He grinned, genuinely. "Breakfast is ready in the dining hall."

Still a little stunned, she followed him. Lady Boss?

As the kitchen doors opened, there he was—Zayden, with an apron around his waist, flipping eggs like it was no big deal for a feared mafia king. He glanced up, and his expression softened.

"Come. Everything’s ready."

The staff was busy, setting up plates, silverware, fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee. In just ten minutes, the long table was laid out, cozy, with only two settings at one end.

They sat down, while the staff stood around like they were on standby.

Aylin took a look at them, five men watching her with quiet curiosity. There was no hostility, just... admiration?

She took her time eating, and Zayden kept his eyes on her, smiling. They enjoyed a relaxed silence, with only the sound of cutlery breaking it.

When they were done, he stood up first. She followed suit.

He took her hand. "Come."

They strolled over to the stairs and disappeared upstairs.

Downstairs, the staff picked up the plates while chatting quietly among themselves.

"The boss has never brought a girl here. Like, ever."

"She’s really pretty. Just look at those eyes..."

"Did you see her dimples when she smiles? So cute!"

"And her golden hair, it’s like sunlight. The boss actually looks... happy."

The head butler came in, serious and older. "She’s our Lady Boss now. No more gossip. Let’s get back to work."

They scattered, still grinning.

Upstairs, Aylin was sitting on the bed, feeling a bit out of it.

Zayden came out of the closet with two small pills and a glass of water in his hand.

"Take these," he told her.

She frowned. "What are they?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Painkillers," he said gently. "You’ll be sore."

He nodded toward her lap. "Just trust me."

She popped the pills without questioning it. He sighed, looking relieved.

She watched him closely, feeling like there was something he wasn’t telling her...

Downstairs, the front doors swung open with a dramatic whoosh, flooding the place with morning light and the sound of expensive sneakers squeaking against the marble floor.

A young guy—about mid-twenties, with dark hair like Zayden’s but styled way messier, and a chiseled jaw softened by a constant grin—strode in like he owned the joint, which, in a way, he kinda did.

"Good morning, legends!" he shouted, his voice bright and loud enough to echo through the foyer. He tossed his keys up and caught them without breaking a sweat. "Please tell me Z is finally awake and not holed up in his cave again."

The head butler, tall, silver-haired, and always cool as a cucumber, slightly bowed. "Young Master."

The guy waved off the formal address. "Drop the ’Young Master’ stuff, Mr. Moore. Where’s Z?"

Mr. Moore hesitated for a second too long. "The boss is upstairs... with the Lady Boss."

The young man stopped in his tracks. His keys slipped from his fingers and clattered to the floor.

"Lady Boss?" His voice wavered on the last word—half shock, half excitement. "When did that happen?"

Mr. Moore’s lips curved just a bit, the closest he ever got to smiling. "You’ll find out soon."

Upstairs, Aylin was perched on the edge of the bed, still catching her breath from Zayden’s earlier teasing. She tilted her head at him. "Who was that voice I heard downstairs? It sounded... familiar."

Zayden’s jaw tightened slightly as he approached a hidden panel in the wall, phone in hand.

"My brother," he replied, his voice a bit tense. "Seven years younger. Same age as you."

Aylin blinked, surprised. "You have a brother?"

He nodded sharply. "Nope. Just an annoying little brother who thinks the world owes him a good time."

She opened her mouth to ask more, but Zayden pressed the concealed spot on the wall. The panel slid open quietly, revealing a narrow secret passage that led straight to his office.

"Later," he mumbled, taking her hand. "Leo just messaged again. It’s urgent. We need to go."

Aylin didn’t argue. She let him guide her through the opening, the panel whispering shut behind them. For a couple of seconds, darkness surrounded them before soft LED strips lit up along the floor.

Downstairs, the young guy, totally clueless, bounded up the grand staircase two steps at a time, his grin getting bigger with each jump.

"Lady Boss," he said to himself, chuckling a little. "This should be interesting. My sister-in-law?"

But he had no idea that when he finally saw her, his heart was going to break.

He reached the landing and turned the corner toward Zayden’s bedroom suite. The double doors were closed.

He knocked once, sharp and playful. "Yo, Z! You awake in there? Or did the Lady Boss finally take you out?"

No answer.

He knocked again, louder this time. "Come on, don’t make me barge in! I brought coffee and some questions!"

Still nothing.

Curiosity getting the best of him, he pushed the doors open.

It was empty.

The bed was made, and the room looked spotless. There was no sign of anyone.

He stepped inside, frowning. "Z?"

He looked around—the bathroom door was open, the lights were off, and the closet doors were shut. No sign of movement.

He walked to the headboard, absentmindedly running his fingers along the edge—then he froze.

The hidden panel was seamless, locked from the inside.

He pressed against it. Nothing.

"Son of a—" He let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "He ditched me. With her."

Meanwhile, in the office, Zayden quietly shut the panel behind them with a soft click. The room was already buzzing with activity—screens lit up, Leo waiting with a tablet, looking serious.

Aylin glanced back at the now-closed wall; her heart was racing.

Zayden gave her hand a quick squeeze for reassurance.

"Whatever Leo’s got," he said softly, "it’s important enough for him to come himself."

Aylin nodded, but her mind was still on what was going on upstairs.

The young guy, the brother, was still up there, probably tearing the room apart looking for them.

He had no clue they had just slipped past him.

For now, the secret stayed hidden.

But secrets in this house never stayed buried for long.

And the storm was already starting to brew.