FALLING FOR MAFIA BOSS

CHAPTER 4

"It's a private, pre-arranged order," Marianna replied smoothly, lifting the neatly wrapped box, eyeing the woman. "He is expecting it."

The receptionist hesitated, studying Marianna, and the neatly wrapped box, before swiping a keycard, gesturing toward the private executive elevators at the end of the hallway. "Take it to floor eighty. Do not cause any trouble and don't move anywhere else if not you will stain the carpets."

"Thanks!" Marianna said, shooting the woman a toothy grin, cursing inwardly, as the receptionist turned around. She quickly slipped inside the elevator before the receptionist could change her mind

The ride was short and silent, and when the elevator doors slid open on the eightieth floor, Marianna stepped out onto the carpet.

The whole floor was silent, with dark wood-paneled walls. At the end of the sunlit corridor, there stood a pair of massive double doors

Marianna was walking towards them when her heartbeat began to quicken and fill her ears with loud thunderous sound. She was standing right outside his office, with a homemade lunch in her hands, after telling him to forget her name.

She halted in front of the massive wooden doors, smoothing her dress, taking a couple of deep breaths, and raising her hand

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in."

As soon as Marianna opened the massive double doors and stepped inside the office, she stopped dead in her tracks, her legs freezing on the spot.

The office was spacious, luxurious, and spotless, with large floor-to-ceiling windows allowing the sunlight to stream in, highlighting Kai's silver hair, making him look unreal. Gone was the mysterious figure from the diner or the intimidating club owner from the night before; he looked more like a successful and handsome business magnate in his office.

Kai did not bother looking up from the stack of papers he was studying, his dark eyes scanning the documents on the desk. "Drop it off at the side table and go."

Marianna gulped, clearing her throat as she stood rooted to the spot in the middle of the office. She wore a large black cap, and an ugly fake mustache, which she quickly stuck above her lips when she knocked on the double doors. Now standing in this luxurious office, she suddenly realized how ridiculous she looked in her get-up.

When a long, uncomfortable silence stretched between them, Kai finally looked up from the papers on his desk

His dark eyes locked on the strange woman standing in front of him, clutching a small brown package to her chest, with a crooked mustache. He gave her a confused once-over, his brows knitting together

At his piercing stare, Marianna felt her cheeks flare with heat, and she quickly reached up, plucking the fake mustache, and tossed it away, pulling off the cap from her head.

"Hi," Marianna said, giving him a sheepish smile.

As soon as Kai's eyes fell on her face, surprise flickered across his features, his body stiffening. She was here, in his office, again, looking as beautiful as ever, just like the last time he saw her at the South Side diner. Only this time, a certain sense of boldness shone in her pretty brown eyes. "You," he said, his voice lower than before.

Marianna nervously lifted the small brown package in her hands. "I brought you something!"

Kai said nothing as he gave her an assessing look, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. A few seconds later, his gaze dropped to the small brown bag she was holding, and then back at her face. His mind raced as he tried to figure out how exactly the local diner waitress managed to get past his floor security, his personal bodyguards, and the private elevator keycard. Marcus and the floor security team would most definitely be hearing from him about their poor performance soon enough.

Marianna, completely unfazed by Kai's imposing stare, gave him a bright smile as she stepped closer to his desk. "I brought you lunch," she said cheerfully, setting the small brown bag down on his desk. She started rummaging through it and pulled out a couple of glass containers, arranging them on his desk. Seeing the neat arrangement, Kai stared at the containers before looking up at Marianna with an incredulous expression. He was a stickler for order, and rarely did people manage to get under his skin and rearrange his desk.

As if sensing his thoughts, Marianna gave him a bright smile. "I made everything myself," she said, gesturing at the containers. "This is roasted chicken, with some fresh greens and warm sourdough. Everyone at my diner loves it."

Kai looked at her, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He gave the containers another measuring look before finally lifting his gaze to meet Marianna's steady brown eyes. "I told you yesterday," he said in a calm voice. "You do not owe me anything."

"I know," Marianna said, moving closer until she stood directly in front of his desk. She gave him a small smile before placing her hands on it. "You told me, and that is why I wanted to do this. You did not owe me anything either when you saved my diner, so I only wanted to repay you."

Kai scanned the warm food on his desk, his mind already jumping to several dire possibilities. In his line of work, he knew that one should never accept unsolicited gifts. "How do I know this is not poisoned?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at the woman. "How do I know you are not working for someone after my life?"

Marianna blinked at him a few times, before letting out a small laugh. "Poisoned? Kai, it is only chicken and bread!" She lifted a small piece of the roasted chicken on a fork and put it in her mouth, chewing it happily. "It is all good. I think you could trust me!"

Marianna's loud, bright voice echoed through the office. She looked so silly calling him Kai when everyone else was always super afraid to even say his name. Her reactions were genuine, and every word she said was true in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, Kai took a piece of the roasted chicken and put it in his mouth. Kai was a busy man, and he had many bodyguards watching over him, so he ate most of his meals alone, or with whoever was willing to risk their life to dine with him. He would not say it out loud, but this was the most delicious meal he had in a very long time. His heart gave a strange flutter as he looked at Marianna, his mouth twitching slightly. He took a napkin from the table and wiped his hands.

"It is fine," Kai said, his voice as emotionless as ever. "It is a bit bland and below my standards."

Marianna's bright smile instantly faded as she looked at him, her fingers tapping on the edge of the table. Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout as she frowned. "Bland?! Below your standards? People actually line up at my diner for this chicken, and you think it is bland? You have the worst taste in food!"

Kai raised a brow at her reaction, surprised but entertained all the same. "Why are you so persistent?" He leaned back in his chair, locking eyes with the fearless woman. "Why do you keep doing this? I have told you what I am, and what I do. What is it that you want from me?"

Marianna stopped pouting and gave him a soft smile. "I just want to say thank you..." She hesitated, her brown eyes studying his face. "...and get to know you."

At her words, something strange stirred deep inside Kai. Most people were only after one thing, whether it was money, power, or protection. He had spent his life being feared and hated, but no one had ever asked to know him or get close to him. This stubborn woman, who had somehow snuck her way into his office again, was asking to know him. She had faced his scary glare, heard the horrible things he did to people who crossed him, and she was still here.

"Do you ever smile?" Marianna asked, tilting her head as she studied his face. "Are you always this grumpy?"

Kai stared at her, the silence stretching between them. "Are you not afraid of me at all?"

"No," Marianna replied honestly, giv

ing him a bright smile. "I am not."