Theressa was awed by the members present at the meeting. She never expected them to look so responsible, not that she expected them to look irresponsible but she expected some, most especially the men she had expected to look … scary. But that was by the way, she was only trying to busy her thoughts but it didn't work. She tried her best to keep a blank face just like Marcelo does. Her nervousness seems to go beyond no bounds as blinked lots of time behind her sunglasses.
"You're not allowed here" A huge man, his body size is double of Kayden, his hair shaved off as his face lacked any bit of 'you are welcome'. His voice, deep and dominating. Theressa had to control her breathing; she had to shove down her emotions and mask it.
Kayden's hand made its way to her back as if reminding her of her posture, reminding her to keep her head up high as she showed a membership card to the bouncer who had nodded signaling for them to get inside. Theressa's dress played a role in guiding her walking, her steps were steady, her legs not far from each other, her hips swaying from side to side as she walked into the elevator portraying elegance.
Marcelo had picked the perfect dress for her, it was luxurious, so luxurious that she doesn't know how she would react if someone spills or attempts to stain her dress, or step on her heels that's worth more than her whole wardrobe.
Kayden's phone dinged inside his suit pocket and he wasted no time to pull out his phone, his fingers tapping on the message from Marcelo.
"It seems our plan has been leaked, someone either has an idea about it knows it fully well" Kayden responded, his voice low but audible enough for Theressa to hear. Cold runs down Theressa's back, if their plan has been found out, won't they need to retreat and make up something? How would it have leaked? Kayden, Marcelo and herself were the only ones aware of this plan.
"He said we should continue" Kayden informed and Theressa swallowed for the nth time, fear almost overshadowing her.
The doors to the elevator split open revealing other bouncers, Theressa could not stand to count. All bowing to Kayden and Theressa as they made their entrance into the meeting room, her heels stabbing into the floor as she gracefully glided the room, all eyes turned to behold the vision of elegance that captured their gaze. Theressa moved with a poise and a grace her gown, a masterpiece of haute couture, draped around her like a cascade of silk and satin. The fabric, a deep claret that hugged her curves in all right places, revealing her back, accentuating her slender frame with understated allure.
Theressa approached a seat, she did so with a grace that bordered on the ethereal. With a gentle sweep of her hand, she took her place at the table, her posture perfect, expression serene.
She finally pulls out her sunglasses, her legs crossed as she fixes her gaze on the man that stood in front of everyone, uttering words of lies. The meeting was halfway gone and Theressa guessed this man has been making false statements for the past one hour.
He squinted his eyes, his brows furrowed as he was in disbelief. Theressa on the other hand put on the best mask, hiding any form of nervousness, she had been on the same table with this man and she can clearly recall how he had treated, how uncomfortable she was.
Theressa still feared Mr Olivia, she still felt something crawling on her skin with his gaze but she had to hide every of her emotions, her discomfort, her fear.
Her lips were paused into a thin line and her legs crossed over another as she stared keenly at Mr Olivia.
"As you all know, my son would never abandon his role, his responsibilities, but his accident has forced him to take a break" Mr Olivia declared, his features contorted with worry as he looked pitiful while trying to paint his son's image black. There was no such thing as breaks in the mafia world, as long as you are conscious you are expected to be active, but Mr Olivia had passed a wrong information painting Marcelo's image. He was the orchestra behind everything going on, he had begun the vote while Marcelo was still in the hospital m, while he was still unconscious and now he has totally changed it to Marcelo taking a break, and the members surely believe him.
Theressa had begun to see what Marcelo was talking about. Marcelo didn't talk much about his father but he had fed Theressa with enough information for her success in fighting his father. Theressa had to hold herself from gagging if he wanted the position, why not ask his son? Questions loomed Theressa like ocean waves, Marcelo's family seemed more complicated than she had thought.
"And we need to fill in his space during this break, thankfully our leader was so thoughtful to fill me in" Marcelo stated with a grin on his lips, he looked like those presidents that uttered empty promises during their campaign and immediately they get into the position, their promises are long forgotten and they begin to show their thorns.
Amidst the sea of solemn faces and earnest applause, her laughter rang out like a melody, she stoomboot amidst the members, her laughter unrestrained, her eyes twinkling with mirth as she watched the spectacle unfold on stage.
Theressa released her crossed legs as her laughter faded to a grin stepping forward, towards Mr Olivia, whispers filled the room. But she didn't let her gaze leave Mr Olivia.
Theressa could not tell where the confidence, this bravery was swimming in from. Maybe it's because of Marcelo's last words before she left for the meeting "Prove me wrong kitten, prove to me you are worth being called my secretary " Marcelo's words had played a thousand times while she sat and listened to Mr Olivia's bullshit or maybe it's because she wanted to show Mr Olivia how strong, how she could show him his act towards her had no effect on her, even though it did at first.
"It's there a problem Miss Taylor?" Mr Olivia questioned a smile playing on his lips, his facebooked tight as his smile refused to reach his eyes.
Theressa turned to the members all seated, she recognized all of them, the profiles she had dug out information by herself and the ones Marcelo had introduced to her.
"Pardon my bad manners, I didn't introduce myself" Theressa said with a smile playing on her lips.
"I'm Theressa Taylor, standing in for our leader, boss Tolomeo Marcelo" Theressa introduced.
A scoff escaped Mr Olivia's lips as he looked down at Theressa.
"What is an ordinary staff doing here?"
"A staff with this?" Theressa dipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out an envelope as she tore open the envelope unfolding the paper she had got out as she displayed it in front of everyone. Their eyes squinted, curious to read the content on the paper.
Kayden had taken steps, as he took the papering passed it to the members seated, creating loud whispers.
"What do you think you are doing?" Mr Olivia whisper yelled between gritted teeth.
"That is a letter from Boss Marcelo, demanding I take over his position, he had prepared it before the accident, in case anything happened to him" Theressa stated, her expression never wavering, her mask fully worn.
"And who do you think you are?" Mr Olivia had climbed down taking quick steps towards Theressa, his expression contorted with rage.
"And who do you think you are to gain such a position" Mr Olivia questioned.
Theressa's lips dropped, her smile totally gone, her gaze sharp, like she was about to devour, like she was thirsty for power for domination that knows no bounds
There was no other answer to Mr Olivia's question, everyone's attention was on her awaiting her response.
"I am…" Theressa trailed
"The Mafia's Secretary"