Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Thorne Surprise

Ivy’s POV 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Ivy, Dominic wants to see you in his office," Zoe announced as I walked into the back room of the Thorne shipping warehouse at closing time.

My stomach clenched. In this world, being summoned by a boss could mean anything from a promotion to a bullet between the eyes. "Did he say what for?"

"No idea. But he looked serious." She stood and headed toward the reinforced door that led to Dominic’s private quarters. "Let me tell him you’re here."

I watched her disappear behind the bulletproof glass, my mind racing through every possible mistake I might have made while managing the high-stakes operations. When she emerged and nodded for me to enter, I took a steadying breath.

"Ivy!" Dominic’s scarred face broke into a genuine smile as I entered his fortress-like office. "First things first - I’m damn glad you and Caleb worked things out."

Relief flooded through me. "Thank you, Dominic. I just hope he doesn’t lose his mind and screw it up again."

"If he does, you know I’ll help you put a few bullets in his ass," Dominic said with mock seriousness, gesturing to the arsenal mounted on his wall.

Zoe snorted from the doorway. "Right, just like you helped by playing informant and feeding him intel about Ivy’s every move."

"Come on, Zo, cut me some slack. The bastard’s been my ally for many years," Dominic protested, looking like a guilty soldier. We all burst out laughing. "But seriously, Ivy, my protection is always yours."

"I know that, Dominic. You’ve already done so much for me." And he had - giving me work and keeping me safe when I was desperate.

"Which brings me to my second point." Dominic’s expression grew more serious, his fingers drumming against the desk where he kept his loaded pistol. "Your work here has been exceptional. You adapted to our world faster than anyone I’ve brought into the fold, you handle the high-pressure situations like a natural, and my security team can’t stop praising your nerve under pressure. Honestly, bringing you into my operation was one of my smartest moves."

I waited for the other shoe to drop. "But?"

"But I’d be lying if I said this position matched what you’re capable of. You’re overqualified for what I can offer you in my operation." Dominic leaned back in his leather chair. "Caleb wants you back as his right hand. As your friend, I have to tell you - that’s a hell of an opportunity. Better protection, better access to power, and it puts you at the heart of the most influential family on the East Coast. Being the Don’s personal advisor opens doors most people in our world can only dream of."

My chest tightened. "Dominic, I love working here."

"And we love having you. But I won’t hold you back from something bigger." His honesty was almost painful. "I’m giving you complete freedom to choose. If you want to go back to Thorne territory, I’ll release you from our arrangement immediately - no blood spilled, no disputes. From a strategic standpoint, it’s the smart move."

The weight of the decision settled on my shoulders like a lead blanket. "I wasn’t expecting this conversation."

"I want you to know something else," Dominic continued. "If you take the Thorne position and it doesn’t work out, you have a place here. My doors are always open for you, Ivy. Always. That’s a blood oath."

The generosity of his offer nearly brought tears to my eyes. In this world, such loyalty was rarer than diamonds. "Thank you, Dominic. That means everything to me. Can I have some time to think about it?"

"Take all the time you need. I just wanted you to know where you stand - with both options." He smiled warmly. "Whatever you decide, you have my full backing."

I thanked him again and left his office with Zoe, who had remained silent throughout the entire conversation.

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