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44 “You’re Sitting Beside Me Tonight,” the Mafia Boss Told His Shy Secretary — Then One Unexpected Moment at Dinner Made Everyone at the Table Realize She Wasn’t Just His Employee / Chapter 10 / 10

Chapter 10 - THE BALANCE SHEET

Six months later, the boardroom on the thirty-second floor of Shaw Logistics looked entirely different.

The heavy mahogany table had been polished to a mirror shine, the stale smell of cigars had been replaced by fresh cut orchids, and the chairs were filled with a new roster of executives who knew better than to misplace a single decimal point on a shipping manifest.

At the head of the table sat Declan Shaw.

And sitting directly to his right—in a custom-tailored charcoal pantsuit that cost more than Clara’s first three cars combined—was Clara Shaw.

The double doors opened, and Sullivan walked in, looking older, tireder, and significantly more respectful than he had six months ago. He dropped a thick stack of shipping manifests onto the walnut table in front of Clara.

"The Mediterranean shipments are cleared through Naples," Sullivan muttered, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the table. "All customs fees paid in full. Audited and verified."

Clara picked up her red pen, scanned the top page in three seconds, and nodded once. "Your math is actually correct for once, Sullivan. You may go."

Sullivan practically scrambled out of the room, closing the heavy doors behind him with reverent care.

Declan leaned back in his leather chair, watching her with a slow, dark smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He reached out with one large hand, his fingers brushing hers where they rested beside the ledger.

"You're a harsh taskmaster, Mrs. Shaw," he murmured, low enough that the remaining junior executives pretended not to notice.

Clara turned her head, looking at her husband with that familiar, dry, unyielding expression that had captured the most dangerous man in the city.

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At a family dinner, I stood up smiling and announced I was pregnant. The whole table went completely silent — then my mother-in-law suddenly let out a laugh and yelled: “She’s pretending to be pregnant just to milk money from us!” Before anyone could even react, she seized my hand and pushed me off the hotel rooftop to “prove” I was faking it. Broken and barely conscious, I came to in the hospital with my husband by my side, pale as a ghost and shaking. But the moment the doctor stepped in and opened his mouth, the words he said made the entire room freeze in utter disbelief and horror.

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At Christmas dinner, my mother-in-law pushed my plate away and said, “Leave—this table is for people who bring money into this family.” I turned to my husband and asked if he agreed, but his cold silence was the biggest mistake of his life, because two months later, my father’s true net worth destroyed his entire bloodline…

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"Someone has to keep the books balanced, Mr. Shaw," she said, her eyes sparkling with quiet triumph. "Otherwise, who’s going to keep you out of federal prison?"

Declan let out a rich, dark laugh, pulling her closer as the afternoon sun poured through the massive glass windows, bathing the entire room in a warm, unbroken golden light.

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