Chapter 10: Accepting the challenge.

Nadia's POV.

Did I reject the job? No.

Did Miranda's threats make me scared?

No.

Did I give a single fuck about her lousy threats? Still no.

Did I resume work the next Monday?

Absolutely yes.

Mom said it was a bizarre idea when I told her, but after giving some minutes to think about it, she totally agreed to my plan: get into the Deluca Empire, get to find out secrets about Mr. Albert Deluca, and then ruin him, slowly and steadily, until there was nothing left for him to fall back onto.

It was that easy... Well, I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was in for it.

"I haven't seen you for up to a month. Your mum keeps making excuses.

The last time she said you traveled to buy curly flowers.

Really? Curly flowers?"

I glanced at the girl talking but quickly averted my gaze.

"And now I hear out of nowhere that you have got a job in the Deluca Empire.

Smack me by the face.

What the hell is going on, Nadia?"

Steph, my best friend, queried as she watched me do my makeup.

It had been so long since I did proper makeup.

Applying blush felt like I was performing a blood ritual.

"I know, right..." I tried to say casually, an attempt to avoid the question of why I had been unavailable.

"I'm pretty excited too.

The Deluca Empire is a whole lot of big deal."

I said as I tinted my already lined lips with a shade of nude lipstick.

"How?

When?

Where?

When did you go for the interview? How did you go for the interview? What happened after the interview?

I have heard a lot of crazy things about the Deluca Empire and how difficult it is to secure a job in one of their companies."

She exhausted her breath but took in another long one.

"You literally have to have money to work there, and we're both broke, and we don't know anyone influential."

I chuckled at this sentence.

I knew someone influential. I knew Jeremy.

There was that.

"So tell me, how did you get a job at one of the Deluca companies?

I feel like you're hiding something away from me, Nadi. Tell me, we are friends, we are best friends for crying out loud."

She pressed on, her persistence making my skin itch.

"My dad has been sick, Steph, you know that.

I have been working my ass off to make ends meet.

Mom has been trying to, but the hustle hasn't been easy."

I finished my makeup and put on my silver earrings.

"So, I decided to give it a shot.

I'm qualified after all, so I went for an interview, and ta-da!

I have a job now."

I lied through my teeth as I got up from the dressing table and reached out to my bag beside the mirror.

"That easily? I just feel a pinch of worry for you, Nadi.

I hope you're telling the truth, and I hope you're fine."

She pouted, and I turned to face her.

"I'm fine, okay?

You should be happy for me.

My life has taken a good turn and at least I'll be able to get you a designer bag for your birthday." I said, and she managed to smile.

Since Dad fell sick, I had literally lost my personal life, maybe my personality.

I didn't have time for my friends anymore.

I couldn't see them.

I couldn't discuss it with them.

I couldn't tell them things that were bothering me. I couldn't tell them how difficult it was to be a boy in the midst of men, where I was clearly a female, screaming to be heard.

I couldn't tell them how disheartening it was to know that the only man in the hockey team who knew my secrets was the son of my father's betrayer.

How could I tell her?

I could tell no one, so I just kept it to myself, deep within my chest.

***

When the taxi stopped in front of the huge building, I was hesitant to get off.

C'mon, Nadia.

You accepted the job of your own free will, then why scared now?

"Argh..." I groaned as I took off my seatbelt.

Paying the cab fare, I stepped out and the city's breeze swept through my hair, bringing it across my face.

I should have worn my hair up.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the building, my white dress clinging to my body comfortably.

"Hello," I greeted as soon as I got to the receptionist stand.

"Hey, good day, how may I help you?" she asked with a smile, and I swallowed the air clustered in my mouth.

"I'm Nadia Smith, a newly appointed staff member of the marketing department," I introduced, opening my bag.

"I was appointed by Mr. Albert Deluca, and I'm here to start work, prior to his instructions."

I pulled out a file and handed it to her.

I bit on my lower lip as I impatiently watched her flip through the pages.

"Oh... I see," she mumbled as she closed the document.

"We have been awaiting you, Miss Smith.

Mr. Deluca's instructions reached here even before you did, and your office is ready for you."

She affirmed, and I couldn't help but smile.

"You will have to take the elevator to go to the fourth floor, the marketing department hall is situated right there," she instructed, pointing to the elevator, and I nodded as I forced the file back into my bag.

"When you get to the hall, ask for Ms. Mandy, she will get you settled in," she explained further, and my gaze returned to her.

"Thank you..." I trailed off into the elevator, my mind sprinkled with a bit of excitement.

I got to the fourth floor as my wide eyes scanned the doors of offices, looking for the inscription "Ms. Mandy."

When I finally found it, I let out a breath of relief.

"So I see, you're the smart and witty marketing strategist the marketing board said Mr. Deluca was talking about," the middle-aged lady sitting at the far end of the large office said after minutes of silence, and I stuttered a reply.

"Yes... I'm the new marketing strategist," I confirmed, feeling a bit of pride in the title.

"That's great, isn't it, but..."

But?

I had stood in her damn office for more than thirty minutes without her sparing me even a glance.

Now she finally did, and she's saying but?

"You didn't go through an interview nor a proper process of employee recruitment."

Interview?

What was she on about?

"So for that reason, you won't attain the position of Senior Marketing Strategist. Instead, you'll be an intern to one of the marketing and advertisement staff."

She said, and my eyes narrowed, my eyebrows arched.

What, an intern?

"No, no, no, you must be mistaken.

Mr. Deluca, he himself, ordered that I become the marketing strategist. There must be a mistake somewhere," I mumbled, holding tightly onto my bag, which was beginning to seem heavier on my arm.

"There is no mistake anywhere, girly.

Mr. Silas passed the instruction, and you are going to abide by it," she said with indifference.

Silas?

He had a say?

"The intern rule has been fixed for you, and you have no other option than to accept it."

She concluded and cast her full attention on me, her sagging eyebags causing me to swallow hard.