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Chapter 4

I couldn't believe my eyes just as much as I couldn't believe who the man sitting across from me was. He's unmistakably the same man I'd encountered at the café two days ago,the arrogant man whom I'd spilled coffee on. Bile forms at the back of my throat and I find myself gulping hard as a painful thought crossed my mind: He's my boss.

This is Mr Marcello? The CEO of this company?

The way his eyes watched mine in pure amusement makes me wanna scream and storm out of this office but in all honesty,that's something I couldn't afford to do now.

His eyes holds mischief and almost like I could read everything in them,he's rather pleased to find me in this situation. You know,thinking about it now, it actually makes sense that Mona and Trevor talks about him like he's some terrorist. I mean,for one,I've seen him being an arrogant rude jerk at the café and might I add that he is the reason why I didn't get that job that day? And now I'm in his company working for him? The universe really has more surprises in stall for me doesn't it?

"You are my new assistant?" He questions me, speaking so fast like the words burnt his tongue.

The way he says that makes me angry. What? What if I'm his assistant? I'm the one who should be angry here not the other way round.

"What if I'm your new assistant?,"I shouldn't reply so casually seeing as he's now my boss but I couldn't help it "something wrong with that?"

"Everything is. I remember you. You're that rude cranky lady from the café. God probably made you come here because I did wanna see you again and ask what your problem was that day? Your boyfriend broke up with you or something?"

"Obviously,you were being rude that morning and there's no other explanations there. It's very unethical for you to just show up and demand to be served before the line"

He settles into his chair,his lips twisting in a sadistic smile and replied "it's called power,little girl. And now you need a job in my company?"

"I needed a job and I had no idea you owned the place"

"Tell me,you wouldn't have applied for a job here if you knew I owned the place?"

I gave a quick thought to that. Would I have applied for this job if I knew he owned the place? The answer is yes. Because I'm that desperate for a job. Because I knew I'd put up with anything just to have a job. Because I'm ready to put up with anybody and as God would have it,him.

He speaks again "I take that as a yes then. You see,I'm not so bad after all. You know you've got a sharp tongue there,Mona never listens to me. She never listens to the qualities of a personal assistant that I want"

What? He gets picky too? Just great......

"You have a list of characters you expect from your assistant..."

"By all means,yes"his lips danced with amusement.

"That's just unfair cause you expect her to be everything you want but you are absolutely far from something she wants"

He moves his back from his chair and leans over the desk, "is that so? If you don't like me,which I don't care about by the way then you can get out of my office. You don't want me firing you myself on your first day,do you?"

I tried to speak but my words rolled down my throat and I just stood there watching him. I felt angry,so angry but I couldn't afford to lose this job. I couldn't let my anger be my ruin. Asides all the jackass and asshole that he is,he's still my boss and whether I like that or not,I'm gonna keep this job.

Lowering my head in submission,I replied "I'm sorry."

"Are you? Cause I was just about firing you and Mona"

Looking back to his eyes,I said again "I said I'm sorry okay? Maybe we can put this and that behind us"

He shrugs,a smirk dancing on his lips, "then don't just stand there"

Bringing the schedule up to my face and tearing my eyes from his,o read out "you have a conference meeting by 10. That is twenty minutes from now"

He nods and points to a couple of white papers neatly laid on his desk "I was gonna ask you to reschedule that meeting to tomorrow seeing as you have no idea what it's about but I wanna see the stuff you're made of. Pick that up,go through it or don't if you want and be my mouth in less than twenty minutes"

His smile caused great pain inside of me but I just nod,avoiding his eyes as I walked out,the papers in my hand. The moment I shut his door outside,I leaned against it and gave a shaky breath out. God,this is gonna be harder than I'd thought. Why doesn't anything ever go well in my life? I guess I'll find out about that later but now,I needed to get ready for this meeting.

Ricardo's POV.

imagine the audacity,walking into my office and saying those absurd things. she had impressed me,honestly but I decided to pardon her because she had no idea who I am.

The thought of her causes me to smile as I stared into the depths of my computer,not really looking at anything but just deep in thoughts. Thoughts about this strange woman.

At first I'd thought she looked too strange when she entered my office. That was before I recognized her to be the rude woman from before. It's been almost forever since I saw a woman look so plain,so simple,so.......average. The second I set my eyes on her,I couldn't help lower the papers to see her whole. She's simply wearing a blouse,something the women hate to do these days and above all,her face isn't covered in all sorts of colors. I might say I'm impressed for the second time,the first being her bravery to spill coffee on me that day. Nobody dared. But she'd be stupid if she thinks I'm gonna let that go. She'd me too damn stupid.

I could see the sheer pain begin her eyes evidence in her breathing as I tasked her against the conference meeting and surprisingly,it gladdened my heart.

After a couple of minutes,she walked back in to inform me that the board was ready.

"Lead the way"I replied,rising up,my smile unchanging and followed her into the conference room.

Around the long oval conference table sat the board members of eight men and four women,all ready for business.

"What do you got?"I asked,settling into my chair,my eyes glancing over at my new assistant whom I realized I didn't know her name. She stood before the white board,the papers I'd given her earlier held in her hands. She looked firm and it bothered me. Wasn't she supposed to be Scared?

"Um....we're still on the architectural structures,sir"Mr Jeffrey spoke,clicking on his computer. "The team we sent over to Manhattan to look into it gave us a feedback yesterday while you were away"

"Yes,"I cut him off "I saw that on your report,"turning to the girl,I called "you,girl....it's your cue"

I could tell she's upset about something,the way she looked at me "it's Ashley. My name I Ashley Shawn,"her eyes leaves mine to face the board members. "As you Al may be wondering,I'm Mr Marcello's new assistant. That settled,I'll like to read out the report on the Manhattan project"

Impressive. It was all over the eyes of the conference members.

"The Manhattan project is a big success,"she began "however,there's a new reinforcement by the Manhattan government. While we wish to make it a charity work,he wishes to make it a public figure"

"That's the problem,Mr Marcello" Mrs Evelyn spoke,"I've personally gone to the spot last week and I must say,I was beyond impressed. You did a good job building that park. It's the biggest anyone's ever seen but now,the government wanna take it away for political benefits"

"Let them try,Evelyn" I couldn't help my smile. Honestly,take away my park? I'd love to sit and watch them try but it's not in my nature.

"From what I've seen,"Ashley speaks,causing all heads to snap towards her,"this park," Trevor who's sitting at the end of the table before her quickly typed on his laptop,the board behind her turning into a landscape of grasses and tall trees,a building structure far behind the field. It was the blueprint of the Mall building inside the said park. Yes,I'm gonna make this into reality and I don't care how far I have to go or who I have to take out of the way to get there.

I noticed Trevor give her a smile before she fully turned to the board and continued "it's a fine settlement,I'll say and the building structure is amazing. From the looks of it,it's a moll,correct?" They all nod their heads "this project will not only become one of the best public figures this century and the former ever recorded but it will serve as the people's heart. It's also a park and we all know that way to a kid's heart is the park and the way to the people's hearts is through their kids. And viola,we have what we need. This,is exactly what the government realized,so"

"I agree with miss Ashley,sir"Trevor and Jeffrey said in unison.

"are you implying that we fight the government?"Mrs Stark chimed in.

"What's wrong with that?" I replied before Jeffrey could reply,his lips hanging open in an attempt to reply her.

"Everything is,sir,"Alison said "we're not talking about a troop here. We're talking about the government."

"Tell me,Alison,why did you call this meeting in the first place? Isn't it to get a solution to this problem?"

They all nod.

"Then we have a solution,what's the problem?"

"What if there's a betters solution instead of a fight?"

I turn to look at my assistant who looks like she's just said one of the things she's very unsure of.

Mr Gregor turns an interested eyes to her and asked "You have a better solution,miss ah......."

"Ashley,"she helps with her name before adding "what if we can solve this problem by just holding a meeting with the government? This company is known world wide and is well respected. They wouldn't turn away a peace meeting. Then we can talk about this and here from them. I'm very positive that if we give reasons,they will allow the completion of this project"

"What good enough reason do we have here,Ashley?" Gregory asks her.

"Mr,Gregory!,"Evelyn calls "we're not the bad people here. We've got all the good reasons!"

"And what if they don't agree to our terms and ends up chasing us out? Gregory asks,causing me to smile.

"It leaves us with only one thing then,"I finally spoke again,causing them to look at me "war"

I could see the disappointment in Ashley's face as I said that last word. but I continued to smile,enjoying every bit of her discomfort.

Then the room soon swept in a heat of mumors.

"Trevor"

"Sir"

"Let's give Ashley's plan a try. Select a few men to go over to Manhattan with you before the week runs out and get back to me as soon as possible. I wanna know if id be needing to go down there myself"

"Yes sir"

"We'll talk about the rest tomorrow,I have somewhere to be"

They all nod before picking up their laptops and arranging their papers.

For a split second,I glanced at Ashley. She's standing there,looking into the papers in her hands. Trevor walks to her and whispered something to her which causes her to smile. Which causes me to frown. I have no time for this. I walked out and into the elevator.

She's good,I'll give her credit. Maybe Mona did prove her worth after all. Maybe this one would be useful after all. I couldn't help the sigh that escaped my mouth as I tried to breathe.

Some government trying to steal my project? They should know better.

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