Chapter 9
Emily’s breath caught in her chest as Dominic’s words echoed through the room. The powerful, feared boss of Chicago’s most formidable family was looking at her not as an employee, but as an equal—with a tender vulnerability that few people on earth had ever been allowed to see.
“Dominic, your world is dangerous,” she said softly, though she didn’t pull away from his touch. “Look at what happened just because I worked in your house.”
“My world is dangerous,” Dominic agreed, his thumb gently tracing her jawline. “But leaving you unprotected in a world full of men like Caleb is far worse. With me, you will never have to fear anyone again. I will build a shield around you that no one can break.”
Emily looked deep into his eyes, seeing the absolute sincerity behind his words. Over the past three years, she had watched him command rooms full of terrifying men with cold authority, but over the last four days, she had seen the man beneath the armor—a man of deep loyalty, quiet honor, and profound loneliness.
“What are you proposing?” she asked, a soft, tentative smile appearing on her lips.
Dominic smiled back—a genuine, warm smile that transformed his stern face completely.
“I’m offering you a new position,” he said smoothly. “Manager of the Moretti Charitable Foundation. A real office, a real salary, and full protection. And...” He paused, his gaze intensifying. “...dinner with me every evening. Not as my employee, but as my guest.”
Emily felt a wave of warmth wash over her heart. The terror of the freezing Thursday morning had vanished, replaced by a sense of safety and belonging she hadn’t felt in years.
May you like
“I think I can accept those terms,” she murmured softly.
Dominic leaned down, his lips meeting hers in a gentle, lingering kiss that sealed the unspoken promise between them. Outside, the snow continued to fall quietly over the trees, but inside, the cold was finally gone.
