Helen’s POVI sat on the edge of the bed all night, staring at the door, waiting for it to open. But it didn’t.

When the first light of morning came through the window, I still hadn’t closed my eyes. My body was tired, but I didn’t want to feel too comfortable. Especially since the Mafia boss here is a hot one... What if he came in? What if he changed his mind about waiting till night?

At exactly five, there was a knock.

“Miss Rossi,” a woman’s voice called. “It’s time to wake up.”

I opened the door slowly. It was an older woman, her gray hair tied neatly in a bun. She looked strict but not unkind.

“I’m Mrs. Benedetti,” she said. “I manage the house and you’ll work under me.”

I nodded quietly.

“Get dressed. The boss doesn’t like lateness.”

She handed me a black maid uniform and left. I changed quickly and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a stranger, but I still had to get through this. In as much as my mother was fine, then so was I.

Downstairs, the mansion was more bustling than I expected it to be. Guards stood near the doors, while servants moved around silently.

Mrs. Benedetti showed me what to do. She said I had to clean, dust, and set the table—as nobody spoke unless she gave permission.

Around eight, I heard footsteps behind me. Everyone froze, and even Mrs. Benedetti straightened immediately.

Then Dante walked in.

He was dressed in black again, with a glass of coffee in his hand. He didn’t look at anyone except me.

My heart started racing.

“Good morning, Mr. Romano,” Mrs. Benedetti said quickly.

He nodded, his eyes still on me.

“Leave us.”

Everyone left without a word, even Mrs. Benedetti.

Now it was just the two of us, and I could feel his eyes move from my face down to the maid uniform. It felt like he was undressing me with his gaze.

“You didn’t sleep,” he said quietly.

I blinked. “How do you know?”

He smirked a little. “You look like someone who hasn’t closed her eyes in days.”

I looked down, gripping the tray in my hand.

“I couldn’t.”

He moved closer, and I could smell his cologne.

“Fear keeps people awake,” he said. “But it also keeps them alive.”

I stepped back a little, my heart beating faster.

He stopped in front of me.

“Do you always shake this much?”

“I’m not shaking,” I whispered.

His lips curved slightly.

“You are.”

He reached out and touched my chin gently. I froze as his fingers were warm—it sent shivers down my spine in ways I never expected, as no touch had ever made me feel that way.

“Look at me,” he said.

I hesitated but obeyed.

“I don’t like liars,” he said softly. “Or disobedience. You’ll remember that, won’t you?”

I nodded quickly.

“Good.”

He let go and turned to walk away. My legs almost gave out from the tension. But just before leaving the room, he paused.

“You’ll have dinner with me tonight,” he said.

My stomach dropped. “Dinner?”

He turned his head slightly.

“Yes. You’ll sit beside me, so wear something nice. Mrs. Benedetti will help you.”

“But...”

He cut me off with a look.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

I said nothing as he left quietly, but even after he was gone, my heart was still beating fast.

Later, as I cleaned the table, Mrs. Benedetti returned. She looked at me, then sighed.

“He asked you to dinner?”

I nodded slowly.

She shook her head. “That’s never a good sign.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She lowered her voice. “It means he’s interested. And when Mr. Romano is interested, it’s not a blessing, Helen...” Her words stayed in my head for the rest of the day.

By evening, I was standing in front of a mirror again, wearing the red dress Mrs. Benedetti brought. It fit me perfectly. It was long, but had a slit that extended to my thigh, and my hands trembled as I heard a knock at the door.

A guard opened it and said, “The boss is waiting.”

I took a deep breath and stepped out.

Downstairs, Dante sat at the head of the long table, a glass of wine in his hand.

He looked up as I entered. His eyes ran over me slowly, and I couldn’t quite gather what his eyes said as he did.

“Sit,” he said.

I walked to the seat beside him. The first few minutes were silent, and I couldn’t even breathe properly.

Then he spoke.

“You look beautiful.”

I didn’t know what to say. “Thank you,” I whispered.

He smirked. “You’re not used to compliments, are you?”

“I’m not used to being sold,” I said quietly.

He chuckled, as if amused at how outspoken I was. “You’ll learn. Everything has a price, Helen.”

I looked at him, trying to find some sign of humanity in his face, but there was none.

When dinner ended, he stood and said, “Come.”

I followed him down a quiet hallway to a door I hadn’t seen before. He opened it, and it was his office again.

He turned to me and beckoned me to sit on the nearest seat while he took the seat beside me.

“Do you know why I asked you to dinner?”

I shook my head.

He walked closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “Because I wanted to see how easily you’d break.”

My heart raced. “I’m not going to break.”

He smiled faintly. “We’ll see.”

Then he leaned close, so close I could feel his breath on my cheek.

“Tomorrow,” he said softly, “your real work begins.”

He brushed his fingers against my jaw, slow and deliberate.

His hand suddenly touched my lap, and shivers ran down my spine. He caressed it gently, his eyes never leaving mine.

I was starting to feel uncomfortable, but it was also hard to just shove his hand aside. Slowly, his hand slid further to my thigh, and I was barely breathing.

His hand suddenly got to the line of my panties and brushed my clit. I felt myself go wet immediately, and he just smirked.