Raul wasn't at the top of his game by forgiving people. His cold grey eyes watched her sleeping defenselessly in his plane, with no obvious escape route and with her little deceptive plan out in the open. The beauty in front of him looked disturbingly innocent yet in a dangerous way. She reminded him of his younger self, when he was reckless and daring. Not his current calculative and powerful self.
He pondered over the idea of why she would stage an infiltration into the company when she could easily be caught red-handed. Unless that was her plan all along? Another pinprick in his mind pointed to the partnership that would go down the drain if her plan came through.
He was planning to partner with Von Berg Winery for his expansion into the United Kingdom and it was nicely coming along. It was a multi-million dollar project and he could not fathom why she would go to such extremes to sabotage her own family's business.
His thoughts were interrupted by the bodyguard. "Er, Boss? Do you think taking her along with us is a good idea?"
Raul shoots him a pointed look as if assessing his words. "Don't you think I would have thought this through?"
"Yes, Boss. But she did get the job, albeit you interviewing her."
Raul chuckled at the thought of her getting the job despite him interviewing her. "Ercole, she got the job because I interviewed her."
How could he ever forget the night where she rattled him in a few minutes. How she caused him inexplicable grief by just being in his thoughts. How she made him feel guilty. And how that guilt overshadowed his judgement in the hiring process. He had yet to forgive himself for that.
That was the very reason feelings and business do not mix. Guilt or not, he slipped and he knew it.
Dismissing Ercole, he immersed himself in the work as he had to deal with her once she woke up. He knew what he had in store for her. A cold wake-up call for deceiving him in that audacious manner.
Ercole hadn't taken his eyes off of the woman for the whole flight. Her words from before had rattled him in a disturbing way. He realized he needed to be careful about confirming how much she knew or if she knew anything for that matter.
The landing couldn't come soon enough for either the boss or his right-hand man. Raul was ready to jump out of the seat in anticipation and Ercole was ready to jump off the plane in frustration. Noticing his stiff shoulders, Raul teased him.
"She didn't leave you alone either, did she?"
"Are you mocking me boss?" Ercole threw back, watching the still napping girl. It amazed him as to how she could let her guard down when in the presence of unknown men. He wanted to pity her.
But as they were about to land, she woke up, as gracefully as she could and put her seatbelt back on, like it was a smooth, regular ritual for her. Her fluid composure caused the men to frown at themselves. Her unassuming act only brought both of their guards up.
Yet, she was unassuming to their high alert state. "Afraid of landing?"
She asked with a yawn, quietly covered behind her hands like a socialite. When she got no response, she looked up to find them looking annoyed at her.
"Your mind is still in the clouds. Wake up, will you?"
Eleonora chucked softly, shaking her head. The fact that he hadn't confronted her yet began to nag at the back of her mind as she looked away from them. The clouds passed by in a jiffy as they dropped. Finally, they were in Greece. The land that birthed the western civilization. The land that would birth a new era, once again, for those that are willing to take a leap of faith.
As they settled into their respective rooms, Ercole informed her of the following day's schedule. "Please meet us after breakfast in the lobby. We will be leaving by 8 in the morning."
She had not heard from either of them for the entire evening. Although a disturbing thought of his revenge was eating at her, it wasn't as strong as him turning her in or worse, dismissing her after coming all the way to Greece. Despite her back-up plan, she could only act according to his reaction.
The scene in the lobby could only be explained as a shocking surprise. She couldn't believe her eyes as she started walking towards the three men in a serious conversation. Her voice didn't betray her huge grin. "Helton? Wow? What are you doing in Greece?"
The man she addressed turned to her with just as much enthusiasm. "Oh my, Nelly? My girl?" He engulfed her in a bear hug just as she started to giggle.
As they pulled back he quirked his brow as if assessing her. "You've grown up, haven't you?" He asked tongue in cheek as she scoffed playfully, rolling her eyes.
"Not that again. So, fancy seeing you here." She motioned around her as if it was obvious.
"Oh, aren't you just thrilled to see me?" He teased back, earning another eye roll. "I'm here for this renovation project."
She grabbed his shoulders and shook him lightly as if to see whether it was a dream. "You're an architect too? Oh. My. Grace. What are the odds? We should totally get married."
They both laughed at that while the other two, Raul and Ercole, didn't seem to be sharing their glee. They stood slack jawed, eyes wide and shock coloring their faces, looking at the fiasco in front of them. Never in a million years would Raul have guessed his odds would be so not in his favor. But he was the first to recover. Ercole still looked shaken.
"Indeed. What are the odds?" Raul cleared his throat, to interrupt them and to snap out of his shocked stupor.
As if reminded of his presence, both Eleonora and Helton pointed to him.
"Oh sorry, that's..."
"Well, he's my..."
They both started and stopped at once. "You know him?" Eleonora raised an eyebrow at Raul.
"Of course, he's my boss. Or would be?" A snicker escaped him, confusing her further.
"But, he's my boss too?"
Just as Helton opened his mouth, Raul answered them both, with a snarky smirk, looking right at Eleonora.
"You're the candidate I'm interviewing for this project. So, pick up the slack you two. I'm still your would be, Boss."
'Would be, what?'