Chapter 5

    Valeria pushed the lens on the bridge of her nose nervously. This was no longer the madam's Villa but the biggest skyscraper in the city. It was a construction company owned by the thirty-three-year-old Xander Gates.

    Valeria wore a lengthy sleeve blue turtleneck sweater covered with a jacket matched with regular-fit jeans. She didn't wear make-up except for the shiny lip gloss she is fond of.

    Pinning her hair behind her small ears she walked past the security and then the revolving door.

    Everyone seemed busy as they brushed past her. No one cared to return any of her greetings rather they stared in a scrutinizing way.

    " Good morning. Where can I find the boss's office?"

    The girl she spoke to stopped whatever she was doing on the computer.

    " Humph," she snorted, moving her gaze to the cheap pair of his sandals that Val wore.

    " Hey guys "

    The entire floor halted in their activities and stared in the direction of the loud voice.

    Pointing to Val, the lady continued.

    " She was to know where the boss's office is, dressed as a beggar "

    There was collective laughter as they all made side comments about her clothing.

    " Zingraff in the building"

    " What do you want? " a calm voice from the staircase leading to the higher floor inquired. It was a blonde girl with brown eyes. She was very beautiful but had an uptight look.

    The office became quiet and they pretended to be working instantly.

    'Are they afraid of her.. is she important here? ' thought Val, pushing up her while tipping her chin to get a better view of the lady.

    " Yes. I am his new secretary "

    When she said this all eyes turned on her.

    This time the employees did not dare to laugh, yet were all choked with laughter.

    The girl at the staircase's face darkened. She thought for a second.

    " New secretary? Follow me "

    Val joined Kira in the elevator. It was all quiet till Kira glared at the girl who replied.

    "I am his new secretary "

    " I know" Kira was a bit annoyed so she rolled her eyes.

    " When aunt Esme told me of you I thought it was a joke. I want not to expect someone like.. "

    " Like me "

    " Yes. Like you, I guess people have strange taste in servants"

    Upon hearing this, Val's shoulders slumped. It was straightforward. She had noticed most people in the city were very rude and acted like they owned the world

    Was she that ordinary looking that it became.. strange?

    Perhaps with the nail scars on her face which she did not conceal. Though it had healed it still left scars.

    " I am not a servant" her eyes sparkled in bravery.

    " Boo-hoo who bit your tail and ..hold your horses. Xander has the final decision "

    They arrived on the last floor with only one spacious office and a lobby for waiting.

    " Wait for Xander "

    At one glance, Val smiled sweetly " I will "

    Kira was stunned at this girl's optimism.

    ' Humph she will get loads of scolding ' she quickly hid her smile and left the lobby to continue her words.

    After two hours of waiting and sitting in the lobby. The elevator opened and four men in black suits walked out speaking in intervals.

    " This Miss Greene is conducting all tough " one said, unrolling the thick file in his hands instantly.

     His following then added, " What if we increased the price?"

    " No "

    Val raised her hair in a dominating voice.

    ' Why is that voice so familiar? '

    She looked up curiously when the fifth man hiked forward in a white suit with diamonds for buttons. He had a great jawline and amazing features, the guy was so graceful, it had her mouth hanging out, gawking at him.

    His eyes were deep-set gray ...lips pink and ink-black shoulder-length hair pushed behind.

    He elegantly ran a hand into his hair.

    " It is her ancestral home so raising the price will not be successful."

    They all seem to ponder on what he said, nodding vigorously.

    " True boss"

    Secretly Val pinched herself clinging to reality. Motionless she said

    " Greetings I am"

    " Who is she? ... If you ask for charity then meet Kira" his words were as sharp as a sword.

    ' What does he mean by charity? '

    Gaining back her senses, she rushed ahead of the men " I am your new secretary"

    A huge smirk spread on his lips making him impossible to resist.

    It took a raised finger from him to get his companions to leave for the elevator.

    His eyes became cold and hollow the moment he noticed they were alone.

    " She sent you to spy on me "

    ' He knows. What should I do now? '

    Val began to twirl her hair thinking of an excuse.

    His gaze deflected to her hair, then her lips.

    ' Why is her fragrance so familiar and her lips look so tasty? Impossible.. it can't be her '

    Xander stared at the girl unraveling her lungs out however he was absent from the conversation. Her lips were moving but he did not get a word.

    " There is only one way to tell " she heard him whisper.

    " Huh? "

    At this moment, he took hold of her neck like he wanted to strangle her.

    " W-what d-did I do? I. I am telling the truth your mother sent me here p-please don't k-kill me "

    His hand spread to the back of her head without taking his glance at her lips.

    In a split second, he had her cornered.

    ' Déjà vu .. '

    Using his hand he locked her arms above her head. Peering into her eyes.

    She was stunned by his finger roaming her lips on his lips.

    Outrage!

    "Is this way you treat your employees, shameless? I will ha... "

    Her words were cut short by a.

    Kiss?

    It was soft and had a familiar flavor to it. When she wanted to react to the kiss, he repelled instantly in disgust.

    Ripping his lips apart, he sprayed a substance into his mouth like a disinfectant.

    " I don't need you as my secretary "

    Val did not expect this, she wiped her lips with the back of her hand in the same disgust she saw in his eyes, this surprised him.

    Although Valeria's face was not darkened she felt insulted. To be kissed by a stranger only to be rejected.

    ' Rubbish '

    She had been through too much shits in T-shirt days to let go without a fight.

    " Listen your mother sent me you can not fire me. She said I should tell you "

    " I am the most influential person in this city. Do you think I would be controlled by my mother?

    This made her speechless.

    ' He was right. Why would he listen to his mother when the city bows at his feet? Rich people and their pride have no manners! '

    Valeria was so angry, she stomped back to the couch.

    " Leave before sunset...for you in good " his voice roared which caused Val to flinch. She was terrified by its intensity yet she pretended to be beyond upset.

    Initially, Valeria wanted to leave but she noticed a big portrait of Mrs. Esme hanging in the lobby. This calmed the fire in her eyes.

    Val reached out for her phone then she thought

    " Mrs. Esme has helped me a lot. I can not even complete this simple task of heat. What would she think of me? " She glared at the portrait and talked in a baby voice. The voice she uses on her little brothers

    " I am doing it because of you "

    His office has a special type of glass which made it impossible for one to watch him from outside but he could see them from inside.

    This girl was sitting comfortably as time passed by playing games on her phone. She seems to be a hard lentil to boil.

    'Let's see how long you will stay there '

    Instantly he pressed some buttons to make a phone call.

    " ... "

    Back at the lobby

    " Bah. Why was I in such haste to come to this grumpy man's building? I would have been watching my k dramas. " Subconsciously her eyes skimmed over the four well-posture-rotating security cameras. To it, she sent out her tongue childishly.

    " Oh no. Now I am hungry " Val patted her tummy squeezing her face.

    In his office, rather than immerse himself in his workload, Xander found himself checking upon this woman every thirty seconds through the monitors in his office.

    " I 2 3.. "

    ' ding ding ' the lunch bell rang.

    Cluelessly Valeria walked towards the railings to a view of people scrambling downstairs. They were being handed food.

    " Break time no-- lunchtime. I am so hungry "

    The four men who were at the meeting with Xander walked out of his office after their meeting.

    " Is it me? Or was the boss not himself today "

    The latter agreed by bobbing.

    " Every minute he checked on his monitors like the meeting was not important. "

    He was watching her every move?

    Val heard this and gleamed within.

    ' Good. He will surely lose'

    " Your food " a man ambled out of the elevator pushing a stroller.

    The men scurried to him and they were attended to.

    In excitement, the food filled the lobby. She bounced towards the caterer.

    " I will have a ... "

    " I am sorry ma'am you were not included. Boss said it was an exclusive employee meal only "

    This immediately brought a dark cloud over her bright face.

    Recalling something. Val reached out to her pocket for the candy bar she always has in there in case she met a kid.

    She peeled it open and took a huge bite mockingly steering the cameras on the wall.

    " "