Without any kind of degree, acquiring a position with pay similar to the one I now had was impossible, to say the least.
I had sent my résumé to a few local bars and such, hoping I could find something with my job experience working for Capra Corp.
From: Tony: I support you fully, babe x You can always come work for me.
To: Tony: I wouldn't feel comfortable working for you, you know that. But thank you x
From: Tony: Come over tonight x
To: Tony: I'm working, sorry...
From: Tony: Brunch, then?x
To: Tony: I'll text you when I get back home, okay? x
I turned my phone on silent and slipped it into the small clutch I had with me.
I was nervous. Mr Horan was one of the few people Mr Capra Sr had made sure never to let me get involved with for the sake of my safety and wellbeing. His arrogant son was clearly not as empathetic or caring.
"You'll be fine, Sofia," James, the driver, assured me.
I sighed and slumped back against my seat in the back of the car, casting him a small smile through the driver's mirror.
"I know." I couldn't be sure that I would though, and that scared me most.
I had told Mr Capra Sr about what his son had assigned me to do tonight, but his reply had yet to come. I knew he would be angry as my safety was not being taken into consideration.
I arrived at Les Rois and took a few deep breaths to gather myself.
I had been in this position countless times before, but never with someone like Mr Horan. The Capra Corp at least had a good cover up for their illegal mafia business, but with Mr Horan, he didn't bother. He acted as if he was above the law and untouchable. Nobody dared to, anyway, except apparently Mr Capra Jr.
James wished me good luck, before the door was opened for me and entered the cold night.
I was very much stuck in my own head as I made my way inside the restaurant. I was led to a table I used very regularly with occasions like this at work, where I could now see Mr Horan waiting in the dim lighting.
His blue eyes lifted to meet mine, before a perverted grin formed onto his lips when he took in my appearance.
He stood up to greet me and somehow I managed to seem more under control and calm than ever.
"You must be Jade," he kissed the side of my face as we leaned closer for a small hug. The smell of too much aftershave and sweat stung my senses. I covered up my disgusted shudder with a smile.
"I am," I told him seductively, knowing it couldn't be too hard to excite a man like him.
Jade was the name I used with all these men, since giving my real name made it all too personal. I was here to give them a show, make them fall in love with me for the evening so I could get what my boss wanted.
"I'm Winston. My God, you are delicious," he took a step back to run his eyes over my front again.
My unwavering smile grew all the more forced. I inched closer, not wanting to let him just creep over me as he seemed so comfortable doing.
"You flatter me," I flirtatiously brushed along his arm and slowly let my hand move down until I had moved delicately against his.
His eyes met mine and he grinned, very pleased.
He suddenly snapped his fingers, causing the quiet conversations in the restaurant to seize for a moment.
A waiter rushed up to us, his face flushed, and pulled the chair back for me to sit in. I did, and placed my clutch on the small round table between Mr Horan and me.
I flirted, boosted his ego, and did everything I could to get this dinner to end as soon as possible, to when he would want to take me back to his suite.
He had been staring at my breasts more than he had bothered to make actual eye contact. I kept professional, pushing the uncomfortable feelings to the back of my mind as I always did. The men I usually dealt with were far more respectful, and I knew exactly why I had been forbidden to meet with this pathetic excuse of a man before.
Halfway through dinner, he excused himself to use the restroom.
Once I watched him disappear from my sight, I felt like I could finally breath.
I was beyond angry at Mr Capra's son for putting me through this. He was well versed with the leading men of this world and knew everything his father did about Mr Horan.
"Is everything going okay?"
I tensed at the alarmingly familiar voice. Before I had a chance to look back at who it was, a body moved past me to sit in Mr Horan's seat opposite me.
My eyes bulged out of my head when I took in Mr Capra Jr's bold action.
"You need to leave," I hissed, growing more angry now that he was interfering with my job, even as the boss.
He casually leaned back in the seat and let his arms rest on the table. I hated that he was well aware of how good he looked. I had to admit, this was a much nicer view than an old and perverted man.
"Is that Versace?" He nodded down at the black satin high-leg split dress I wore tonight.
My brows raised at him for a moment, "yes."
He smirked to himself and nodded, absentmindedly, his dark gaze unwaveringly remaining on me.
"Please, leave," I spoke quietly, continuously glancing over to see if Mr Horan was returning.
There was no doubt in my mind the second most powerful man in the world would recognise the current Don of his highest competitor and enemy. If that happened, all of tonight would be ruined.
Mr Horan had a reputation of going after those who were even more powerful than him. The men more powerful than him today were Mr Capra and his son.
"He's old, he'll take at least ten minutes," Mr Capra shrugged, intoxicating eyes studying mine much more intimately than he had done back at the office.
He was dressed in an evening suit, his dress shirt also pitch black. Despite the appropriate attire, he wore no tie.
"He's drooling over you, Sofia," he then inquired, his low voice causing a small tingle to run down along my spine, gathering unwanted tension in the bottom of my stomach, "this isn't so bad, is it?"
I held my reply, infuriated.
His wicked smirk widened knowingly, "I'll take that as a no. Still you felt the need to go crying to my father about this. Why?"
My brows furrowed again, feeling so confused as to why he would risk everything just to confront me about this right now.
"Mr Horan will be back soon-" I began, but he cut me off with a small 'tsk' and a shake of his head.
I hated how he knew I found him incredibly attractive. His dark hair was styled back effortlessly, and his whole complexion radiated dominance and control. Something in me loved that, but at the same time I despised him. All in all, I felt very conflicted and therefore more angry.
"I'll know when he finishes jerking himself off, love," he shamelessly spoke, loud enough for the woman at the table near ours, with her husband, to gasp.
I shifted in my seat and cast the man in front of me a disapproving look. I tried giving the well-known CEO a small and apologetic smile, but her focus was firm on Mr Capra in the dimness.
His eyes were still focused on me, though, not bothered with anything else around us.
"How childish can you be?" I huffed out, a part of me wanting my words to remain underneath my breath, yet he heard.
Seeming unfazed, he replied without a second thought, "childish enough to rip that gown right off, unless you start giving me some respect."
"Excuse me?"
"What I say is law," he continued, tone intimidatingly calm, and I held back the urge to roll my eyes stubbornly, "if I say that Horan will take ten minutes, he will take ten minutes."
I remained silent again, vowing to myself I would not look away from his challenging eyes to admit submission and defeat, something I realised he wanted me to.
"I got quite a mouthful from my father. Something about not putting you in this kind of danger," he then chuckled to himself lowly, "you've got him wrapped around your pinky, haven't you?"
"Maybe he just cares about my safety," I muttered, returning the challenge.
"Maybe. Your safety doesn't come before our needs anymore, though. You and my father need to accept that," he offered me a taunting smile, and I frowned.
"He's coming back now," he continued before I had a chance to even gather my thoughts, "you look amazing, no wonder all the big bad men fall at your feet."
I had no idea what to reply with, hating that my sinful body tingled with hot electricity from his words, nerves alight with interest. I blamed the wine.
Without another word Mr Capra Jr stood up, straightened his well-fitted suit jacket, and confidently walked back the way he came from.
Everyone here seemed to notice him, all clearly curious as to who was now running Capra Corp.
I took a long swig from the glass of red wine to calm my treacherous body.
The surprisingly intoxicating and heady scent of Mr Capra's delicious cologne was replaced by the mixture of sweat and revolting aftershave.
Mr Horan returned, completely oblivious to what had happened while he'd been in the restroom.