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CHAPTER I

CHAPTER ONE

 

"I loved you for a thousand years and missed you in all of them."

― Christina Strigas, Love & Vodka: a book of poetry for glass hearts

 

TWO YEARS LATER ~

 

The employees chattered loudly while they enthusiastically awaited the arrival of their new boss. They were very thrilled to meet this new female boss as the rumor has it that the new CEO of this small branch of TO International is the daughter of the former chief executive officer of the company, which meant that the company will finally take care of this small branch and increase its production rate, which simply meant: more money and better salaries.

The employees heard the sound of the elevator moving towards them, approaching like a hawk, and their heartbeat began to race as they hit the culmination point of their enthusiasm, and fear for their future. For, this either meant a better future or a worse one. There was nothing in between, and they knew it.

Suddenly, the elevator stopped, opened, and there was dead silence sweeping over the room along with the sound of high heels clicking against the floors-- all mingled with the waft of an expensive women's perfume, the price of which was equal to the price of some people's apartment rent.

She stood in front of them with charisma that attracted everyone's attention, then spoke in a voice full of confidence, yet managed to maintain its sweet kindness as she said, "Hello, I am Valentina, the new CEO, and it is an honor to meet all of you, and get to know you. I hope that we will work together diligently, hand in hand, for the future of TO International, and for the sake of this branch, we want to promote its condition to become like the rest of the branches. I want you to believe that there is no certain secret to success," She took a small pause as she looked around her at the strange faces before carrying on, "for, success is only a result of preparation, practice, hard work, and learning from failures. "

Valentina made a slight bend of her head in gratitude in the midst of the employees' applause, and the words of praise that rained down on her. Everyone seemed optimistic about their professional future after those few words she uttered. The new president won the approval of all employees almost instantly, especially men. After all, nothing arouses admiration more than a strong and beautiful woman who is well aware of what is going on in the surrounding environment, does it not?

No, it doesn't. Especially not to him.

There, far among the happy and cheering crowd, he stood glaring with a scowl on his face.

He was looking at her from afar whilst sweating from the horror of the sudden shock that had befallen him upon her arrival, to the point that he started trembling out of rage.

Unable to control his nerves or move his body, he blinked his eyes quickly, in hopes that she would disappear or at least just turn into a resemblance of a woman of the girl he once knew.

Fear, anger, and hate were all feelings that swept over Dean's body like a tornado and it made him lose his sense of those around him because, at that very moment, she was the only one he saw. He grasped his right palm so violently that his nails began to hurt the flesh of his hand, trying to control his body as he whispered under his breath, "Bloody hell!"

The fact that she had the nerve not only to show up in front of him after all these years but to have the audacity to think that now he was supposed to work under her mercy, no less than a personal assistant, made him seethe with rage. "I will see this face of hers from the start of my day to its end," He passed his hand through his dark hair in anger, "But no, I will not allow a which like herself to seize my golden opportunity at work here, there must be some solution to get rid of a mental case like herself without harming my future." He thought to himself.

"So where is my new assistant? Is he not present today?" Valentina asked the crowd in puzzlement since her assistant was supposed to be one of the first people to meet her at the airport; and also because her entire agenda was with him, and she needed to start planning and working as soon as possible.

Confused, everyone began to look around with worry, they could swear that Dean had been standing next to them only a few moments before and now he was nowhere to be seen until his friend John spotted him heading to the hallway exit, away from the people's eyes.

John moved towards his friend, whispering the dirtiest insults an ear could ever hear.

He looked directly into his friend's eyes, his blood running with rage, as he whisper-shouted at Dean: "Are you crazy? Do you want to lose your job? You were supposed to wait for her at the airport before she even landed in Seattle, but instead, you did not welcome her even after she arrived. You amaze me, Edgar!"

"I'm sorry John, but I don't feel well. In fact, I want to ask permission to leave," He said, avoiding his friend's gaze, since controlling himself had become more difficult with each passing minute he was in that bloody room with her.

Pressing his forehead with his fingertips, he sighed and his friend continued, "At least welcome her before you go. You don't want the new president of the branch to make a bad impression on you on her first day here, do you?" He tried to encourage Dean with a sincere smile as he continued, "Who would have believed that Valentina would become our boss one day? Are we not so lucky?"

Dean's eyes darkened as the words of his friend ran through his mind before he said with a poker face and an emotionless voice, "You are right, I must give her a good impression."

John didn't like his friend's unenthusiastic response, but before he had a chance to comment, Dean had already begun walking towards the commotion, heading towards Valentina.

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