Chapter 1

• NOVEMBER
• I walk out of the motel clutching the small file containing all the false documents I will be needing for this new job. My heart is racing and my fingers are sweaty, but I keep going.
• I flag down a cab and get in just as my phone starts to ring. I flinch before reaching into my purse to grab my phone. It's a new phone so I'm still trying to get used to the ring tone. It's my boss, Jacob Shane calling. I answer the call.
• “Have you left yet?” he asks.
• “Yes. I'm on my way. Are you sure he is going to be around for the interview?” I ask Jacob, biting down on my lower lip worriedly.
• “What are you asking, Nova?” He sounds tired which makes me roll my eyes. I'm the one who's supposed to feel tired especially after a rigorous two day chef training and a long flight.
• “I just want to be sure this won't be a waste of time. Doesn't CEOs have who does this kind of interview?” I push.
• “Nova, he is going to be there. Go there and do your job.”
• He hangs up the call before I can respond and I swear under my breath. I'm a spy, a member of the FBI dark special forces, and I'm being tasked to not only work for the ruthless and dangerous Don, Sean Spiridon, but to spy on him.
• It's an unbelievable mission, one that can get me killed. But I can't fail. I can't fail otherwise Jacob will send me back to Korea to stay in that crappy apartment till God knows when.
• I look up and catch the cab driver looking at me. Sensing he wants to start a conversation I'm not quite in the mood for, I grab my airpods and plug them in. It isn't long after that he pulls up in front of the five star exquisite and popular restaurant in Chicago.
• I take some money out of my purse, hand it to the driver before I step out of the cab. I hold my purse and file tightly as I make my way into the restaurant, my stomach a field of nerves.
• I haven't been to the restaurant before, it's above my pay grade, but I could see why it's popular. The place is so beautiful, I stand there staring around for about a minute.
• “Can I help you?”
• I jump and turn around to see a short, petite woman. She isn't smiling and her stunning Asian face is about ready to walk me out. I smile at her.
• “I have an interview here.”
• “Name?” she asks, tapping on a bold and bright pink tab, probably to confirm the truth.
• And the truth is that my name isn't on the list of people who are to show up for the exclusive chef interview today. Jacob couldn't manage to get me on the list because he heard about the job open spot late. Not a development I'm happy with as it only makes my job harder.
• The Asian woman glances up to glare at me when I don't say my name. I continue to smile at her, certain she is irritated now.
• “I just asked for your name, lady,” she says.
• I blink. “Uhm, sorry. It's November,” I tell her. “November Wilson.”
• She doesn't even bat an eye at my name as she quickly type up my name on tab. She stops when she doesn't find it, frowning.
• “Are you playing with me?”
• I shake my head.
• “No, not at all,” I tell her again with a polite smile. “See, the thing is, I couldn't get my name on the list. I found out about the job really late so I couldn't be screened for the interview.”
• She looks at me like I'm insane. “So, what? You just decided to show up here without an invite?”
• I look around me with a pointed gaze, my smile faltering at her tone. “It's a restaurant.”
• She takes a step back from me, expression closed off. “I'm going to ask you to leave. You are not supposed to be here.”
• “I can't leave. I really need this–”
• “And I don't care!” She snaps. “My job is already hard with all these disorganization. Don't make it harder so leave.”
• I fold my hands against my chest because I'm not ready to move from here until I see Sean Spiridon. He doesn't appear to be around yet. “I'm not leaving until I'm given a–”
• “Reina?” Someone that looks like a guard calls as he stops in front of me. “Is she bothering you? What's the matter?”
• The Reina girl looks at me with annoyance. “She wants a job interview without being screened first. I've asked her to leave, but she's refused to move.”
• The guard looks at me and I immediately shake my head at him. If they succeed in making me leave, I would have failed without having begun.
• “Please. Please, I really need this job. I promise, I'm not here to cause anybody harm. I just need someone to look at my credentials. I'm qualified to be here.”
• Reina shakes her head. “That doesn't matter anymore. Since you did–”
• “Please,” I cut in with a soft voice, looking like I’m going to cry. Am I manipulating her? Maybe.
• She stares at me for a few seconds, before she lets out a deep sigh. The guard looks at her as if asking for permission but she just shrugs.
• “Come with me. This should be quick,” she says as she turns around and makes her way down a narrow corner till we stop in front of a door. She looks at me first. “It really doesn't matter if you qualify or not. Rules are rules.”
• “Please,” I whisper again. “I don't mind being a sous chef or anything else. I just really need this job.”
• She doesn't say anything as we step into the office. She motions for me to sit and I settle down. I give her my file filled with fake qualifications about me. She looks through them carefully, taking extra minutes.
• When she looks up, it's with a sigh. “I like what I'm seeing but you still can't stay.”
• My hopeful face falls and she draws back a little.
• “Tell you what, when my boss arrive, I will chip in a good word for you. How does that sound?”
• I can't tell if she is joking or not but I shake my head, forcing myself to smile. She takes my contact number and writes it somewhere.
• “Okay, now you really have to leave. Shall I see you out or…?” she doesn't complete her question but I understand what she is saying.
• I stand up from the seat. “No, I will be on my way.” She nods. “Thank you for your help.”
• I walk out the door, but instead of taking the route we came in through, I take the opposite route. A few of the chefs which I think were selected from the screening process were sitting around, looking anxious. That means Sean Spiridon isn't here yet.
• I want to stay and hide with them, but I can't cause a scene or draw too much attention to myself. So, I leave the restaurant but I don't go back to the motel. I already marked all the entrances into the place and I have a good guess where Sean would be passing through to go in.
• So, I find a seat and wait for him. It feels like hours, especially with nothing to do, but I wait for him. Until I see the convoy of cars approaching. Instantly, I shoot to my feet as one, huge man steps out of the car.
• He sees me, but he looks away. I wait for Sean himself to step out and when he does, my eyes go wide with astonishment. The mafia Don who is rarely captured by the paparazzi barely has any photo of him lying around. The ones I saw concealed his face, only showing pieces of him.
• Looking at him now, I almost gasp from how handsome he looks. He doesn't see me as he moves to go into the restaurant so I follow him.
• However, before I can take another step toward him, one of his huge men steps in front of me.
• “Patrons go in the other way,” he says, pointing to the other door, his gaze hard on me.
• I gulp as I take a step back from him, certain he is carrying a gun. I can't even be caught with a gun right now. “Yes, I know. But I really need to see Mr. Spiridon.”
• His eyes are sharp, unyielding. “Make an appointment.”
• I look behind him and see that Sean is almost to the door, unaware of what is going on behind him. I get frantic. “Please, I really need to see Mr. Spiridon.”
• “Get. An. Appointment!” He snaps.
• The door is open now and I know once he goes in, I won't get a chance to see him again. Reina might have promised to help but I don't trust her to follow through.
• So, I put away my fear and yell at the top of my voice, “Sean Spiridon!”
• He freezes.
• I keep going.
• “Sean Spiridon, I really need to see you, sir. Your men won't let me through,” I continue rambling and that is when he turns toward me, removing the sun shades covering his eyes.
• This time, I'm the one that freezes.