Chapter 10 - The Boss's Last Order
The following Tuesday afternoon, at exactly four o’clock, the heavy oak door of my private office swung open.
A pair of bright pink sneakers skipped across the threshold.
“Is the boss in session?” a cheerful voice announced.
I looked up from my desk, laying down my fountain pen, and smiled a wide, genuine smile that reached all the way to my eyes.
“The boss is always in session for important visitors,” I replied.
Mia scrambled up into the massive black leather executive chair, her short legs dangling in the air as she immediately reached for the fresh plate of strawberries waiting for her on the corner of the mahogany desk.
Elena followed closely behind, carrying a folder of facility reports and wearing a peaceful, radiant smile that told me everything I needed to know. The threat was gone. The shadows were cleared. Her world—and mine—was finally safe.
Mia popped a strawberry into her mouth, chewed thoughtfully, and then pointed a sticky finger straight at my chest.
“Uncle Luca?”
“Yes, Boss Mia?”
“My mom says we’re going to Disneyland this weekend.”
“Is that so?” I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Elena, who just laughed softly and shook her head. “Well, that sounds like a very important executive decision.”
Mia nodded solemnly, wiping her hands on a napkin. Then, she leaned forward across the desk, lowering her voice into a conspiratorial whisper, as if sharing a great state secret.
“And my new order is... you have to come with us.”
Elena paused, looking at me with a mixture of hope and hesitation, as if afraid she was asking for too much.
I looked at the little girl who had walked into my office six months ago, climbed into a chair grown men were afraid to touch, and accidentally saved my soul.
May you like
I picked up my fountain pen, capped it securely, and stood up from behind my desk.
“Order accepted, Boss Mia,” I said, walking over to open the door for my family. “Looks like I have a trip to plan.”
