13|Hello Mr Zanetti
What do people usually do on Monday mornings?
Right, they cry about the fact that their asses are going to be whipped at their workplaces.
Here I was, laying awake on the bed, trying to figure out the composition of the beige wallpaper. Lucky, right?
I heard the lock click on the outside, jolting me out of my thoughts. Pulling the duvet over my head, I snuck into my comfort world pretending to be asleep.
"Get up."
Guess who talks so sweetly.
I continued my world class acting. Seven a.m. was not the right time for some mighty Rafael crap. In fact, no time was the right time for mighty Rafael crap. Besides who dreams of starting their day with his rotten face?
"Get up I said." The duvet was ripped off my body and suddenly I felt so exposed with my bare legs on full display. I was wearing just a t-shirt with panties.
"How dare you!" I yelled.
"Stop screaming. Don't waste time. You have twenty five minutes." He stated.
While I was trying to match my looks with the evil queen, he was immaculate as ever in a dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt underneath the ultra expensive linen which fitted his body so perfectly that I could clearly make out the muscles of his arms. His dark brown hair was neatly styled and that tempting cologne was teasing my body in different ways.
"Are you done drooling, Miss Andress?" His voice cut in sharply just like his jawline. That's when I realized what my stupid self just did.
"I.. I wasn't drooling." I said defensively, turning my head away.
"Now stop wasting my time and get ready. Remember, twenty five minutes." He made himself comfortable on the couch.
"For what? Where are we going?"
"Great! She has already managed to irritate me and it's just seven a.m." He muttered under his breath.
"I heard that."
"Where do people usually go on Monday mornings? Disco?" Said the handsome douche.
Wait! Hold on! Stop!
What did he say?
"What do you mean?" I asked, disbelieved. "Am I.. Am I allowed to work? Am I not fired already?... Again? Are you serious?"
"As long as you keep your mouth shut, you're free to continue working in my company." He proclaimed and I went crazy!
I was so so soooo happy. Jumping on the bed enthusiastically, I celebrated the little moment of happiness. "Thank you thank you thank you! Thank you so much!"
"So fucking immature." He did a massive eye roll.
Then the grand realization hit me. I was jumping in front of him on the bed like a kangaroo high on weed with this highly inappropriate clothing. Heat rose up my cheeks and I immediately covered my legs with the duvet.
"Don't worry Miss Andress, I'm not a pedophile."
I gave him a dirty look but didn't say anything, fearing my stupid mouth will make him change his mind. Something told me Rafael Grayson being generous wasn't an everyday thing.
"And now you have just twenty minutes left."
I sprang up in action, yanking open the closet to draw out a fresh pair of formals. Twenty minutes to infinity was the usual time range for me to only decide on my outfit. How the hell was I going to get ready in such short time?
The closet was fully loaded with all kinds of clothes, perfectly of my size. What bothered me was the perfect size of my lingerie as well. I wanted to ask him about it but I knew I wouldn't like the answer so I decided against it. Ignorance is bliss.
"Be careful what you pick, Vittoria. You better not wear clothes that lower the productivity of my employees." The cocky bastard remarked.
What was his problem? I wasn't the only one wearing a short skirt. I agree it was short, but it wasn't indecent at all. I understand about Oliver. He's a born grandpa. But Rafael too?
"You don't get to decide what I wear." I retorted.
"Yes I do." He took two long strides and closed the distance between us before I could even get some time to react to the closeness. My knees felt weak and I had to clutch the closet to keep myself from collapsing down. I didn't dare utter a word, afraid it'll come out as a moan. What's wrong with me?
"Don't forget you're working under me Vittoria." His hot breath fanned against my neck. I bit my lip hard to keep myself quiet when his chest pushed me further into the closet. "I get to decide every damn thing about you." He whispered huskily.
His fingertips teasingly grazed my thigh just above my knee. Electricity jolted through my entire body and I visibly trembled at his touch while my heart was threatening to leap out of my chest. "This." He said, stroking the sensitive and exposed skin on my thigh. "Your skirt shouldn't be above this. Is that understood?"
I weakly nodded in response.
"Use your words Vittoria." He commanded.
"Yes I understand." I said breathlessly.
"Good girl. Now go take a shower. Be quick or else I'll have to intervene." He smirked, stepping away from me.
Not looking back at him, I darted to the bathroom like my life depends on it. It does. What even was that? Whatever it was, it was never going happen again. Never!
Taking the quickest shower of my life, I brushed my raven hair so that I look human again. I fished the drawer of the dressing table and the only cosmetic I found was a cherry lip gloss. Not a problem since that's all I use but today I needed something more.
"Do you have a concealer by any chance Mr Grayson?" Yeah he was sitting here all the time. Talk about awkwardness.
"It won't make you look any more better so stop wasting time Vittoria! You're not going to walk a freaking ramp."
"Are you blind? Can't you see these?" I pointed to the black and blue bruises on my neck and arm. They had faded a little but were still pretty evident.
He kept looking at those bruises with a strange emotion in his charcoal eyes.
"Get rid of that look Mr Grayson. I'm almost convinced that you feel guilty about it."
He quickly averted his eyes as if he was just got caught red handed. "It wouldn't have been a problem if you didn't have these shoulder length hair with your neck on display for the entire world to see."
"That's totally my fault." I taunted. And here I was thinking he might feel guilty about hurting me.
"Travis!" He called a little too loudly and a guard came rushing in. Rafael whispered something into his ear. He nodded. "Ask Jake for the keys." He ordered and the guard left the room in a haste.
"Wait a second. He'll get you a concealer." He said.
That came as a shock. I wonder who used a concealer in a house full of men which further makes me wonder if these people are afraid of women?
His eyes continued to stare at me awkwardly. What's wrong now? Is it my skirt? I was wearing a brown knee length pencil skirt with a rose gold halter neck. That was way below that mark which he so inappropriately showed me.
"Vittoria I'm so-"
"Here it is ma'am." The guard which I assume is Travis ran to me, quickly handing me the much wanted concealer.
"Thanks Travis." I gave him a sweet smile. Covering all the spots which made me look like a masochist, I finally declared I'm ready.
We quickly headed out, as usual he was walking and I was running like a penguin in these heels to catch up with his speed.
"See you at the office Miss Andress." He swiftly got into his expensive black SUV clearly telling me I won't be getting a lift.
"Huh? Then why did you make me hurry up so much?" Is he for real?
"I was just encouraging my employees to be punctual. You better be on time or else don't bother coming at all. Au revoir, señorita." With that, he sped away.
He did not just do that!
"Je te deteste, jerk!" I yelled, stomping my foot.
•°•°•
"You. Are. A. Lifesaver!" I thanked the awesome cab driver. If it wasn't for him, I would never reach on time.
Trying hard not to trip in these heels, I hasten my way through the crowd. "Good morning half naked man! Actually, mine wasn't good at all." Even this statue seemed to sympathize with me but that stone of a man wouldn't.
"My my! What an interesting little thing you are." I heard an amused voice dripping with heavy Italian accent.
I turned back to be met by charming hazel eyes of Luca Zanetti. That asshole!
"Mr Zanetti." I flashed him a fake tight lipped smile.
"Oh I'll be damned! Such a pretty girl knows my name." He smirked. God! They all smirk so much. Idiots! All of them!
"Of course Mr Zanetti. Who wouldn't know your name? After all you're the second most successful businessman in the country." Now it was my turn to smirk.
He did an appreciable job hiding the displeasure on his face. But his eyes said it all. "What's your name tesoro?"
"Vittoria Andress." I replied flatly.
"Vittoria." He kissed the back of my hand. His full lips lingered there for a little too long. I had to jerk my hand away to give him the clue that I'm not interested in small talking with a cheating pussy. He was hot, I admit. But he was an asshole. Why do they always come in that sad combination?
All of a sudden I felt a hand gracefully slide on my waist, tugging me closer to it's owner. My eyes widened at the gesture but I quickly regained my composure. "Here you are, señorita. You left without me?"
Alright can I slap him? Rafael was officially the most infuriating human alive!
"Oh I didn't notice you Luca." He stated dryly.
"That's fine." He played along. He was talking to Rafael but his dirty eyes were roaming all over my body. "It's quite reasonable to not notice anyone when you have someone like her around. How long have you been fucking her?"
Rafael's grip on my waist tightened and he pulled me possessively close to him. "I suggest you watch your words Luca." He sneered.
"And I suggest you be careful, tesoro. Girls around him don't end up quite alive." He said, gawking at my breasts.
"Yep!" I said popping the p. "He takes the killer looks quite seriously. Good to know girls around you are extremely safe Mr Zanetti."
"Please excuse us, but we at Grayson Inc. don't believe in wasting the precious working hours. That's how we stand stronger than every other company. Oh I'm sorry Sir," I looked over at Rafael. "I hope I accidentally didn't spill our secret. Anyway, it was nice meeting you Mr Zanetti." I smirked.
"Likewise." His tone said my magic had worked. Hah! Take that you ass.
He awarded Rafael his hatred filled gaze to which he reciprocated the gesture. "Good luck with the audit." He mocked Rafael and walked away to his building to the left while we made way to our on the right. It was like these two skyscrapers were standing bold against each other, personifying the fierce competition between the two owners.
"What was that, señorita?" The handsome douche asked, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"He was getting on my nerves." I swiped the card, marking my attendance. Guess what time it was. 8:59 a.m.!
"You've got talent Miss Andress. You've managed to get on the bad side of two mafias in a matter of three days. Quite impressive."
I stopped dead in my tracks. All the blood drained from my face when I registered the meaning of his words.
"He...He's the Z in Esztar?!" I whisper yelled. "Why didn't you tell me before! Oh God! You're so mean Rafael." I panicked.
"Isn't it understood?" He said like it was no big deal.
"No! No it isn't! You never mentioned him as a Member when you told me about him. You just said he's your competitor."
This jerk was enjoying my state right now. He was eying me like I was a specimen.
"Freaking hell! I'm on the bad side of a mafia. A mafia!" I whisper yelled yet again, staring up at him with horror filled eyes.
"Two." He held up two fingers, casting me a wicked smile. "Two mafias."
"One is Luca Zanetti. I wonder who's the other one." There was no way I was letting him win even if I was on a mini anxiety attack on the inside.
I noticed people were giving me weird stares, whispering things to each other, looking my way. It took me a while to catch the reason.
The reason was walking next to me. I slowed down, hoping he goes ahead without me. He didn't. He turned back, raising an inquisitive brow at me.
"Don't walk with me. These people are getting the wrong idea. I don't want them to look at me with pitiful eyes." I blurted.
The CEO got offended. What he did next stunned me.
Once again placing his hand on my waist, he roughly pulled me into him and continued walking to the private elevator.
"What the hell are you doing Mr Grayson!" I screeched.
"Showing you how pitiful their stares are."
Right. The girls were staring at me like I'd slept with their husbands. One of them even shot me the classic b word.
"Take him right here for all I care." I scowled at her.
"Feisty! I like it." He murmured into my ear, pushing me inside the elevator.
"Have you caught a fancy of messing with me Mr Grayson? You can't do this." I yelled.
"This is my company. I can do whatever the hell I want." He flung his classic hypocrite statement. "Come on baby, show me your magic with 69." He pressed the button in the elevator.
"Jeez! Get your head out of the gutter! Shouldn't you be going to the 70th floor?"
"What makes you think I'm answerable to you?"
The longest two minutes went in a staring daggers contest until the ding of the elevator interrupted us, indicting we've arrived on the 69th floor! Ugh.. Gross!
The entire floor was bathed in silence. Contradicting to the chaos downstairs, this lobby was quiet and empty. I recollected my first encounter, no, actually second encounter with him right in this lobby when he fired me on my first day. Can't believe all this happened in just two days. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the steps.
What next? My leg twisted painfully, I lost balance and I braced myself to be humiliated in front of my boss.
But I didn't fall. Two strong arms held me in their protective embrace, the warmth of those hands seeping into my body, lighting it up on fire. This just happened in movies.
Right?
I reflexively placed my hands on his shoulders and damn...they were sexy. He was sexy as hell, there was no denying.
Our faces were merely inches apart. His minty breath tingled the skin on my face in the most pleasurable way. It was happening again. I'll have to stop this feeling. His eyes trailed to my lips and I found myself mirroring his actions.
Heart: Kiss him.
Brain: Slap him.
Body: I MEAN BUSINESS!
He needed to let me go before something happens. My mind commanded me to take action right this instant or else the closet tragedy would repeat. I snapped out of his hypnotizing trance.
"What now Mr Grayson? Waiting for me to fall in love with you?" I sassed.
"Haven't you already, señorita?"
I expected him to smirk but there was something undecipherable in those charcoal eyes.
"Guns can't get you that kind of luck, mon chèri."
"We'll see about that." Saying that, he dropped me down to the floor.
"You...you moron!" I slammed my palm against the pristine white floor.
"Aww I'm sorry, did I hurt that cute little butt of yours?" He walked away, turning back only to wink at me.
"Not as much as I hurt your big ass ego!"
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