"I don't want to tell him, but I don't have any other choice either. He will eventually get to know.If I won't tell him then Benjamin might talk about that stuff with him."
I told Chloe and she nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I get it."
She said and we went back to working. The rest of the day was quiet and passed peacefully as I were so consumed in working. I didn't realise it was already half an hour past seven and I usually left for home at seven. I closed the files and arranged them in order.
"Are you done?"
I asked as I saw Chloe still engaged with her small office on her hands, well, I guess that could be even called her small world because she barely did anything else than working on her tablet. From arranging meetings to reserving seats for dining, she did it all on her fingertips. It was cool but she was too lost to have some actual fun which girls in her age did. Well, we were of same age as well, but I belonged to mafia world and it had nothing to do with how normal people live.
"Yep, just checking the queued reservations lists to avoid blunders."
She answered, never averting gaze from her gadget. Checking the reservations list wasn't her work to do, that was something receptionist were ought to do and they were doing their work pretty well. But Chloe was much more aimed to make everything perfect, more than me or Enzo. She did many works which she wasn't ought to. Sometimes, she would also check the buffet lists when she was done with her work. I don't know how could someone enjoy working so much.
"Chloe I think our receptionists are doing their jobs well, so far. You don't have to do everything yourself."
I told her as their was no point doing the same work again and again.
"I know, Valerie. I don't have to but I like checking on everything when I'm done with my work for the day. So, double checking things isn't a bad habit, I guess."
She said with a generous and sweet smile that I couldn't stop myself from saying "it's okay."
"Yeah I am done. Do you have plans for today, also?"
She asked after a few moments and by that time, I have gathered my stuffs in my bag.
"Don't you have to dine with your family? I mean, asking you to accompany me everyday, is not good. You too have a personal life and you should enjoy that too. Maybe I'll ask Enzo if he could dine with me tonight."
I told her.
"Come on Valerie, you said we are like friends and who is being formal here? It only feels like hanging out with a friend when I am with you and my family doesn't lives here, they live in town and I live here alone. And moreover Enzo would be late tonight, he went to Genoa, Duke told me earlier but as you were busy working, I thought it would be good to tell you later."
She said leaving me no other option but to be thankful for her genuity and innocence. She was so sweet. Now I can ask her to hang out with me without worrying much. Enzo's absence would not bother me much, either.
"Well, then I guess this could be a girls' night out... "
I said with excitement and she giggled but then her laugh vanished as she said,
"No, not really. Duke would be there too, right?"
She said and the way she said Duke made me think something was fishy.
"Umm... Duke, uh? I think we should not let him follow us today."
I said, I knew I couldn't let that happen, Duke would obviously coming with us at any cost but I said that to tease Chloe because I was pretty sure, there was something going on between her and Duke. I have seen them behaving awkward around each other from past few days. Since we started going out together.
"No, you shouldn't do that... "
She said and I raised an eyebrow.
"I mean Enzo would not like it if you will not keep him around. He is assigned to protect you."
She corrected herself but it was too late, I got the signal.
"Chloe... You are totally crushing over him. You can't deny it."
I said in excitement and her eyes widened in shock, of course she hasn't expected that to come out from my mouth. I caught her off-guard.
"No, it's not like that Val, you are getting it wrong... "
"No, you stop lying about your feelings, I know there is something. Look at your cheeks, it's blushing like hell."
I told her and she suppressed a smile. She didn't have to pretend in front of me.
"Okay, it's not what you think, I only fancy Duke. I mean why not? Every girl would, he is tall, muscular, charming, attractive and a controlled man. He is the type of guy every girl, dreams of. But our feelings aren't mutual, he doesn't knows about me crushing over him, like a teenager."
Finally she admitted and every point she made about Duke were correct but that were only his good points and he was a made man, with two faced personality. He was different when it was about mob and he would act entirely different in front of normal people. No doubt, he was calm and controlled but that didn't mean it was whom he always was, he could change from decent to deadly with the need of time and I wanted to Chloe to know about what kind of a man he could be before falling for him further, but telling her now, the brittle truth about him, when she admitted her true feelings about him in front of me, I couldn't let her down just yet. I would need my time to get her accustomed with both the faces of the man, she was falling for.
"That's good Chloe. And I would, suggest you to take your time before confessing your true feelings for him. I am totally agreeing with you in this regard. But whatever you do, be true to yourself and don't let anyone hold power upon you for making decisions."
I said to her and she looked a bit shocked, because of my sudden prep-talk about feelings. I would explain it to her when it would be the right time to do so.
"Yeah! I'll surely think before I do anything and thank you so much Valerie for always being so nice to me."
She said and for the first time we both hugged each other, it felt good. I felt some one close and true to me. I was glad for having found Chloe, too.
"Well, I don't doubt that. You would certainly do a good research and study and then decide whether to confess or not."
We both laughed at it. Chloe was a very practical girl and I knew she would create a good list of good and bad including materialistic things, even if she was liking a guy. So, I don't have to worry much about her. She wouldn't get fooled, like I did. And talking of that, I don't wanna remember that incident again!
"So, let's go and have some fun. Of course with Duke accompanying us."
I said and she smiled wide. We walked out of the office and Duke was talking on his phone, while moving back and forth, he freezes as he saw us and his gaze stopped at Chloe but he quickly glanced away. I could tell the feeling was definitely mutual. But I didn't comment on it.
"Are we heading towards the mansion.. ?"
He asked, as if he wasn't happy about just going back to mansion yet.
"No, we are going to have dinner together. You can leave if you want to, I and Chloe would be good together."
I told him and without wasting any time he said,
"No it's okay, I mean I will come with you. It's my duty to keep you safe."
I suppressed a giggle by his stunned reaction as I said him to leave.
"Okay let's go then."
I simply said not wanting to play that teenage-romance-teasing game anymore, Duke wouldn't fall for that. He was way too mature for it and was a made man. But something shone in his eyes as I agreed to him coming along. But we still didn't know, was it because of Chloe or something else and I was willing to find that out.
We decided to have some pizza for dinner, so we went to a local restaurant. I made Chloe and Duke sit besides each other as we sat on the table, seats arranged for three persons. Chloe gave me wide eyed look, which I deserved for acting so childishly but I wanted to do that. It would feel so good if she and Duke could become actual couples and they both had mutual feelings for each other. I would be so happy if someone found true love while being in this mafia world, where the word-love kept merely any meaning.