The Story of How I Pretended To Be A Boy and Ended Up Being Loved By A Mafia Boss - Chapter 3

It had been five days since I started working as a boy at the night bar, and that person came to the shop again.

“Lord Milan, welcome!”

The ladies at the entrance greeted him, and he smiled with satisfaction.

“It’s been a while. I missed you all,” he said.

Milan put his hand around the waist of the closest lady and kissed her cheek.
I was watching from near the counter when our eyes met.

“Oh! You’re here again today. Getting used to the job?”

“Yes, thanks to you…”

“Will you come to my table today? Just for a bit.”

“Oh, Lord Milan! You have us, don’t you?”

“That’s right! Just leave that kid alone and come with us!”

The ladies led Milan to a table.
Phew… that was close.

But what should I say next time to turn him down?
While I was working and thinking of a clever way to say no, Milan came to the counter to get a drink.

“Ah, I can take it to your table,” I offered.

“No, it’s fine. It’s too noisy over there. I thought I could talk to you more quietly here.”

“But I’m still working…”

“Talking to customers is part of the job, you know? That’s how it works here. You didn’t know?”

“Ah… right. Sorry about that.”

“Haha, you’re cute and serious. How old are you?”

“I’m eighteen.”

“You’re young. I’m twenty-four. I live in the north district.”

So he was a nobleman…

“Where do you live? Around here?”

What do I do?
Should I just say I live in the west district?

“Hey, are you listening? ”

Milan wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned in close.

“U-Um…”

“You’re even cuter up close.”

Wh-What do I do?!
If he gets any closer, he’ll figure out I’m a girl!
I shut my eyes tight—

BANG!
Suddenly, the door burst open, and men in black suits flooded into the bar.

W-What’s happening??

The manager and staff noticed and quickly ran to the entrance.

“Welcome, sir!”

“Good evening!”

“We didn’t expect you tonight!”

The manager bowed deeply to the man entering…

What?! Ryu?!

I stared in shock, and when Ryu saw me, he blinked in surprise too.
I thought, Ah… he noticed me…

But Ryu just walked past me like he didn’t know me at all.

Thump.

Wait…
Did he not recognize me?

“Haha. It’s been a while since I saw him,” Milan said.

“Him?”

“He’s the boss of Silver Dragon’s Den.”

“Wait… what?”

Silver Dragon’s Den… isn’t that the name of the mafia that runs Nailden…?

“You didn’t know? Ryu from Silver Dragon’s Den is really famous in Nailden. Not many people know what he looks like, though. I only know because I come here often.”

No way…
Ryu is the boss of a mafia…?

“Well, anyway. Come to my table, okay?”

Milan grabbed my arm, but the manager rushed over, looking panicked.

“Hey, you! Come quick! I need to introduce you to the boss. New workers have to say hello!”

“Y-Yes! Excuse me, Lord Milan.”

I hurried to the manager’s office.
Ryu was sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, looking annoyed.

“Everyone else, leave. I need to talk to this one,” Ryu said.

“Yes, sir!”

The manager and the men in suits bowed and left the room.
It was scary.
This wasn’t the usual Ryu…

“Anis, why are you working in a place like this? ”

Ah…
So he did recognize me.

“I’m just working here a little.”

“This isn’t the kind of place for you. What happened to shining shoes?”

“Well… a soldier in the north district told me to leave. When I came to the south district, a lady said she had a better job for me…”

Ryu let out a deep sigh like he was disappointed.

“This place is for people who can protect themselves. Do you even know what kind of place this is?”

Maybe I didn’t really know.
I was just excited about easy money.

But this was the only way I could think of to help pay off our debt…

“This has nothing to do with you, Ryu. Just leave me alone.”

“Anis…”

What did I just say…?
I pushed him away when he was just trying to help…

“Um, Ryu…”

“I get it. If you want to work, I won’t stop you. But don’t do dangerous work. From now on, stay in the back and wash dishes.”

“Wash dishes? ”

You mean like the kitchen?
But doesn’t that job pay less than working in the hall…?

“Your pay won’t change. Don’t worry,” Ryu said with a small laugh.

Thank goodness…
He’s not mad.

“Thank you, Ryu…”

“And make sure you’re home before midnight. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Later, the manager told me something.
In the south district, a lot of shops are owned by Silver Dragon’s Den.
This place is one of them too.

Ryu sometimes shows up suddenly to check on the shops and scare the staff.
The manager said it shortens his life every time Ryu comes.

But for me, the idea of seeing Ryu again—even outside of shoe shining—made me happy.

I wonder when I’ll see him next.

I was humming while I washed the pile of dishes in the back.