Chapter 10

Emiliana

I flattened my Prada fitted dress with my hands nervously, each crease in the fabric was something for my father to focus on. I checked my reflection one last time before stepping out of my bedroom, satisfied and hopeful that my first day would be successful. Call me a suck up but I was wearing my father’s favourite colour - grey. If anything, it might detract him from my outburst over the weekend and it was just what I needed - a distraction. 

I needed to look like I was born into the role of CEO - the irony crashed around me at the thought and I laughed, this was exactly what I was born for. 

I stepped out of the building to find Giovanni standing elegantly beside the town car. He was wearing silver grey pants and a black dress shirt that made every inch of him delicious and the sight was almost making my eyes water. Giovanni’s green orbs bored into me, silently approving my outfit choice as he opened the car door. 

“Good morning.” I greeted him with a smiling face. I wasn’t even sure if he went home last night - wherever home was. But I certainly didn’t hear him if he had left at any point. 

The traffic edged around us cautiously as we made our way into the district. The horns and smoke engulfed the atmosphere hungrily, not leaving any room to breathe or think. 

Every minute I was in the car, edging closer to the building, was a step away from what I longed to do. There was nothing wrong with New York City, but growing up here with the fashion and bright lights had me yearning for something for humbling. 

We eventually pulled up to the office building where brilliant white brick shone back in the morning light, blinding me as I approached the doors. There was no foliage to decorate the external view, only the concierge that tipped his hat at the employees as they entered. 

In the seven weeks I had been away, nothing had changed. The reception desk was still positioned to the right of the doors and if you continued to walk past, you would reach brass embellished elevators that could take you to the sky and back.

“Miss Magnone.” A tall red head called me as I stepped through the glass doorway. “Your father is waiting for you in his office.” 

“Thank you,” I acknowledged before turning towards the elevators of doom. “Umm…” The red head cleared her throat causing me to turn back around. Her eyes glanced over at the muscular figure behind me.

“It’s okay, he’s with me.”

The red head took her position on her seat once again and I could almost feel her glare burning into the back of my head.

“You could at least make yourself more inconspicuous.” I mocked as we stepped into the elevator. Giovanni glanced over at me for a moment, sending a sarcastic look my way. “A smile helps!” I gleamed my perfectly straight teeth at him, gesturing for him to copy. He removed his eyes from me and focused on the blank wall in front.

With a loud ding, the doors opened and we were stepping out onto the tenth floor. I took a large breath in as I surveyed my surroundings. Oversized desks decorated the vast expanse of the floor, partitions lined up in a maze sort of fashion while the sound of multiple photocopiers buzzed around the room. Everyone was in their own little world, conversations were kept low and the clicking of keyboards tapped away, resonating in my skull incessantly.

The scene looked like something out of the Devil wears Prada, except I was wearing it and I was certainly no devil. 

I followed the marble flooring that would lead me straight to my father’s office, pausing as I reached the extravagant brass doors. Giovanni’s footsteps could be heard following me closely behind until he stopped two metres away.

“You choose now to stop following me?” I asked him sarcastically. A tiny smirk itched at his lips before he regained his composure. I huffed out the irritation before knocking lightly on the metal door. 

“Enter.” My father’s authoritative voice carried through to me. 

I pushed the door open, the scent of old musk and leather filled the room. My father was leaning back on his oversized chair, an unlit cigar in his mouth and the newspaper open on the sports page.

“Papino?” I called out more timidly than I would have liked.

“Mimmo!” He called back, throwing his paper on the desk and stepping round it. He stretched his arms out to me, catching me in his clutches.

“Good to see you too.” I choked underneath his tight grasp. Despite the confrontation at the weekend, he didn’t seem all too bothered. 

“Are you excited to start?” He asked me rushedly, rubbing his hands together while the cigar hung out of his mouth. I snatched the offending item away and his face dropped disappointedly.

“Show me the way.” I gestured to the doorway, chucking the cigar in the trash.

Giovanni had been following us the entire time, everytime we hit a corner his cologne would wrap around me, making my mouth water and my stomach flip.

After an hour of trawling up and down the various departments, my father escorted me to a spacious office, complete with minimalist furniture. It was a corner office that had streak free, floor to ceiling windows - similar to those in my apartment. The desk was a sleek metal and glass design while all the other furniture was plush white and cleaned to the highest standard.

As we entered the open room, I gazed out at the landscape in front. Buildings upon buildings, trailing the skyline of New York city as far as my eyes could reach. The ground below swallowed the yellow cabs that waltzed and weaved through the concrete jungle. The sight made me glad to be stories high and away from the bustling pavements. 

“We have a meeting at ten and another at twelve. Everything you need is in that binder,” my father pointed to the desk. “My extension is already coded in.” 

With a brisk turn on his heel, my father left me and my stalker in the glass box. 

I perched myself gently on the leather chair, it reclined back smoothly and a sigh of relaxation escaped my lips. It was like the chair was made for me. It supported and held my body perfectly, sculpted to every curve of my body like it was moulded intentionally. 

I picked up the black leather binder, flicking through the numerous pages of passwords, codes and phone numbers. It was easy to get logged into my sleek computer, checking my emails and meetings for the upcoming week. Before long it was ten o’clock and I was sitting in the most bland and uneventful meeting of the day. 

Each member of staff eyed me up competitively. The room reeked of ego and distaste and you could almost smell the jealousy radiating from each person around the large table.

“So in a few months I will be stepping down, and taking my place will be Emiliana.” My father gestured towards me and I sank back in my chair. Everyone’s eyes pierced my skin like daggers, ripping my flesh and tearing my insides out. I had never felt so intimidated by silent eyes before. I glanced out of the meeting room window, Giovanni was standing protectively against the wall. His green eyes locked with mine and it was like he could sense my insecurity. With a gentle smile and a soft nod of his head, I instantly relaxed. 

The meeting had drawn to a close and while a few members of staff had shook my hand, others had directed their gaze elsewhere and vacated the room with no more than a blink towards me.

I sighed out loudly, catching my father’s attention instantly.

“Mimmo, what is wrong?” He perched himself beside me at the table, his face was an image of worry and anxiety. I was hesitant to continue my protests about not wanting to do this job, I knew I wouldn’t win. 

I shook the thoughts from my head, my chocolate waves floated around my shoulders effortlessly. “I just need coffee.” 

“Giovanni can take you to the staff room.” As if he heard his name with his super sonic hearing, Giovanni was by my side. “I’ll see you at twelve for the board meeting.”

I sat at my desk, nursing a coffee while Giovanni had placed himself in the corner of the room, observing the ground below. The next meeting was to meet the members of the board. These guys would make the decisions around the company’s affairs and shareholders interests and it was slightly less daunting than the previous meeting.

Each board member sat in a uniformed row. Two women sat either side of an old, almost frail looking man. His white hair and beard matched his crisp shirt perfectly and looked vaguely similar to Father Christmas. One woman had perfectly coiffed brown hair with a large fringe that covered half of her face. Her suit looked like she had pulled it out of the far reaches of her wardrobe and it had never seen an iron before. 

The other lady was a more seriously looking one of the two. Confidence and authority punched me in the stomach in every glance she took with her steely blue eyes. Her hair was cut into a sharp long bob that brushed her shoulders lightly as she spoke. She wore a brilliant white shirt that was tucked into a grey pinstripe skirt and her demeanour screamed that she meant business. 

The last man was a tall and extremely handsome guy. His silver grey suit complimented his deep blue eyes and golden skin. His dark blonde hair was smoothed back elegantly and he almost looked out of place amongst the other members. He gave me a large smile, one that touched his cheeks beautifully and warmed any nervousness I felt in the pit of my stomach. 

After the brief formalities and general chat, the conversation moved onto other matters. Mr Russo, the handsome blonde, had not taken his eyes off of me throughout the meeting. I could feel his gaze linger on me, with each breath I took, he observed with intrigue like I was the only person in the room.

“A fresh face of the company is just what Magnones’ needs.” The stiff blonde concluded. If it weren’t for her words, I would have assumed she was against me. Her glare was ice cold, like shards of glass were slicing into me yet her voice was calming.

“I agree.” Mr Russo chimed in with a brief wink in my direction. 

Was this man hitting on me?

I shook hands with each board member, Mr Russo held on a little longer than the rest, stroking his thumb almost intimately across the back of my hand. I gently retracted my arm and left the board meeting feeling somewhat relieved and hungry. I headed back to my office to find Giovanni sitting at a small round glass table overlooking the city below. He thrust a sandwich in my face, allowing a coy smile to greet me briefly.