Chapter 9

CHLOE DUARTE

"Oh Chloe! Don't cry honey, we miss you too, but you don't have to worry about us, it's your dream and your life daughter. Enjoy it!"

"I love you guys!", I say followed by a sob.

"We love you too, baby!", I smile when I hear my father's shout and soon his face appears on the screen.

"And don't hold back, show this boss of yours what our daughter is capable of!"

"Please take care of yourselves...", I turn off the notebook and dry my eyes, trying to pull myself together.

A call to my parents is always like this, either I cry or they cry, and one of us always ends up giving in to our emotions.

I lie down clutching the pillow and hugging it with all my strength, trying not to cry again, but it is impossible, the homesickness I feel is surreal.

The next day I woke up earlier than usual, jump out of bed and run to the shower, I don't know what it is, but I am more excited for my first day in my new function.

With a wet body and hair covered by two towels I go through my closet wondering what to wear, I think I should wear more formal clothes since I noticed that on the top floor, people behave differently.

Deciding not to waste any more time, I put on a tight black pencil skirt, a white blouse, and a suit that matches the skirt. I stand in front of the mirror and tie my hair up into a high, elegant bun, take out my necessaire, and apply basic but pretty make-up.

When I finish getting ready I smile in front of the mirror observing my appearance and liking the result, I put on my pair of black heels, put my cell phone in my purse and go to the kitchen for breakfast.

Half an hour later I find myself passing through the company hallway with my heart racing, my heels echoing on the marble floor as several looks are locked on me, I put a confident smile on my face as I approach the reception desk and as I see me I see Samanta's green eyes widen.

"Holy crap!", she exclaims but puts her hand over her mouth when some people stare at her.

"Do you think this outfit is appropriate?", I ask, turning around.

"My God! You look so hot, my friend! You'll have Mr. Colucci on his feet in no time if you keep this up.", She smiles mischievously, but I tap her on the shoulder.

"Stop it, crazy! Do you know if Matt's here yet? I wanted to stop by before going to the top floor."

"Sure, he arrived about ten minutes ago!", she says looking at the clock.

"Okay, see you at lunch!", I kiss her cheek.

"All right, just try not to get fired for swearing at your boss...", she says softly, laughing and making me snort.

When I get out of the elevator on my old floor, I find Matt concentrating on his computer screen, I approach slowly realizing that he hasn't noticed my presence yet and I use that to my advantage when I whisper in his ear:

" Watching porn during working hours is wrong, you know?", he jumps out of his chair looking at me with his hand on his heart and a smile on his face.

"I was just concentrating on the new project Adam had passed on."

"And since when do you concentrate like that while you work?", I sneer and hear him snort.

"Since my beautiful Brazilian colleague was taken away from me by the boss and forced to work on a floor made of gold."

"Is Adam giving you a hard time about my leaving?"

"Yes, since I have double work now...", he signals to the piles of sheets on his messy desk.

"I'm sorry, I say sincerely.", I say sincerely.

"It's not your fault, princess. And this is only for a few days, Adam warned me that he will hire a new person to work with me, and if I am lucky it will be a very beautiful colleague, it won't be like my Brazilian friend, but I have to be content...", he says smiling.

"Ok, now I have to go before Mr. Colucci gets angry if I am late on the first day, we meet at lunchtime...", I kiss his face and walk away.

"Princess?", Matt calls out and I quickly turn around to see him watching me with an arched brunette eyebrow.

"What?"

"It makes me more relaxed and less worried to know that Mr. Colucci is not an old man..."

"Why?", I ask, knowing that he will make one of his little jokes.

"Because if he were you, he would have already given you a heart attack in that outfit!", he smiles mischievously, winking one of his brown eyes at me.

"Go to work Matt, part of me is happy to get rid of you...", I sneer and head for the elevator, hearing his audible laughter.

After I pass the Human Resources floor and have signed my new employment contract I head for the elevator.

When the elevator doors open on Mr. Colucci's floor, I walk straight to the reception desk seeing another blonde secretary, unlike the last one I saw.

"Good morning, I'm looking for Mr. Colucci...",I say to the blonde who raises her head to stare at me from head to toe.

"And who are you?"

Another snob? Is the whole top floor like this?

"Miss Chloe Duarte, I am Mr. Colucci's new hire.", I tell you.

"Follow me!", he gets up from his chair and walks down the long corridor with firm steps and with enviable security, I don't waste any more time and follow her along the same path.

I realize that I made a great choice of outfit when I look closely at the clothes of the blonde in front of me, her hair and makeup are impeccable as if she spent hours just perfecting them.

I am taken out of my thoughts when we stop in front of a door unknown to me, but her voice fills the silence:

"Come in, kindly.", she nods to the door holding her tablet, I hold my breath and touch the doorknob before pushing the door open and entering the room.

I was prepared to bump into Mr. Colucci, but that doesn't happen, there is only an empty room, with no one, nothing more than a large space filled with selected furniture.

I advance a few steps observing everything, a long glass table extends across the room, and two huge shelves filled with folders are taking up space on the wall.

But what draws my attention the most is the view of the city provided by an extensive window of transparent glass, I get closer realizing that you can see almost the entire city from this height.

It is a modern and nice room, but I confess that I cannot imagine a man like Mr. Colucci working and spending hours in here, I imagined something else...

"You can get settled in your new office, Mr. Colucci is in a meeting, but it shouldn't take long, would you like some coffee or water?", I turn to the secretary standing in the doorway.

"My office? Is this my office?", I ask in surprise and amazement.

"Would you like a drink?", she completely ignores my questions still staring at me with an expression of total boredom.

"No, thank you!"

"Okay, Mr. Colucci won't be long...", she says before leaving the room and closing the door behind me.

My God! I still can't believe I have my living room!

Still, in shock, I turn around the table observing everything in detail, delighted I touch the leather of the chair feeling its texture in my fingers as if I needed to feel it to see that all this is just a dream.

In one slow movement, I move it away from the table and sit down on the soft chair, resting my forearms on the comfortable arms of the chair.

In a childish gesture, I turn the chair from side to side with a huge smile on my lips, I haven't even started yet, but I can easily see the differences in my new work.

There are no annoying voices of my colleagues around me, only the privacy of my room...

Absorbed in my thoughts I almost fall off my chair when the door opens to reveal none other than Mr. Colucci himself in all his glory.

He hasn't said anything to me yet, but I can already feel the nervousness coursing through my entire body, like an energy discharge radiating through my entire being.

I stand up quickly, almost falling to the floor when I accidentally stumble in my heels. I hold on to the edge of the glass table trying to remain serene.

"Good morning Mr. Colucci!", I say quickly seeing that his damn eyebrow arches as he looks at me.

"Miss Duarte, I see you enjoyed your office...", I quickly feel my face flush with embarrassment that he saw my childish behavior.

"Oh, I...", I can't finish my damn sentence because he has the power to leave me without reaction and I hate it.

But I can't let him know the effect he has on me, he may be the big boss, a billionaire, and a fucking hottie, but I can't show it in front of him.

"Mr. Colucci, why did you change my position so suddenly?", I ask him, watching him walk to the window and observe the busy city.

"Haven't you already been told the reason, Miss Duarte?"

"Yes, but I want the real reason, I can't believe that you changed my position because you found my boldness admirable.", I comment, turning the table around to face him and realizing that our height difference is too considerable.

"It's not just your boldness, but your determination, about facing anything and taking action, inside that room I saw that I had a lot of potentials to continue working as just a communications assistant for Adam Smith. That's me, miss, I like to have the best employees on my floor."

"Did you see potential and these qualities in me in only half an hour?", I pin my arms crossed.

"A lot can happen in half an hour, you must have had some similar experience, you can get to know a lot about a person in only thirty minutes."

What does he mean by this?

"I will need some time to get used to my new function, I have no professional experience for a high position like this Mr. Colucci.", I clarify watching him turn to face me with his blue eyes.

"I have studied your resume and you have everything I need, but I will understand if you need a little time because..."

"Why weren't you born with the gift of patience?", I interrupt him.

Damn it! Get a grip, Chloe! It's only your first day and tries not to get fired.

I raise my head to find James staring at me with a neutral expression mixed with a shadow of a smile.

"I'm sorry Mr. Colucci, I have a serious problem keeping my mouth shut.", I admit embarrassed.

"That's what gags are for..."

"What did you say?"

"I need to get back to my office, I'll let you get settled in and then I'll email you your new job instructions. Have a nice day, Miss Duarte!", I nod and watch him walk to the door, but he stops before I touch the knob.

"I chose you among many other candidates for an opportunity for a privileged position in this company, to be able to make changes, but I hope I don't regret this choice, Miss Duarte."

"You can trust me, I won't disappoint and I will do my best on this job Mr. Colucci.", I say firmly.

"I'm sure you will, that's another reason I chose you."

Without another word he leaves my office, I close my eyes allowing my breathing to normalize again.

I fix my hair and sit down in my chair to turn on the computer, but soon realize that there are two agendas on the desk, separated by two colors: red and green.

Before I have a chance to open them I receive a new e-mail on the computer, I click on the message and see that it is about the tasks Mr. Colucci gave me.

Well, then your lack of patience is true.

Laughing to myself I remember his posture of a few minutes ago, he seems too perfect for a human being, does he not have the slightest defect?

Biting my lower lip I realize what kind of trouble I've gotten myself into, not only do I find my boss super conceited, but I also find him very handsome and sexy.

I give myself a mental slap to stop thinking about my boss that way, besides being very wrong, it takes all my concentration away, and I can't allow this since I need to give my maximum in this job.

I straighten up in my chair and start reading Mr. Colucci's instructions contained in the e-mail:

From: James Colucci

Date: July 20, 2021- 10:19 AM

To: Chloe Duarte

Subject: Tasks

Dear Miss Duarte

I am sorry to say that you were right that I do not have the amazing gift of patience, so get used to it. I am giving you a few tasks just to get you up to speed, my other appointments are detailed in the two agendas on your desk.

Call Albert's office to set up the Wednesday appointment, I also need you to send me the contracts that still need review and rereading.

And tell Daphene at Forbes that I will be away on Thursday.

Good luck, Miss Duarte!

Does he think I won't be able to handle just a few calls and errands? You are very wrong James Colucci.

I quickly reread the e-mail realizing that I don't know who all these unknown people are, but my eyes soon find the two agendas beside the computer, did the last assistant do me the favor of leaving everything written down here?

When I open the first diary, distinguished by a green tint on the pages, I realize that this is all their appointments, some previous dates are crossed out to remind me that they have already been fulfilled, I look for today's date finding the names of the people who quoted me in the e-mail.

I call Albert's office to confirm their meeting on Wednesday, and make a reservation at Mr. Colucci's favorite restaurant according to the last assistant's reminder in the green agenda. After canceling the appointment with Forbes' secretary, I sort out all the contracts that need his attention and send them off immediately.

I quickly get up and fill a glass of water on the small table in the living room before returning to my chair.

From: Chloe Duarte

Date: July 20, 2021- 10:35 AM

To: James Colucci

Subject: Tasks completed as requested

Dear Mr. Colucci,

All past tasks have been completed, the secretary at Forbes insisted on rescheduling a new meeting, but I asked you to wait since I don't know if you would agree.

I have also taken the liberty of reserving a table at Bella's for your meeting with Albert Ramires tomorrow at noon, I hope I have done the right thing.

Sincerely, Miss Duarte.

I send the e-mail and wait for the reply for a few seconds, but it doesn't come as quickly as the first one, giving up staring at the computer screen, and my curious eyes are drawn to the red ribbon notebook.

I take the medium-sized notebook in my hands and flip through it, but frown when I read two pages seeing that it is about women's names, only women and their contact phone numbers and addresses, some names are also scribbled and a few others are marked by an eye-catching text mark. I flick through the other sheets finding the same as the first page, only the names change and the personal information changes.

I lift my head to face the door and fear that someone or Mr. Colucci himself will walk through it and see me poking through his list of conquests or casual encounters, or at least I think that is what this agenda is about.

In the green ribbon agenda it is only about clients, negotiators, or work-related people, if some of these women were any of those options they would be in the other agenda, wouldn't they?

But I realize that I don't have to fear that someone will suddenly walk in here because he or she or someone else has left both agendas on my desk, so this assignment is also part of my new position.

Melissa Francis

Agatha Morris

Lucy Bonjour

Sandy Rontrieve

Judy Dolph

Karen Yunmy

A complete and endless list of female names accompanied by the home address and the cell phone number itself, I also realize that it is the same handwriting as the other agenda, that is, the last personal assistant of Mr. Colucci ordered all these names, and no doubt his work has ended up passing to me now.

I jump to the last page of the red notebook deciding to close it and continue my work, but something written on the last page catches my attention.

Holy shit!

Chloe Souza Duarte - phone: ********** - 253 Madison Avenue, New York

Why the hell is my information written in this notebook?

I think for a moment and relax when a reason pops into my mind, he is my boss and needs my contact information, but I find it strange that he also has my address in this little notebook of supposed accomplishments.

When I go to reread the last page I am startled by the sound of a new notification on the computer, I close the notebook quickly and curse loudly when one of my hands bumps into the glass of water that wets practically all of my white shirt.

I close my eyes huffing, annoyed with myself because I almost destroyed the company's notebook with water, I would be forced to pay for the value of the computer and get a big lecture.

I stand up, shaking my shirt before grabbing some of the napkins from the table to try to dry some of the shirt before the fabric becomes transparent.

I throw the tissues in the trash and approach the table to check the notification seeing that it is a new e-mail from Mr. Colucci.

If he has my damn cell phone number, why doesn't he call my phone or the one inside the room?

From: James Colucci

Date: July 20, 2021- 10:51 AM

To: Chloe Duarte

Subject: Your competence

What a beautiful competence Ms. Duarte, I must admit I admire this in my employees, thank you for the reservation, you did the right thing and I want you to meet tomorrow at lunch with us, I need your help with the new investor.

Sincerely Mr. Colucci.

I close my notebook and get up ready to go to the bathroom and dry my soaked shirt that is starting to bother me, when I leave my room and walk a few meters I soon see the unpleasant secretary's keyboard on her tablet.

"Excuse me, but where is the women's restroom?", I ask approaching her and attracting her attention.

"Down the hall, second door on the left!", she mutters, returning to her tablet and ignoring me again.

For a second I question what problem she has with me when we don't even know each other.

"Thank you!", I thank her politely and return to the corridor.

Walking in a hurry and with my head down observing the huge transparent stain on my shirt I don't realize that someone is in front of me until I collide with a tall body.

Surprised I quickly raise my head to meet Mr. Colucci's blue eyes staring at me with a confused expression.

So close to him, I can notice every single detail of his beautiful face, I hold the uncontrollable urge to caress his skin and touch his black hair and feel the softness that...

"What's up?", I shake my head to scare the thoughts away seeing that he looks at me with a shadow of a smile.

"Oh...I...yes! I'm fine, thank you!", I say quickly, pulling away from his hands that held me so I wouldn't fall when we collided.

"Miss Duarte, what happened to you?", his eyes lower themselves to my wet blouse, I do the same stretching the fabric to examine it better.

"I spilled a glass of water.", I look into his eyes seeing that they are still fixed on my bust, I feel my face blush and quickly cross my arms around my body to prevent him from seeing my bra.

I try to apologize for stretching the fabric and making him look at my blouse, but he interrupts me:

"Are you always this clumsy?", he says with a provocative smile.

"I think you'd better watch out or I might accidentally spill hot coffee on you and stain some of your expensive clothes, this kind of thing happens to me quite often.", I also tease, smiling.

"Then I must remember never to order coffee or any other drink for you to bring me Miss Duarte, thanks for the warning!", he winks at me, leaving me flabbergasted.

"I apologize for bumping into you, I was going to the bathroom to dry my shirt.", I explain, noticing that James stares at my clothes again before raising his head and looking me in the eye.

"The ladies' room has an automatic hand dryer, but the fabric is too soaked to dry quickly. Come with me!", he turns, pointing to a door at the end of the hall.

"Where are we going?", I ask, starting to follow him.

"I have some spare clothes that I always leave in my room, I'm sure there must be a shirt there...", before I can protest and deny him he stops next to a door that says "Senhor Colucci" on a sign.

In one swift movement the door opens revealing his room, my eyes do not stop still as they quickly scan the entire room.

If I found my room spacious and beautiful, his is paradise itself, I advance a few steps into the office with my eyes fixed on the enormous glass wall that crosses an entire side, giving him a wider view of the city, I notice that only the sunlight that crosses the glass panel illuminates the entire environment.

I look down and see two large tables in the same room, one contains several chairs in the corner, and the other is James Colucci's table, but my eyes stop observing every detail when I hear his footsteps, I turn around seeing him disappear into a door in the right corner.

Taking advantage of his absence I walk up to the glass wall seeing the entire city from the top floor, I touch the cold material with one hand thinking that I am finally realizing my dream. Many would give anything to get here, to work in a company like this, it is an incredible privilege to be right here and...

"I like this view too, it's a spectacle, isn't it?", i sigh coming out of my ball and turn around to see him walking towards me holding a white shirt.

"Yes, it is very beautiful, sometimes I think I am dreaming and that I will wake up any moment in Brazil and realize that all this was just a dream, a wish.", I tell him when he stops beside me to also observe the view of the city.

"But it is real, very real, you are here and making your dream come true, was it very difficult to leave Brazil?"

"It was very difficult, the tears I shed at the airport prove it, I miss it so much...", I tell him, smiling sadly and facing him.

His eyes seem to be able to see through me as if he could see into my soul and know me or reveal me with a simple look.

"You fascinate me...", I frown turning to face him.

"What? I fascinate you?", I ask, almost certain that I heard wrong, but he nods before saying:

"You are amazing, I feel as if I have known you for a long time and have never felt this way with any other person, I know a lot about you even without ever having sought out any information."

"And what do you know about me?", I ask in a low tone holding his gaze.

"That you are a good person, a good girl who comes from a family that loved her too much, a humble family that always strove to give her the best, I see a strong and incredible woman through your eyes, I see a girl who is following her dreams despite everything, and I feel honored to be part of this, to give you something that will elevate your dreams.", When I realize that my eyes are fixed on your fleshy mouth as you speak, I break my gaze and turn away from the glass wall.

"Put this on, it's not your exact size, but it will make you more comfortable. ", he extends his arm to hand me a white dress shirt.

"Thank you, but I'm fine and I can stay like this, it won't take long to dry, I don't want to bother Mr. Colucci.", I deny it, but he hands me the shirt despite my refusal.

"It won't be any trouble at all miss, just put it on and stay dry.", he points to the same door he entered before.

I know I won't win this battle, I don't know him, but I know very well that he won't give up easily and that he doesn't like to hear no. Without saying anything else, I take the blouse from him.

Without saying anything more I take the shirt from his hands and walk to the door in order, when I enter I am completely surprised by a large bathroom that screams luxury from afar, I close the door behind me noticing that there is a section full of social clothes hanging in the corner.

Without wasting any more time, I quickly remove my wet blouse and put on Mr. Colucci's, I don't need to smell the fabric to smell his perfume with the scent of clean clothes, facing the long mirror I see the length of the shirt that ends in the middle of my thighs due to our great difference in height and stature.

I adjust it by placing it inside my skirt, checking that I even liked the wide and casual look I created. With the blouse stained on my hands I leave the bathroom finding Mr. Colucci sitting at his desk reading something in his notebook.

But his blue eyes are fixed on me when he notices my presence approaching, my face flushes with embarrassment when I see his eyes checking my body with more attention than necessary.

"I didn't need to, but thank you Mr. Colucci!", I nod my head in thanks.

"Anytime, Miss Duarte, are you enjoying your new job?", he smiles, arching one of his dark eyebrows as he rests his chin against his hands on the table.

"I'm still adjusting, but yes. I just have one question and I don't know if I should ask you.", he waves to the available chair in front of his desk and seconds later I am sitting on it.

"Feel free to ask me Miss, I would hate for a simple question to get in the way of your work when I can easily solve it."

Simple question?

I am about to ask questions about the red agenda and why my name and information are on it and he thinks it will be a simple question.