"Are you familiar with the Billionaire, Leonardo DeVille?... What do you know about him." The boss asked Amani, studying her facial expression, to see if she was one of the females that would give their arms and legs just to have the billionaire look in their direction?
"The Italian billionaire was popularly known as the playboy billionaire who was rumored to have never dated one woman for more than three months. He was accused of rape and abuse on Twitter just this morning by his ex-model girlfriend Lisa. He uses and dumps women like tissue papers... That is all I know about him"
The boss nodded in approval when he noticed her facial expression that scrunched up in disapproval when she said 'he uses and dumps women like tissue papers.' Which makes her perfect for the job. The women he interviewed so far all swooned at the mere mention of the name Leonardo DeVille.
She was the most perfect candidate for the job. Beautiful enough to grab the playboy billionaire's attention and seems to have enough dislike and disapproval in her towards the billionaire. This means there's no risk of her falling in love which may hinder the job he was about to give her
"Your descriptions of him are exactly what ninety percent of Americans know about this man. He might be a player, but he's a very private one at that and that's about to change because we're going to let the world know the real kind of person he is. He has never had a scandal linked to his name until now.
"The family has never granted an interview before but I managed to convince Leonardo's father that a newspaper article writer that would portray a good image of his company and son's reputation that is about to go down the drain is exactly what the family needs right now. This job shouldn't take you more than a month tops since you would need to take pictures and get info about their private life.
To the old man, you're writing just the good stuff about them but to us at Pinnacle News, your job is to get the juicy stuff and not the boring ones, do you understand Amani?"
"Yes sir"
"Okay, here's the little we could get about this guy, study it, while I quickly make a call to stall my appointment which I'm clearly late for because of yours and Percy's catfight." The boss dropped a file in front of her and urgently walked out with his phone already held to his ear.
Armani opened his file and the picture of one of the most good-looking men she has ever seen stared back at her. The picture was taken on a yacht where he seemed to be on vacation with a popular top model hanging on his arm.
He was bare-chested while she was wearing the skimpiest bikini ever. Armani would have been content
to stare at the picture all day if not for the model with the body to die for that was clinging to his arm. She couldn't understand why she found their pose irritating so she took her eyes off the couple and read the information provided under the picture...
Leonardo DeVille is thirty-two years old. He's of Italian origin, born in New York, and grew up in San Carlos, California
He graduated from Stanford University and also has a degree in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
His father was the founder of The DeVilles fashion company which was a small struggling business before it was handed over to Leonardo when he was twenty years old. The man seems to have a Midas touch because In his capable hands the business grew to be one of the top multinational companies in the world.
He is also the chairman of DeVille Inc., a global communications technology company, which was formerly known as L and N communications that he Co-founded with his roommate from MIT before he bought the roommate's part of the business from him.
When he was twenty-eight years old he was included in the list of Forbes ten youngest billionaires in the world, his fortune then was estimated at about twenty billion dollars. And he has been contributing generously to different charity organizations.
He was known to have dated different actresses and models from all over the world.
"Wao..." Amani couldn't help but say aloud when she finished reading his profile. She was amazed at the man's achievement at such a young age. Even though she was impressed she couldn't help but hate the fact that he uses and dumps women at will.
Such men that feel they could do whatever they like with women and get away with it turn her stomach. And what made him the worst of them all was that he abuse and rape!... How many women has he been this inhumane to? Amani wondered.
A tiger can never change its stripes. If he could rape and abuse one woman, Amani was sure he would have done it to many. But how come non has brought legal action against him yet? How did he manage to keep them from suing? Did he threaten them? Or did he buy their silence?
Different questions that begged for answers were already buzzing inside Amani's mind. This was one assignment she would enjoy doing. To reveal the monster behind this particular billionaire's philanthropist mask.
"Are you done reading?" Her boss's voice said from behind her, interrupting her thoughts
"Yes sir!"
"And what do you think?"
"I think if he could rape and abuse one woman then he would have done it to many, a tiger never changes its stripes. Getting the amount of dirt we needed on this billionaire means I would have to investigate the women in his past sir and not just his family and friends.
Almost all of the women he dated in the past are rich actresses and models. I would like to find out how he managed to keep them quiet and prevent them from bringing legal action against him?... I think this assignment might take a little more than a month, sir."
"Great!... Perfect! My intuitions are right about you after all. Immediately I set my eyes on you, I knew you're right for the job. How come you are not a top journalist here?" He asked with a frown on his face.
"I... Percy..." Amani was about to answer when he interrupted her
"Never mind, that no longer matters!... That's going to change from now on. So henceforth you answer to no one but me! You've already been upgraded from the position of a freelancer to one of Pinnacle News' top reporters."
"Uhh..." Amani asked unbelievably. Is she dreaming or what?... How could she get a promotion when she has not even started the job?" She wondered to herself.
"Please allow me to finish and don't interrupt me again. I'm already far behind my schedule as it is, I don't have much time to waste here with you!"
"Okay, I'm so sorry sir..." She immediately apologized
"If we want you to be noticed by Leonardo who has a penchant for models and actresses then we have to make you look the part..." The boss said and looked at her all over again like she was some kind of commodity that he was about to purchase.
"Green looks good on you I must say. It goes perfectly well with your red hair and green eyes... But that particular green dress you're putting on looks cheap. You won't even be allowed into the DeVille mansion with such a tacky dress." He said and Amani blushed tomato red in embarrassment.
How could he refer to one of her best dresses as cheap and tacky? She wondered. He obviously doesn't care if his words hurt her feeling or not as he continued with what he was saying anyway
"You will have your own car which is already parked outside and a two-bedroom condo. Twenty thousand dollars will be transferred into your account immediately for you to get some shopping done. Don't go over the board with the shopping though because that money would also serve as your expenses till you get your first salary next month. Do you understand?"
"Uhh..." Amani who was lost for words because she couldn't believe how great her life has suddenly turned out said stupidly again
"Jeez!... Do I make myself clear Amani? I need you to say the words so I can be sure we understand each other." He said with impatient
"Yes. Yes sir!"
"I've made all arrangements. You will be given a brown envelope that contains, your photo ID card, car key, and house keys, and all other information.
Take your ID card to the accountant for identification so the money could be transferred into your account. Do whatever shopping and makeover you needed to do today and go to The DeVille's mansion tomorrow, the old man will be expecting you... I want your report forwarded to my email every Friday evening. Good day, Miss Parker." He finally said, dismissing her with a flick of his fingers.
Amani still couldn't believe her good luck. What just happened? She wondered as she slowly stood up from where she was sitting and walked out of the boss's office, gently closing the door behind her.
'Am I dreaming?... Is this a prank?... Is Percy waiting around somewhere to hysterically laugh and scream in my face that I've been pranked!? because this is so fucking unbelievable. It is just too good to be true!'