Obeying the Russian Mafia Boss: A Mob Romance Read Online Free PDF

and I’ll help you.”
    She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. At the very least, she wanted to hear him out. “What do you do?”
    “I come from family money, but I own the Black Orchid. It’s a new club in the city, but you won’t have anything to do with that. I need some help around my home. Light cleaning. Organizing. That kind of a thing.”
    “A maid?” Ella blinked. “You’re going to pay me four hundred thousand dollars, and all I have to do is keep your house clean for a year? How do you not already have a cleaning service?”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Do you always interrogate people when they offer you employment?”
    After years of talking with her mother through her father’s illness and now her mother’s, she recognized the ease with which he’d dodged her question. “Only when it seems too good to be true.” The words flew out of her mouth, and her eyes widened in horror. “I’m being rude. I’m so sorry.”
    “Don’t be. I’ll admit that it’s unconventional, but I think I should do more to help others. Maybe that starts with you.”
    Something inside her desperately wanted to look further into the situation, but did it really matter if he already had a maid service? He was offering to pay for her mother’s surgery, and it didn’t involve anything illegal. Hope surged through her as she reached out and grabbed his hands. “I’ll do it.”
    “Ella, you’re excited. I like that, but I want you to think about this. I can tell that you’re the kind of woman who takes time to process information. Go visit your mother, and then I’ll have a driver take you to the house so you can see exactly what you’re getting into.” His eyes hardened. “When you take my job, I want you to know what I expect from you.” He let go of her hand and stood. “Go see your mother, Ella.”
    Flustered, she shook her head. “I have to work when I’m done. And if I don’t take your job, I need to keep mine.”
    “Then when you get off work.”
    “That’s midnight.”
    Erik smiled. “I’ll be at the Black Orchid. I’ll have a driver bring you to the club, and when I’m done with my business, I’ll take you to the house. It’ll be a late night for you.”
    It didn’t matter. Ella didn’t need to sleep. She needed money. “I’m a professional when it comes to late nights.”
    “Good. Enjoy your time with your mother. I’ll see you tonight.” The words sounded almost ominous as he walked away from her.
    Ella stared at him as he got in the elevator. He was her hero. Maybe things were finally going to go her way. “Ella? Your mother can see you now,” the nurse announced.
    The doors buzzed and opened up, and Ella hurried through.
    Fifteen steps straight. Turn left. Seven more steps. Turn right.
    She practically raced down the halls. “Mom!” she gasped as she burst through the door. “Did you hear?”
    Heather slowly turned her head and smiled. “I did, darling.”
    There was something sad in her eyes. Ella sat on the bed and tried to ignore the cold beep and hum of the machines. Grabbing her mother’s limp hand, she squeezed. “What’s wrong, Mom? This is amazing news!”
    “With your father, you lost your scholarship. With me, you lost your job. I had hoped that this disease would take me quickly so you could move on with your life. This surgery will put you so deep in debt, and I can’t let that happen,” Heather said. Ella could see the pain in her mother’s eyes. She’d obviously never expected to leave the hospital.
    Ella felt tears well up inside her. It was easier to stay positive because her mother had always been positive, and it hurt her more than she wanted to admit to hear her mother talk like that. This was the woman who always showed her the bright side of life. “Mom, we don’t have to worry about money. I’ve been offered a job. A really good one. We’re going to be fine.”
    “A job? What kind of job?”
    How was she going to explain Erik’s offer to her