Chapter 19: The Karmic
"Even if things don't unfold the way you expected, don't be disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end." ― Daisaku Ikeda
GISELLA
Immediately I arrived at work, Leonora hugged me before I could even close the door to the office. "Oh, mia Cara Gisella, you're so good. How did you convince her assistant ?" Her voice was filled with amusement.
Sweat broke from my forehead, making me blush because of my excellent work. "Well... about this, maybe the assistant Pagruso considers our hard work and then persuaded her on our behalf," I simile lightly at her.
"Finally, we are done and dusted with the Princess," she says in a sing-song voice.
"So what if you are done with Principessa Infanta's Interview!" The angry voice spat from the entrance of the door.
We both turn around. "Team leader Conte! It bothers me when you interfere in our discussions. Your team has completed three remaining tasks, the second for us. Shouldn't we be happy?" Leonora flamed up angrily at Signora Conte.
With Leonora's statement, she flinched angrily. "If you guys are qualified to compare yourselves to us. Principessa Infanta is only royalty famous, but Signor Nicolo Caruso is the real deal. He is different. He might have been away from the business world for long, but his reputation is much higher than Principessa Infanta," she spat angrily, rolling her eyes, with her holding her hips.
Leonora and I were staring at her in a confused state. Not saying anything to her made her even angrier. "Isn't it because you've got some rich stone at your back? I don't believe that without anybody's help, you can still be able to see the Principessa," she added.
"What nonsense!" Leonora raises her voice at Signora Conte. Now I'm getting very pissed off, and I know she thinks that Pietro was helping me. What the hell. What problem does she have with me?
She rolls her eyes at us bluntly and turns away, about to exit the door. "And for you two to know, Signor Nicolo Caruso is coming for the interview, and my Team is in charge and did you know that he's the biggest fish that we are about to catch for the year being?" she smirks and exits our office.
I clench my hand angrily. Leonora grit her teeth in annoyance; I will wait till the day that she will be shocked that that biggest fish in the sea is no other person than my husband.
"Gisella!" Leonora wiped me away from my thoughts. I turn and look at her face. "I don't know why Signora Conte is against you and our team, but she's too hot-tempered. She can't bear to see us living well." she rolls her eyes at the closed door.
I signed tiredly. "I don't know... I don't know the problem she had with me. But let's go back to the public office downstairs." I say as I tap her shoulders to keep her calm. Leonora is childish and Idealistic, but for the time being, I notice that she is a hot-tempered person.
We entered the elevator together, going to the first floor. A few minutes later, we arrived at the main public publishing office, seeing everyone busy. Leonora and I head to our desk.
"Nicolo Caruso is here..." Russo's assistant yells to notify everyone to be on their best behavior and an orderly manner. With this, I cringed, and the document that I just held fell flat from my hand to the floor. Leonora turned in shock to look at me as everyone ran up and down to position themselves.
"Really? where... where...?" Tiziana runs out. "What is the problem? Gisella," Leonora questions as she picks up the document and hands it to me.
My words were lost. "It... it... not... nothing, nothing at all," I stammered.
I hide behind Leonora as my eyes get a drip on Alessandro, Zeta, Signora Conte, and Nicolo. My heart beats accelerate. They halt in front of Leonora, who was tensed up by seeing Nicolo in person
"Welcome to our company, Signor Caruso," Signora Conte says, trying to start a conversation with Nicolo. Everyone was staring and murmuring in a low voice.
"Sorry, madam, but Signorino is a man of few words," Alessandro says mockingly at Signora Conte. The expression on her face was priceless.
Immediately, Chiara, Adelesia, and the rest of Team one ran to where Signora Conte was standing, and they were smiling and murmuring about how good-looking Nicolo was. Then Signora Conte became angry. "What are you all doing here? Hurry back to work; everyone leaves," she yells. They frowned, feeling embarrassed, and walked away.
She turns back at Alessandro and Zeta with a fake smile. "This way, please," she says with a hand gesture.
"He can't see me... he can't see me... Alessandro walks fast. Zeta holds him and walks fast," I whisper, murmuring to myself.
They walk past Leonora and me but Immediately halt. "Where is Miss Molinero?" Nicolo questions. My heartbeat stopped, and I felt like I was surely going to be exposed by the likes of him.
Feeling scared, I drag Leonora's arm. "Let's go, let's go quickly," she murmured and stomped after me. "What, let me go, Gisella," she winces as we let the public office.
"What?" Signora Conte asks with confusion written all over her face.
Alessandro sniffs, looking at her. "It's Gisella Molinero who previously contacted our Signorino saying she wants to do an Interview. Why don't I see her around?" Alessandro frowns.
"That is Impossible," she jerks away angrily. "How could it be? It was chief publisher Russo Durante who helped me with this Interview. Russo arranged for the Interview, not that good for nothing, Gisella." she flames up, making others stare in shock.
With this, Zeta and Alessandro frown. "oh, is that so? I guess I don't even know my schedule any longer. Alessandro didn't tell me so," Nicolo says calmly as he transfers his walking cane to his left hand. Immediately his calm face was replaced with a grim expression." And when did it come to a little chief publisher to be able to make such decisions that I've denied on for long?" He turned his blind eyes from the grey wall to Signora Conte then she froze.
"Since Signorina Molinero is not here, I guess we have to leave. Alessandro?" he calls as he turns with Zeta's help.
"Yes? Signorino," he replies as he carries the suitcase from the desk.
"Signor, wait," Signora Conte finally speaks out in surrender. "I'll call her right away," she grits her teeth in annoyance and walks away.
-
"Jolanda, I want to borrow Gisella Molinero from you. This time for Nicolo Caruso's interview. I will give her a chance," she spats with the evidence of pride glued to her voice.
With this, Jolanda stands up from her chair, leaving what she was typing. "I never knew that you're considerate. Are you that kind?" she fake's a frown.
Bianca hiss. "Are you lending her to me or not?" she spats.
Jolanda smiles sheepishly at Bianca. "Okay, I'll lend her to you" she smiles at the upset Bianca. Bianca hiss and walks away to get Gisella.
-
Leonora stands closer to Gisella, in front of Signor Nicolo, handing over the extra question to him, then Nicolo hands it to Alessandro, who was smiling her Gisella.
"I can't believe it. It is my role model, sitting in front of me. I have only seen his younger picture of him on the internet and in magazines and not the more mature version of him. I didn't expect him to be dazzling hot and handsome, even being blind." Leonora whispers to Gisella.
Finally, Nicolo looks up from the floor to Gisella. "Thank you for your invitation, Signorina Molinero," he said with a grim expression as usual.
On hearing this, Leonora flinched with wide eyes. "Wait a minute, what is going on here? Was it you that convinced Signor too?" Her voice came out as a whisper.
Gisella started sweating anxiously. "I... I... I'm not so sure about that, Leonora," her voice was low as she rubbed her elbow. " let's get started," she added as they all sat down.
With a smile, Nicolo sat down with Zeta's help. "Thanks," he added. Gisella was stunned because Nicolo sounded polite and even smiled at them both.
Leonora brought out her recorder and notebook while Gisella brought out the question script from her bag.
"First question (1.) I heard that you have been in the business world since you were fifteen years old. but after the incident that took away your sight, you stayed away from the spotlight. Can you tell us why?" Gisella asks, feeling bad about asking him what gets him angry.
He sniffs. "Well, like you said, 'the incident that took away my sight', how can I work being blind? I was away because I am blind but now I have help from these three lovely people here." he smiles not realizing what he just said. With this Gisella tense up and Alessandro and Zeta looks at each other in shock, while Leonora glumps with her eyebrow twitched.
"But signor, you're here with just two persons, so who're you referring to?" Leonora asks.
Then Nicolo realized his mistake and quickly corrected it. "I mean two, sorry. go ahead," he grins.
"ok, so now the second question, " Leonora says. "(2.) Previously you got married eight months ago, and your wife identity has always been a secret, can you share a little on what kind of person your wife is?" she added. Alessandro mouth agape as he gazes at Gisella who was staring deep at Nicolo. Knowing too well that Nicolo won't dare answer such a question, but she was proven wrong.
"She's very beautiful even though I don't know what she looks like. All I know is that she is a good person who tolerates." he finally speaks out. " And she's precious to me and I don't want to share her with the world that why I don't want people to know her," he added.
Gisella was no longer comfortable in her sitting position. "Is that the reason why you won't disclose her identity?" Leonora added.
"Yes, she is a simple and plain woman, and she has her own life and I don't want her to be affected by the world," he lastly says with his head down. Gisella was just staring at him as if she was dreaming.
Future Mrs what?