Home / Mafia / The Mafia Boss's PA / Chapter 21: Desire

Share

Chapter 21: Desire

last update Last Updated: 2024-10-14 15:24:01

Constantine’s voice called after me, but I didn’t stop. My heart was pounding in my chest as I burst out into the cool night air. I couldn’t process everything happening inside me—the painting, the emotions, the vulnerability. It felt like too much. The streets of Paris, usually calming in their beauty, now felt overwhelming, closing in around me.

I turned a corner, trying to put some distance between us, but I couldn’t escape the weight of his words, the way he looked at me, the painting he had gone through so much effort to bring here. Why did he care so much? What was I supposed to do with all of this? I felt my emotions spiraling, the night around me a blur.I ducked into an alleyway, resting my hands on the cool stone brick wall as I tried to catch my breath.

"April!" His voice was closer now, and I stiffened, my hands pressing into the brick. I didn’t turn around, too afraid to face him. Footsteps approached, stopping just a few paces behind me. I could feel him there, his presen
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 22: Whiskey on the rocks

    I was late. I hadn’t slept all night. I couldn't. My mind raced with the events of last night, every corner of my thoughts consumed by it. Every time I closed my eyes, I was pulled back into that dark alleyway with Constantine—a place where passion collided violently with danger. I had lost control, lost myself, and now, I couldn’t stop wondering... If Evan hadn't called, would Constantine and I have crossed an even darker line? One that couldn’t be undone. Evan had insisted on taking a cab to the airport. He said it was because I was exhausted, but it wasn’t exhaustion that kept me from being near him—it was the guilt. The guilt of that kiss. The guilt of how much I had wanted it, despite every logical part of my brain screaming at me to stop. As I pulled into Constantine’s driveway, I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The air in the car was suffocating, but stepping out was even worse. How was I supposed to work with him now, knowing what had happene

    Last Updated : 2024-10-15
  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 23: Circle of Seven

    Carlisle's left when Constantine said he would show me around. I wish he would have stayed because I didn't not want to be left alone with him. Constantine told me to wait in the kitchen, but sitting still felt impossible. My thoughts raced, colliding with each other as I scrolled aimlessly through my phone trying to calm down. A message from Evan stopped me: Landed in Los Angeles. Guilt knotted in my stomach, the words blurring as I read them again. I started to type a response, but my fingers hesitated. The heart emoji I added felt hollow, mocking the affection it was supposed to convey.Constantine reappeared, now dressed in a perfectly tailored navy blue suit that clung to him in all the right places. Immaculate, as always. Sharp. Dangerous. Evil bastard..."Come with me," he said, keeping up his casual front, though his eyes portrayed something darker.I followed him, my heart thudding in anticipation of what? I wasn't sure yet. I knew I would never kiss him again after last ni

    Last Updated : 2024-10-16
  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 24: Sacred and untainted

    Rain sat across from me, arms folded, barely touching her food. Her eyes darted everywhere but at me. Why did I do this to myself? It was torture. I had gone over to visit my parents because I missed them, and I felt terrible for all the excuses I had made to avoid seeing them. Dad was in the kitchen with his first love—as my mother would put it—the stove, humming a tune as he sautéed vegetables for the meal, while Mom casually sipped her wine at the dining room table, eagerly waiting for dinner to be served. They both sensed the unease. “So, how’s everything going with you girls?” Dad asked, setting the pan down and glancing between us. Rain let out a small huff, picking at her salad. “Oh, you know, everything’s great.” I could feel her frustration radiating off her. “It’s fine,” I said quickly, hoping to deflect. “Just... busy, that’s all.” But Rain wasn’t letting it go. “Busy avoiding me, you mean.” Mom raised an eyebrow. “April, is something going on between you two?”

    Last Updated : 2024-10-18
  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 25: She's with me

    The low thrum of bass pulsed through the underground club as Carlisle led me inside. I tried to appear casual, but I could feel the weight of eyes turning in our direction as we walked deeper into the club. Carlisle leaned down, his breath warm on my ear. “Relax,” he said, flashing me one of his charming, easy smiles. “Stick with me, and you’ll be fine.” I nodded, steadying my erratic breaths, but I couldn’t shake the nerves twisting in my gut. The air was thick with smoke and tension, and every face I saw screamed danger. Then, I saw him. Constantine was already seated at the table. His eyes flicked to me instantly, sharp and unreadable. The way he looked me up and down made the air feel electric. His hand tightened around the whiskey glass, his jaw clenched, and something flickered in his gaze—something volatile. We were still an ear shot away from the table. And I grabbed onto Carlilse arm, stopping him. "Wait, anything I should know before I join the game?" I asked.

    Last Updated : 2024-10-18
  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 26: Royal Flush

    I stayed at the bar, finding a quiet spot away from the smoky haze and loud laughter. I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts. But before I could fully settle, Constantine appeared out of nowhere, his face stormy and his eyes full of grudges.He grabbed my arm—not roughly, but firmly enough to make it clear this wasn’t a casual encounter. "Leave," he demanded, his voice low and urgent as he loosened his grip.I blinked, surprised. "I beg your fucking humblest of pardons?" He fueled the growing resentment I had for him.He glanced around, making sure no one could hear, then leaned in closer. "This isn't a place for you."I pulled my arm free, narrowing my eyes. "I’m here as Carlisle's guest, and I’m not leaving. This isn’t your house, and I doubt you own this place either."His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. Instead, he just exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "It’s not safe for you."I

    Last Updated : 2024-10-20
  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 27: Who are you?

    Constantine remained silent as he drove. I sat back in my seat, feeling defeated and rueful that he had been right about tonight. "Thank you," I said after a while, but he didn’t respond. I felt agitated that he was giving me the silent treatment. I was grateful that he had come to my rescue. "I don’t understand why you’re being like this. I apologized," I added. He hit the brakes hard, causing the car to screech to a stop. His eyes were full of conviction. "You’re the most agitating person I’ve ever met. You’re a fucking brat. I told you to leave when you had the chance, but you just had to prove a point." I moved to open the car door, but it was locked. "Unlock the door," I demanded. "No," his voice was stern. "So you can go and land yourself in more trouble?" "If I’m such a problem, then let me go, Constantine," I insisted, and he grabbed me. I struggled to breathe as his cold, unwavering eyes focused on me. "Let you go?" He chuckled darkly. "You still don’t get it, do y

    Last Updated : 2024-10-23
  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 28: Physically and mentally

    I paced the living room, the soft hum of traffic outside doing nothing to calm my nerves. Evan was due back from the surgery at any minute. I should’ve been excited. I should’ve been looking forward to seeing him, hearing about his time away. But instead, there was this gnawing dread. I checked the time on my phone again, running my fingers through my hair. I moved to clean up the paints and brushes scattered across the coffee table, remnants of an earlier burst of creativity that had distracted me for a while. But now the nervous energy had returned, curling tight in my chest. This was the life I’d been preparing for—waiting for Evan to come home, talking about wedding plans. Everything we’d discussed since he proposed. It should have thrilled me, but lately, the idea of it all felt wrong. After I had put all my supplies away, I sank onto the couch, hugging a pillow to my chest, my gaze drifting to the half-finished painting leaning against the wall—a chaotic swirl of colors. I di

    Last Updated : 2024-10-23
  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 29: Courage

    The city lights flickered like a million eyes watching me as we sat at our table in the restaurant. The hum of conversations and clinking glasses surrounded us, but I couldn’t focus. Everything felt surreal. Evan sat across from me, leaning forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement.“I can’t believe how perfect the timing is,” he said, his hand reaching across the table to take mine. “This new job—it’s everything I’ve been working for. And now we can finally start planning the wedding. We’ll get married right away, and then we can move to Los Angeles. Think about it, April, it’ll be perfect." Perfect. The word echoed in my head, hollow and distant. I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I could feel the tightness in my chest growing, the walls of the restaurant seeming to close in around me.“I’ve even started looking at some places,” Evan continued, oblivious to the panic rising inside me. “A house near the beach, with a big yard… somewhere we can settle down. You could paint there

    Last Updated : 2024-10-24

Latest chapter

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 38: Everything

    Constantine left to attend an emergency business meeting. His simple instruction had been not to leave the room until he returned. He’d never restricted me to his office before. It felt like he was hiding me.I stayed put, though, because wandering the house felt odd considering I had never done it alone and that there could be actual skeletons in his closet.The thought of staying with him for two weeks gnawed at me as I sat on the plush leather couch in his expansive office, staring at the skyline through the tall windows.But I knew if I hadn’t agreed, Constantine would never let me have my own life. A knock interrupted my thoughts, followed by the sound of the door creaking open.“Constantine—” Carlisle called, stepping inside. His voice died as his eyes landed on me. He froze.“April,” he said softly, breaking out of his trance and walking toward me. “I thought you were in New York?”“I was,” I admitted, my tone wary.He sighed, leaning against the desk, arms crossed as he scrut

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 37: Two weeks

    I opened my eyes to complete darkness. The sheets around me were too soft, too luxurious. I wasn’t in my apartment—that much was obvious. I sat up slowly, my heart thudding as I stood and ran my fingers up and down the walls for a light switch.Finally landing upon it I flipped the switch on and took in the room, the dark walls, the faint scent of leather and wood bombarding me with the truth of exactly where I was..Then my gaze fell on the wall across from me, and I froze. My painting—the one I’d done in a fit of rebellion, my not-so-subtle middle finger to Constantine. He not only kept it... He hung it up.And then my eyes drifted to the other wall, and I felt the invisible dagger twist deeper into my chest. A portrait I’d painted of him, when he was all I could see, all I wanted to capture. What I told myself would be an orange. He never returned the painting and I never wanted it back given what it represented.I didn't want to see the light in Constantine. I needed to believe h

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 36: Rabbit hole

    April's POV It had been a week and a half since I’d arrived in New York, and already, the city felt like it was stitching me back together, piece by piece. My mornings had a rhythm now: a cup of coffee cradled between my hands as I sat on the gallery's front steps, watching the endless stream of people passing by. Each face, each hurried footstep, reminded me of how easy it was to lose yourself in the hum of the city, and in a way, that was exactly what I needed.I was the new manager at Gravia’s Art Gallery—a small but renowned space known for showcasing some of the most daring contemporary artists. The gallery was tucked into a narrow street, surrounded by antique bookstores and cafes that always smelled of freshly baked bread. The job was fast-paced and unpredictable, every day offering something new. I loved it—the feeling of being at the center of something vibrant, of finally finding my place among people who shared my passion for creation and self-expression.In the back room

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 35: Game of power

    Constantine's POV By the time the car rolled to a stop outside the address, I’d finished reading into Lexi’s files. The images and texts I found were shocking, I was not expecting this but I knew how to turn a situation in my favour. I kicked open the front door, striding in with Carlisle and Cavalon flanking me.“Darling, I’m home," I called as I stepped into the room to see Lexi and Kate, curled together on the couch like conspiring schoolgirls. They sprang apart upon seeing me and Kate jumped to her feet, instinctively placing herself in front of Lexi. I had to admire her bravery. “Where’s Jones?” Kate demanded, her voice defiant. I tilted my head, amused by her courage as I stepped forward, wrapping my hand around her throat. Her pulse raced beneath my fingers. “You’re in no position to be asking questions, sweetheart.” Kate’s lips twisted into a smirk even as my grip tightened. “If I were straight, maybe I’d actually be enjoying this,” she sneered, trying to keep her

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 34: Sea witch

    Constantine's POV I was nearing the final hour—the countdown to when Lexi’s captor threatened to end her life if the ransom wasn’t delivered. My security team had identified the woman’s face: Kate Kravosky. I wracked my brain, trying to recall if I’d ever crossed paths with her, but came up blank. Even the mayor didn’t have answers, though he promised to mobilize his security to search every corner of the town. With time slipping away, I requested my best IT guys to hack into Lexi’s phone to dig up her chat history and current location. If only she’d used one of my company’s models, the process would’ve been faster. I grabbed the duffel bag of cash and moved to head out. “I’m coming with you,” I heard Carlisle’s voice, turning to find him standing by the stairwell. “Don’t need company,” I replied, moving for the door. As I reached my car and placed the money in the backseat, I heard Cavalon say, “I miss the times we kicked ass together.” I turned to see him and Carlisle behin

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 33: Dangerous secrets

    Constantine's POV “Fuck!” I roared, hurling the bottle of whiskey against the wall. Glass exploded, sending shards in every direction; one grazed my hand. I barely felt it. I was too blinded by anger. The sting of her words felt like acid coursing through my veins. I had never been so raw with anyone before, never allowed myself to feel anything. I felt like a fucking fool begging her. But I wasn't prepared to beg anymore. She shook my soul when she put that gun in my hand, asking me to kill her so she could be free from me. I thought I was good to her. I thought maybe she felt something for me after all this time. Why would she leave? Did she have unresolved feelings for Evan… or for Carlisle? I just wanted her to talk to me, but she wouldn't. She kept accusing me, assuming I wanted to shame her into making her my mistress. I flung another bottle at the wall, and as it shattered, a low whistle came from the doorway. Cavalon, ever the calm shadow in my storm, leaned against th

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 32: Lifeline

    Constantine pulled me away from Carlilse and through the crowd. "Don't say a word and don't make a scene," he warned as he led me away from the dancers. I had no choice but to listen. He wasn't going to stop harassing me tonight and his family was starting to notice the tension between us. We had to resolve this. Whatever it was. He led me to a boardroom and shut the door. "What the fuck?" He demanded. "I don't think I owe you any explanations." I could feel the expression on my face change. He closed the distance between us, his finger tilting my chin up so that I was forced to make eye contact with him. "What do you take me for?" "What do you want, Constantine?" I moved away from him. "You," he crossed his arms casually as if what he said didn't sound insane. "Great," sarcasm laced my tone, "what about Lexi?" I asked. "Our marriage is an arrangement," he repeated the same words over and I was tired of hearing it. "Yeah sure it is," I smiled, but there was no happin

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 31: Python

    The moment I stepped into the ballroom, it felt like every pair of eyes locked onto me, dissecting, scrutinizing—even though I knew they weren’t. All of them were here for Constantine and Lexi, the city’s power couple.I was just another guest—or rather, a pawn—trapped in a ridiculous green dress Lexi had personally picked out. She’d said it "matched the theme." In reality, it was hideous: a swampy, sickly color that felt more like a taunt than an outfit. The fabric scratched against my skin, and I caught hidden laughs from the other staff dressed in equally unflattering shades.We were a parade of walking insults.Clenching the stem of my champagne flute, I forced myself to smile through the growing sense of discomfort, nodding politely to a few members in the crowd. My hands felt clammy, and I took a shallow sip to calm my nerves, the bubbles tickling my nose. Finding a safe corner near a tall potted plant, I blended into the background—hidden enough to breathe but with a clear vie

  • The Mafia Boss's PA   Chapter 30: It's my life

    "April, what have you done?" my mother shouted over the phone as I rushed to get into the elevator."Mom, it's not what I wanted," I admitted."Evan came by earlier and told us everything. Did you have an affair with your boss?" she yelled."Evan just assumed because I didn't want to marry him. I wasn't having an affair," I said, infuriated. Why would he tell my parents that?"April, you need to make this right. Evan is a good man. You're being silly, and you're not a child anymore. It's time to grow up.""With all due respect, Mother, it is my life. Evan is someone you want me to marry, but I do not want to marry him. I would be miserable. He doesn’t support my ambitions, and I don't feel that spark when I'm with him. I want what you and Dad have." There was silence. "Just because I'm not a doctor, lawyer, or accountant doesn't mean I'm not grown. Those aren't my passions, and I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not just to make everyone feel comfortable with me. Accept me as

DMCA.com Protection Status