Mafia and His Virgin Worker

Lori's POV.

I had already made up my mind. I would work my ass off and be a woman he can’t get again. My ex-boyfriend of four years Connor, betrayed me a week ago and left me for someone from a wealthy family. It shattered me into pieces, but today, for the first time, I felt like I could breathe.

My best friend, Cynthia had always been there for me. She was everything I had. Currently, she works at a luxury shopping mall, where she earns a good amount monthly. I wished I could be hired there too, even as a cleaner; it would fetch me enough to start over.

I had dressed in a figure-hugging gown that flowed effortlessly down my curves. My blonde hair was neatly packed into a bun. Starting at my reflection in the mirror, blush tugged at the corners of my lips. I looked so beautiful with my pairs of blue eyes.

I walked into the exquisite shopping mall, the hum of people shopping and chatting filling the air, but I wasn’t there to shop. I was here to remind myself that all of this could be mine one day. Not as a shopper, but as someone who would build an empire.

I stopped for a moment, taking in the high ceilings, marble floors, and the bright lights reflecting off every polished surface.

But something caught my attention. A small crowd of teenage girls and women had gathered near the entrance of the high-end mall, whispering among themselves, their eyes fixed in one direction. What were they staring at? I followed their gaze curiously then I saw him.

Standing tall, he was easily the most handsome man in the mall, his presence commanding aloofness. His sharp jawline and dark, tousled hair gave him a dangerously alluring look. He wasn’t smiling, not even slightly, but the calm confidence radiating off him made him impossible to ignore. Every step he took seemed deliberate, his broad shoulders cutting effortlessly through the sea of onlookers. The girls around me openly stared some giggling nervously, others pretending to browse while sneaking glances in his direction.

For a moment, I felt a pang of envy for their boldness. And yet, I found myself joining them, admiring him from afar. His perfectly tailored suit hugged his physique in all the right places, accentuating his strong frame. There was something about the way he moved, so self-assured like he knew exactly how much attention he was attracting without even trying.

But then—unexpectedly—his gaze shifted.

I froze.

He locked eyes with me, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. It was as if the world around us slowed, the sounds of the mall fading into the background. His eyes, a deep shade of grey, held mine for what felt like an eternity, a mischievous glint lurking beneath their cool surface.

And then, just as suddenly, he gave me a devilish grin. It was subtle, almost teasing, as though he knew the effect he had on everyone—on me. My heart skipped a beat, the heat rushing to my cheeks as I tried to compose myself. The grin was fleeting, yet it left a lingering thrill in the air as if he had shared a private joke with me, one that no one else was privy to.

He didn’t stop walking, and soon he was gone, disappearing into the crowd.

My phone buzzed. A message from Cynthia.

"I’m in the perfume section, top floor. Meet me when you’re done?"

As I made my way up the escalator, my eyes wandered over the shoppers, families, and businesspeople bustling about. Everything seemed easy for them, while I still had a long way to go. But instead of feeling intimidated, I felt motivated.

Finally reaching the top floor, I was about to head toward Cynthia's apartment when I met an eyesore. The handsome man I saw a few minutes ago was walking through the electronics section, picking up items and placing them into a large shopping bag. Nothing seemed odd until I noticed he wasn’t paying for anything. He moved casually from one shelf to another, slipping phones, headphones, and even a laptop into his bag.

My heart reeled. Was he stealing?

I watched for a moment, convincing myself I wasn’t imagining it. But when he moved toward the exit without heading to the cashier, my suspicions were confirmed. Something inside me snapped, and before I could stop myself, I rushed toward him, heart pounding.

"Excuse me!" I called, more forcefully than I intended. The man didn’t respond, didn’t even glance back, as if he hadn’t heard me.

I quickened my pace, catching up to him just before he reached the doors. "Hey!" I grabbed the back of his coat, my fingers tightening around the expensive fabric. "You can’t just steal things and walk out."

The man turned slowly, and when he did, I nearly froze. He was devastatingly handsome. A couple of girls nearby stopped in their tracks, whispering and giggling as they stared at him in awe.

But his cold, indifferent gaze cut through me like ice. He didn’t look like a thief. He was dressed in an expensive suit that made him look like he belonged in the luxury boutiques downstairs. But appearances could be deceiving.

"You heard me, right?" I demanded, though my voice trembled slightly. "I saw you. You’ve been picking up things without paying for them."

He said nothing, his expression unreadable as his gaze remained locked on mine.

Before I could react, three large men in black suits appeared from nowhere. Bodyguards. They were on him in an instant, but instead of protecting him, they pulled me away from him.

"Let go!" I shouted, struggling against their grip, but they held me firmly. "He’s stealing! He’s a thief!"

Just as I was about to continue my rant, one of the bodyguards stepped forward, his expression serious. "You need to apologize. Get on your knees and apologize to Mr. Knight."

"Apologize?" I stammered, glancing from the bodyguard to the man I had just accused. "But he..."

Before I could finish, Cynthia rushed over, her face pale as a ghost. "Oh my God, Lori. what are you doing?" She grabbed my arm, her eyes wide with panic. "Do you know who that is?"

"He’s stealing, Cynthia," I purred, still convinced I was in the right. "I saw him."

Cynthia looked like she was about to faint. "Lori, that’s no ordinary man." Her voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible. "He’s a Mafia lord. He owns this entire mall."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at the man—Mr. Knight—who I had just accused. He was no thief. He was the owner.

The bodyguard’s grip on my arm tightened. "Both of you should kneel and apologize."

Cynthia's face flushed with fear, and she quickly dropped to her knees, tugging at my arm to follow suit. "Do it, Lori. Now."

I hesitated, the humiliation burning in my chest, but I had no choice. I slowly knelt beside Cynthia, my heart pounding as I bowed my head. "I’m… I’m sorry."

Silence took over the place. I didn’t dare lift my head. I could feel Mr. Knight’s eyes on me, cold and unyielding, and I wanted to disappear into the floor.

Cynthia spoke up next, her voice trembling. "Please forgive us, Mr. Knight. She didn’t know."

Another moment of silence stretched before the Mafia lord finally spoke. "You should be more careful before making accusations." He paused and rubbed his temples. " However, you're bold and honest. If I were to be a thief, you would have saved my company. I will be happy to have you as one of my workers. Not just a worker, but a manager assistant to this mall."