Zayne eased the car to a smooth stop in front of the grand estate, its tall gates framing an inviting pathway. He turned to June, his voice soft and encouraging. "We’re here, June," he said with a reassuring smile.
June glanced out of the window, her fingers nervously fumbling with the seatbelt buckle. "I feel a little anxious," she admitted, finally managing to release the belt. Her eyes darted to the towering house ahead, her apprehension clear.
Zayne noticed her unease and reached over, his warm hand enveloping hers. He gave her a gentle squeeze. "You’re my boss. How can you be nervous?" he teased lightly, his thumb brushing against her fingers to soothe her nerves.
June arched an eyebrow at him, her lips curving into a small smirk. "At work, yes. But outside of it, I’m allowed to be human, no?" she countered, a hint of playfulness filling her tone.
"Fair point," Zayne admitted with a grin. "If it helps, I’m nervous too. eting my boss like this feels... different." His confession earned him a genuine smile from June, her tension easing slightly.
The pair stepped out of the car and walked inside the mansion. Layla and Lucius standing in the living room as a servant inford them about Zayne’s and June’s arrival. Roger and Aiden had also stood by his boss’s side.
As they both finally reached the living room, their faces lit up.
"Zayne!" Lucius stepped forward and hugged him while patting his back. "Welco to our ho," he said.
"This is June Korlosky, my girlfriend. She is my senior at the work," Zayne introduced his girlfriend to all of them before giving their introduction to her.
"It’s wonderful to et you all. This is a small gift from my side. I couldn’t co empty-handed," she pointed, extending the gift bag to Layla.
Layla accepted the bag. "That’s so thoughtful of you, June. Thank you," she replied, her voice warm with appreciation.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," Lucius said with a welcoming smile, gesturing toward the couch.
Zayne and June settled into their seats, their posture relaxed but attentive. Layla exchanged a glance with a nearby maid, who swiftly appeared with a tray holding glasses of water. She handed one to each of them before taking her seat beside Lucius.
Zayne placed his glass on the coffee table, but before he could say anything, Lucius leaned forward, a teasing glint in his eyes. "So," he began, his tone lighthearted, "when did you two start dating? I have to admit, Zayne caught off guard when he broke the news. June, I trust he’s not making work life difficult for you?"
June chuckled softly, her fingers lightly brushing against the glass she had set down. "Zayne is incredibly dedicated to his work," she replied, her tone fond yet professional. "He’s never made things difficult for —if anything, he makes it easier."
Zayne glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That’s sothing which impressed June. We started seeing each other about five months ago," he revealed. "But I wanted to wait until we were sure of where we stood before bringing it up with anyone," he added, his gaze shifting to Lucius and Layla.
Layla nodded approvingly. "That’s wise," she said. "Sotis, keeping a relationship private can protect it, especially in the beginning." Her voice held an understanding warmth as she glanced between the two.
Sylvia, who had been tending to the estate’s garden, finally entered the living room. Her presence imdiately drew Roger’s attention, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she might stir up trouble with her usual chatter.
"Hello, Zayne!" Sylvia greeted cheerfully, her voice cutting through the relaxed atmosphere and turning all eyes toward her.
Zayne blinked in surprise, not expecting to see her there. "Sylvia?" he said, rising slightly from his seat. "Hey! It’s been ages since I last saw you." His tone was friendly but carried a hint of curiosity.
"Yes, it has," Sylvia replied with a bright smile before turning her attention to June. "So, this is your girlfriend?" she asked, her gaze sweeping over June in mild appraisal. "I’m Sylvia Mancini, a good friend of Lucius."
June smiled politely as she stood to greet Sylvia. "It’s nice to et you, Sylvia. I’m June Korlosky," she introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake.
Sylvia accepted the gesture with a nod before settling into the nearby sofa chair. Her poised deanor contrasted with the flicker of mischief in her eyes. "I must apologize," Sylvia said, her voice taking on a slightly apologetic tone. "Because of , your plans got canceled last day."
June glanced at Zayne briefly before responding with a composed smile. "No need to worry about it," she said graciously.
Zayne, sensing the potential for Sylvia’s blunt nature to steer the conversation, quickly added, "It’s good to see you again, Sylvia. And as June said, you don’t need to worry."
Before she could continue, Roger quickly intervened. "Sylvia, why don’t you co with for a mont? There’s sothing important I need to discuss with you," he said. He figured removing her from the conversation would be the best course of action.
Sylvia glanced at him but ignored the suggestion entirely, turning her attention back to June. "June, I hope you don’t have a problem with us being involved with the mafia," she said casually, her words landing like a bombshell in the room.
"Sylvia!" Lucius’s voice bood as he rose slightly from his seat, glaring at her.
Layla quickly placed a soothing hand on Lucius’s arm, silently urging him to stay composed. She shook her head gently.
June, however, remained unruffled, her professional poise shining through. Before she could respond, Zayne spoke up. "June is aware of everything, Sylvia. But thank you for your... concern."
Sylvia’s sharp gaze shifted between Zayne and June before nodding slightly. "That’s great," she said with a hint of approval. Then, leaning forward slightly, she asked with genuine curiosity, "So, what do you do, June?"
June t her gaze evenly, her voice calm and clear. "I’m an Investigating Officer," she replied.
Sylvia’s eyes widened slightly at the revelation, her surprise evident. For a mont, she seed at a loss for words. "Well," she finally said. "That’s... an interesting profession."
"Sylvia, I have an important work with you," Roger said and he pulled up before dragging her away from the living room.
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