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Chapter 3

Riccardo's POV.

Today has been a total disaster, Owning to the fact that I'd had to deal with an investor in the neighboring country all by myself. Firing Meredith was easy and she had it coming which I didn't regret what so ever but handling her job of organizing my schedule had proven to be more stressful and provocative than I gave credit for. I could've asked Mona to come with me but I didn't wanna look like I needed somebody by my side to run my schedule and keep me updated.

And now I'm dragged here all by myself only to have this.

I watched the slim American man sitting across the table from me,my eyes flying over him to the glass walls behind us just do the view outside. I'd agreed to meet him personally at a place of my choice. But sitting on this top floor of the skyscraper building,I suddenly felt regret. Maybe because I saw lack of business potentials in this man or because the waitress who was constantly walking around us was giving me smiles that's making me wanna leave. Maybe with her.

"I'm telling you Mr Marcello,"his words start to reach me again "this thing is huge"

"I get it alright? This Is my business but building a Casino or a club now isn't going to be easy especially as fast as you want it"

"If you're worried about the capital,it's all settled. My brother will give you all you need"

"So your brother needs my resources to get a big Casino in my name. Just for the fame of it"

"That isn't exactly why,Mr Marcello. Yes,your fame isn't an offer not to be taken but most importantly,we've seen how your clubs work from all over the country and the Casino you have here? It's amazing"

" Then why isn't your brother here right now making a deal with me?"

"I told you,he's having a vacation with his family in Australia. This was a late call"

"there's nothing wrong with that,Michello,but I wanna have a face to face with your brother. Then we can discuss my end of the bargain" I said,rising to my feet.

"You get fifty million. And a million every month after the Casino's running for five years."

"Well,"I straightened my suit "tell your brother to meet me whenever he can then"

That said,I walked out,leaving his mouth half open.

I elevated down into the garage just in time to hear clicking heels approaching me.

"You forgot your change Mr Marcello"I turn around to see the blond haired waitress from earlier,the money in her hand extended towards me,a smile glistening in her eyes as she stopped before me.

Looking her up and down,I replied "you know who I am"

"Of course,"she closes the distance between us,her shorter stature the only reason why her lips isn't touching mine as she looked up at me."It's impossible not to know those manly eyes,those sensual lips,those strong biceps"her fingers trailed my arm,causing my chest to heave unevenly. Damn,girl.

Watching her intensely,I said "keep that" pointing at the money in her hand.

"Well thank you,Mr Marcello. Wanna grab some drink some other time? I see you're in a hurry"

"And you are working" I offered with a smile.

She returns it and replied "I know a pub down town"

I watched her for a second,then I decided to just get over with this "How about you call me later?"I tell her,extending my call card at her. She takes it,eyes still fixed on mine.

"I'll call you"she smiles seductively at me before stepping back,allowing me to pull my door open and stepping inside. I drove out,she watching me go.

Women with their offers. But she is hot and it wouldn't hurt to stay for the night before going back to the city tomorrow.

**

Ashley's POV.

"Are you sure you wanna wear that?"Katie asks,arms folded with a finger pointing at my clothes.

I turn away from applying mascara to my eye lashes on the mirror to look at my dress. I was wearing a black office boot cut pants and a burgundy full sleeved top,two buttons open,with black pumps.

"I mean,why not pick an extreme crop top?"

My eyes went wide at her "what?! You want my boss to chase me out?!"

"Chase you out?! You might actually win his heart with just wearing that and you never have to worry about anything again"

I roll my eyes before turning back to the mirror "I'm not going to a club,Kay,I'm going to work. Besides,I don't wanna seduce my boss. Your mind goes deeper than the surface,Kay"

She laughs before sitting on my dresser chair.

I decided to wear a little mascara today,a little shades of burgundy lipstick and a little powder. I was only able to drink little tea just to hold on to my stomach before leaving.

When I stepped into my office,it was like I could perceive my success in the air. Everything screamed perfect. It was almost thick in the air,i could almost reach out and cut through it.

The other doors that were locked yesterday are now open,a man in suits appearing to be working seriously on his computer to even notice my presence in one of the rooms.

Quietly,I walked over to my office cubicle and sat on the revolving chair. God,it felt so comfortable. My desk has been cleaned out,now replaced with neat sheets of papers,files,documents in an orderly arrangement. A laptop sat open in front of me.

My eyes move to the door where my supposed boss is. I wondered if I should walk in and say hello and formally introduce myself. I should,really. But I could barely hear a thing from the inside as I listened,I wondered if he's in there. There's only one way to find out.

Just as I attempted to stand up,the man from the office I passed earlier walks out,a smile on his thin lips.

The first thing I notice about him is that he looks really young,like someone in his early 20s,his hair Honey blond,well kept on his head,a few strands falling over his right eye. His thin lips are deep pink and his height is moderate,making his electric blue suits fit in all the right places. He comes to a stop beside my chair.

"Hello,good morning"

"Hi,"I smile back "good morning"

"You must be the new PA. I'm Trevor,"he extends his hand to me "Trevor Peters"

"Oh,"I take his hand "I'm Ashley Shawn"

"That's a beautiful name" that second I noticed his eyes are a mixture of forest green,rust green and dark ashes,his teeth white as whiteness itself.

"thanks"

"Well,I hope you get comfortable while you're here,Ashley. If you need anything,I'm right across"he points to his office.

"Thanks......um.."

"Trevor. call me Trevor"

"Okay"I nod with a smile.

"Good morning,Shawn!" I hear my name from across the hall and we both looked to see Mona walking in.

I quickly stand up and greeted "good Morning,ma'am"

"Please,call me Mona,"she stops besides Trevor "I see you two are catching on fine. That's good,"she says to Trevor "we don't want Ashley here getting bored while by herself"

"We both know there's no room for being bored while sitting in that office" he snickered,Mona elbowing him his side to shut up. I didn't know exactly what he meant by that and I didn't see the need to. I took this job and I'm prepared for whatever might come after it.

"Anyway,"Mona continues "you can always call me if you need a little pointing into the right direction and this,"she thrusts a file into my hand "will tell you everything you need to know about this job. Mr Marcello is running late and normally you should be calling him to confirm why but I already did that and he said he'd be here later in the day,"I nod "so while at that,I wanna give you his schedule for the day so when he comes,he's not missing anything"

"Okay"I stepped out of the cubicle.

"Best of luck with your "boss" Ashley" Trevor air quotes as we walked out,causing me to look back and catch the sly smile on his lips.

"Shut up Trevor" Mona says before we entered the elevator.

After getting the schedule file from Mona's office room,I took the elevator back up to my office floor where Trevor is sitting and minding his business. He did see me pass by but he doesn't say a word. He just gives me a small smile and fixed his eyes back on his laptop. I will get to know him soon and get used to him. He seems nice. Chatty,but nice.

I sit back on my stool and decided to organize the schedule before my boss -Mr Marcelo- came in.

I didn't know him but something deep inside me told me he wouldn't appreciate any form of misbehaviour. I could tell from how Mona talked about him yesterday and how Trevor talked today. I just wanted to meet his expectations and keep my job. I've come so far,I can't afford to lose this job.

Mr Marcello. I should've made a research on him before coming today. So I'd know what to expect and know even just a bit about him before actually meeting him in person. But again,he's just a regular person and I shouldn't think too much or conclude yet about him or his personality. Bosses are bosses.

I decided to busy myself with organizing his schedule before he arrived. The schedule do today wasn't really much. A conference meeting here in the office by 10a.m,a lunch break by 12p.m, a meeting with a Mr Johanna at a music gallery by 2 and lunch meeting with a miss Christina by 4.

Okay,shit,it's much.

I sigh deeply. I'll survive.

I picked up a pen from the pen folder and decided to arrange the schedule in correspondence to the scheduled time.

Suddenly,the telephone beside my right rings and I quickly picked it,placing it firmly on my ear. "It's Ashley" I said into the intercome,just as Mona taught me.

There's a ruffled sound on the background for a second before a deep,shuddering voice spoke from the other end "get into my office"

My heart skipped a beat. Then it started to ponder fast in my chest as the disconnection sound beeped,deafening my hearing. I didn't know why but I felt that way. Either because the voice shook me greatly beyond depths or because the same voice just proved my assumptions about the man who I presumed just called me

It didn't take Sherlock Holmes to tell me that my supposed boss had arrived while I was away and is in his office right now and that he just phoned me to show up in his office.

I didn't wait to think much about it. I grabbed the schedule and cornered from my cubicle to the door. dusting some invincible dusts from my trouser,I inhaled deeply and exhaled just as fast.

I can do this....calm down....everything's under control,everything's fine. You got this,Ash,and this is just as normal.

Wrapping my fingers firmly around the door knob,I pushed it open.

The said Mr Marcelo is sitting behind a desk before his wall to ceiling glass window,a paper in his hand and hiding his face from me. Slowly,a approached him,stopping before his desk,one finger holding the other wrist.

"Good morning sir" I greeted.

slowly,the paper in his face lowers,his pale blue eyes meeting mine for a brief second before he completely removes the paper and sets it on his desk,his eyes refusing to leave mine.

For a second,his eyes watched me so intensely as if he knew me and I couldn't help feel the Same way.

Personally,I think I'd seen him somewhere but my memory was failing me.

"You......."he muttered,as if unsure to say something,probably contemplating what to say to me.

Then as if that was a trigger,my eyes flew wide open at the remembrance of him.

"You?"

I hadn't said that Alone. In fact,we both said that,realization knocking into him just as hard,my brows furrowing.

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