The Mafia Contract Series

I’m strangely nervous. This is my first meeting, and I am so anxious to impress my father. It’s common knowledge he wants to scale down his role at the company, and I’ve been working hard to become a worthy successor.

I even passed on university to start at the bottom of his empire and work my way up. I’m aware I’m riding a gold-lined elevator to the top, and this internship is not open to anyone but blood, but despite that, I’ve tried so hard to prove myself and now I’m attending my first ever meeting by his side. To say this day is monumental is an understatement.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have drunk two martinis and spent half the night googling Massimo Delauren.

I’m a little rough around the edges and my mind is filled with a certain visitor who has caught me off-guard.

Maybe today is just what I need to get things back on track and as we enter the building, I walk with a different spring in my step as I sense change is in the air.

My father sweeps through the building like the chief executive he is, and the awe and reverence on his employees’ faces is well deserved. He’s a good employer and a fair boss. He pays well and rewards his staff with parties and incentives if they achieve their goals. I want to be exactly like him and so as I sit at my place at the mahogany boardroom table, I remove my notebook and pen and vow to make every second count of this opportunity.

I’m not even sure what this meeting’s about and as I wait, I spin in my chair and gaze out on the city below. It’s a view I’m so familiar with, and I wonder if I will get to enjoy it as long as my father has. He built up his technology empire from one office to several across the country and, with my mother’s help, they made billions.

Technology moved on fast, and they reaped the rewards. Being one of the main beneficiaries of that, I am keen to earn my place at his table. Which is why I’m a little unnerved at the current distraction consuming my thoughts, because when did I fixate on a man? Only him. Flynn V asquez, possibly my cousin, possibly not. My thoughts turn to him, and I wonder what he’s doing now.

Business, he said. I’m not sure his idea of business is the same as ours and I can only imagine the horrors of his life as he struggles to get by.

The door opening interrupts my thoughts and I’m surprised to see a strange face enter and smile.

“You must be Louisa Sullivan. I’m Brad Turner. I understand we will be working together.”

“We will?”

I’m surprised because this is the first I’ve heard of him and before I can recover my father breezes in and says loudly, “Ah, I see you two have met already. Good to see you, Brad.”

My father shakes his hand warmly before taking his seat at the head of the table and fixes us both with a firm expression.

“So, I should make some introductions. Louisa is my daughter and has been learning this business for many years, although only full time for the past two.”

I’m not sure why, but I’m anticipating a meeting different from the one I thought I’d be attending, and I nod, trying to grab control of my emotions.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

My father points to Brad. “Brad has been working his way up in my Washington office. He’s proven his worth and secured a great deal of business for Technofad. You could learn a lot from Brad, Louisa, which is why I am placing you together to run a project I’ve acquired. There’s a new microchip we’ve been testing that provides covert surveillance, almost undetectable to the human eye. It’s top secret and there is interest from many organizations, including the government. I need you to develop it and assure its success. Brad will lead and Louisa, you will assist. I’ve set aside level three for your offices, and the Kryton project staff are at your disposal. That wrapped up last week, so they are ready to go.”

He leans back and smiles. “I’m here if you need me, but I want this to be your baby. Prove to me you can do this, and I could be looking at the next CEO of Technofad.”

The fact he’s looking at Brad as he speaks causes my blood to chill because what the fuck is happening? Who the hell is Brad Turner, anyway, and why do I suspect I’ve been pushed aside for a stranger?

My father looks at his watch and says quickly, “I’ll leave you to get acquainted. I must run to another meeting. Head down to level three and make yourselves at home. We’ll meet same time tomorrow for a catch up.”

He doesn’t even glance at me and merely slaps Brad on the back and leaves me with so many questions I don’t know where to begin.

As soon as the door closes, Brad turns to me and says briskly, “Ok, we need to be the best.

Failure is not an option, so if you have any nail or hair appointments or brunch dates, cancel them.

Office hours are seven am until nine pm and I expect no extended lunch breaks and distractions. We work hard to play hard later. Any questions?”

I stare at him with my mouth open because since when was he the boss of me?

My eyes flash as I say curtly, “Firstly, contrary to what you just said, I don’t schedule personal appointments in my working day. I don’t even take a lunch period and my only distraction is my desire to succeed. Secondly, I don’t appreciate being told how to organize my day with no discussion and thirdly, I may be detailed with assisting you, but I will not be made to feel like the hired help. I’ve worked hard to gain my father’s respect through grit and determination and if you believe I’m some empty-headed heiress with cotton candy between her ears, then we’ve got a problem–Brad.” I spit his name like it personally insults me, and his amused smile rubs me up the wrong way.

“Noted, Louisa. But if you want my respect, you earn it. I’m sure the same goes for me.” He leans over the table and fixes me with an intense stare that makes me uncomfortable.

“We will work well together. I heard you were a tough one to crack and consider the challenge accepted.”

He actually winks and stares at me as if he wants to rip my clothes off and smirks, “This is going to be so good. I’m going to enjoy having you under me, Louisa, and you are welcome to try to make it on top.”

He winks, making me feel as if a thousand bugs are crawling across my skin and then he kicks back his chair and nods to the door. “Level three it is.”

As he stands back to let me pass, I’m pretty certain it’s just to check out my ass and the anger builds inside me as I anticipate a very difficult few months ahead.