Chapter 7 - The Woman He Could No Longer Call His Secretary
Months passed.
The trials ended.
The headlines faded.
But the relationship between Rafe and Josie became more complicated.
They had never officially discussed what happened between them.
Everyone else had noticed.
Sunny had noticed.
Nico had noticed.
Even Juny had noticed.
Only Rafe and Josie pretended otherwise.
One evening, Rafe found her in the office.
She was packing files.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
He froze.
“What?”
“My contract ends Friday.”
“I'll renew it.”
“I don't want to be your secretary anymore.”
He walked closer.
“Then what do you want?”
Josie closed the file.
“A life that doesn't revolve around this building.”
Rafe didn't answer.
She looked at him.
“I spent five years working here because I thought I needed answers.”
“And now?”
“I have them.”
“Then stay.”
She smiled sadly.
“Why?”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
She waited.
Finally he said:
“Because I don't know how to lose you.”
Her expression softened.
“That isn't a reason to stay.”
“It is for me.”
She looked down.
“You're my boss.”
“Not anymore.”
“What?”
He placed a document on the desk.
Ownership transfer.
A legitimate company.
Josie's name at the top.
“What is this?”
“A business.”
“I don't understand.”
“You built our logistics system.”
She shook her head.
“You did.”
“No.”
He sat.
“You did.”
He explained that every legitimate company under the new Castellano structure would now be managed separately.
He wanted her to run one.
Not as his employee.
As a partner.
Josie stared.
“You trust me with this?”
“More than anyone.”
She felt tears forming.
“Why?”
Rafe looked at her.
“Because you were beside me before I even knew I needed someone.”
She laughed softly.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
He took her hand.
“I love you.”
She froze.
Rafe continued.
“I know that's not what you expected.”
“No.”
“I know the timing is complicated.”
“Yes.”
“And I know you may not feel the same.”
She squeezed his hand.
“I do.”
He stopped breathing for a moment.
“You do?”
She nodded.
“I just didn't think I was allowed to.”
Rafe leaned forward.
“You were always allowed.”
Their first kiss was quiet.
Not dramatic.
No witnesses.
No gunfire.
No threats.
Just two exhausted people finally admitting what they had been avoiding.
Then Juny knocked on the door.
“Aunt Josie?”
They jumped apart.
Juny walked in.
She looked at them.
Then smiled.
“I knew it.”
Josie covered her face.
Rafe laughed.
“What did you know?”
“That you were in love.”
Rafe looked at Josie.
“She's very observant.”
“She is,” Josie said.
That night, they went to dinner.
Not at a luxury restaurant.
At the Starlight Grill where Josie had once gone with her father.
The owner recognized her.
He didn't recognize Rafe.
They ate burgers.
Juny drank chocolate milk.
For the first time, Rafe laughed without looking over his shoulder.
Josie watched him.
“You look different.”
“How?”
“Happy.”
He smiled.
“I am.”
Later, while walking home, Rafe stopped.
“I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Would you ever leave the city?”
Josie thought about it.
“Maybe.”
“Would you take me with you?”
She laughed.
“You hate airplanes.”
“I hate airports.”
“You're impossible.”
“You still love me.”
She smiled.
“Unfortunately.”
He kissed her.
But across town, someone was watching.
Not an enemy.
Nico.
He smiled as he watched them from across the street.
For seventeen years, he had stayed hidden because he believed his presence would destroy Rafe's life.
Now he finally understood something.
His return had not destroyed it.
It had given his brother a second chance.
Nico turned away.
Then his phone rang.
A woman spoke.
“You found him.”
Nico stopped.
“Who is this?”
“Someone who knows what Gideon was protecting.”
Nico's smile disappeared.
“What do you want?”
“I want Josie.”
The line went dead.
May you like
Nico immediately called Rafe.
The second betrayal had begun.
