He was tall. Too tall for me to make direct eye contact with unless he looked down at my 5'6" frame and unfortunately, he was.
At least now I could get a proper look at him, but couldn't as he seemed to have trapped my gaze with his, and I was stuck drowning in his emerald eyes. Beautiful, if they were attached to someone mundane, but they felt terrifying to even look at directly, taking away the innocence of beauty and replacing it with, what I could only compare it to, as lustful fear.
Here he was, one of the most powerful men in the city and I couldn't act fast enough to comprehend my expressions, only stare up at him like a deer in headlights.
I didn't know what to do. Maybe awkwardly walk away as if I didn't just ram into this stunning man or lower my head and apologize properly.
But as I said, he wasn't a normal person. This was a mafia boss who might very well have me thrown on the streets just for touching him if I wasn't here to help pay off a debt.
Hell, he might do it anyway. I was nothing compared to someone like him. Even in his presence, if I didn't know who he was, would still feel inferior.
I finally snapped out of his hold when he began to scrunch his defined but well-groomed eyebrows together. What was he thinking? What in the world does a man like this think at all? Maybe the fastest way to hide my body.
"Are you okay," he finally spoke with a deep, mature voice. I wasn't a comforting tone, but more platonic and casual.
I blinked a few times and opened my mouth, not really knowing what to say or how to address him.
"I...yes. I'm sorry."
"Are you sure? You seemed stunned."
Probably because I've just rammed into a powerful and threatening being.
I brushed the fabric on my dress, something I've done when I was nervous and tried to maintain a calm demeanor. "I am. I wasn't looking where I was going."
He paused for a bit and I couldn't tell what that look in his eyes meant.
"That's good, then. I wouldn't want guests in my hotel getting injured because of me. Wouldn't be good for the company's image, would it," he said and flashed a charming smile. I didn't even seem forced like he carried false charm and not authentic confidence.
"Right." I gave one back out of instinct, completely forgetting who he was for a moment, though it was awkward unlike so confident like his.
Then it dawned on me. Did he even know who I was? Probably not. I was too low of a person for him to notice, even if I was part of his mafia deals.
"I should um, I should go." I hurried back to my table before either of us had a chance to say anything else.
I must be insane, talking so casually to him like that. Then again, he called me a guest which meant he must've not have known who I was. But when he does find out, I'm sure he won't smile at the girl whose only there to pay off a debt by working as a stri-dancer.
When I sat back down, I kept my head low, staring into my palms, feeling embarrassed. I never cared what Richard had ever thought about me, but only because I knew he had no power to his words.
He always presented himself as a high ranking mafia boss who had enough power to do whatever he wanted. But in reality, he could barely manage his club and people only stayed away from him because he reeked of aftershave and cheap cologne.
But this man, he was, as I've learned from Izzy and Lily, so powerful he could wage war on any other leader and win easily. With money from his illegal lifestyle and fame from his family name, I felt scared to even work for him.
Who knows what angered him.
I was beginning to question walking away from him now. It was inappropriate and probably shameful in his eyes. At least I apologized. I'd hate to imagine what would happen to me if I didn't or was rude.
I still heard the mashed conversations about Elijah continuing around me, but begin to hush as he emerged from the hallway moments after I did.
He strode confidently to the entrance of the private dining area and began shaking hands with a few other men.
"Captivating, isn't he," Lily commented. I turned toward her and noticed the small smirk on her face. "I wouldn't try him, though. believe it or not, Mr. Giordano isn't much of a ladies man."
Isabelle took a sip of her drink and nodded. "He won't even hook up with the dancers. He'll watch us briefly if we perform in front of him in the VIP section, but won't stare."
"Maybe he's got a different kind of lover in his bed," Lily joked.
"Gay? No way. He definitely notices women. It's subtle, though, like he doesn't want people to know he likes a curvy figure."
A waiter came and placed our meals on the table and I was more than glad to eat. Maybe it was the stress of my new life, though I've never been a stress eater, or not eating all day, but I was starving.
I picked up my burger and began eating quietly while the two continued with their conspiracy theories.
"Maybe he has a private relationship and she doesn't want to be in the spotlight."
"Or maybe he kills them once he's done with them."
"What do you think, Anna," Izzy asked.
"Murder for sure," I joked and took another bite of my food.
"I think we know who his next victim might be," Lily said in a more serious tone.
We both glanced at her shocked face, then in the direction she was looking.
I turned my head back to Mr. Giordano who was already eyeing us down. He was silent as another man spoke to him, but he didn't seem interested in the slightest.
"Is he looking...at us?"
It appeared so. With his eyes followed the attention of people already watching him, and they all landed on our table. I imagine he was starting to realize who I was.
"Look away," Isabelle said quickly.
"Why-"
"Anna look away." I turned my head back to her confused.
"What's wrong."
The two girls tried their best to seem nonchalant but I could tell they felt frantic. I began feeling nervous as well. For a moment, I forgot about the dangerous mafia boss and only noticed him. In all his tanned, green-eyed glory, his dangerous presence suddenly vanished.
I felt more anxious now. He barely had anything to say outside of the restrooms, and now he's staring me down like prey?
"It's disrespectful to stare at him as we did," Isabelle told me.
I looked around the room. There were dozens of watchful eyes on him. "What about everyone else," I asked, "He seems oblivious to them."
"They don't work for him, and besides, we're strippers working in his club. We're kind of low in the food chain over here."
"I thought you said we weren't strippers."
"Okay I lied." she took a small bite of her salad then a quick peek up at our boss. I was tempted to follow her gaze but was afraid to be met with those intimidating eyes. "He's gone."
���Why was he looking at us," Lily asked.
"I have no idea. Perhaps he was curious about you, Anna."
"Huh? Why...me?"
"Hello? You're part of his trade deal, right? He's probably interested in what he got."
Isabelle giggled and placed her drink down. "I think we found our new murder victim."
"Right," I say forgetfully, "I'm still a pawn in a long chess match."
"Oh honey, don't look at it like that," Lily said and placed a hand on my shoulder. She opened her mouth but nothing came after that.
"Seriously, Lily?" Isabelle rolled her eyes at the lack of encouragement.
"I mean it's kinda true," Lily blurted out. "Look, I know it's not the most ideal situation, but… I mean it could be worse, right?"
"What she's trying to say is you'll be okay here. The boss might be more dangerous and intimidating than your previous one, but he won't hurt you. No one will."
I couldn't help but smile, just a little bit, probably for the first time since coming here, one where I wasn't lost in thought while gazing like a fool in front of my boss. "Thank you, and please never let Lily give comforting talks ever again."
We laughed and finished our food, casually talking about the city and other mafia bosses that lived in the city. Apparently, the Giordano's ruled Manhattan with the Acosta's. They've been competing for territory for the last three decades and according to Izzy and Lily, it won't be ending anytime soon, although they've agreed to split the island in half for the time being.
Hopefully, there won't be any clashes while I'm here.