Chapter 1: Convincing

"You're not on the list, Ma'am." The secretary annoyingly said when Patricia insisted to get inside.

Luca Silvestri, is one of the most sought businessmen. The same man also has strict security when it comes to who can enter his office and talk to him privately. Well, given that he owns a tech company, that only explains why the security is tight although it seems not like it.

"Look, Miss Secretary. My job is at risk, they are going to fire me if I can't interview Mr. Silvestri. Just this one, please?" Patricia pleaded.

Actually, the company wouldn't fire her but looking at the situation, it seems like she needs to do more pleading even if it means lying to the poor secretary.

She's working at Pro-Live Magazine, which features successful people all around the world. Their highlight of the month is to interview a bachelor man whose name is popular in the business industry. They could market these bachelor businessmen to gain popularity for their company to be known.

"Even if I wanted to, I really can't Miss..." The secretary trailed with a questioning look.

"Arquette. But you can call me Patricia, we can be besties!" Patricia gleefully said while smiling widely.

"Miss Arquette. I'm really sorry. Mr. Silvestri will bury me alive if—"

"Don't be ridiculous, I won't tell him that you let me in."

"B-but I'm his secretary."

"Then let's just tell him that I sneaked around without you noticing."

The girl shakes her head in distress, "There are CCTVs."

"So were you considering the sneaking part?" Patricia triumphs.

"N-no. Please leave already, Mr. Silvestri doesn't like interviews."

That's a fact. The man that she was assigned was not fond of interviews, but then she's not a journalist for nothing. Patricia can always work her charm to convince the man for an interview.

"Wait. How did you know I came here to interview him?"

"It's obvious."

"Huh! I'm here to apply for a job."

"I've seen your face posted on social media, the uprising journalist who made her way to the top in just four months."

"Fine! I'll just wait here." Patricia then walked towards the waiting area.

She's looking at every angle, considering every situation. The reason why she's now here on the main floor where the boss is working is because of her charm when she talked to one of the guards. Well, she lied so she can come up here. She said that she came for an interview because she was applying for a job.

"Hello everyone, you can have your lunch first before we proceed to the interview. You are given 30 minutes for you to go to the cafeteria."

Great! Patricia bit her lower lip to stop herself from smiling. Her plan was to sneak when everyone is having their lunch. The only problem she has is Silverstri's secretary.

But then, for sure the secretary would be having lunch for herself right?

Or so Patricia thought. Kelsey, the secretary, was having lunch on her desk without giving Patricia the opportunity to sneak around.

"Aren't you gonna have your lunch?" Kelsey asked after a minute.

"How about Mr. Silvestri?"

"He's busy."

Patricia frowned, "Should I order him lunch at the cafeteria?"

When Kelsey looked at her disapprovingly, she added "Since you're still eating."

"No. He'll call if he's hungry."

"My nana said that we should eat on time."

"Mr. Silverstri is not part of the 'we' then."

Patricia remained silent and take a peek at her Rolex. She glances at Kelsey who's still eating but guarded with her every move.

"Do you want me to get fired?" She asked in the hope to get sympathy.

"Do you want me to?"

"No," Patricia whispered as she crossed her arms together.

"Kelsey, get inside. 5 minutes." A sexy baritone suddenly voices from the intercom broke the silence.

"I'll get inside! You're still eating!" Patricia stated and hurriedly stand up.

But Kelsey pays her no attention. Instead, Kelsey packed her lunch box, drink some water, fixed her dress, walked towards the door, and knocked three times.

When the secretary slip inside, that's when a thought came into Patricia's head. Smirking, she made her way to the door and then went inside.

Two faces look at her, one with a shocked expression and the other with a handsome face– no expression at all.

"What are you doing?" Luca Silvestri questioned her.

Patricia noticed how his voice sounded so alluring. She can listen to it all day. She wonders how it sounds when he wakes up or when he's doing something interesting.

Kelsey hurriedly went to her side, "What are you doing?!" Kelsey whispered angrily yet nervously.

"Kelsey won't let me in so I sneak inside to see you."

"Miss Arquette!" Kelsey tugged her blouse.

Luca stared at her, "What do you need?"

"Lunch? While we talk about my proposition."

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Silvestri. I didn't know that she'll come inside—"

"Get out, Kelsey."

Patricia's jaw slightly dropped, "Make sure not to fire her." She addresses Luca.

When the door finally closes, Patricia walked towards Luca's desk. His pictures didn't justify how he looks in person. Luca is actually a handsome man with such a look no one can compare to.

"You're really handsome." She joked around as she sat on one of the chairs.

Luca just stared at her intently. His burning gaze hits her skin and she suddenly feels conscious.

She coughed to cast away the uncomfortable feeling, "Well, I'm here to ask you if I could interview—"

"I'm not interested."

Patricia sees red. She doesn't like it when somebody cuts her off while she's talking. But she calms herself, she needs to do this job. She can do it. Only if this man would cooperate.

"I'm not pressuring you. I'll give you some time to think—"

"Still not interested."

"Oh come on. Let's do this for everyone's satisfaction—"

"Now, why would it satisfy me?"

Patrica closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened it, Luca's familiar green eyes greeted her.

"Will you let me finish my sentence first?"

"Why would I?"

"Just because!" She finally snapped.

Everyone told her that Luca Silvestri is not easy to handle. He is ruthless, sarcastic, terror, and many more negative adjectives to describe an evil man. But no one told her that he is annoying as hell!

"Miss Arquette, you barged into my office without notice."

"And so? Your secretary won't let me in!"

"I need to interview applicants in," then, he glanced at his wristwatch. "18 minutes."

"I just need 10 minutes with you, even 5 or 3. Just let me finish what I'm about to say so we could never have a problem."

He sighed, "I don't have time for this."

"When will you have time for this?" Patricia's persistent in interviewing him.

"Did anybody tell you how annoying you are?"

"Yes, but not coming from somebody who's annoying as you."

"Dammit." He cursed and closed his eyes as if composing himself.

"Listen. Let me interview you. I will have my promotion and you will have your peace."

"What peace? If I let you interview me, many would assume that I am willing for an interview with them." He sternly said.

This time, it is Patricia's turn to sigh.

"We can say that you are exclusively doing this with us. Meaning no one will be able to interview you, except for the company that I'm working for."

"No."

"What do you want in return then? I know for a fact that you won't gain anything from this because you are clearly doing well with your company, but will you give us some empathy?"

Patricia is really desperate for a promotion. That means she will no longer rely on her parents' money and she can finally sustain her nana's needs. Only if she wasn't assigned for some type of jerk. Maybe the head gave her this assignment because it seems impossible to have Luca Silvestri as a guest, given his reputation.

"Lying to the security guards that you're here for an interview—"

"I'm really here for an interview!"

"Job interview, Miss Arquette. I could sue you, you know." Even though his tone held a warning, there's a part of Patricia that is confident that he won't do it.

"But you wouldn't."

"Why so confident that I won't?" He frowned, those thin lines that were formed because of the expression doesn't make him ugly.

"I ducking hate you, Luca Silvestri."

Duck! Because she can't say the F word or her nana will definitely scold her.

"Time's up. You already used your 5 minutes. My answer is still no."

Patricia is boiling inside, she wants to shout at him. She wants to hurt him. She's angry and she hates him.

Without saying anything, she turns her back on him. But when she opened the door, Luca's voice followed through.

"Convince me more."