Chapter 6

His Company

My mind is completely spaced out for the entire drive as we head our way to his office. As I go deep into my thoughts, I realize that I still need to report to Mrs. Salazar's office to inform her about the closed deal. I clear my throat and turn to face Dave. He looks over his shoulder when he notices I was staring at him. I try to find my voice and say to him what concerns me.

“Uh, well, if you don't mind, can we drop by at Mrs. Salazar's office? There's something I need to report to my boss firsthand before we can proceed to this deal. You know, it's part of our protocol.”

“Sure. I have something to talk to her about, too,” he says with a serious tone in his voice.

“Okay.”

We fall into silence after that. I turn to face the car window again. While Dave seems busy on his phone doing some sort of his personal transactions or whatever business people may call it. 

As soon as we arrive at our destination, we both get out of the car almost in sync. The clock reads two in the afternoon so the vicinity looks deserted at the moment. We head our way in and I try to catch his steps. 

“By the way, what do you want to talk to her about?” I ask as soon as we get into the elevator.

His forehead creases as he turns to face me. “Why are you asking?”

I roll my eyes and take a sigh. “Okay. You know what? Whatever.” 

As soon as the elevator chimes, I head out first. “Walk along this hallway and turn left. You'll see the CEO's office next to the lounge,” I say without giving him any glances.

“Then where are you going, Brianna?”

I swing around to look at him with a raised eyebrow. “I'm going to say goodbye to my boyfriend. Why? Do you want to come with me?”

He gives me a serious look on his face as he says, “Ten minutes. After that, see me in Mrs. Salazar's office.”

I no longer respond to his demand and choose to head towards my office. Ten minutes, my ass. How dare he demand a certain amount of time from me! Can't he be any cockier?

Well, it is not true that I'm going to see my boyfriend. Although I may have a so-called fling, I have not met him in person yet since he lives in a different part of the world. The truth is, I’m going to my office to get some valuable things and that's definitely out of his business to know so I have to lie to him. Aside from that, I just hate to be around him so I stay in the office for fifteen minutes, sitting comfortably on my swivel chair thinking about the safest ways to murder him. Well, if only I could, I would. 

Shortly afterward, I finally leave my office and walk towards the CEO's office. 

“Oh, Brii is already here, Mr. El-Greco,” my boss says as soon as she sees me.

“Hi, Ma’am Salazar,” I greet my boss and settle down across Dave, crossing my legs which slightly lifts the hem of my pencil skirt.

“Glad you're already here, Brii,” she says.

I nod at her, expressing my gratitude for acknowledging me. 

“Anyway, I just want to say congratulations, Brianna for the job well done,” she smiles at me then makes glances between us.

“No big deal, Ma’am Salazar,” I give her a smile and turn to face Dave who I catch staring at my thighs. I slightly pull the hem of my skirt down and clear my throat to get his attention. He probably notices that I was looking at him so he takes his eyes off of me— or rather my thighs. What a perverted guy.

“Mr. El-Greco offered some promising proposals which I agreed upon. We have already discussed and made a plan about it a few minutes ago just before you arrived,” my boss tells me. “So, I’d like to inform you that you need to personally manage the deal with Mr. El-Greco’s company. You will be transferred to his field for probably a week or two.”

“W-what? M-may I know why it has to be that long?” I stutter, almost on the verge of making a protest. “Why not just one week? I am confident that I can work on it within a week. I swear it won't take that long to get the job done.”

She lets out a fit of chuckles. “Of course, I know, hija. I know what you're capable of. But the plan has been made now and I already printed your schedule in our system. But you can back out so I can pass the job on to other—”

“No, I'll do it,” I take a heavy sigh. “There's nothing I can do about it anyway.” 

“That is correct,”a thin smile crosses her lips, confirming my statement. She then turns to Dave. “When is she going to start working in your company, Mr. El Greco?”

“She can start by tomorrow, Mrs. Salazar. We have no time to waste.”

I roll my eyes. Damn this bastard. If only I didn't need this job badly, I won't be agreeing to this bullshit for sure. “Okay, tomorrow then. I'll do it.”

“Good, Brianna. I guess you should visit Mr. El-Greco’s company today and take a look. You still have time to—”

“Actually, I am heading to my office today after this meeting so she can come with me later. And you’re right, Mrs. Salazar. She must be able to familiarize the place she'd be working on so that everything will go smoothly. On top of that, she holds a very huge role as a Salazar representative agent so I have a high expectation of her. You see, I am very wary and meticulous regarding this matter but your agent did a great job convincing me to join hands with you. She must be really good, isn't she?” Dave says then turns to look at me.

Really, huh? I did a great job convincing him? He freaking blackmails me to ruin my reputation as an agent so I literally have no choice but to go along with this agreement. How in the world did I convince him? This manipulative bastard!

“Well, that's nice of you Mr. El Greco. I'll make sure joining hands with us would be all worth it,” my boss turns to me with a smile on her face. “I know my agent won't let me down. Can I count on you, Brianna?”

I nod at her. “C-certainly, ma’am. You can count on me,” I say, faking out a smile.

“Goddamn it! Attack! Attack! Shit . . . Yes, I did it!”

I almost jump for joy when I win the trending mobile game that people are going crazy about. I hear someone clearing one's throat beside me and I realize that Dave has been sitting right next to me. I slowly lift my face to face him. He is glaring at me, holding a phone in his hand, obviously doing his business again. I bite my lips in shame. Oh jeez. He must have been watching me all the freaking time. The ground can now swallow me whole. I think I overreacted and I got so fascinated by the game I forgot I was with him.

He murmurs something I hardly understand. He gets out of his car, leaving me behind. That's when I realized that we had arrived at his company. I step out of the car and run towards him, trying to catch his steps.

“Good afternoon, sir.”

Waves of endless greetings meet us the moment we step into the wide hall of the building. The fancy 'El-Greco Incorporated' cut metal sign stands in the middle of the reception. I silently follow behind him until we get into the elevator. The elevator personnel seem to know where he's heading since she presses the floor number without even asking him. I scan my eyes around and I just find out that this elevator is exclusive only for the VIPs of the company.

The elevator halts on the 20th floor. He heads for the exit and I continue to follow behind him without saying any word at all. So far, I am quite impressed here. This doesn't feel like an office but rather a five-star hotel if you ask me.

“Lott—”

The woman on the post stands up to acknowledge him.

“Good day, sir. You're finally here. You've arrived just in time.”

“This is Brianna. Take her to her designated office.”

“Got it, sir.”

“Have you fixed my schedule yet?”

She nods. “Yes, Sir. Your supposed flight for tomorrow has been canceled and moved to Sunday night, seven sharp. I had already printed all the documents you needed. They're on the desk, sir.”

“Good. Also, give Brianna a quick tour around the premises. Then, after the orientation, please guide her to my office.”

“I'll take care of it, sir,”