Rising From Ashes: The Syndicate Queen's Comeback

“My Mafia Capo boyfriend's childhood friend, Serena, had a sick obsession with playing "the scorned fiancée." Every time I was assigned to oversee a new Syndicate front company, she would bring her thugs to raid my office. The first time, her stunt caused the Syndicate bosses to question my integrity, and I was stripped of my duties. When I furiously confronted her, Giovanni shielded her behind his broad back and made excuses. "Serena is just young and playful," he told me. "It's no fun if you take a joke so seriously." The second time, the vicious rumors she spread forced me to step down from my position. Giovanni called me overly sensitive. "A clear conscience fears no whispers," he said. "If you have nothing to hide, why are you so afraid of people talking behind your back?" Until I finally landed my dream position-a promotion into the Don's inner financial circle. Serena pulled the exact same stunt, storming my office with a pair of corrupt cops. This time, I directly called the actual authorities. Giovanni arrived at the exact same time as the police. Instead of defending me, his first reaction was to blame me for making a scene. He even went as far as slamming a Family-sanctioned betrothal contract directly onto the boardroom table. "Serena was just playing a joke on you. Did you really have to make such a humiliating scene?" he reprimanded me coldly. "Besides, she wasn't wrong. You are the other woman."”