Chapter 4

4

Jennifer

“Jennifer?” I heard my name and instantly averted my head from the tall man. Thank God, there was Andrea standing, absorbed, witnessing everything going on here. 

“Hey, ah, umm…” I stepped back and still couldn’t find perfect words to rectify the situation. Not wasting any second, I jogged towards her and we started going back to the lift. 

I sensed Andrea coming closer to my ear and whispered, “What was that?” She asked, cluelessly. 

“What?” I moved my mouth but didn’t voice the word. 

We walked inside the lift, “Everything that was going on there,” She stated. Once she observed he wasn’t behind us, her eyes holding sparks. I scoffed at her. The doors of the lift were about to close but a hand stopped them and that same anonymous man went in, making Andrea's eyes wide open. We stepped back and he went inside. 

Andrea gave me weird looks and kept touching me until I gestured to her to stop. 

“Good evening, sir,” Andrea didn’t hold back and called him out. He didn’t move one inch, only hummed. That’s it?

Did this man have no manners? First, he talked rudely to me and now when she called him out, he totally ignored her. He should’ve turned towards her and greeted her back, that’s the basic manner a human learnt from his childhood. 

Andrea looked towards me, embarrassed. I eyed her to stop calling him out again but she was Andrea Romani, a stubborn Italian lady. “How are you, sir? I… I’m a new intern at your company, it’s a pleasure to see you here,” Andrea spoke, her eyes were dripping with cheerfulness, but no one could expect any good from him. He was root-rude. 

“Good.” That’s what he said without even sparing her a glance. 

The lift bell chimed, before he stepped out, “Do me a favour and help your friend buy a phone,” He stated sternly, stiffening us and leaving the elevator, leaving both of us flabbergasted. 

“Yes, sir,” Andrea whispered, but I was sure he didn’t hear it because he was out of the lift, leaving us both in shock.

***

I tried hard to concentrate on my plate but I just couldn’t. My sole focus was now on the tinted windows and a feeling that the tall man was staring at me kept bothering me. I was frustrated over the fact that he talked to me. It would have been better if he had kept quiet. At least, I wouldn’t be feeling negligent and imperfect. 

“Jenny, stop thinking about what happened. We will manage a new phone, don’t overthink about it,” Rory said, gaining my attention. I smiled at him, how sweet of him that he actually cared about my loss. 

“No, I’m not stressing over anything. It’s just about the behaviour that proud man showed us,” I told him, and Andrea rolled her eyes over it. 

“Jen, they’re rich, they don’t care about anyone, it was a blessing if he gave you his office card, you know you can even buy an island with this now,” Andrea bragged about the card thing. Phew. 

“What’s so special about this card? It’s just a plain card with a name written on it,” I said, taking a mouthful of bite. Ah, this dish is heaven to catch in my mouth. 

“It’s not just a card, Jen, you’re so naive. It’s a card of the main heir of the company—didn’t you read the name? Luciano Bernardi, the brain of the company. He is an influential man who blessed you with his gaze. Thank God, he didn’t kill you. I heard so many things about him. People considered him asexual and some even said he was allergic to women—like he hated them,” Andrea exaggerated again. But this time she brought the criminologist within me.

“What do you mean he didn’t kill me?” I lashed out politely, but the irritation inside me became visible the way I spoke. 

“I mean, you really don’t know that he is a mafia man?” She lowly mumbled, looking to her left and right. 

“Mafia?” I raised my eyebrows in bewilderment.  

“Yes, he is considered one of the most ruthless and cruel men,” 

“Don’t try to joke me, Andy. Is he really a mafia man?” I asked, holding my rage back or at least trying hard. 

“Not only a man, a leader,” She enlightened me and I went unresponsive. I apologised to a mafia leader while becoming a criminologist. So spineless of me.