Chapter Six

Lisa was sitting on her desk when the telephone rang.

"Hello"

"Come to my office now"

Lisa rolled her eyes, so much for having a boss. Lucio was sweet to her at times but he was equally annoying and all. There are times she wanted to do a lot of things but then he would stop her. Sometimes he was overly demanding and nagged a lot like a woman. She was complaining but she wasn't the only one who was complaining about the rich arrogant man. 

Though most people complained about him, some also wanted to be close to him. He was a handsome man and was popular among the ladies that was why his mother wanted him to get married as quickly as possible. She wanted Sophia, a woman who was of her clime and caliber.

"Yes Mr. Delevonte"

Lucio glared at her, he already warned her to drop the formalities when they were together but Lisa wouldn't do that. Lucio was her boss and the last thing she wanted was to be the topic of discussion for her colleagues. They loved to gossip, especially the women in the kitchen. They would pretend to be diligent in serving meals but then they only spent their day, going around looking for stories to tell and all.

"Call me Lucio, I already warned you Lisa"

"And I already told you that it won't be possible. You are my boss and I'm your assistant"

"Secretary"

"What's the difference?" Lisa was one of those few women who didn't hesitate to put the annoying Man in his place whenever it was necessary. She didn't hide her emotions as well as her words. Lucio may be her boss but she doesn't fear him at all. She wasn't even scared of what he might do to her, she was going to put him in his place anytime, anyday.

"I'm not about to fight with you"

"It wasn't a fight Mr. Delevonte"

"Fine suit yourself but don't say I didn't tell you not to call me that'

Lisa moved towards the seat. "do you know what people are gonna say when they hear that I call you Lucio"

"You still care about what people would say"

"Yes I do. I honestly care about what people think. I don't want to hurt my emotion"

"Your emotions will only be hurt when you start giving a shit about people"

"What do you want me to do? Delevonte?" Lisa was already bored of the conversation and wanted to leave. She had a lot of work to do and there was also this date with Mike.

"Is about my mother" Lucio was careful, the last thing he wanted was to hurt her. He wanted to protect her, that was why he took her away and now she was his.

"What about her?"

"I'd like to apologize about her manners"

"Is alright, she was just looking out for her son"

"Or being unbearable," Lucio smiled. This was what he loved about her, despite anything, Lisa was the kind of person who was quick to forgive and would never hold anything against anyone.

"How do I make it up to you?"

"You don't have to"

"Think Lisa, you must want something"

Lisa feigned to be In thought. She already had in mind what she wanted but wasn't sure Lucio granted her requests. There was no harm in trying and so she was going to try harder.

"Well I do want something from you"

"What is it?"

"I want to get off work quickly"

"Why is that? Are you sick? Do you want to head to the clinic? Do you need anything? Are you hungry or anything?"

"No Lucio I'm not"

She had not realized that she just called him by his name but he realized that and so grinned as if he just won a competition.

"What's with the grin?"

"You just called me Lucio"

She laughed as well. Sometimes Lucio acted like a child more than he acted like her boss. But it was only with her, No one has seen that side of him, not even his mother. Back home, he was this hard son who was difficult to reach and at work. Everyone saw him as the over demanding boss. No one has seen him smile like a baby, not even with David has he been this soft. 

The other person who has seen this side of him was Sophia and Jason. Jason was his roommate so it was only common, he knows all sides of him and with Sophia, Lucio was trying to make her love him. He would try to be funny and sometimes act so masculine and feminine just to make her smile but Sophia just wanted other things. 

Something about Lisa brought out a lot in him, he wanted to be with her and make her smile. There was also this thing that made him want to be close to her.

"You are such a baby sometimes"

"Only when it comes to you"

"I get it" She rolled her eyes. Lucio always tells her that but Lisa doesn't want to believe those words he said. She was off limits and not in the Same social status with him. Aside from the rich women in the cover of the magazine, Valerie was also one of the women who was in the same league with him. A woman who would be more pleasing to him and approved by his mother.

"What Is it you wanted to ask?"

"Is about tonight"

"What's happening tonight? Did my mother put you up to this?"

"No" Lisa wasn't sure they were on the same page.

"Good. Then what is it? I'm sure I will say yes"

"Can I get off work early?"

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"I have this thing I have to do"

"This thing? What is that thing" Lucio was throwing a suspicious look at her. He overheard her the other night talking with someone over the phone. Though he couldn't make out who was on the other end, Lucio was certain she was talking with a man. Her giggling and squealing sold her out and that made him pissed off but he knows better than to stay within limits. Lisa was not his wife nor his girlfriend, she was his assistant, she wasn't just the ordinary assistant. 

He assigned her with the special duty and in exchange that he would use his influence to protect her from those trying to use her as a lab rat. He has managed to pay them off and was sure they would not be hearing from them anytime soon.

"So what's that thing you have called"

"Mike asked me out to this movie, is showing everywhere in the cinema, you should have seen it"

"I haven't" Lucio had a lot of work at the office and didn't have time for pleasure. The only time he had, he would stay locked in his room reading a book or working out in his gym room. 

Another thing that made him not to give attention to billboard's and movie gossip was because he hated going to the cinemas. It reminded him of his past with Sophia and he wanted to forget all about it. 

The last time he had bought tickets to the movie, she had left him to use the restroom and he had thought she was taking so long because of the cue but that wasn't it. Sophia was making out with some guy, Lucio didn't know. Though he didn't see her, her lipstick was smudged when she returned and her hair was looking like she had been kissing for a long time. 

Lucio didn't bother asking her about it so as not piss her off and she would end up breaking up with him. He was madly in love with her and avoided anything that would lead to their breakup. Sophia would still try and piss him off, provoking him into doing or saying something that would make him hurt her so she would break up with him. 

"Is a new movie and I just want to watch it"

"With him?" He added as if it was going to make a difference.

"Yes with him"

"Where did you meet this Mike?"

Lisa wasn't looking for a Q and A session. She understood fully that she needed his protection as well but Cape Dominic swore not to ever return and he wasn't going to return. That was something she was sure about. They always kept to their words.

"In this site"

"A dating site" His eyes widened. She went to a dating site without his consent.

"Why would you sign up to a dating site without my consent?"

"Because… Because I wanted to get to meet people"

"You wanted to have sex with him" He was furious. The thought of Lisa with another woman made his blood boil and he didn't want that.

"No I don't want to have sex with him, what are you talking about?"

"Then what are you talking About? You want to meet a stranger you know nothing about"

"I know Mike, he's not a stranger"

"Have you met him? He could be a serial killer or psychopath"

"He's not!"

"How are you so sure?"

"I am sure about it all and beside he is my schoolmates from college"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes I saw him and that was why we started chatting. I recognised him, he may be all beard now but he's still the same Mike that I know" she smiled sheepishly 

Lucio glared at her. "Did you date him? Is he your ex?"

"No he isn't my ex"

"Alright but you can't go"

Lisa's eyes widened. Lucio wasn't trying to stop her from going on a date with Mike was he? She had thought about this night over in her head. Lisa had booked appointments in the salon and at the spa. She wanted to look stunning tonight. Mike was one of the notorious boys in college, he had the hots and so lots of women were always around him. 

Lisa didn't notice him even though they were in the same classes but Mike noticed the quiet Lisa who loves to sit in front of the class. She was always the professor's favorite and made the top of her class. Though she had to apply for a withdrawal at some point and Mike graduated ahead of her. He never forgot her face. He was in love with her back then and always wanted them to meet again but that didn't happen after many years.

When he saw her profile pop up, he was quick to send a request. He chatted her up and she quickly responded. Lisa recognised him as well.

"Why can't I go?"

"I already told you that you can't go, do I need to give you a reason?"

"Yes Lucio. I can't be having only you around all the time. This a new town"

"Exactly this isn't some jungle. This is New York, the city of life and death. Ever been to New York?"

"Yes you idiot, wasn't born in the jungle you know" She admits.

Lisa was livid, she had not liked him indicating that she hadn't been to New York. They may be from different social status but this was where she completed her education. She moved away from New York after her graduation from the university. Lisa wasn't up in the big city and so she optioned to move miles away back to her small town where she grew up. 

"I didn't mean it that way"

"How exactly did you mean it?"

"You know what I meant. New York isn't a place to moving around without destinations and I don't know this Mike"

"Come along with me if you don't trust that I can handle myself"

"I trust you, is him I don't trust"

"I know you do that's why I'm giving you a chance to come with me"

"A third wheel is what I cannot be and besides I have dinner with my mom at home. Promised her I will be there so I want to keep to my word.