Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 88: Chapter 88

ALINA
I thought it was a good idea to come with him,” Analide said, sounding unsure of herself as she stepped into my office behind Ethan.
Ethan had arrived for his meeting, and with him was Analide.
She looked innocent and beautiful, like a dove. She hugged me, and I pulled back, offering her a smile. “I didn’t expect you, but definitely, come in.”
Ethan grinned. “Can we discuss business first before you ladies start discussing work?” he asked, looking ridiculously handsome in a black suit.
I stood and walked out with him. Outside the office, I turned to him. “How did the auditing end?”
“The books are in order. I’ve found you a plot of land for the new warehouse. We can go and see it when you’re done with Analide.”
I nodded, my mind already drifting back to the books Luca had gotten for me that morning. I hadn’t stopped thinking about it.
My heart fluttered again at the memory, heat blooming in my chest.
Ethan chuckled. “Why are you blushing suddenly? Did I say something cute?”
That only made it worse. I laughed. “Wait for me, I’ll be back.”
When I returned to the office, Analide had already walked around my desk. I sat down and immediately noticed that my books and laptop weren’t exactly how I’d left them.
“I didn’t expect Ethan to be your best friend. That was very shocking,” I said casually, trying not to seem too bothered.
Analide gave me a sweet smile that almost looked too rehearsed. “Oh, we’ve always been friends. He plucked me an apple from his father’s orchard once, and since then we’ve been inseparable.”
His father’s orchard?
If Ethan’s family was wealthy enough to own an orchard next to Analide’s, then why the hell was he working as an executor, killing people for pay?
Before I could dwell on it, Analide slid a tablet in front of me. “I brought you some new samples to look at.”
“I’m actually swamped this morning. Can we do it later?”
Her eyes flashed, something sharp behind her smile, but she nodded. “Oh. I must have misunderstood your schedule. That’s alright. I’ll find something else to do.”
The disappointment in her voice made me feel a little guilty. I stood. “If you’re not too busy, you can come with me. I’ll look at the designs afterwards.”
She clapped her hands like a child and hugged me tight. “Thank you! I’ll be very well-behaved.”
We left together; Ethan and Lorenzo driving in front while Analide and I sat in the back.
Mikhail was already waiting at the site. I liked it and agreed to purchase it.
“The current owner wants to speak to you directly. After that, he’ll sign the documents,” Mikhail explained.
I nodded. That wasn’t a bad idea. I returned to the car with Analide and finally looked at her designs. They were beautiful, and I gave her a few suggestions for improvement.
When we were done, she offered to buy me lunch.
“Ah, but I’m very hungry,” she said dramatically. “What do you think of ice cream and pie for lunch?”
I laughed. “Let’s go.”
Her eyes lit up. “I know just the place. My friend Mika is the chef.”
The restaurant she led us to was a pristine, high-end space; gold chandelier, fine silverware, and crystal-clear windows. It screamed old money.
People whispered as we passed. Analide stopped to greet a few people she recognized. I followed, quiet.
We were seated, and she clapped her hands. “What do you want to eat? Mika will prepare anything you ask.”
Ethan and I ordered, and not long after, Mika herself came to greet us.
She looked more like a debutante than a chef; delicate, soft-spoken, poised. “Hello. Welcome to Elyse. I hope you enjoy your meals and visit again.”
“Thank you, Mika. Meet Ethan and Alina,” Analide said. “Alina’s agreed to work with me as a stylist.”
That prickled. If Ethan had been her best friend since childhood, why was she only now introducing him to another close friend?
Still, I smiled. “Your restaurant is stunning.”
“You’ll be served at once,” she said and disappeared into the kitchen.
We started eating, and Analide wasted no time digging into her favorite topic—Luca.
“I heard you two married very suddenly! It must have been so romantic.” She leaned forward, eyes glinting with curiosity.
I looked around desperately. “Umm, actually, I proposed to him.”
Her jaw fell open. “You what? You proposed to the dangerous and wealthy Luca Marino?”
Before I could respond, the waiter approached with our food. My plate was just about to be placed in front of me when Analide stood up—too quickly—and bumped into the server.
My entire dish flipped, spilling hot food directly onto my lap.
I hissed sharply, shooting up from the chair as the burn hit me. My dress was ruined. My chest burned with humiliation.
Analide gasped, her eyes wide, almost tearful. “I’m so sorry, Alina! I didn’t mean to. I swear I didn’t.”
“Oh no!” someone gasped.
I snatched a napkin from the table and dabbed at the mess, but it was useless. The creamy sauce had stained everything. I could feel eyes on me, heat climbing my neck.
“Dios mío, she’s such a mess,” someone whispered, not nearly quiet enough.
Another snorted. “So clumsy.”
The chair scraped as I pushed it back. I felt like the entire restaurant was watching me unravel.
“Everyone hush,” Analide’s voice rang out.
Then sweetly, like sugar dipped in poison, she added, “I’m sure she didn’t mean to cause a scene.”
I froze.
What?
I stared at her. Cause a scene? I was the one with hot food on my thighs because she couldn’t sit still.
But I swallowed it down. I nodded tightly. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” I said, grabbing the glass of ice water to cool my legs.
I reordered something light, barely tasted it, and when we were done, we left together.
As we walked down the stairs, I felt someone push me hard from behind.