"THE MAFIA BOSS FOUND ME ON MY KNEES SCRUBBING THE FLOOR WITH A SWOLLEN, BRUISED LEG—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE FELL WHILE CLEANING,” BEFORE I COULD ANSWER HIM.

My leg healed over the next two weeks, the ugly purple bruising fading to a dull yellow. But the reality of my new life was far more complicated than physical pain. I couldn't go back to scrubbing floors. It was too dangerous, and Luca absolutely refused to allow it.

Instead, he summoned me to his private study on a rainy Tuesday morning.

The room smelled of rich leather, expensive cigars, and dangerous secrets. Luca sat behind a massive mahogany desk, reviewing a stack of financial documents. He looked up when I entered, his eyes scanning my new attire—a sleek, professional black skirt and blouse he had ordered a stylist to bring me.

"Take a seat," Luca said, gesturing to the leather chair across from him.

I sat down nervously, folding my hands in my lap. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Moretti?"

"Luca," he corrected gently. "I told you to call me Luca when we are alone."

"Luca," I amended, my cheeks warming. "What am I doing here? I'm fully healed. I need to earn my keep."

"And you will," Luca said, sliding a thick folder across the desk toward me. "From now on, you are my personal executive assistant. You will manage my schedule, organize my private files, and attend all my internal meetings. You will be by my side at all times."

I stared at the folder, completely bewildered. "I don't have a degree in business. I was hired to clean."

"You are smart, observant, and most importantly, you are loyal," Luca stated, leaning forward, his intense gaze pinning me to the chair. "I cannot trust anyone else in this house right now. The Romanos have spies everywhere. I need someone watching my back."