Loving Leonardo: The Russo Family, #1

By Milly Murphy

When Ella Quinn started her new job at Russo Enterprises, the company of the wealthy Leonardo Russo, she had no idea that she would end up working directly alongside the powerful businessman. 

Nor did Leonardo Russo expect to find his reluctant, yet beautiful assistant so irresistible.  

They both knew they were strictly out of bounds to each other. But with each second they spend together, the harder it gets to resist their true feelings...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Milly Murphy
• Release date: Oct 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215285312

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Ella was trying to repair her leaking sink when the landline ringing caused her to jump and drop the wrench she was using. It wouldn't have been so bad if she wasn't lying on her back, and it hadn't hit her in the face. She was sure it would leave a nasty bruise right around her eye, but since it could have been a potential employer calling, she had no time to deal with the pain.

Hello, may I speak with Ella Quinn?

Hi, yes, that's me, Ella said, attempting to sound cheerful. She was sure her response sounded more like a growl. She needed to put some ice on her eye.

It's Mrs. Jones. We met during your interview at Russo Enterprises. I'm calling to offer you the position. We were hoping you would be able to start this coming Monday at 6 am?

Monday was only two days away, but she couldn't refuse this job.

Of course! Thank you so much! Who do I report to on my first shift? Will I be issued a uniform? What about paperwork? She rushed, her voice sounding too high.

Report to the building's main reception. The receptionists will tell you everything you need to know. Someone will deliver the paperwork for you to complete before Monday; don't forget to bring it in with you. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact me on this number.

Without waiting for a response, Mrs. Jones hung up. Ella ran to the freezer and pulled out a pack of peas, holding it to her stinging eye.

She couldn't believe her luck. After seven interviews in one month, she was losing hope and beginning to panic. Now she had secured a full-time job with a decent wage, meaning she didn't need to worry about struggling to pay the bills for a while.

For years she'd worked long hours for meager pay and always just made it by. That was the issue with leaving school at only 18 with no qualifications. It meant her choices were limited.

Her last job as a personal assistant had paid well, and she’d gained more experience in another field. Unfortunately, she had been given her notice after ten months of working there. The excuse used was that they needed someone more flexible with their hours. Her boss knew she could not work evenings and weekends when he'd employed her, but he wanted her gone. She’d turned down his offer of a date and ignored his many derogatory comments about her appearance. When she’d caught him leering at her breasts one day, she politely asked him to stop staring. Only three weeks later, she was unemployed.

This job, however, seemed perfect for her and her brother's situation. Cleaning wasn't something she'd seen herself doing at 25, but it was better than not working at all. Plus, most importantly, the pay was better than she’d previously been getting.

She had one sibling, her younger brother, Sean. He was still at school, and she was so excited to tell him the good news. This job meant she could finally buy the new trainers he'd kept asking her to get him. She never could afford to treat him in the past, or herself for that matter.

Ella had to be strict with money after their father passed away, only buying the necessities. He'd left them a small amount of money, which meant she hadn't needed to work for a short time while she dropped out of school to adjust her lifestyle to that of a single parent. There was no one else they could turn to for help.

She couldn't even remember her mother’s face. Ella knew the woman had left her father when she'd given birth to Sean and never contacted them again. It was before even that she'd initially left. Ella and her father spent years alone until she showed up. Her father never met anyone else and was happy with it being just the three of them. He was the best dad they could have had.

Life finally seemed to be looking up for the first time in years. Well, besides having a black eye, of course. At least the sink was fixed for now. Undoubtedly, it would break again, and the landlord would refuse to do anything about it.

She tried to call her best friend Lola to tell her the good news, but she didn't answer her home phone, which meant she was probably still working. Ella loved Lola like a sister but sometimes felt envious that her life wasn't as easy as her friends. Since high school, Lola had been with her boyfriend, Travis, and the two of them were planning to buy a home together soon. Ella, however, never had time for boys since leaving school to become a parent to Sean. Besides, most people didn't want to date a girl who was a single mom. That’s what the one guy she had given her time to had made clear.

Todd was her first and last boyfriend. They became a couple at 18 and she believed they were serious, serious enough that she gave him her virginity. It was quick, painful and not romantic at all. That was the one and only time she’d had sex. Her dad died a week later and Todd left her the following week, he wasn’t able to deal with an emotional girlfriend whose life was falling apart.

Ella was too grief-stricken about her dad and had to focus on her brothers well being. She was bitter about Todd but she got over him quickly, he wasn’t worth her tears. No man was.

Now that Sean was 13, and her focus was getting money to provide more for him, not to find a boyfriend. Although sometimes Ella wished she had someone special, she wasn’t going to fall for anyone who didn’t promise her a future.

She decided to tidy their two-bedroom apartment and cook Sean's dinner before he finished school. The place was small, but to her, it was still home.

When her father passed, she decided it was better to move on from their old home. Maintaining a large 3-bedroom house with a garden just wasn't practical. Or affordable, after the first two years, the small amount of money they'd inherited was gone, so Ella sold the house and put most of the money in a bank account for when Sean turned 21. It had come as a shock to find out that her father didn’t have life insurance, he’d always been a practical man, and they’d never struggled for money. Why had he overlooked such a crucial thing? Ella would never know. She downsized somewhere closer to the city, hoping to get more work and make it easier to walk Sean to school, although he was old enough to walk the two streets alone now.

Sean was back just after 3 pm, and she'd made his favorite dinner, chicken fajitas. She had been a vegetarian for years but didn’t want to force her choices on her younger brother. As long as he ate a balanced diet, she was happy.

What smells so good? Sean walked in with a big grin, flashing his dimples as he spotted his dinner ready on the table. For a boy who never had much, he was always smiling and never complained. Ella was proud to be his sister, although their relationship was often more like a mother and son than siblings.

Guess what...I got a job as a cleaner at Russo Enterprises! It's a decent wage, and as soon as I get my first paycheck, I'm getting you some new shoes, Ella said, sitting across from her brother.

As soon as I'm 16, I'll get a job and pay you back. I promise! Sean smiled, tucking into his fajita.

He was sweet, but Ella knew there was no way he was leaving school that early. So she ignored the comment knowing that the conversation was for another time.

After they'd finished eating, someone knocked at the door. A delivery guy handed her an envelope with the Russo company logo. She'd completed the contract and other necessary paperwork within half an hour. Lola called shortly after, meaning Ella got to share the good news with her.

No way, that’s awesome! And Russo Enterprises? What if you get to meet Leonardo Russo?

Yes, Russo Enterprises. And no, I won't meet him. I'll be cleaning all day, not hanging out with the company's owner. But, I wanted to ask you something. I know you said if I got the job, you wouldn't mind taking care of Sean for a few hours a day but are you sure?

Of course, I don't mind. All the times you've listened to my drama over the years, it’s the least I can do. You know Sean's like a brother to me. I'll see you on Monday to hear all about your sexy new boss!

Of course, Lola would mention the owner of the company, Leonardo Russo.

When Ella told Lola about her interview, Lola made a point of telling Ella every bit of information she could find on the internet about the man. She informed Ella that he was once a model for every top designer brand back in his early teenage years, quitting the industry to study at a prestigious university in Europe. He stayed firmly in the limelight, dating a string of actresses, musicians, and even a princess. A few years later, his father passed away. Leonardo had taken over as CEO of Russo Enterprises at just 25, causing considerable controversy. But he’d managed to bring the famous company into the 21st century with his ruthless determination and wise investments. He never appeared in the trashy magazines after joining the company and was now highly private.

Ella tried to explain that as the person cleaning the offices and toilets, it was doubtful she would cross paths with the man, nor did she have any desire to. However, Lola seemed to believe otherwise.

––––––––

Monday came around, and Ella was up before dawn to prepare for the day ahead. She pulled her long golden hair up and looked in the mirror. She wouldn't usually bother with makeup, knowing it was a waste of time for work, but the bruise was still apparent around her eye.

It looked like she'd been punched in the face, and she knew how unprofessional that would seem. She quickly rubbed some foundation on it and hoped it would do the trick. Unfortunately, it was a dark morning, and the walk to the business district in the city was longer than Ella had anticipated. She would have to consider getting a bus pass in the future.

Ella stopped to stare at the crazy-sized glass building dominating the city's skyline. Unbelievable. She couldn't believe she'd be working here. The entire lobby was created with glass and steel, from the walls to doors and even the stairways. The reception was easy to spot, a big white glossy island in the middle of the ground floor. She took a deep breath and went toward the three glamorous receptionists. Their hair and makeup were pristine, and all wearing tightly fitted white dresses. Ella felt out of place, especially when the first receptionist looked her up and down with an expression of disgust.

Hello, my name’s Ella Quinn, and I'm here for my first day as a cleaner? She placed the documents on the desk, pushing them across for the red-haired receptionist to take. Ella smiled politely, which was a waste of time as the receptionist was still glaring at her.

These should have been sent to HR, the woman remarked, frowning as she took the documents.

I only received them a couple of days ago. Mrs. Jones told me to give them to the reception, Ella explained.

The woman began typing on her computer and then nodded at something on the screen.

Ah, I see. You were hired to cover floors 10-13. However, you’ve been placed on the top floor today. Hmm, that’s unusual.

Looking up at Ella, the woman frowned, apparently expecting Ella to say something. When Ella didn’t speak, the woman looked back at the computer.

Diana hired you. Do you know her or something? At her interview, Ella had met Diana, a bubbly woman in her 40s, and hadn’t spoken to her since. Ella shook her head from side to side, worried that the woman had made a mistake and she was going to be sent home without a job.

Did you sign the confidentiality form?

Nodding again, Ella watched the woman scan a key card over a device and pass it to her along with another card.

Keep this card on you at all times and scan it here at reception to sign in and out. You need to hand this one back at the end of every day. It will grant you access to the top floor, do not lose it or give it to anyone else. There should be a list of instructions when you get up there, and here's a guide for the building. I'd show you myself. However, I'm busy.

The redhead dropped the guide on the desk, turning straight to her computer screen.

Ella said thank you and headed to the glass elevator. She heard faint giggling and turned to see the receptionists looking over at her. It was apparent they were laughing at her expense. Ella hoped she wouldn’t have to speak to them often.

It was a long wait in the elevator, and she finally made it to the top floor. She scanned the key card, and the doors opened. Ella had no fear of heights, but the glass wall to her left looked over the entire city and was all that stood between her and a sheer drop to the pavement.  Scanning her key over a black pad on the wall opened the door to her right. It led to a fully stocked kitchen with a small closet with cleaning equipment inside. On the black granite surface, she found a note and instructions.

Ella,

It is most unfortunate that I cannot greet you on your first day here at Russo Enterprises. As head of housekeeping, I hate leaving any of my staff unprepared, but I have had to take a few days off due to circumstances out of my control. This floor is usually covered by myself, but I trust you will do an excellent job. I have left you instructions. If you have any concerns or issues with Leonardo Russo, you may contact me on the number provided.

Apologies,

Diana.

Ella bit her lip as she read the letter. Did that mean what she thought it did? That she would be spending her first day cleaning the owner of the company’s office? Folding the letter up, she picked up the gray uniform and shoebox beside it and sighed. Hopefully, she wouldn’t get fired. She was relieved that the fitted blouse and trousers and the black pumps were a perfect fit. But when she looked in the mirror, the foundation she'd applied had now all but disappeared after her long walk. The bruise was evident on her face. There wasn’t anything she could do about it, so she decided to get to work.

Tying a white apron around her waist, she took the cleaning trolley and made her way to the two frosted doors at the end of the corridor. When she opened them, another wall of glass greeted her, looking down on the city's incredible skyline. A large glass desk was in the center of the room, with another glass table to seat at least ten people. The white color scheme was very modern, making it feel sterile and unwelcoming. According to the instructions, there were three other rooms, including a toilet, a separate bathroom, and a bedroom. Who had a bathroom and bedroom attached to their office? Surely someone didn't live here. 

Ella thought everything was already immaculate, but the instructions stated that she should clean it regardless of whether it looked clean or not. Not surprisingly, the bathroom also had a wall of glass, a running theme of the building, Ella thought. The person who occupied this office didn't mind people seeing them naked. Then again, Ella doubted that anyone would be able to see this high up. She got to work, scrubbing the white tiles in the large walk-in shower, when she heard a masculine voice from the office.

Offer one million. I don’t care if they want more. That’s all we are willing to offer, take it, or leave it. Email me when they want to sign.

Ella carried on cleaning, trying to block out the conversation. She had to scrub every tile, and her hands were already sore.

Who are you? Where is Diana?

She turned around to see him, the man who owned the company, Leonardo Russo.

The photos Lola had shown her of him didn't do him justice. His brown eyes had an intensity that a camera couldn't capture. His brown hair looked damp, and Ella could see from the sweat on his outfit that he’d just finished an intense workout. With his toned body and handsome face, it was easy to see why people were fascinated with the now private businessman.

Excuse me. I don't know if you're ignorant or just incompetent. I expect my staff to answer me when I ask a question.

Not so handsome with that attitude, she thought. She didn’t like Leonardo Russo’s harsh words, but she needed this job, so she kept her voice level and answered him.

Sorry, it’s my first day. Diana left me a note and said I’d be working on this floor. I'm using the instructions I was left, she said calmly.  

He regarded her for a moment, and Ella looked back at him, noticing the stubble growing along his sharp jawline. I need to take a shower. How long will you be?

You can take it now. I’ll wait in your office, Ella replied, dropping the sponge in the bucket of hot water and removing the gloves she’d been wearing.

He wasted no time walking in the room and stripping off the t-shirt he’d been wearing.

Ella watched the way his muscles moved as he leaned in to turn on the shower. It was evident that his workout routine was working very well.

Is there something else? He asked, looking over his shoulder, raising one brow as he caught her watching him. Feeling embarrassed, Ella didn’t reply and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

She decided to clean the office, throwing away the many empty coffee cartons, wiping down the glass conference table, and emptying the bins.

I went to Japan last week. Why didn’t he think to inform me of this at the time? Hearing him speak, Ella looked up as she swept, catching his eye as he walked through the office; nothing but a towel wrapped his waist. His dark hair was still wet, and beads of water ran down his firm pecs and toned abs as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the call.

Ella looked back down at the floor, knowing the man had caught her blatantly staring at him.

What was that? I got distracted? She heard him say as he walked through another door, slamming it shut behind him.

It would have been impossible not to stare at him, not with a body as sculpted as his. Shaking her head, Ella composed herself. It would not be a good idea to lust after her boss.

Quickly finishing up in the office, she rushed back into the bathroom and shut the door, feeling better knowing there was another physical barrier keeping the man out of sight.

After she’d cleaned the entire bathroom, she felt more composed and ready to face the stranger again and move on to the next room.

Noticing Leonardo at his desk, she tried to rush through the room but tripped and dropped the bucket of cleaning products, quickly bending down to pick them up.

Could you please keep the noise down? He snapped, not looking up from his laptop.

It wasn’t intentional, but she guessed he knew that and chose to comment anyway.

Not responding, she picked up the things and carried on.

The king-size bed and walk-in closet were an unexpected sight. She wondered if this was Leonardo Russo’s actual home.

Everything was so clean and white, and it lacked any personality or warmth. How sad, Ella thought, that someone's life could revolve around their work when they had the means to retire at any time.

Her moment of pity for the man disappeared when she saw the towel that he’d thrown on the floor with his workout clothes.

Picking them up, she walked into the closet to find the small laundry area and got to work.

It was a short while after by the time she'd finished cleaning every inch of the bedroom. When she was sorting through a pile of clothing, she heard a deep cough behind her, making her drop the pile of clothes on the floor.

Did I scare you? he asked, lifting his eyebrow with a small smile forming on his full lips.

Yes, sorry. I didn’t know you were there, Ella replied and felt her cheeks heat up as she grabbed the items off the floor.

There is no need to apologize. I know you were designated to floors 10-13. It turns out Diana will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, so I’ve requested you fill in. You won’t need to work as many hours, but your salary will stay the same. Now, I believe you require a lunch break? He leaned against the door frame and waited for her response. Not sure if the words about her lunch break were a question or a statement, she got back to folding the clothing.

Are you ok? He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned.

Yes. How long do I get on my lunch break, and where do I sign out? She smiled, trying to stay composed around the domineering male.

You don't need to sign out. I've ordered food from the canteen. You can eat in there with me, Leonardo stated. However, you do need to pick me out a suit for a meal I am going to this evening.

Sorry, you need me to what? What did he think she was? A fashion designer? Who asked their cleaner to choose their suit?

I said to pick me out a suit, he said, watching her. Ella still felt the heat in her cheeks as she picked a dark blue with a white shirt, knowing he would look good in whatever she gave him.

Good choice. Women always say this one makes me irresistible. Do you agree? He joked, well, she hoped it was a joke.

It is a nice suit. But no, it does not make you irresistible. Maybe your date will think otherwise.

Since the older lady is my mother, I’d prefer not to think of it as a date, he remarked with a small smile.

I see, Ella commented and held the suit out to him. As soon as he took it, she walked away into the office to get away from him. One thing was clear; he was ridiculously arrogant. Never a good quality in a man.

She noticed a selection of sandwiches, fruit, and fresh smoothies set out on the conference table by the window. Ella wasn’t sure whether to help herself or wait for Mr. Russo. However, she thought it would be cheeky to begin eating it. He came in shortly after, and Ella had to admit, he was almost irresistible in the tailored suit. She had never had a problem with ignoring her attraction to men before, but she could see it being a problem with him.

Help yourself. I was unsure if you have any dietary requirements, so I ordered a mixture of things.

They ate in silence, and every time she looked up, he was watching her. His face gave no hint to what he was thinking, and it made her uncomfortable.

She couldn't help but feel that there was something strangely familiar about him. He reminded her of a boy she'd once met, but she couldn't think where from.

What happened to your eye? Did somebody hurt you? He asked, frowning again as he leaned back into his chair, his thumb and finger rubbing his chin as he surveyed her.

I dropped a wrench on my face when I was lying down under the sink, she admitted. She could tell by Mr. Russo's face the answer didn't satisfy him. But, even though it was the truth, she had to admit it sounded crazy. It was broken, and my landlord wouldn’t get anyone to repair it, the phone rang when I was repairing it, and then I dropped it.

Hmm, I see. Is it sore? He frowned.

No, it’s ok now. It looks a lot worse than it is. I’ll make sure I use makeup to cover it tomorrow if it’s an issue, she stuttered, fearing he was unhappy with it.

No, you need not bother. Let it heal, Leonardo commented, checking his watch and standing up. It seems I am late for my meeting. What did you say your name was again? He stood grabbing his jacket, pausing by the office door.

Ella.

He nodded in response, and after one more glance at her, he shut the door between them.

When the end of her shift came, he still hadn't returned; for that, she was relieved. She changed back into her blue denim jeans and white t-shirt before heading to reception to use her card to sign out. She did so