The Mafia's Secretary

A Dangerous Hunch

The alarm blared again for the third time that morning, but Evelina didn’t move. She just lay there on the couch, her eyes staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers to her confusing thoughts.

Cassiel.

The name itself was enough to make her heart skip, not in a good manner though. There was something about him that didn't feel right. He was too calm, too perfect and too mysterious.

She was already fully dressed for work. Her makeup was perfect, her hair was pinned just the way Cassiel liked it—neat and professional. Even her heels were by the door, ready to go, but her heart wasn’t in it.

Her hands trembled slightly, betraying the confusion her expression tried so hard to hide. She should walk away, that would be the smartest thing to do. But Amelia… Her baby sister's face flashed in her mind. She was frail, quiet, sick, and smiling like nothing was wrong. Evelina had promised to take care of her and that promise didn’t come with conditions.

Still… there was something off. Cassiel was too polished, too unreadable. Men like him didn’t rise to power without doing something behind. And those eyes...so calm, so dark looked like they’d seen things no ordinary CEO should ever see.

A part of her wanted to run, to escape whatever trap she might be stepping into, but another part of her wanted to stay...to know, to see what was behind Cassiel’s perfect mask.

“Eveee!” Martha’s voice echoed from the kitchen.

No response.

“Girl, you’re thinking too much again,” Martha said, walking into the room with a bowl of cereal in her hand. "I’ve been watching you stare at nothing for like twenty minutes. What’s going on?” she asked as she settled on the couch.

Evelina blinked, finally snapping out of her thoughts. “I’m thinking about quitting my job. Cassiel… he’s not who he says he is.”

Martha choked on her cereal. “You what?!"

"I said I’m thinking of quitting."

"Are you insane?" Martha yelled. "That’s like everyone's dream job! Hot CEO, fancy office, insane pay! Girlllll, what more do you want?”

Evelina sat up, running her hands through her hair. “Martha, I think something’s off about Cassiel. I think he's something dangerous. I don’t know what. But I can feel it.”

Martha narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean ‘off’? Like… he wears socks to bed or what?”

“I’m serious,” Evelina said, in a low voice. “I’m not saying I have proof, but I’ve seen the signs and I can tell that he's hiding something. The way he talks, the way he watches people... And there’s this briefcase...he told me if I ever opened it, he’d make me disappear. Like, forever.”

Martha stared for a second, then burst into laughter. “Oh my God! You’ve been reading way too many thrillers. What next? He’s a vampire? Or a mob boss running a secret cartel disguised as a sexy CEO? Or a Mafia lord disguised as a hot billionaire?"

Evelina didn’t laugh.

“I’m not joking,” she said firmly. “What if he is some kind of mobster? Or a criminal pretending to be a businessman? I don’t know… but I can feel it in my gut.”

Martha’s smile faded a little. “Eve… seriously?And so what? You’re gonna go full FBI on him now?”

“No,” Evelina said, standing up and slipping on her heels.

"You’re still working for him though?” Martha asked.

“Yes. I want to find out what he’s hiding and if he’s dangerous, I’ll get the truth. I just need time, but I’m definitely going to find out exactly who he really is.”

Martha whistled. “Damn, Eve. This is either gonna get you killed or make one hell of a Netflix series.”

Evelina stood up and, took one last look at the mirror. “Let’s hope it’s the second one," she said, quietly.

She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Her mind wasn’t made up yet, not completely but, if Cassiel was hiding something, she needed to know what. Maybe it was reckless, or even stupid, but she had already decided that she wasn’t walking away without getting answers she needed to know.

“Don’t get yourself killed,” Martha said behind her, only half joking.

Evelina paused at the doorway and glanced back. “I’ll be fine,” she said, managing a small smile. “I just need to know the truth.”

She picked up her bag and took one last look at the mirror. She wasn’t sure if she was brave or just stupid, or if any of this even mattered. But, her curiosity was greater than her fear. She sighed, smoothing out the slight creases in her skirt then headed for the door.

Cassiel was waiting.