His Mafia Prince
Chapter 168: I’m Just A Manny

Chapter 168: I’m Just A Manny

(WESLEY)

It’s been three days since I last saw Jericho. It is disappointing, which I honestly find odd. I liked hanging out with him in the garden despite the fact that I barely know him. I can’t believe that I told him about my condition. But the way he looked at me expectantly compelled me to be honest with him. I didn’t expect him to react the way he did. He was so kind and comforting. Maybe I should regret telling him, but at the moment, I don’t.

I’ve heard tons of stories about Adonis men my entire life, but Jericho is nothing like them. He is gentler. Warmer even. He says that he is an asshole, but so far, I haven’t seen him do anything that confirms it. He is more thoughtful than someone in his position would be. I wonder if he is soft because he isn’t expected to take over as head of the Triple Triads. Maybe that is the reason why he isn’t as ruthless as his brother.

I have been in the same position with my family. Not much was expected from me because Danny is the first born. He was groomed to be brutal from childhood. But I don’t think that Danny’s horrible and ruthless behavior is just from Papa. If positions were reversed and I’d been the oldest, I’m certain that I wouldn’t have turned out like Danny. I can fight and do violent things where need be, but it’s just not in my DNA to be as cruel as he is. I get instinctively violent when I need to protect others, but I’m not just cruel to people for the sake of being cruel. I prefer to nurture, unlike my brother Danny who prefers to destroy.

Jericho is more like me in that way.

Or maybe he is an asshole just like he said.

I’m finishing up on eating my lunch then Arlo joins me. He sits across from me and clasps his hands on the table. Of late, he looks well rested and he seems more confident with the baby. But right now, he has a funny look on his face which in a way worries me. I’m always in fear of them discovering who I truly am.

"Is something the matter?" I ask, looking up at him.

"You should have told me that Reid was pestering you." He says in a vaguely accusing tone.

Heat rushes to my face and I blink repeatedly. "Oh, well...I...I―"

I can’t very well fill him in very well because this is the kind of attraction that I didn’t want to attract to myself in the first place. I’m trying so hard to be under the radar, but he can’t know that. I’m hoping to be a helpful but invisible presence. "How did you know?"

Arlo shrugs. "Jericho told me."

Irritation courses through me. I expressly warned Jericho to not say anything. "He shouldn’t have bothered you with that. I’m certain that Reid is quite harmless."

"Wesley, there is nothing cool about Reid sexually harassing you." Arlo says with a frown on his face. "You know that, right? He has no business bothering you."

"I told Jericho to not say anything. I can handle myself." I scowl.

"I think that Jericho was worried about you." Arlo purses. "Which I find odd because Jericho doesn’t tend to worry about anyone but himself. Maybe you two knew each other before you came here?"

"No, no." I say uneasily. I don’t want to lose my job if Arlo gets the wrong idea of me and Jericho. "Not at all. I don’t even know why Jericho told you anything in the first place. I barely know him. He should have kept his mouth shut."

"Hmmm," Arlo narrows his gaze. "Jericho thinks that we should reassign Reid to a different location."

"B...but I don’t want Reid to be mad at me." I glance up nervously. "The last thing I need right now is to get Reid mad at me." I don’t fancy the idea of some lunched mafia bozo holding a grudge against me all because Jericho thought it was a good idea to go yammering to Arlo.

"Reid won’t know why he is being moved. Don’t worry. He won’t feel any slighted. It will be a lateral move." Arlo gazes at me assessingly. "Honestly, I’ve never liked Reid myself. He is always kind of lecherous with the help. I have no trouble reassigning him to work in another sector. I’m only putting up with him because he has worked with Miles for a long time. I think it’s about time he moved along."

"Like I told you, I don’t think that Reid will be much of a bother." I say quietly.

"Well, that isn’t the point, neither is the impression that Jericho had."

"Jericho needs to mind his business. He is causing problems where there isn’t any need for it."

Arlo grabs an apple from a ceramic bowl on the table. "Don’t be mad at Jericho. I think he just told me that because he was concerned that Reid was bothering you. I think he was just looking out for you." He bites the apple again and wipes the juice that runs down his chin with the back of his hand.

"Well, I didn’t ask him to look out for me." I grimace. "And I think that you are wrong about that. It’s been days since I last saw Jericho. We aren’t that close."

Arlo laughs. "No one has seen Jericho for days now. He is buried busy studying information about making up the ports. He is stuck in the study reading file after file and between you and me, he looks miserable." He bites into the apple again.

"Does he?" I frown.

He swallows. "I have seen happier people having their wisdom teeth removed. He is just doing this because Sasha asked him to. He is bored out of his mind. Maybe he needs to get out of the house for a while."

"That’s probably a good idea."

"Would you like to take the baby out for a stroll with Jericho?" Arlo smiles at me. "I could send one of the guards with you. I think that Jericho could really use that break."

I try to hide the excitement that ripples through me at the idea of seeing Jericho. I can’t catch feelings for Jericho. It is too risky for me. But I also know that I can’t avoid him completely if we are going to live in the same house. Arlo might find it strange. "I’m not sure that he will want to go with me."

Arlo smirks sheepishly. "I think that he will jump at the chance."

"Why?" heat rushes to my face. I hope that Arlo doesn’t notice that my cheeks are pink.

"I know Jericho quite well. I know that he likes you." He grins. "I know that you have caught his eye."

"Please don’t say that, Arlo." I mutter, anxiety attacking. I wonder why Arlo thinks that he needs to play matchmaker. He knows that I’m no match for Jericho. I’m just a hired Manny for God’s sake.

"Why not say it?" Arlo laughs. "It’s the truth."

"Because," I sputter. "Because I just don’t think it is true, and even if it was, I’m just here to watch baby Reign. That’s all. I’m just a...a Manny, and Jericho is an Adonis."

"So what? "Arlo frowns. "What’s the problem? I think that having someone to flirt with is fun. I’m not saying that it has to end in a serious relationship. But if he likes you, he likes you."

Miles storms into the room at that moment. "Who likes who?" he asks distractedly as he slumps into a chair next to Arlo. He takes the apple then bites it before returning it to Arlo. He pins his gaze on me suspiciously.

Miles’s arrival has me ready for the coronary. The last thing that I want is for him to think that my intention is to seduce Jericho. That would be a disaster of epic proportions. He would murder me and bury me in the garden where no one would ever find me.

"No one." I say quickly.

"My answer seems to throw Arlo off, but he doesn’t explain anything to Miles. Instead, he says. "I am sending Wesley and baby Reign to the park. I thought

that Jericho should tag along too. He seems overwhelmed by work. He needs a break"

"Is he? That boy seems so uninterested in the family business. Its so disappointing."

"There are more things to life." I say what earns me a grumpy stare from Miles. It looks like my comment has irked him. I should have known better

to keep my mouth shut. But I think that it is a good thing that Jericho aspires to do other things aside from his family business.

"Not for him. Once an Adonis, always an Adonis. There is no way he is going to escape that fact of his life. He needs to step up before Sasha gets upset." Miles runs his fingers through his hair. "But I see no problem with Jericho taking a break. So long as he returns to work."

"Awesome. Then tell him he can go." Arlo smiles then winks at me.

Why the fuck is he winking?

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