Chapter 2

CHARLOTTA 

I wanted to look professional for my new mission today, so I slipped into corporate wear, a white long-sleeved shirt and a short black skirt, with corporate black shoes. I pulled out my phone and quickly ordered a ride. Before leaving, I grabbed a scrap of paper with the address of LOTEX Group scribbled on it and stuffed it into my purse. 

My Uber arrived within minutes, and I stepped into the backseat. We drove away from my apartment, as my mind raced thinking about Bruce Moore, what he was like and what the interview would entail. I tried to focus instead on the sights of the beautiful city of LA. The traffic was light, and we made quick progress towards my destination. As we arrived at the LOTEX Group building, I began to feel a flutter of nerves in my stomach but I tried to steel myself to be confident before stepping out. 

Once outside, I glanced at the magnificent skyscraper building that towered above the street, stretching down the block. The black glass reflected the sunlight, creating a blinding glare that made it hard to look directly at the structure. A monolithic sign hung over the entrance, with bold inscription of the word LOTEX. 

I looked around, taking in the scene, and I could see a line of people, dressed in all manner of clothing, from business suits to casual wear going about their business. I adjusted my skirt, pulling it down to my knee. I was going to apply for a secretary position, not as a seductress, so I needed to look decent. 

My hair was tied back in a ponytail, and I was wearing light makeup with red lipstick painting my lips to look different. I wondered if anyone would recognize me, not that I hoped they would. I tried not to think about it too much. A notification beep sounded, and I looked at the screen on my phone. It was a text message, verifying that I had an arranged meeting for an interview by 9:00, and it was already 8:45.

Cool breeze tickled my cheeks, reminding me to inhale and exhale which I calmly did. Stepping inside, a blonde woman, who appears to be in her mid twenties, was sitting at the receptionist desk, her chin-length hair was styled in a bob, and her tailored business suit was the perfect balance of femininity. She welcomed me with a smile. The way she greeted me, I could tell that she was someone who took passion in her work, and I was looking forward to getting to know a lot about her.

“My name is Mary Anderson, and I am here for the job interview scheduled at 9:00 AM with the CEO," I lied, my voice a little above a whisper.

"Right that way, ma'am. The exclusive suite is on the top floor," she replied while pointing me to the elevator. I envied her professionalism. I knew that I could never be anything like her. I was a girl who hooked up with random men for change and here I was on another mission to hook up with a man I don't even know or seen before.

Prior to every mission, I did research on the target I was supposed to hit but this time everything happened so quickly that I didn't have time to look him up. What if my impression of him was wrong? Perhaps I wasn't ready for this, after all. "Thank you," I murmured softly as I stepped into the elevator.

"Good luck," she had said. Her words gave me a jolt of confidence, and I straightened my shoulders as the elevator began ascending to the exclusive suite. The doors slid open, revealing a long hallway lined with dozens of doors. I followed the signs until I reached the door marked "CEO".

I took an in-depth breath to soothe my racing thoughts, before pressing the bottom. A voice in my head dubbed me for even wondering about offending someone I didn't even know. I counted for a few seconds before entering.

Inside the office my eyes were drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows, their tinted glass framing a breathtaking view of the city below. I noticed how pristine the room was, from the spotless surfaces to the gleaming, richly-colored tiles underfoot. In the center of the room, was a desk with a glass surface and an office chair with the name Bruce Moore stamped on it. Near the door, four snowy-white sofas were arranged for visitors to sit and relax. 

In front of the desk, was a plush tuffet like those in the waiting hall outside the office, this was the place for the candidates. I approached it, but my feet froze a step away when I figured that I was the only person in the room. 

I darted my eyes across the office searching for Bruce, the CEO of LOTEX, but he was nowhere to be found. I hesitated, unsure if I should stay or leave when the sound of a door slamming made me jump, and I turned in surprise to see the most handsome man standing in the doorway. He looked a bit topsy-turvy, his hair dark and his shirt half-tucked into his trousers. He seemed as surprised to see me as I was to see him and for a moment, neither of us spoke. 

His intoxicating scent, added with the tension building in my chest left me feeling completely out of control. I couldn't help but stare into his eyes, which seemed to be the color of the deepest sea. I could get lost in them for hours, for all I care. I tried to focus on the situation at hand, but it was hard to keep my thoughts from wandering. 

“Good morning," I muttered, trying to sound as confident as possible, despite the butterflies in my stomach. He finally seemed to snap out of his own trance, but the cold look on his face remained unchanged. He came so close that I could feel his breath on my face, his eyes trained on my lips, tinted red with lipstick. I wasn't sure if I should back away or stand my ground. I was trying to appear calm, but inside, my heart was somersaulting. 

“Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked in a harsh manner, as his gazes went across to my bubbly breasts, hardly covered by my shirt.