The Mafia Boss Panicked When His Sister Was Trapped 50 Meters High—A Poor Employee Saved Her

Meredith leaned back against her work workbench, crossing her ankles. "I already have a job. Or I did, until you bought the lease."

"I am offering you the position of Chief Safety and Logistics Officer across all Ashford Enterprises properties," Kieran said, stepping closer. "Starting salary is four times what you earned here. Full autonomy, unrestricted authority over maintenance protocol, and a team that answers directly to you."

"Why?" Meredith asked directly. "Because I got your sister down from a ride?"

"Because you noticed a micro-amp fluctuation at 3:42 p.m. when everyone else was looking at ticket sales," Kieran answered, his tone dropping into a serious register. "And because the man who tampered with that coaster is going to try again. I need someone who sees the flaws in the steel before it breaks."

Meredith looked away, her eyes resting on the blank EMERGENCY CONTACT form resting on her clipboard. "I don't like trouble, Mr. Ashford. I left a world where people play games with lives. I just want to fix things that are broken."

"Trouble has already found you," Kieran warned softly. "Victor Vance knows a technician bypassed his trap. He doesn't like loose ends. Stay under my wing, Meredith. I protect what belongs to me."

"I don't belong to anyone," she replied calmly. "But I'll take the job on one condition."

"Name it."

"No guards following me. No surveillance on my apartment. I do my work, I write my reports, and you fix the security breaches your lifestyle creates."

Kieran stared at her for a long moment, amused and genuinely captivated by her utter lack of fear. "Agreed."

By the end of the week, Meredith was installed in the top-floor technical suite of the Ashford Tower. While Kieran managed his empire of shipping docks, real estate, and underground allegiances, Meredith systematically dismantled and rebuilt the security infrastructure of his flagship properties.

Late one night, as rain battered the glass floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, Meredith sat surrounded by floor plans and circuit diagrams. She was so focused she didn't hear Kieran step into the room carrying two cups of tea.

"You work too late," he said, setting a cup on her drawing table.

"Your private elevator has a three-millisecond delay on the emergency brake interlock," she said without looking up from her blueprint. "It's been dragging on the guide rail for two weeks. Someone sabotaged the primary solenoid."