CHAPTER VI- It's A Date

“Are you wearing perfume?”

Vincentio asked as I put this month's schedule on his table for him to sign. When I just stared at him weirdly, he clarified, “You smelled different from yesterday.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

“I didn’t say it smelled nice.” 

He handed me back the schedule after he signed and went back to reviewing the company’s metrics. I bit back my tongue from retorting.

“Your secretary has compiled these from your old office to be disposed of.” I put another file in front of him. It took all of my willpower to resist slamming it on his face. “Should I throw it away?”

Vincentio opened the thick folder gingerly, and sifted through it, his eyes seeming to search for something in particular. He stopped at one page, his face suddenly became unreadable. I tried to take a peek but he closed it shut before I could.

“No. Leave it.”  

“Okay, sir.”

I straightened up unconsciously as he shifted his eyes on me. 

“Do you need anything else, Mr. Longoria?” 

He just stared at me with those unnerving green eyes of his. Before I started to squirm, his phone rang. 

Without any greeting, he answered the phone brusquely, “Did you find anything?” He completely forgot about me and stood up to go to the balcony.

I let out a breath that I didn’t even know I was holding. I looked at his calendar and engagements so that I could prepare for his tomorrow’s schedule. The compiled folder was still there on his desk, lying there unguarded as if beckoning me to open it. I looked around; Vincentio was still talking over the phone out in the balcony, his back to the glass walls.

I quickly reached for the folder and scanned through it, all the while keeping my eyes on his back. It was all the same, papers containing a bulk of printed words which made my head spin. Right then, I noticed a folded piece of old paper in the middle. I carefully opened it.

It was a sketch of an open two-story house with a designated garden by the backyard. It was meticulously detailed with floor plans and measurements by the side. It was beautiful.

There was a signature by the lower-left corner of the paper. I glanced back at Vincentio first before studying it closer and saw that he was just about to end his call. I hastily put everything back in its place.

'Is he planning something big with that house?'

I’m almost certain that’s what got his attention earlier.

“You’re wearing the heels I bought you.” I almost jumped as he addressed me. He sounded surprised but I was more shocked that he remembered. Most guys wouldn’t even notice.

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“I just figured you’d thought it’s beneath your principles to accept materialistic things from a greedy man like me.”

‘Oh, guide me, Lord, give me patience before I put someone’s head through the wall.’

“Well, it’s hard to resist a lovely pair of shoes.” I smiled through gritted teeth.

“Women and their shoes,” he muttered while shaking his head. He glanced at his watch. “Do you have any dinner plans?”

His sudden question threw me off that I almost dropped the files I’ve been holding.

“Does a Chinese take-out count?” I responded, acting as nonchalant as I could in a room alone with him . No matter how good he must have been back then, Vincentio Longoria was a dangerous man and must be dealt with warily.

“You’re going with me to dinner then.”

How did we get here?

He is busy typing away on his phone, not paying any attention to me.

“Did you just ask me out?”

Vincentio cocked his head to the side. “Don’t you want to?”

“I didn’t say that. It’s just—”

“Then it’s a date.”

~~~

He took me to the restaurant located at the top of his condominium which tripled my nervousness. I'm almost sweating bullets beside him on the entire car ride. I’ve been alone with him before but not like this. Not on a “date”. It’s just the two of us dining on the balcony. I didn’t know if he planned this or he’s just that powerful to make a spontaneous reservation like this. 

‘This is so ridiculous.’ 

We’re both not really into this. He’s just doing this as part of his strategy and I knew that, but he doesn’t know that I know which makes this whole ordeal painful to me. I like making people know that I was not that gullible.

Vincention was the first to break the unpleasant silence.

“Don’t hold back on my account,” he said, watching me struggle to cut through my steak.

If I was alone, I would have eaten it with my own bare hands but I was not about to give him that satisfaction of proving him right.

“What? Do you think I eat like some kind of beast?”

“You’re salivating like one.” 

I just ignored him and focused on cutting through my steak without making any noise.

He stood up from his seat and walked to the service bar. “Wine?”

“Just a tad.”

I was not one to drink, even on occasions. I didn't trust myself not to do anything embarrassing out of my normal state.

The sound of a chair being dragged took my attention off my plate. Vincentio had moved his seat right beside me and handed me my drink. He raised his glass at me to which I stiffly clinked with my mine

He gulped down his drink in one go and I could feel his eyes on me. I chugged mine all down when my body started to warm up. I felt buzzed and droopy at the same time.

Suddenly, a warm hand grazed my cheek.  Vincentio had put his arm around my chair and was now playing with the tie holding my hair up. The same masculine fragrance invaded my nostrils and it's all that I could breathe in. He was so close to me that I could count the long lashes framing his stark green eyes.

The sound of a rubber snapping tore through the trance I was in. My long hair cascaded down my shoulders and his rough hand moved to get it out of my face. I jerked back. 

“Wha—” I tried to speak but he leaned closer. I tried to move back only to come in contact with the hard backrest.

‘Is this really happening? Is he so desperate for my property that he's willing to cheat?’

“Stay still,” he grunted, his tone commanding that I actually froze on my spot. He tucked the hair behind my ears and bent his head down to my neck. I didn't notice that his other hand was playing with the hem of my skirt as his soft lips grazed my ear making me shiver. He began to whisper, his warm breath tickling my exposed skin.

My breath hitched to my throat.

‘I don’t think I can do this.’

“You do know that I’m engaged right?” 

He asked softly but as he focused his eyes on me, his gaze was harsh. Vincentio leaned back, pulling his hand away from my skirt and resting it on the table. Just like that, the awful mirage was lifted and I was pulled back to reality. I wasn't even aware that my legs had parted. I immediately closed them together, shame slowly sinking in me and started to color my face red.

“What the f*ck are you playing at, Miss Silvera?”

I could feel goosebumps at the brashness of his voice and I fought every cell in my body to keep from shivering again. 

‘Damn it. I can’t believe I almost gave in.’’

I was not about to fold before him so I met his gaze head-on. “I’m not playing at anything. You were the one who forced me out to dinner.” I strained to keep my voice still with him all up in my personal space.

He let out a chuckle but there’s no hint of humor on his face. “I’m not stupid, Miss Silvera. I know you’re desperate but I’m well aware of your hatred towards me. It’s not like I put a gun to your head on the way here. You wouldn’t have agreed easily unless you had something up your sleeve.” 

My silence confirmed his words and his eyes flashed. “Don’t even try. I hired you to be my assistant and I meant only that. So, none of this bullshit that you’re trying to do, or do you need another fifty-thousand to convince you to perform better on your job?” He asked in a very condescending tone which grated on my pride.

I bit the inside of my cheeks.

“No, that wouldn’t be necessary,” was all I could reply with gritted teeth.

“Good. Mr. Mercedes will take you home.” 

He pushed himself up off his chair and grabbed his coat, the warmth from his body disappearing into the night.

The slamming of the door after Vincentio took off sounded loud in my ears as I was left stewing alone in the balcony with my own shame and defeat.