hours later that Jason finally looked up from his work and found the little desk next to him empty. Jason shot up from his seat and walked out of his office. Did she go home without telling him?

The hired help scurried out of his path as he walked down the hall. The old butler who always milled around the halls was also missing. Frowning slightly, he looked out the front window and found Connie’s car still parked outside so he walked towards the dining room. Perhaps she was eating?

***

“So you just add flour, eggs, and a pinch of salt to the grated zucchini before you pan fry them. It is both healthy and delicious! You can serve it with various dipping sauces. Personally, I like it with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and some chili oil.”

The old butler and the chef stood to the side clapping as they watched Connie furiously mixing a large bowl.

“You beat that mixture like a machine! I should hire you to work here!”

Connie laughed and joked, “If you pay me enough and feed me three meals a day, I’ll take you up on that offer.”

They all laughed. While Connie resumed mixing, the old chef and butler exchanged a meaningful look. Connie had been the main discussion topic amongst the staff. Early in the morning, Jason had ordered the kitchen staff to start preparing lasagna for lunch and to make sure the kitchen had ice cream and crushed peanuts. No one understood why he would make such a weird request as he rarely ate those items but after the Butler had collected the empty lunch dishes, he finally understood. Their young master was ordering for Connie’s palate.

Both the butler and the chef had been serving the Smith family since Jason was a young boy, so they cherished Jason as a family member would. Connie seemed nice enough but the most important thing was that Jason liked her. If she could somehow lead him out of his mental quagmire, then they would support her as the next Mistress of the house.

When Connie came to the kitchen to get dinner for Jason, she didn’t expect to be bombarded by the chef. One thing led to another, and she was made to showcase her cooking skills. Connie was adamant that Jason ate on a schedule so she opted for something quick and healthy. They were all so busy chatting while they busied around the kitchen that no one noticed the shadow at the door.

***

When dinner was ready, the Butler insisted that Connie freshen up and go to the dining room to dine with Jason. Connie tried to reject the offer saying she had an early morning tomorrow and had to go home but after the teary-eyed chef pointed to all the delicious food he prepared for their dinner, she caved. Who says no to food?

The large dining room was austere with minimal decorations, only a large solid oak table and chairs sat under a crystal chandelier. The window curtains were drawn but she could tell by the sheer length and breadth of the fabric that it was full-length windows that ranged from one side of the room to the other. She imagined during the day, it would open to a magnificent view outside.

She didn’t have long to look at the view as Jason walked in from the hall. He pointed at a chair to the right of the table and nodded at her which Connie took as a cue that this was where she should sit.

Jason pulled the chair out for her and Connie sat down shyly having never experienced such treatment.

“Thank you.”

Jason hummed and sat at the head of the table. As soon as he sat down, the staff started to serve refreshments and the meal. Even though Jason rarely ate in the dining room, all the staff were trained in proper etiquette for occasions such as these.

Connie felt stifled, although she knew which cutlery to use for the different courses, she didn’t think she would have to put on a show to eat a meal with her boss. She sighed softly.

Jason noticed her discomfort and addressed the staff softly.

“Just serve everything all at once except for dessert. I don’t have time to eat course by course.”

The maids bowed and immediately went to get everything.

Connie lowered her head and started drinking the soup that was already served but Jason could still see the small smile she tried to hide behind her spoon.

Dinner was a quiet affair, Connie was busy savoring the food and Jason was busy eating the zucchini pancakes. After dinner, the chef brought out two bowls of ice cream with crushed peanuts on top. Connie’s eyes widened and she practically beamed at him.

“Oh wow! This is my favorite! How did you know?”

The chef cleared his throat and glanced at Jason. “I am glad you like it.”

Connie didn’t read too much into it and started eating.

Jason didn’t understand why but he had this heavy feeling in his chest. Connie had smiled so sweetly at the chef that it made him uncomfortable. She never smiled that way at him. How come she didn’t think it was his idea to serve the ice cream with peanuts? Jason pushed his bowl towards her. “If you like it so much, you can have mine too.”

Connie looked at him and chuckled. “Sure, I’ll help you out.”

The casual way she spoke with him pricked him like an itch he couldn’t scratch. His feelings towards her were chaotic; it was a mixture of tenderness and intense possessiveness.

He gazed cooly at her, watching each spoonful of the sickeningly sweet custard disappear. A small smear of the white cream graced the edge of her mouth and he wondered if ice cream would taste better if he licked it off her lips. For the first time in his life, he spoke without thinking. “If I offer you a room to stay, extra pay, and three meals a day, would you be willing to work as my personal assistant 24-7?”

Connie paused, feeling as if she had a brain freeze. “Come again?”

Jason pursed his lips but it was too late to backtrack now. “I’m more efficient when you are around. There are many guest rooms in this house. If you work for me, you get free room and board plus additional compensation.”

Connie felt a sudden chill and she wasn’t sure if it was from the ice cream or the red flags popping up in her head. She put her spoon down and wiped her mouth gently with the napkin.

“Look, sir.”

“Jason.”

“Sir, I am just an employee of the company. I came today to help you because you are my superior. I do not think it is… suitable for an unwed woman to stay at her boss’ house, whatever the reason. If you will pardon me, I need to go home to rest. Thank you for your hospitality. See you at the office tomorrow.”

Connie stood up and bowed politely before walking out. The staff that remained in the room stood frozen, wishing they were chameleons so they could blend into the wood panels. No one dared to move.

For a long while, Jason sat in his seat, unmoving. He felt like an i***t. Finally, he sighed deeply, got out of his chair, and went to his room.

***

“So you’re telling me, he got Keith, Aaron, Hoon, and Haoran and none of you fuckers have ANY idea who he is?”

Three men cowered on the floor as a lowball shattered in front of them, specks of glass mixed with a splash of whiskey flew onto the front of their clothing but they dared not dodge. The woman in the room screamed.

“Get out if you’re going to screech in my ear!”

“Aww, darling, I was just startled.” A pretty brunette dressed in a provocative low-cut mini-dress curled back on the plush leather sofa and squished her soft lumps into the muscular chest of a gorgeous man. His long curly blonde hair, sharp blue eyes, and angular face made many women swoon, and it also made many men scream.

His name is Dorian Brown, the mobster with the face of an angel but the heart of the devil and he was in no mood to play tonight. Shoving her off roughly he threw her a look of disdain.

“Get out.”

The woman shuddered and hurried out of the room before his ire turned to her. She had been in the business long enough to sense danger and this was the six-foot-under kind.

Dorian turned to his henchmen again, “So tell me, how come none of you can find him? Don’t we have men in the FBI? What do we pay them for?!”

“I think he has someone in the FBI covering his tracks for him.”

Dorian sneered, “If he needs someone to cover his tracks, then find the tracks before they are covered! Dimwits! If you can’t get your men to figure it out, I’ll have you strung from the ceiling and cut to pieces. Get out!”

The three scurried from off the floor and hurried out the door.

Dorian leaned back into the sofa. He had taken over the underworld enterprise from his father just under a year and within that time he made a name for himself. Dorian was far more brutal and cunning than any of his predecessors and had nearly taken control of the entire underworld in the West. There were a few stragglers mafia families left but he would soon make them all submit. Right now, his biggest headache is “Ace”.

The fucker touched his men so he was going to return the favor.

“Run little fucker… if I ever find out who you are, I’ll kill everyone you love before I skin you alive.”