Chapter 10.— Once upon a time there was an untraditional grandmother…It was mid-July and, unlike in the United States, it was winter in Brazil.The sea breeze was soft and cold at the same time, causing me to shrink into the shelter of my heavy coats. However, not even the cold at its peak made me want to get up from the fluffy sand and run to the shelter of my grandparents' apartment. There, sitting alone with myself and my thoughts calmer, I felt as I had not felt for a long time. In the hustle and bustle of life in Miami, between writing in what little free time I had, working like crazy at the construction company, giving attention to my spoiled ex, and trying to always be available for my, until then, best friends, I almost always forgot myself.Now I was just being me to myself and no one else.In contrast to the calm that accompanied me, there was a dark cloud that tried to break my peace and stir my thoughts once again in an unpleasant way. The offer to be the secretary, his
Chapter 11.— once upon a time the new CEO and the new secretaryMy life has taken a 180-degree turn since I typed that “yes” and sent the positive answer to Miss Vacchiano in a last spurt of courage six months ago. At that moment, despite my fears and countless insecurities about not being good enough, not being able to masterfully execute the bomb that had fallen into my lap, that I held like a teddy bear, I had made it.I had really succeeded!As promised by Miss Vacchiano, Mrs. Wilson stood by my side and taught me everything with extreme patience, care, and mastery in one month. However, I couldn't deny that it was a bit difficult to adjust to my new position, after all, I was out of my comfort zone for the first time. I thought a few times about quitting and going back to my old position at the construction company. It would be easier to just throw it all away, ask to go back to the architecture wing, and give up on my dream of self-publishing my first physical book.‘’ — As cra
Chapter 12.— Once upon a time there was a hot situation…Dear reader, how many years in prison would I get if I put a laxative in that infernal woman's coffee? — Miss Fernandes? — she exclaimed, unnerved, snapping her fingers in front of my face, snapping me out of my dark desires. — Should I get the coffee for myself and my guest?Maybe the laxative wasn't such a bad idea. The problem is that the unfortunate woman would know on the spot that the act was mine.— Obviously not. — I hasten to rebut. — After all, it would be too much trouble for you to go to your private pantry and get two coffees. — I muttered bitterly, blinking my falsely innocent eyes.Veronica raised both eyebrows, recognizing my daily irony, and leaned across the table, her face close to mine. My God! Inevitably, I felt my breath catch in my throat, but I would never lose my balance and allow her to see how she still had the power to mess with my structures.— In fact, today I woke up wanting a traditional coffee
Chapter 13.— Once upon a time the flagrant…What would my answer be?A few seconds had passed since Miss Vacchiano had asked the fatal question. For the Goddess! In the silence that reigned in the CEO's office, it was almost possible to hear the fierce, uncontrolled beating of my heart, which had started beating again. In fact, the only sound that played there was her heavy, rapid breathing, while mine seemed to have been extinguished by her warm touch.— Carina…She sighed my name in a chilling way. I loved to see her angry, as her accent grew heavier and heavier and blended with her English. And now, hearing my name called was like being transported back to the past, more precisely to six months before, when I met her in that bar and hours later we had sex in her apartment.— No, Miss Vacchiano. — I managed to sigh a decent answer in a low voice. — Don't you dare stop, or I will not take responsibility for my next actions. — The words came out of my mouth by themselves.She let out
Chapter 14.— Once upon a time there was a wounded heart…— I thought you quit smoking, Bella. — I whispered, after sitting down in the empty space beside her on a small bench that stood on the balcony of the living room. — The night is beautiful. — I completed with a whisper, losing myself in the sky.When Arabella's parents had given her the apartment as a graduation present from high school and also for the 100% free scholarship she had won to attend medical school, my friend had chosen a quieter, more familiar neighborhood, far enough away from the countless Miami skyscrapers. At the time, she told me that she would like to see the night sky painted with the stars and the moon whenever possible. And that night, the scene above our heads was exactly as she liked it so much.— And I stopped… I just need to relax a little… — Her voice sounded low and thoughtful, after a few seconds of silence between us. — And Catharina? Is she still awake?I laughed softly. Finally, Arabella put out
Chapter 15. — Once upon a time, the unsweet side of cliché… | Currently | I once heard Grandma Manu say something like: since you are in hell, hug the devil. Well, I literally did just that and still had my back pressed against the metal wall by the demon, while my legs were wrapped around his waist and his soft hands were gripping my buttocks extremely tightly. However, my particular demon was not horned, red and with a horrible face. On the contrary, the demon had a beautiful, arrogant smile, eyes as blue as the cloudless sky, locks as golden as gold, and an accent that, countless times, made the hairs on my body stand on end. — You really are a devil, Miss Vacchiano! — I gasped, as her wide, dirty smile became more pronounced. | previously | In 2010, I had just turned 14, and it was also the first time I was introduced to the magical and fantastic world of reading and writing. At that time, I already had my nose stuck in books, although they were only related to school and it
Chapter 16. — Once upon a time, there was a feeling that could not be called jealousy… If there was one thing that was moving me at that moment, it was anger. Ah, My Lady of the Unlucky! There was another feeling lurking around, but I vehemently refused to give in and accept that I was jealous. Rebecca Turner and the demon in high heels had not yet left the office of the being who paid my salary. And the fact that it was almost five o'clock in the afternoon further increased my hatred for myself and half the world. No, obviously it was not jealousy, but the beginning of a heart attack or something. 16: 45. Seeing the time stamp in the bottom corner of the computer was as if something had lit up inside me, at the same time making me almost bury my fingertips in the keyboard as I furiously typed the last report of the day. No, I was not biting with hatred for that tall, blond, hot pest who has fingers and a tongue that should be considered world heritage! I was just curious to know
Chapter 16.— Once upon a time there was a stubborn and wonderful secretary…By Veronica Vacchiano.| six months later |It had been a little more than six months since the “ciliegia dolce” had sent me that simple “yes” by e-mail during her short vacation period that I granted her as a way to make her think more calmly about the proposal of becoming my secretary, my right-hand woman in the construction company. At that time, I was at a dead end and had no time to find someone who might be good enough to replace Mrs. Wilson in the position that had been hers for decades. In the end, I let her find someone who was committed, intelligent, well articulated, a true professional, and most importantly, extremely reliable. So I was totally taken by surprise and unprepared when Miss Fernandes' file was dropped in my lap like a time bomb by Lora Miller, her future former head of the Planning Department.‘’— Really, Miss Miller? — With a raised eyebrow, I frowned and stared at her. — Are you tel