The Return Of The Mafia Lord

005

A week had passed since Xavier's life changed for the better. He had bought a mansion in the heart of the city of New York and now owned one of his favorite cars, a Mercedes. He had a new wardrobe, a new haircut, and a sense of confidence. He was no longer David, the man who lived in the cracks of the city. He was now Xavier, a Mafia Lord on the rise.

"This one," Peter said, holding up a deep charcoal suit with subtle pinstripes. "It'll look sharp for your first day. It's got a classic cut, but the fabric is modern. It's a statement piece, without being too flashy."

Xavier nodded, muttering a quiet "Thank you." He was still getting used to the whole switch in his life.

"Nervous?" Peter asked, his voice softer than usual.

Xavier sighed, looking at his reflection in the full-length mirror. "Yeah, a little. I mean, weeks ago, I was sleeping on the cold floor of my apartment. Now... I'm the CEO of a company I know nothing about." He shook his head. "I have no idea how any of this works."

Peter clapped a reassuring hand on Xavier's shoulder. "Don't sweat it. You've got people for that. They'll show you the ropes, and you'll catch on quickly. You're a fast learner, Xavier. Just be yourself, and the rest will fall into place."

With a final squeeze of his shoulder, Peter left the room.

Xavier took his time with his morning routine. He showered, the hot water washing away the last remnants of his old life, and then meticulously shaved. He put on the suit Peter had picked out, the fabric feeling both luxurious and powerful against his skin. He adjusted the knot of his tie, admiring the finished product. When he was finally satisfied with his look, he walked out of the house and straight into the sleek, black Mercedes waiting for him in the driveway.

*

*

"Please save me," Ari pleaded in her head, her sweaty hands clasped in front of her. For weeks she'd been fighting to clear her name, and her well-earned reputation as an employee everyone loved had been dragged through the mud. A two-time winner of the Best Employee award, she'd always poured herself into her work, and her job was a source of pride, not a tool for a quick buck. This entire ordeal felt like a bad dream. She watched as the team leaders' meeting broke up, each second ratcheting up her tension.

When her team leader emerged, his face was glued to the ground, her stomach sank. She knew her fate was sealed. But maybe, just maybe, the universe would surprise her.

He finally looked up, his expression a mix of shame and disappointment.

"I'm not losing my job, right, sir?" The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them.

The team leader's gaze finally settled on her, a deep regret in his eyes. He sighed. "Ari," he began, his voice soft, "I'm so sorry, but they've decided to let you go."

Ari's head whipped back and forth, her voice cracking. "No! I'm innocent. I didn't steal anything or try to sell off the Company. I swear!"

He just sighed. "The leak was traced to your computer. The company's IT logs are pretty clear."

"I've been framed!" she insisted, a frantic edge to her voice. "Please, sir, let the audit team investigate properly. They'll see it wasn't me."

A flicker of frustration crossed his face. "Ari, you don't understand. We're being lenient. If we escalate this to an audit, the police will get involved. They're being nice by letting you go quietly. If you fight this, you'll end up in jail."

Her shoulders slumped. Tears welled up. "Please, sir, you have to help me," Ari pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. "I have nowhere else to go. I'll do anything. I'll work twice as hard. Just don't let them do this to me."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Ari, I'm sorry. I really am. Maybe when things calm down, I can try to get you back in. But for now, you just need to go. You're causing a scene, and the CEO is on his way," he said and walked away.

She was fired, and there was nothing she could do about it. In tears, she went back to her desk and packed up her things. She boarded the elevator, and when it landed on the first floor, she saw a lot of commotion in the lobby. Directors were waiting at the entrance. She remembered what her team leader had said—that the CEO was finally showing up after years of buying the company. She knew she couldn't leave yet, so she stayed in a corner to watch everything.

Finally, a car stopped in front of the company, and the driver stepped out to open the door for the passenger. The man stepped out, and a collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Before Xavier could even take a step toward the entrance, a woman rushed up to him and hit him hard on his still-healing shoulder. The blow was shocking to everyone, including Xavier. He stared at the woman, instantly recognizing her—it was the woman whose chandelier he had broken during one of his deliveries and whom he had promised to pay back.

"How dare you not pay me for the damage after you promised?" she yelled, her voice laced with fury. "Do you have any idea how expensive that chandelier was?"

Before Xavier could respond, one of the directors quickly rushed over and pulled the woman away. "What are you doing to our CEO?" he demanded.

The woman's eyes widened in realization, and she quickly apologized. "I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't know."

The director looked at Xavier, his face a mask of apology. "I'm so sorry, sir. My wife... she can be a bit dramatic."

Xavier waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it," he said, a faint smile on his face. "You should be grateful to have a wife who knows the worth of money. A very stingy one at that," Then, turning his gaze back to the woman, he added sarcastically, "I'll be sure to give your husband the money." He couldn't lie, he enjoyed the authority his new position gave him. He had missed it.

The crowd parted, and they paved the way for him.

Ari who was still trying to stretch her neck and see the CEO too instead of just hearing voices was pushed and the box in her hand fell to the ground, making her things scattering everywhere.

She quickly bent down and started packing her things before he could come in. As she was packing, she saw a fleet of feet right in front of her, and her coworkers were beckoning to her to move away. She quickly apologized as she picked up her last paper.

When she stood up, standing in front of the man, her jaw dropped. It was the stranger she had helped a week ago. The shameless one that had run off after she housed him.

She pointed at him, cursing him out loudly before she could control herself. "You! You son of a bitch!"

A chorus of murmurs erupted through the lobby. "Why would she talk to the CEO like that?" someone whispered. "Did you see her? She's completely insane," another said.

The directors behind Xavier stared in utter shock, their faces frozen in disbelief. But Ari didn't care. What did she have to lose? She'd just been fired, her reputation was in shambles, and she was at her breaking point.

"How dare you run away like that after everything I did?" Ari yelled, her voice trembling. "I gave you shelter, cleaned your wound, and all I got was a measly 'thank you.' Is it in your blood to always make promises and fail, judging from the chandelier issue I just heard?"

She stretched out her hand to Xavier, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and despair. "If you were too shameless to pay me for a night's accommodation, you should at least pay me for my lost phone! It was brand new." Every dollar mattered now.

Xavier closed his eyes, a deep frustration washing over him. Why was he starting his day very badly with people he owed coming after him? This was a non-issue they could have addressed privately, but here she was, announcing it in front of everyone. He could feel his face hardening. "Come with me," he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.

"No," Ari shot back, shaking her head. "I have no business in this company anymore. I just want to get the hell out of here."

"I said come with me," Xavier repeated, his eyes fixing her with a cold, unwavering stare. "Or I will make sure you never get a good job again."

Fear immediately gripped her. The weight of his words settled in, and she realized she had just made a terrible mistake. She had been too comfortable with insulting him because she believed she had been fired, but she had totally forgotten how strong rich people's connections were. He could easily mess her life up if he wanted. With her head bowed in defeat, she followed him into the executive elevator.