Xavier took her hand again, leading her to his office. They passed by two smaller offices, their doors closed and nondescript, and a room that looked like a conference space, its glass walls revealing a long table and sleek chairs. As they walked, the rhythmic click of high heels echoed sharply against the polished marble floor. A woman dressed in a tight cedar-brown skirt and a crisp white long-sleeved shirt approached them with brisk, purposeful strides.
"Good morning, sir," the brown-haired woman greeted with a polite nod. She then turned to Vica, her lips curving into a charming smile. "Welcome, ma'am."
From a distance, Vica could hear the faint hum of women chattering, their voices mingling like a swarm of bees. She couldn't explain why it irritated her, but it did. The walk to Xavier's office felt endless, longer than the ride from home.
"Vica, are you listening?" Xavier's voice broke through her thoughts.
The young woman ahead of them, holding a black file, ushered them into the office. "Sir, your schedule today is a bit unusual and might be too tight for you to accommodate any activities outside of it," she announced, glancing briefly at Vica.
Xavier frowned, a trace of irritation in his tone. "The 'other activities' now work here. You'll accord her the same respect you give to me. Understood?"
"My apologies, sir," the woman replied, lowering her gaze. Luckily for her, Vica seemed too lost in thought to hear her misstep.
The woman opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Xavier and Vica to enter first. "Vica, this is my secretary, Edna Ross," Xavier introduced curtly.
Vica offered a small, indifferent smile, saying nothing.
"Edna," Xavier continued, "this is Ludovica Russo. She has taken the position of my deputy. In my absence, she will oversee all my dealings. Treat her authority as you would mine." His voice was cold, and deliberate, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
"Welcome, Miss Russo," Edna said with a small bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Let's not get acquainted with falsehoods, Miss Ross," Vica replied, her devilish smile slicing through the tension.
"That's done. Edna put her name and designation on the notice board immediately," Xavier ordered.
Edna nodded, placing the file on the sleek glass table. "I'll take my leave, sir, unless there's something else that requires my attention."
"Nothing," Xavier dismissed her curtly.
Edna cat-walked her way to the door, her movements calculated and poised.
"Miss Ross," Vica called out, clearing her throat. "Get used to preparing two cups of coffee every morning." Her smile was sly, almost mischievous.
"Copy that, ma'am," Edna replied obediently, though the faintest flicker of annoyance crossed her face.
"The assignment begins immediately," Vica added, clearly enjoying herself.
Edna closed the door behind her with a tired, resigned look.
"Personal assistant? Have you lost your mind?" Vica asked, her voice tinged with distress. First, she had to deal with women vying for Xavier's attention; now she had to manage responsibilities she knew nothing about.
"I know you've been reading through my documents and scribbling notes in a notebook," Xavier said, moving to sit in his chair.
Vica exhaled loudly. "What do you expect when you leave them wide open in the study?" she countered.
"You close them and pretend you didn't see anything," Xavier replied, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Oh, come on!" Vica groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
"And the notes?" Xavier asked, chuckling.
Vica swallowed hard, but before she could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. Edna entered silently, carrying a tray with two steaming mugs. She set them on the table and left without a word.
"Looks like there's already an internal war brewing in this building," Vica muttered under her breath. "And I just turned up the heat."
Xavier leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head and feet propped casually on the desk. "What do you expect? With a dashingly handsome, dynamic, and young Bologna's most eligible bachelor around, there's bound to be some chaos."
Vica chuckled, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Bachelor. Women are attracted to luxury, not charm."
"Well, some women run from luxury," Xavier replied, his tone shifting, his expression darkening briefly.
He stood and walked over to Vica, taking her hand gently. She followed his lead, like a kitten obeying its master, and sat in the chair he guided her to. He bent down, his lips close to her ear. "I don't rely on flattery, Miss Russo. My charm is far stronger than you can imagine."
"Overconfidence is easily crushed," Vica shot back, her tone matching his.
Xavier kissed her cheek, stood upright, and adjusted his suit. "Enjoy your office, Miss Russo." He picked up his coffee, tapped her shoulder lightly, and disappeared through a nearly invisible door.
---
Vica's eyes wandered around the spacious office as silence settled in. The glass walls allowed sunlight to flood the room, highlighting the sleek, minimalist design. Her gaze lingered on the bookshelf, a mix of leather-bound volumes and modern paperbacks neatly arranged. She ran a finger along the spines, noting titles ranging from business strategies to classic novels. A faint smile played on her lips. Xavier must have added these just for me, she thought.
The office felt pristine, almost impersonal, despite its grandeur. The centerpiece was a large glass desk, flanked by an executive ergonomic chair on one side and two guest chairs on the other. To the right of the desk, a black leather couch and a coffee table with a delicate porcelain vase of fresh lilies provided a touch of elegance. The faint scent of the flowers mingled with the faint bitterness of her now-cold coffee.
Vica moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, her reflection a ghost against the bustling city below. Cars darted along the roads, and distant horns echoed faintly. She watched a small bird flutter past, free and unhindered, a stark contrast to how she felt at this moment—trapped in a job she didn't understand, with expectations weighing on her.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she turned back toward the desk. Picking up the file Edna had left, she flipped through the pages, her pen gliding instinctively over the text. She made corrections, added notes, and reorganized details without fully realizing how immersed she'd become.
The soft click of the hidden door opening made her pause. She looked up to find Xavier leaning against the frame, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
"Thinking about me?" he teased, his tone light yet deliberate.
Vica leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. "If that's why I'm being paid to sit here, then no complaints," she replied, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Xavier chuckled, strolling to the desk. He picked up the file she'd been working on and skimmed through it, nodding in approval. Tossing it back onto the desk, he flashed her an appreciative smile. "Not bad for your first day. Nice job."
Vica raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Things that start easy often get harder as time goes on," she muttered under her breath, almost as if to herself.
Before Xavier could respond, there was a knock at the door. It opened, revealing a tall man with broad shoulders and jet-black hair. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, and his confident stride spoke volumes about his status.
Xavier stood and extended his hand. "Welcome, Mr. Changretta. Please, take a seat."
"Thank you, Mr. Berardo," the man replied with a firm handshake before settling into one of the guest chairs. His sharp gaze shifted to Vica, and a charming smile spread across his face. "Isn't she a beauty?" he remarked, his tone playful.
"Vica," Xavier began, gesturing toward the man, "this is Mr. Matale Changretta, head of the company's secret service and chairman of the board of directors."
Vica offered a polite smile, extending her hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Changretta."
"Forget about Xavier's formality," Matale said with a wink. "Call me Matale."
Xavier let out a low chuckle, his tone mock-threatening. "Back off, Matale or I'll break you."
Both men laughed heartily, and Vica couldn't help but feel out of place. She cleared her throat, her patience thinning. "Gentlemen, if we could move on to why I'm meeting Mr. Changretta…"
Matale raised a hand, an apologetic smile on his face. "Of course, Miss Russo. You need to sign your contract with ARB Empire. These are the terms we agreed upon." He placed a thick folder on the desk in front of her.
Without hesitation, Vica opened the folder, skimmed the first page, and signed the required documents. She handed the folder back to Matale, her expression neutral.
"That's it?" she asked, her tone clipped.
Matale chuckled, shaking his head. "You're a tough one, Vica. I can see why Xavier keeps you close." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a sleek ID card and handed it to her. "Here's your company ID. Welcome to ARB Empire."
Vica accepted it with a brief nod. "Thank you, Mr. Changretta."
"Call me Matale," he insisted with a grin, but her lack of response made it clear the formality remained.
Matale stood, shook her hand again, and patted Xavier on the shoulder. "She's sharp. Don't screw this up," he teased before leaving the room.
The door closed behind him, leaving Xavier and Vica alone again. Xavier picked up his coffee mug, swirling its contents before glancing at her with a smirk. "I see you didn't finish your coffee."
Vica shrugged, standing and smoothing her skirt. "Do I get punished for wasting company coffee?"
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you didn't read the terms and conditions of the contract you just signed."
She turned toward the door, tossing a remark over her shoulder. "When you already have a superior contract, the terms and conditions of subsequent ones don't matter."
Xavier blinked, caught off guard, but chose not to press her cryptic comment. "Where are you going?" he called after her.
Vica paused in the doorway, her hand on the frame. "Lunch with a bird," she replied, disappearing before he could respond.