Chapter Six

The call ended, and Lina was already grinning.

“Damn, he has a nice voice,” she said dreamily, tossing Kara’s phone onto the couch.

But Kara didn’t smile. She was deep in thought. Lina caught the shift in her mood and tilted her head.

“What’s wrong? Is it about the job?”

“No, it’s not that,” she answered quickly, lowering herself onto the couch. “When my things fell that day… I only remember my phone… and my heels slipping out. That’s it. Nothing else.”

She glanced up to meet Lina’s eyes, who was frowning now.

“Okay… and?” she asked slowly.

Kara exhaled sharply. “Lina, think about it. First, he finds out where I live. Then somehow convinces me to call him. And now, out of nowhere… a PA job?”

Lina still didn’t get it.

“We literally googled him. He’s one of the top CEOs in the country. Powerful people can pull strings.”

“I’m not done,” Kara cut in, “The first time he saw me, he called me Emilia. And today… he did it again. What if he’s not actually seeing me? I mean, what if he thinks I’m someone else? What if he’s only helping because… because he believes I’m her?”

Lina just shrugged. “So what? Who the hell cares? Look, babe, all that matters is… you’ve got an Italian CEO with fine taste who tracked you down and offered you a job. A real job. Like, hello? Opportunities!” She gave a sly grin, winking.

Kara narrowed her eyes, longer then smacked her shoulder.

“Ow! What was that for?” She winced.

“You know exactly why. You’re only hyping this because of that guy — the one who delivered the envelope.”

“That’s not true.” Lina said, standing up already.

“Girl, I know you like I know the back of my hand. You don’t do favors unless there’s something in it for you.”

She groaned and covered her ears. “I’m not hearing this…”

“Well, I could help you get close to him once I get the job.” Kara offered, crossing her arms.

Lina turned around fast. “For real?”

“Yup. On one condition.”

Lina’s brows raised in suspicious, “And.. what's that?”

“You pay the full rent.”

Lina’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve got to be fvcking kidding me.”

“Are you in or not?”

“You’re acting all cocky now after I helped you call your knight in shining armor?”

“Fine. You win. But right now, I've got no money. I'll pay you back.”

She huffed, looking away.

“So?” Kara pressed. “Deal?”

“Fine. But you’ve got one week to get me his number.”

She grinned. “Deal, baby girl!”

They laughed and she jumped onto Lina’s back playfully. For a moment, things felt normal again.

“Looks like we are about to upgrade our relationship status,” Lina teased as they started clearing the dining table.

“Maybe you. Not me.”

“Why not?”

“He can’t date me.”

“Oh, come on. The guy’s gorgeous.”

“I never said he wasn’t,” Kara countered, grabbing plates. “I just don’t see it happening. I mean… ugh.” She let out a tired sigh. “You’re starting to put all these weird ideas in my head. He didn’t even ask me out.”

“Yet,” Lina added with a mischievous grin.

Kara rolled her eyes, biting down a smile. Men weren’t her goal right now. Only money was. In the middle of their clean up, she received his message.