CHAPTER 5

                                                               PREJUDICE

It's been a week since I disagreement with Graziani, I must say we haven't talked to each other except when strictly necessary, yesterday he moved into his new office, unfortunately, it is the closest to mine, we have yet to find an assistant for him because I can't continue sharing Alena, I expect that to be ready today. I'm really annoyed by the familiarity they have with each other and her giggle every time he tells one of his lame jokes.

I reach the office to find a completely deserted floor, I look at my wristwatch and it reads 8:10 in the morning, perhaps there was some apocalyptic event that I didn't even know about? I walk to the kitchen area and I find Maggie, who is very distracted preparing coffee.

“Hello Maggie, thank goodness I see you!”

“Hello, Miss Christie, is something wrong?” she asked, startled.

“No, I was just worried about not seeing anyone.”

“Mr. Felix is in his office, but Miss Alena and Mr. Graziani have not arrived yet.”

“Ah!”

“I will bring you your cup of coffee in a few minutes”

“Thank you Maggie, you're a sweetheart” I get out of the kitchenette and head towards my office, I'm just about to call Alena when the elevator bell rings, the doors open and my dear assistant appears with a silly smile on her face, escorted by Stefunny and... Noooo... No way! both of them have wet hair! maybe if I get a little closer, I could find out if they smell like hotel soap... What are you thinking Christie, is that your problem? No, it's not. So, calm down.

“What time is this to arrive,” I ask with a hint with a certain amount of sarcasm.

“Hi Chris... something very funny happened to me,” says Alena.

“I'm listening to everything.”

“I overslept; would you believe it? I had not even had a chance to blow dry my hair” well, that would justify the damp hair, but what about him? “So then when I went to start my car and nothing happened, it was totally dead, and Stefano volunteered to pick me up”

-Oh, how charming! Savior of damsels in distress- I reply sarcastically- I'll wait for you in my office, we have a lot of work to do- I turn around angrily and leave. I slam the door, throw my bag on the armchair in the corner -What the hell do they think, that I'm stupid? Why would I even be upset?  It's up to them what they do outside the office, yes, but she is my best friend and he is a... a bastard.

“If I had known you would be so angry because I was a few minutes late for the first time in the two years since I started working for you, I would have called you,” she says as she enters my office, visibly upset.

“It's not that you're late, it's that you arrive with him and both of you with wet hair, isn't it suspicious? I wouldn't be surprised if...”

“What?”

“If you both smelled like hotel soap!”

“Ah,” he gasps, damn! Me and my big mouth

“I… I never would have thought that you would… dare to doubt me.”

“I...” she raises her hand as a sign that I must remain silent.

“Don't worry Miss Swan, it won't be another inconvenience as the one from moments ago, today you have...”

“Al...” she ignores me and continues reading my agenda for the day.

“Lunch with the heads of departments, at 2:00 p.m. interviews with the aspirants for Mr. Graziani's Assistant, for tomorrow evening you have a dinner with the bank's managers and you must bring your new business associate with you. If there is nothing else, I will leave.”

“Alena...” I say as she is about to open the door.

“Yes?” she asks not even turning around.

“Nothing,” I reply regretfully and she leaves the office.

You've gone way too far Christie Swan! How dare you to doubt your friend like that? Are you upset by the idea of her having communication or anything to do with Stefano Graziani? I mentally scold myself as I regret from the bottom of my heart for hurting my friend. Do I even like that man?

“Eeewwww... No! How can I even think such a thing, am I insane?” I let myself fall heavily on the chair back, I screwed it up too badly, I admit it.  I have to do something to win her forgiveness. Before I even begin to do my duties, I open the internet browser and purchase two VIP tickets for the Lion King Musical, it is her favorite, I have lost count on how many times she has made me see it, but it does make her happy, I request to have it sent to the office on her name at 10:00 am. Quickly I search for the number of the nearest florist shop and call it from my cell phone.

“Good morning Magnolia Florist.”

“Good morning! I want to order a flower bouquet with a dozen of sunflowers and roses, I would like it with a balloon which says forgive me and also a box of chocolates, the kind that is filled with hazelnut spread. I need it to be delivered at 10:00 am sharp at the Sky Building on the 42nd floor, and please take a note of what I would like the card to say:

Dear Best Friend,

I know I screwed up big time and I made a huge mistake.

I acted like an absolute idiot.

Please forgive me.

Chris.”

“All right, you'll get what you ordered at the designated time.”

“Thank you,” I say ending the call, I really hope Alena will forgive me and I haven't caused an irreparable damage between us.

***

My office door bursts open, startling the hell out of me.

“If you were thinking I was going to forgive you so easily just because you sent me some nice flowers with a little note, along with chocolates and tickets to The Lion King Musical, well...” a huge lump settles in my throat, “you have earned my forgiveness. I can't say no to the Lion King and you know it.”

“I'm really sorry Al” I stand up and open my arms, she rushes to me and hugs me tightly “I apologize for being too harsh with my words, it's just… all that has to do with this man upsets me so much and seeing you so giggly with him, annoys me.”

“I wonder if you have a thing for Stefano Graziani?”

“Ha! Not at all, I hate him.”

“My grandmother always said that from hate to love there is one step.”

“Well, between us there is not a step but an abyss,” I say, putting the issue to rest.

A few hours later, my relationship with Alena is back to normal, I was unable to escape, so I will have to go to the musical this weekend. Now I am in the boardroom interviewing the candidates for personal assistant, up to now we have three prospects, two girls and a guy, whom apart from being a hottie, has good references.

“Why is it so hard to find an assistant? Am I being too demanding,” Stefano mutters.

“No, you're not being picky, sometimes people think lying on their resumes is a good idea. Besides, you have three potential candidates and they seem to be great.”

“That young man is out of the question” says Stefano sharply.

“Why?”

“I don't want a man running behind me or handling my day-to-day business.”

“As you wish, after all, at the end of the day she will be under your command” I tell him trying to sound casual but inwardly I cry.

“The last candidate for the afternoon is Renatta Lambert, I must warn you she is a bit... how to say it... it is better if you see it for yourselves” Alena informs us. She is a tall and slim girl, wrapped in a neon pink mini dress, with a white wide belt, some platform shoes in the same color of the belt, her platinum blonde hair which almost reaches her waist she wears it in waves, she carries a handbag on her shoulder in the same tone of the dress.

“Howdy!, my name is Renatta, but you can call me Reni hehe” and then I hear the silliest laughter in the world “Here is my resume” she hands me a pink folder, Elle Woods, is that you? I can't help but turn to my side and see Stefano suppressing the urge to laugh, while Alena does it discreetly with her hand on her mouth.

“Tell us, Miss, do you have any experience as a personal assistant,” he asks after clearing his throat.

“Well, experience as in experience, no” Ah? “I saw the ad in the newspaper and I said to myself why not, let's give it a try,” once again I look at Stefano and by his expression, I think we are on the same wavelength.

“We'll call you back.”

“Hired” he says at the very same time as me.

“What?” I ask with no filter as the aspirant shouts a loud ‘yaaayyy’ clapping her hands “Would you mind waiting outside for a moment, please? Alena, please, escort the lady” she nods as they both leave the office “Are you out of your mind?”

“What's your problem? Why can't I hire her,” he says very amusedly.

“Please Graziani, how can you possibly do that? Obviously, that girl has no idea where she is standing, let alone the responsibilities that come with the position.”

“Well, I want to hire her,” he folds his arms on his chest and gives me a big smile.

“You're doing it on purpose,” it was more of a statement than a question.

“You can take it how you want” He answers as if it were nothing.

“Very well Stefunny, it will be done as you wish, I hope you don't regret the decision you have just made. And please tell her to come with a decent outfit by tomorrow,” I get up angrily from my chair and leave the meeting room while he laughs loudly. We'll see how it goes.