Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 369

ARIELLA

It was just me, Maria, and Sia, now. And, well, everything had been going great so far from the dinner and now.

“So,” I asked Sia, “when can you begin work?”

“I will come in tomorrow, and we can find a timetable that fits Leon and you. And then after we have everything straightened up, we can begin the lessons soon after.”

“Okay,” I noted. “That sounds reasonable.”

“And thank you,” she added. “Thank you so much for hiring me. For a second there, I thought you wouldn’t.”

“Why do people keep saying that?”

“Saying what?” she asked, and she looked genuinely confused.

“Keep saying they didn’t think I would hire you. You seem great with kids....I guess because you're great with Leon, and Leon seems to like you very much. And you have a great background. Why would you think I wouldn’t hire you?”

“Well,” she said, getting all sheepish, “um, sometimes people think because my dad was the consigliere… and now my brother is Axel's consigliere, it will be hard to work with me.”

I smiled brightly as I responded.

“Oh, but that wouldn’t matter, given that this is the Don’s house, I am his wife, and Leon is his son. I think it won’t be a problem working with the consigliere's sister.”

The two of us held eye contact for a second, until Maria cleared her throat.

“Oh, I'm… I’m just going to help in the kitchen or something and go to bed.”

“Oh, okay. Good night, Maria.” I said looking towards her.

Just then, Sia also stood up.

“ I think I should also take my leave. Good night, Ariella…. See you all tomorrow. And thank you again very much for having me over.”

“Thank you for coming Sia. Did you drive here? You could wait for Luca.”

“No, I drove. It’s okay. Who knows where Luca is going anyway? He might be going to a strip club or something,” she said, rolling her eyes.

I felt Maria kind of internal flinch.

"I'll walk you out." Maria quickly said.

"Okay then. Goodnight, Sia, and see you tomorrow."

Sia nodded and walked out, and then Maria followed, and it was just me in the sunroom.

So I relaxed back into the comfort of the sofa, had a glass of wine… and then another… and another. And I guess after all the glasses of wine.… I fell asleep right there on the chair.

*

The sound that woke me wasn’t loud. It wasn’t sharp or alarming. It was soft—quiet footsteps, the faint creak of the floor, the kind of sound that would go unnoticed if you weren’t already half-aware.

My eyes fluttered open slowly, and for a second, I didn’t know where I was. The dim lighting of the sunroom, the empty glasses on the table, the blanket that had somehow been draped over me....And then I felt it. Warmth.

A hand brushes lightly against my arm.

“Asher…” I murmured, my voice still thick with sleep.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” he whispered.

My eyes opened fully at the sound of his voice. He was crouched beside me, one hand resting on the arm of the chair, the other still lightly touching me.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Late.”

I let out a small breath and rubbed my face. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“I know.”

His hand moved then, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. We held each other's gaze for a second before I looked away. I wrapped my hands tighter around myself without even realising it.

His eyes softened when he noticed.

“Hey,” he said, reaching for me. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Get lost in your head.”

Too late for that. I looked back at him.

“At dinner… Luca said something.” I began. That got his attention.

“What did he say?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify