Elena was taken aback. She never expected Massimo to ask her to do something like this! She stumbled to work through her shock and give him a response.
"Massimo, this isn't something you can just ask—"
"Why not?" Massimo said neutrally, completely calm like he hadn't just made a ridiculous request.
Elena paused as she switched tactics. "It's not professional at all," she argued. "And beyond that, it's such a... strange request."
"Elena," Massimo said seriously as he met her gaze. "The mafia world cannot know I'm divorced. Unless I'm about to throw a lavish marriage for myself and my second wife, that information would make me look like a failure—and a Mafia King needs to be perfect in all matters."
Massimo picked up a plate of sponge cakes and placed one of the desserts on a tiny plat
