I Saved the Mafia Boss—Now I'm His Obsession. novel Chapter 24

Madeleine

𓎢𓎠𑄻𑄾𓎠𓎡

“What the fuck did I say about not interrupting me?”

I smiled, not because I liked being yelled at but because I could tell he needed someone.

“I know,” I said softly, wheeling the cart in like I hadn’t just been barked at, “But I brought your lunch. Tom reheated it for you.”

His shoulders stayed stiff, unmoving, but he didn’t turn around.

I paused just inside the door, letting it click shut behind me. The tray rattled faintly as I stopped the cart near the door, “They were talking in the kitchen how you haven’t eaten all day.”

Still, nothing.

“I figured...” I glanced down, fingers nervously twisting the hem of my sleeve, “if you won’t eat for them, maybe you’ll eat for me? I mean, I'm not just your employee, we're friends, right.”

It felt like standing too close to lightning.

I kept my voice light, trying to balance on that line between kind and not pushy, “I mean, obviously, I can’t force you or anything,” I said with a nervous laugh, “but I didn’t know it was a no-lunch zone when I offered. I kinda made a whole speech about how I’d bring the tray back empty, now, I don't want to be embarrassed in front of the entire kitchen.”

That made him move, he didn't turn, but he shifted like he’d heard something unexpected.

“I hope that wasn’t arrogant,” I added quickly. “I just... I dunno. I thought maybe you’d be hungry.”

I took a small step forward. “I know this is completely out of line, but I think food helps. Sometimes when I’m upset, even just the act of eating reminds me I’m still... human.”

That finally made him turn.

I watched him... really watched him. The tension in his shoulders, the cut of his jaw, the way his chest rose and fell like he was trying too hard to stay calm.

There was something so magnetic about him, something electric that made him very attractive. Well, dangerously attractive. The kind of man any sane woman would feel in her bones before her brain caught up.

He turned, and his eyes locked on mine.

Heat bloomed low in my belly.

My stomach fluttered, but I didn’t look away. I kept smiling gently even though my palms were damp.

“I didn’t mean to overstep,” I said, softer now. “But I thought... maybe you’d appreciate someone showing up, even if it’s just with food.”

He didn’t speak a word, he just stared. And for a second, I thought maybe he was going to snap again, bark at me to leave, and throw the tray across the room but then he looked at the food cart.

“I made sure it was still warm,” I said, almost in a whisper now, “Tom did, actually. He’s got magic hands with the oven.”

Still no answer.

I glanced at the tray again, then at him. “Do you want me to go?”

Finally, he exhaled, “Close the door,” he muttered.

I smiled softly and gently closed the door behind me. I pushed the polished cart forward and placed the gleaming silver tray on his desk, along with the crystal glass to pour his drink for him.

The meal was a perfectly seared filet mignon with a drizzle of rich demi-glace, accompanied by roasted heirloom carrots and tender asparagus spears.

I swallowed hard, remembering I’d sworn off meat years ago, but somehow, for him, I pushed the thought aside. This wasn’t about me. I reached out and placed the fork and knife just so, making sure everything looked perfect.

He looked down at the food and then back at me, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

“You brought this?” he asked, “Madeleine... you didn’t have to do that.”

I blinked at him, my smile twitching nervously. “I know, but… I wanted to. Adriano, you haven’t eaten all day. They’re talking about it in the kitchen.”

That pulled the smallest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

“And yeah, okay, the meat thing kind of made me gag a little but, touching a dead cow for you is like... a drop in the bucket compared to what you’re clearly going through. This is me being supportive,” I said, waving a hand toward the steak, “It’s what friends do.”

He just stared at me like he didn’t know what to do with me.

I dropped my hand awkwardly and bit my lip. “Is, um... is your family okay? I mean, I heard someone died, and I wasn’t trying to be nosy, but, well, I was, but only because I care. Are they safe? You're safe, right?”

Something raw flickered behind his eyes and then he let out a slow breath and ran a hand down his face like he was trying to wipe something off that wouldn’t come off.

“My family’s fine,” he said finally. “It wasn’t them. It was... someone else. A friend. A good one,” he hesitated, “She didn’t deserve what happened and it happened on my watch, so yeah. I’m pissed. I’m pissed that I should’ve protected her.”

I watched the way his mouth pressed into a tight line after he said it. She didn’t deserve what happened.

And suddenly, I knew.

It wasn’t just a friend. It was a girl. A woman. Someone who mattered to him. My stomach did this weird little drop.

“Oh,” I said quietly. “I’m... I’m really sorry.”

Was she his girlfriend?

I cleared my throat and quickly tucked the thought away like a candy wrapper I didn’t want anyone to see. It was not the time, nor the place. And definitely not my place.

“I’m not nervous,” I lied. My voice cracked a little.

He smirked.

I stabbed another piece of steak with the fork and held it up between us again, “Open up, boss man.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Boss man?”

I nodded, “Mm-hmm. Unless you’d rather go with Sir Chews-a-Lot. I’ve got options.”

A quiet laugh rumbled from him, it was so unexpected, and I swear I felt it in my spine.

He leaned in again, and took the second bite from my hand. My breath hitched, as the room felt warmer.

I looked down at the fork, blinking too fast. This was fine. He was grieving someone. A she. A woman. And here I was playing nursemaid with a side of fluttery feelings.

I didn’t pull my hand back right away, not until his lips brushed the edge of the fork and my stomach did another one of those somersault things I was definitely going to need to G****e later.

I should’ve set the fork down and smiled and gone back to being the harmless coworker who didn’t have any weird, fluttery feelings or ridiculous thoughts about how his lips looked when he chewed but I didn’t move and neither did he.

He was still leaning in, the bite of steak gone, but his mouth just... stayed close. Inches from my hand, from my face and from me. His mouth was right there. I noticed the way his bottom lip was just a little fuller than the top, the way it glistened slightly from the bite of steak.

“You’re staring,” he said lowly.

“I’m not,” I whispered, breath catching.

“You are.”

He was right. I was. God, I was. I dropped the fork with a soft clatter, heart hammering, and started to pull back but he caught my wrist. It wasn't rough just a light touch, strong yet soft, and so very him.

That should’ve scared me but it didn’t. His fingers slid down from my wrist to my hand, holding it gently. I blinked up at him, completely still, every nerve ending buzzing. His eyes dropped to my mouth.

My heart pounded so hard it almost hurt. My whole body leaning forward like I couldn’t stop it if I tried. His face was so close now, I could see the tiny scar above his eyebrow, the flecks of silver in his dark grey eyes.

Was he going to kiss me?

Was I going to let him?

I blinked, and the spell shattered.

“I think my boyfriend might be cheating on me...” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. They were not even meant for him, really, more like I was saying it out loud for the first time, just to hear how it sounded in the air.