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.
• " "