Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Chapter 509: Chapter 105 Forgotten Face

Sybilla’s POV

Anxiety twisted through my stomach as I prepared for my first day working as Xavier Black’s personal assistant at Thorne Group headquarters. The irony cut deep—I’d be working for the consigliere of one of New York’s most powerful families, a man who would dismiss me without hesitation if not for my brother’s standing in the underworld hierarchy. Yet beneath my apprehension, anticipation fluttered at the prospect of seeing Xavier again after all these years. The last time our paths crossed, I was merely an awkward teenager harboring an impossible crush on my brother’s sophisticated friend. I’d spent the entire night restless, imagining countless scenarios of how this reunion might unfold.

”Sybilla! Earth to Sybilla!” Daniel’s commanding voice sliced through my wandering thoughts.

I blinked rapidly, realizing I’d completely lost focus during breakfast. ”Sorry, what were you saying?”

My brother exhaled slowly, his expression mixing exasperation with the protective concern that defined his relationship with me. As a senior inspector who straddled both legitimate law enforcement and family obligations, Daniel understood the delicate balance of our world better than anyone.

”I said I’m personally driving you and Lila to Thorne Group today, and I’ll handle pickup afterward. No arguments.”

”Whatever you command, big brother,” I muttered, my thoughts already drifting back to Xavier as we made our way toward the towering glass monument that housed Thorne Group’s legitimate operations.

At the executive elevator, Lila gently touched my shoulder with her characteristic warmth. ”You seem unusually distracted today. Everything alright?”

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease her about her relationship with my notoriously intense brother. ”Well, it’s challenging to sleep when you and Daniel are making our reinforced apartment walls vibrate all night long.”

Her cheeks instantly blazed crimson, and I had to bite my lip to suppress my laughter at her mortification.

”Daniel isn’t exactly a young man anymore, Lila. Perhaps consider not giving him cardiac complications with your nocturnal athletic performances.”

”Sybilla!” Lila looked absolutely horrified, her face now matching the deep red of expensive wine. ”Your brother maintains excellent physical condition, thank you very much.”

”Morning, ladies!” Jude approached with his usual coffee, his easy smile masking the sharp intelligence that made him invaluable to Thorne’s information networks. ”What’s today’s entertainment?”

I grinned with wicked satisfaction. ”Just discussing how Lila might accidentally eliminate my brother through excessive bedroom activities.”

Jude’s eyebrows shot upward with genuine amusement. ”And here we worried about our detective potentially overwhelming Tiny Cipher. Turns out she’s the dangerous one in that relationship.”

Lila attempted to hide behind her leather portfolio while Jude and I continued our merciless teasing campaign against her dignity.

”It’s absolutely true,” I added with theatrical drama. ”Every single night, for hours on end. The reinforced walls in that high-security apartment might as well be constructed from paper.”

”My guest quarters remain available if you require refuge,” Jude offered with his characteristic smirk. ”Only the city’s newest monk currently occupies that space.”

I snorted with disbelief. ”Monk? Please. With your devastating looks and legendary charm, that townhouse will be swarming with beautiful women before long. You’ll need to install a reservation system for bedroom access.”

Jude erupted into genuine laughter while Lila appeared to wish the marble floor would open and swallow her completely.

Once seated at my designated workstation, I attempted to settle into my new role within Thorne’s complex hierarchy. Jude kept me occupied with various assignments designed to familiarize me with the organization’s intricate operations, but my attention remained fractured, anticipating Xavier’s inevitable arrival. When he finally materialized, striding through the executive floor with his characteristic confidence and authority, he walked directly past my position without acknowledging my greeting, vanishing into his private office without offering so much as a casual glance in my direction.

The morning crawled past with agonizing slowness, Xavier remaining sequestered behind his closed door while my stomach twisted into increasingly complex knots knowing he occupied space mere feet away from my position.

During our lunch break in Thorne’s private dining facility, conversation naturally gravitated toward Jude’s notably absent social life.

”You cannot continue this hermit existence indefinitely,” Lila insisted with gentle but firm conviction. ”You need meaningful social interaction beyond our professional circle.”

I nodded with enthusiastic agreement. ”She speaks absolute truth! Listen, MP and I have plans to hit that exclusive bar downtown one evening this week—premium drinks, stimulating conversation, attractive people everywhere. You absolutely should join our expedition.”

”MP?” Jude appeared genuinely confused by my reference.

”Close friend from Lila’s graduate program. Incredibly fun personality, always prepared for memorable adventures.”

Jude considered the invitation briefly before shrugging with resigned acceptance. ”Why not embrace social interaction? Count me in for that evening.”

I clapped with excited satisfaction just as Xavier and Caleb stepped off the executive elevator together. The sight of them moving in synchronized confidence was breathtaking—two impossibly handsome men radiating power and absolute authority that commanded respect throughout the criminal underworld.

”So Xavier, what’s your assessment of the personal assistant I selected for your operation?” Caleb inquired as they approached our small group.

Xavier looked genuinely puzzled by the question. ”Which assistant?”

”Your new personal assistant.” Caleb gestured directly toward me, and I felt my blood transform into ice water.

Xavier turned toward me with that devastatingly charming smile that had haunted my teenage fantasies, the expression that made my heart skip erratic beats. ”I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced yet.”

”Are you seriously playing this game right now?” Jude asked, his frown deepening with obvious confusion.

”Playing what game?” Xavier appeared authentically bewildered by Jude’s reaction.

Jude pressed forward with his interrogation. ”Are you absolutely certain you two require formal introductions?”

Xavier studied my face with concentrated attention, his brow furrowing with obvious mental effort. ”Well, I’ll handle introductions myself then. I’m Xavier Black, your direct supervisor in this organization. My apologies for rushing past earlier—I was managing a critical situation with our West Coast operations.” He extended his hand with professional courtesy, maintaining that killer smile.

”No apology necessary, Mr. Black. I’m Sybilla.” I kept my expression carefully neutral as we completed the handshake, refusing to return his devastating smile.

”Please, just call me Xavier,” he insisted, his intense gaze lingering on my features. ”Strange, but something about you seems remarkably familiar somehow.”

”I apparently possess one of those common faces,” I replied with deliberate flatness, withdrawing my hand from his warm grasp.

”Caleb, let’s discuss that conference call with Dominic’s organization in my private office.” Xavier beckoned his friend, who followed after casting me one final curious glance.

Once they disappeared behind closed doors, my legs nearly betrayed me completely, and I collapsed into the nearest chair with shaking limbs.

”He genuinely didn’t recognize you?” Jude asked with obvious bewilderment.

”He’s pretending ignorance,” I replied, though seeds of doubt began sprouting in my mind.

”Xavier wouldn’t engage in that type of deception,” Jude said, settling beside me with concerned attention. ”I believe he honestly failed to recognize you.”

Hope flickered within my chest like a fragile flame. ”Could we maintain this situation? Not reveal my true identity?”

”Caleb is probably explaining everything right now,” Jude said, effectively extinguishing my brief optimism.

When Caleb emerged from Xavier’s office some time later, he stopped at my workstation with an expression of pure mischievous delight.

”How much time has elapsed since you two last encountered each other?”

”Many years,” I answered quietly, dreading his next words.

Caleb laughed with genuine amusement. ”He has absolutely no idea who you are. How long will it take this brilliant idiot to solve this puzzle?” His eyes sparkled with anticipatory entertainment. ”This situation promises exceptional amusement.”

”You didn’t tell him?” I couldn’t believe my incredible fortune.

”Of course not. I intend to let him play the fool for as long as humanly possible,” Caleb declared with wicked satisfaction. ”I want him to reach the conclusion independently.”

My spirits soared immediately. If Xavier never discovered my true identity, I could remain simply his competent assistant. I might actually retain this position after all. I just needed to convince Daniel to maintain silence and avoid Xavier outside our professional environment.

”If you don’t tell, I won’t tell,” I whispered conspiratorially.

”Deal!” Caleb chuckled with obvious pleasure. ”I’ll ensure Lila and Jude maintain silence too. His expression will be absolutely priceless when realization finally dawns.”

For the remainder of the day, I felt oddly conflicted about this unexpected development. Part of me experienced profound relief—without knowing my true identity, Xavier would evaluate me solely on professional merit rather than dismissing me for being his friend’s annoying younger sister. But another part stung with genuine hurt. Was I truly so forgettable that he couldn’t recognize me at all?

As Xavier remained behind his closed door, I wondered when—or if—he would ever remember the girl I once was.