Elena's POV
I stood there, frozen in shock. How the fuck was this even possible? I honestly couldn't believe it. What were the odds?.
I just stood there staring at him , because what the hell do you do in such situations.
He just sat there, staring at me with an expression I couldn't read. That usual scowl carved into his beautiful face. His perfect jawline, honey-colored eyes, plump pink lips... Ok, Elena, stop it.
"Sit," he said, his voice neutral, stripped of any emotion.
I cocked an eyebrow. Do I look like a fucking dog to him?
"Elena, I said sit your ass down before I do it myself," his thick Italian accent dripping with annoyance.
Fine. I sat. Curiosity piqued-this was gonna be interesting.
"Let me get straight to the point before you ask anything. I wasn't the one who recommended you. My sister Mariana picked you out of all the others. I was just as surprised as you to find out you'd be my new assistant. She always picks the best, and I'm sure she had her reasons," he said, pausing to sip his whiskey.
Drinking at this time ?..this guy clearly has issues.
I stayed silent - clearly, he wasn't done.
"So this is how it's gonna work. Inside this building, I'm your boss, Mr. Mariano. You're my assistant, Mrs. Elena. Whatever the hell happened between us outside this office stays outside. Here, you work for me. That is, if you still want the job - which I doubt," he finished with a smirk.
I went silent.
Did I want this? Hell no.
Did I need this job? Absolutely.
Did I want to spend my weekdays dealing with this asshole? No way.
But did I have a choice? Nope.
He thought I'd back down. Oh, he's so wrong.
"What do you say, Miss Elena?" His smirk spread across that beautiful face.
"I'll do it. I'll work for you, Mr. Mariano," I said firmly, my tone switching to a professional one.
His smirk vanished like a fart in a storm.
He stared at me in disbelief, like waiting for me to say it's a joke.
I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I stood, smoothing the creases on my pants.
"Well, Mr. Mariano, Miss Mariana has filled me in on everything. I'll grab your coffee once I step out," I said, voice steady and confident. He looked... constipated. Classic.
"You have a lot of staff to see today. I just got your schedule," I continued. "You have an 11 a.m. meeting with new investors about the project. Lunch with your father and Mr. Alfredo at Lux Hotel-details to follow. At 3, a boardroom meeting with everyone for the project launch. Plus, you need to finalize paperwork for the charity event."I said without as much as looking at that paper , I don't quiver, I don't act nervous at all and that seems to be pissing him off .
I smile, honestly not sure where this sudden confidence came from.
He cleared his throat and snapped his gaze away.
"Anything else you need?" I asked sweetly.
"No, Just bring me my coffee-and get rid of all these paper work on my desk. They're your problem now, not mine," he said coldly.
I rolled my eyes so hard it nearly gave me a headache and nodded, walking out.
Coffee room next. Fuck, I couldn't believe I was working for this jerk.
I made his coffee exactly as Mariana asked me to but I added a few of my personal touches here and there .
Back in his office, I set the steaming cup on his desk, feeling his gaze burn holes in my back as I grabbed the mountain of paperwork. As I turned to leave, he called me back.
"Yeah?"
He sipped his coffee and smirked.
"Welcome to the Marianos."
I didn't bother turning around. Once back in my office, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Papers spread out, I sorted them into three piles. I'll knock this out in three days flat.
---
RIOS POV OF THAT SITUATION.
"Miss Elena, my office. Now." I hung up before I could second-guess myself. I was eager to see her face. A smirk curled as I sipped my whiskey, watching the city skyline. I already knew how this would go down - she'd storm in, fire-breathing dragon attitude blazing as always , and then quit.
A knock snapped me out of my daydream.
Her heels clicked sharply on the floor before stopping at my desk. My pulse raced. I had my back to her, slowly turning in my leather chair to face the woman who made my heart do somersaults.
She looked like she wanted to shit herself, and I nearly laughed. That baby pink suit was a goddamn showstopper. She finally sat down.
During the whole conversation she had this calm that was pissing me off , she wasn't screaming, yelling at me , she just sat there and let me talk .
"I'll do it. I'll work for you, Mr. Mariano."
Those words hit me like a fucking freight train. No joke. No backing down. Damn, I underestimated her.
Her cool, composed demeanor pissed me off to no end. Every other woman in my presence is either trembling or throwing themselves at me. They crave my attention. But not Elena. She's different-a total pain in the ass.
I watched as she recited my schedule off the top of her head without so much as a glance at the papers. No wonder Mariana picked her. She's perfect for the job. Of course, I wouldn't say that out loud. Feeding her ego? Hell no.
When she walked out, I couldn't help but stare at her ass as she left. Those pants... Fuck, what's happening to me? I glanced down at the obvious bulge in my pants and nearly shot myself dead.
Beep beep.
My phone buzzed - Dad.
Our relationship was weird, distant since Mom died. No hate, just... cold. And he was the reason I was about to endure the longest lunch of my life.
Me: Father.
Dad: Son, you better make it to lunch. Don't give me any lame excuses.
Me: If this is about another arranged marriage with Alfredo's daughter, Jessica, it's not happening.
Dad: Just show up.
Click.
With Dad, you don't argue. You show up. And I was ready to sit through hours of convincing me to marry that bitch. Not gonna happen.
I sat a while in my office sipping my coffee .
I usually don't finish half that mug but for some reason I found my slef downing the whole mug.
The coffee was my usual but it had a hint of something else I didn't know what, but I loved it .
I went through a few of my messages on my phone.
Marco had sent me information about the Russians sniffing alot in my business.
I'll take care of that later . Now I take care of the legal parts of my world first .
I checked my watch, grabbed my coat and phone. Meeting with investors, then the dreaded lunch with dad and Alfredo
Long day ahead already giving me a headache.