Chapter 6.

Chapter 6.

— Once upon a time, the new CEO…

— Swimming in shit like me. — I wrinkled the tip of my nose, opting for an almost universal truth and putting my suspicion aside for the moment. — And we still have to schedule a time for your dinner with us. — I turned away from our current focus and continued with my miraculous plan.

What could possibly go wrong trying to pair my best friend with my head of planning? In my current “lucky” streak, anything. However, he who laughs last laughs best.

— Yes, of course. — With her cheeks still rosy, she agreed. — However, if it weren't for the betrayal that he doesn't know about, what would be the reason for his resignation? — She returned to her previous focus, purposefully disconfirming.

—Lorenzo said that I would be fired if I broke up with him. — I let out a heavy sigh and ran my fingertips between my eyebrows, where I massaged a wrinkle of concern that wouldn't go away. — Lora, by the end of the day, I'll be out on the street as a son of a bitch. I'm sure I haven't been called to HR and fired yet, because today will be his appointment as the new CEO of the construction company. — I lamented, regretfully, closing my eyes.

I felt like a human wreck. In fact, I was on the verge of exhaustion, both physically and mentally. I had barely slept the entire night, as I was so worried about Arabella and myself. It was only this morning that our paths crossed, but very quickly. She had spent the last few hours locked in her room and had not said a word to me. I understood and respected her moment of silence, for she was quite hurt by Grace's mischief. Besides, there was a rope wrapped around my neck and Lorenzo would be the executioner who would take the final step in ending my career at P. & G. Vacchiano Construction Company.

— I am really screwed. — I opened my eyes.

Son of a bitch!

— Mrs. Eva forgive me, but this guy is a real son of a bitch. — she cursed, irritated.

Quickly, Lora stood up and started spinning in a circle in front of me, almost foaming with rage.

— Carina, I will never allow this to happen. — She stopped walking and looked at me seriously. — You have a bright future in this company and have been my best trainee for the past six years. So don't despair, you certainly won't be fired.

I opened my mouth to answer her, but stopped myself when I heard hurried footsteps coming towards us. I turned my head toward the entrance to the pantry, where Lora's personal assistant appeared in front of us, half disheveled and panting.

— Is there a problem, Brenda? — Lora asked, worriedly, the girl about my age.

— Miss Miller…— She interrupted herself as she noticed the other's disapproving expression. Despite being our boss, Lora was asking us to call her by her name, away from the vultures of the construction company. — Lora, the meeting for the announcement of the new CEO has been brought forward to now. — she said, waving her hands. — We have to go, there are only a few minutes left.

Lora rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.

— Yes, let's go, Brenda. — She turned to me. — Then we can finish this conversation, Carina.

— All right, Lora. — I sighed, defeated.

She just nodded and left, dragging Brenda, who waved goodbye and almost ran after our boss. With no more excuses to remain seated in the pantry, I stood up with my legs still a little shaky and went to the large granite sink, where I poured the forgotten passion fruit juice and washed the glass. I quickly left behind the comfortable, well-decorated space and headed for my future living room. I knew that Lora would intercede for me and confront Lorenzo head on, although I would never allow her to put her job at risk to defend me.

My people, what a mess!

Lorenzo would not hesitate to throw us both out on the street, because not only was he spoiled by his father, but he also thought he was the king in the company. What was I thinking when I agreed to go out with him? At the beginning of our relationship, he was almost a prince in my eyes. Gentlemanly, polite, nice and playful. However, in the following months, I began to notice his character flaws with my co-workers, his subordinates, and countless other people around us.

How foolish I was to think that he would change.

I scolded him a few times and always heard that he would change in response. Foolishly, I believed his words. And no, I didn't relate to him because of his bank account with several positive zeros, but because I enjoyed his company and our ideas were similar to some extent. I didn't fall in love with Lorenzo, either. My biggest mistake was to listen to my neediness, my wounded heart, and my lack of sex since I broke up with my last girlfriend.

Hearing Grace say that an intense passion would make me forget and leave in the past what I felt for Kimberly Morgan was another big shit.

Still, it was Grace who formally introduced me to Lorenzo, after they had done a job together. I hesitated a lot, as I knew whose son he was, and I didn't want to be called a con man in the company by my colleagues. It would be a great disaster to be the target of whispers and mean looks in the corridors. However, I put my reason where the sun doesn't shine and agreed to go out with him on a first date, since my future ex-girlfriend had said that there was nothing wrong with this.

From that moment on, it was just a downhill slide.

— Miss Fernandes? — Soft knocks on the door made me lift my head from the tablet in my hands and look in the same direction. — Good morning, Carina! — wished, Mrs. Marie, the secretary of the former CEO.

Oh, Lord of the poor and unlucky! This is when I would be fired!

— Good morning, Mrs. Wilson. — I smiled yellow. At that moment, I started to break into a cold sweat and my heart began to beat faster. — Is there something I can help you with? — I asked.

— Actually, the new CEO wants to talk to you, Cah.

I rolled my eyes and almost screamed at Jamile, my work friend and classmate, to call 911, because I felt like I was going to have a heart attack in a few minutes. I should have drunk that passion fruit juice and run the risk of becoming diabetic before I was 26, instead of dying now.

— Now? — I was almost literally shaking in my chair.

Mrs. Wilson looked at me with concern.

— Is everything all right, dear?

— Of course … yes?

Obviously, no!

— Right. — She smoothed the frame of his red glasses. — And yes, the new CEO wants to talk to you now. — She smiled, excited. — Shall we? 

So, this is it, dear reader. Once upon a time, my dream job...

— Of course. — I agreed with a thread in my voice.

I saved my work on the tablet and turned the device off immediately. I stood up and smoothed the hem of my new and very expensive dress. Likewise, I had bought it last week and spent a note to wear it to work. I wanted to be more elegant, but in reality I would turn into an unemployed woman with a diploma in her hand within minutes. Fortunately, I had already sent a good number of emails to other employers and would personally deliver them to whoever was hiring in the next few days. 

Although architecture was my great passion, my true love was another, and I would not give it up in the future.

— Are you expecting me for lunch, Jamile? — I asked my friend.

She tilted her head to the side, analyzing me minutely with her dark eyes, but finally nodded.

— Of course, Cah. — She smiled, gently.

I waved my hand, saying goodbye, and escorted Mrs. Wilson out of the room.

— Are you all right, Carina? — insisted Mrs. Wilson, quite worried, as we got into the elevator.

I looked down and swallowed dry the cry that was stuck in my throat. A growing despair bubbled up in my core, leaving me almost emotionally unstable and on the verge of bursting into tears in front of her. My heart was beating so furiously inside my chest that it seemed to drown out any sound around me, as I looked at the numbers on the floors we were passing by.

— Yes. — I whispered, finally, weakly.

I heard her let out a heavy sigh.

— Calm down, Carina, please, yes? — she asked tenderly. — Everything will be fine.

I remained silent and didn't move a single muscle to answer her.

— Let's go! — She continued in the same tone when we reached the top floor and the elevator doors opened. — You can go straight in, Carina. — she instructed, sitting down at her desk. — Just knock on the door, and she'll know you've arrived. 

Had it been any other time, I would have realized immediately that Mrs. Wilson had said the word “she” and not “he''. However, I went over and knocked on the door, entering the next second without waiting for a positive response.

— Veronica? — I whispered, incredulous and frightened, as I entered the airy and quiet room. — What are you doing here?

Comfortable and looking like a sculpture of some lost daughter of the goddess Aphrodite, Veronica Vacchiano was sitting in the ex-CEO's chair with a huge, enigmatic smile on her face as she stared brazenly at me.

— It is a great pleasure to see you again, Carina. — The Italian answered with her heavy accent, causing unwanted waves of goose bumps to run through my body.

Oh, Mother Goddess, what have I gotten myself into this time?