The Mysterious Mafia Boss

Don Simon fixed his gaze on him and a tired smile played on his lips, "sit"

Andrès walked back into the office and sat down on the chair opposite Don Simon.

"I am not getting any younger Andrès, and I have had an unhealthy eating habit in my younger years. I will be going for a heart surgery and the chances of me coming back is very slim. My survival rate is 50/50. As you are well aware, I have no family at all. I love you like a son which is why I will transfer the ownership of the company to you and put it in your name. I will also_"

Andrès instantly felt a lump in his throat, "No, you can't do that. I am not worth it." Andrès interrupted Don Simon.

"That is your low self esteem speaking, you deserve everything good in life. Better than this in fact. Not to debate on this, just see it as you keeping it for me. Take care of it, nurture it. Then you can give it back when I return." Don Simon suggested.

Andrès still felt uncomfortable with that. He loves his boss so much and inwardly, he was convinced that his boss would return. He couldn't bring himself to accept the offer.

Silence filled the air for a few seconds as Don Simon waited for Andrès response.

With a genuine and happy smile spread across Don Simon's face, "You can get back to work Andrès. I won't change my mind." He instructed Andrès.

Wordlessly, Andrès got up from the chair and walked towards the door. He placed his hand on the door handle, turned and looked at Don Simon who nodded his head, still smiling.

Andrès fought back the tears in his eyes and exited Don Simon's office.

As soon as Gael saw him leaving Don Simon's office, he was eager to know what Don Simon had wanted to discuss with him so he asked him to leave the office and give them privacy.

"Hey, are you okay? You look like you have seen a ghost." Gale asked Andrès as he sat on his chair.

Andrès ignored his question and stared blankly into space, he was trying to process everything that his boss told him and it wasn't sitting right in his head. Gael wasn't making it easier for him either. He kept on asking him questions non-stop and the words kept echoing in his head.

"Gael, please! I can't right now." Andrès said to his friend in a low tone.

"Now you keep secrets? Huh? You can't tell me what you both discussed? I thought you are my best friend and we do not keep secrets from each other." Gael blurted out insensitively, trying to guilt trip Andrès into telling him what he had discussed with the boss.

Andrès scoffed in disbelief. He knew that Gael was a lot of things but hearing him say what he said surprised him. He turned to look at Gael, a frown etched on his face. "Not right now Gael."

Gael felt slightly embarrassed with Andrès response but he clearly knew that whatever it was, he wasn't in the mood. "I'm sorry man, take your time." He said to him and walked back to his seat.

Both men did not say anything to each other all day, neither did Emilia show up at work which was another worrisome part of Andrès day.

Hours passed by very fast and the close of work approached soon. Andrès hoped in his heart that he was going to meet Emilia at home when he returned from work.

After sending the last file he was working on, he checked his wristwatch. "Finally!" He exclaimed excitedly at the close of work.

He picked up his bag and headed out of the office without wasting a second. He missed his wife so much and he was so eager to tell her what Don Simon had discussed with him.

He flagged down a taxi as soon as he reached outside the office building. "Fray's apartment." He said to the cab driver as he settled into the passenger's seat.

They passed through the bustling city and weirdly, there was no traffic that evening. Andrès felt like God was on his side

"Thank you." He said to the cab and stretched out his hand to pay him.

Headed into his apartment and he was so excited to see Emilia seated in the living room in front of the TV watching her favorite show.

"Mi amor," he called out excitedly but he tried his best to contain his excitement.

She turned at the sound of her name, "I'm sorry for leaving like that. Please forgive me." She apologized, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's okay, my love. The most important thing is that you are back home, and safe too. I missed you so much." He replied, pulling her into a hug.

"I missed you too." She replied.

They remained in each other's embrace for a while before breaking it off. "So tell me, what did I miss?" She asked him.

Andrès did not think of it as strange because he felt like she was trying to lighten up the place.

"Well, you didn't miss much but I have something to tell you."

"Okay?" She replied curiously.

"Don Simon said something really weird to me today. I am still trying to wrap my head around it though." He started.

"Okay?"

"He said he would be going on a trip and he might likely not return."

"And?" Emilia asked impatiently.

"He wanted me to be in charge of the company before he returns. As a matter of fact, he wanted to temporarily put the company in my name until his return." Andrès explained.

"What did you say? Did you accept the offer?"

"No, I couldn't. I didn't want to take advantage of the situation."

"Wow, you are the dumbest man I've ever met. No, the dumbest human. Are you daft? Why? Why did you say no? This is a golden opportunity and you threw it away. Jesus!!! I can't even look at you right now." Emilia snapped and cursed.