CHAPTER 03

"Scare of Death"

New York City.

6 months before.

The day predicts cold weather, the grayish panorama is to be expected during this season of the year in the city that never sleeps, it is winter. I take the beige trench coat from the hanger, and take a look in the mirror. For today I have decided to wear a knee"length white dress, stilettos of the same color and minimal makeup. My straight brown hair remains in an updo, some bangs adorn my forehead. I seem to look good, so after making sure everything is in place, I can go to work.

And yes I must hurry.

Time is short!

I arrive at the parking lot, press the control button to unlock the doors. The white Porsche flashes its headlights. I head to the car and get on. I get into tedious traffic, it's terrible, no way. While waiting I start listening to the radio, there is no melody that calms my impatience, quite the opposite, the announcer speaks repeating what time it is.

It's five minutes to half past eight!

I blame the delay on my carelessness, I shouldn't have stayed up until late at night. It was difficult for me to sleep a wink, partly it was the stupid insomnia that appeared inopportune.

One or another horn sounds behind me, from all sides. As if that changes anything. Well, the line is barely moving.

I snort.

I mark my father.

"Good morning Lunita, did something happen?

"Good morning Dad. I'm stuck in traffic, sorry...

"Calm down, daughter. It's okay if you can't join me at the meeting.

"I really wanted to be there, and I don't think I'll be there on time. I feel terrible.

"Don't worry, I have to get in, be careful when driving.

"Hope everything goes well.

"You'll see that yes.

The call ends, I put the phone back in its place. After half an hour I was able to escape the horrible traffic. I won't be able to be on the board, at least I will be present to welcome the new shareholder of the company. My chest is bursting with happiness knowing that the future of the family business will no longer go into decline.

Although there are still some points to be worked out, there is nothing left for our economic problems to end.

…

Coming to Miller.Inc makes me smile, it is my comfort zone, since I can remember it is one of the places where I feel good. Now that it is also my work area, it complements me.

I greet Paulina by blowing her a kiss as I hurry to take the elevator.

"Have an excellent day! "he wishes before the mirrored doors close.

I manage to reciprocate with a smile.

Once I have arrived at the apartment, I find myself face to face with dad's secretary.

"Good morning, Regina.

"Welcome, young Miller. "I'll go get some coffees, then I'll take you to the meeting room, with permission," she adds urgently.

"I understand.

I enter my father's huge office in search of some signed pages. I take them with me to my post; I haven't graduated in business administration yet, but my father has left me the administrative assistant position. He believes in me, in the innate potential I have with calculations. Something I inherited from him.

Karol, the head of administration, gives me my daily tasks. She is a beautiful woman with abundant reddish hair, a perfectionist, and without leaving aside her sweetness and understanding when evaluating my work.

"Precious, Luna, how are you? "His honey eyes share a simultaneous shine that enlivens the good humor he brings along with a soft smile.

"Karol, I actually feel bad for being late, I was looking forward to being with dad at the meeting "I pout.

She comes around the desk, stands in front of me and her delicate hands rest on my shoulders, leaving the subtle caress of support. Get him to smile a little.

"Cheer up, it will be next time, on the other hand, be completely sure that this meeting will be a success. I have known Riccardo for a long time, he is a trustworthy, benevolent guy and he knows that with his contribution to this place he will achieve exorbitant profits.

"You're absolutely right, now if you allow me, I'll go to work. "Warning, I make a show of leaving, his hand wraps around my forearm, preventing my exit. I look at her. That?

"How are your studies? "I need you here, but the university matters more," she admits in a low tone.

"Everything is fine, don't worry, I can combine both things without losing a beat in either one. Hey, Karol, can I take the afternoon off? "I find out, I would rarely deny myself something like that, I ask anyway.

"Of course you have, you have worked hard these days, you deserve it, beautiful. "Before you leave, go get two coffees," she adds with a wink.

"Sure, decaffeinated?

"No, today I feel like a delicious cappuccino.

"Okay, I'll be back soon.

I quickly head to my boss's favorite coffee shop, not that she doesn't like Miller.Inc, but across the street there is a well"known one that she has frequented since she was little, that's what she told me. It has also become my choice when drinking coffee in different ways. The distinction of the place has been earned by its attention and the explosive mix of flavors in each order.

It is a place where you can sit and have a coffee, while it is raining outside and being able to look at thousands of drops through the glass, making it a calm and special moment. I don't know, that's how I feel, in my opinion Coffe City York is indescribable.

Before I set foot on the road, the shooting begins, in all directions, fear takes over me. I remain paralyzed, terror has taken over my body and I do not want to be a victim, a fallen body. I need to protect myself, out of nowhere a guy appears and pulls me, takes me by the hand, I would like to know his identity.

Everything is so fast, I don't have time to recognize it. He urges me to get into the car in the co"driver's position, he does the same getting in behind the wheel.

"You're safe," he tells me in a reassuring tone that for a moment has managed to chase away the restlessness.

Finally I look at him, after fixing my eyes on his familiar ones I breathe normally again.

"Jake?"

"I was driving to the company and suddenly I saw you, I noticed that you were in trouble, and I didn't hesitate to help you. "You have to be careful, Luna," she adds, inspecting my face. Are you OK?

"I"I..." I search for the right words, I was scared to death, and I'm lucky to have emerged unscathed from the sudden shooting. I get lost in the lights of the patrol cars that are arriving, the sirens bring me back to reality. I guess so, thanks Jake.

"It's not necessary, you know that ensuring your safety is a privilege that I will do whenever I have the opportunity," he says with a smile that cracks his gray eyes. I appreciate him like a father, partly because Boyle is a friend of Dad's. Next time, avoid walking anywhere, you have a car, Luna.

I just nod, accepting the scolding.

"I thought it would be a day just as calm as the others, but I'll be careful. Could you take me to buy some coffees?

"Is it close to where the commotion occurred?

"Unfortunately," I confirm.

"I'm not going to expose ourselves.

"You're right, let's go back to the company, I'll explain it to Karol. "I resign myself, as I deflate in the seat.

I can't stop thinking about what happened. How do these things continue to happen in such a crowded place? The police should be more attentive. With so many psychopaths on the loose, beefing up security isn't an option.

Luckily nothing happened to me, not a single scratch.

"Hey, Jake," I manage to get his attention, just with a sideways glance he encourages me to continue. I don't want you to tell my father, otherwise he will worry and he is capable of hiring two strong men to guard me. AND…

"Don't worry, just try not to be a passerby, I don't want to imagine what would have happened if a bullet..." He takes a breath, leaving the sentence unfinished.

"Okay, let's change the subject, please. How have you been? "I ask, radically changing the course of the conversation.

"Now that I found out that the meeting was successful, I feel relieved," he says and I open my eyes in surprise.

"Oh really?! "I blurted out in disbelief, I expected it, but as he was passing by he happily threw me off. ". That is wonderful.

"It's good news, Luna.

…

"Congratulations, dad! "The first thing I do when I see it is throw myself into her arms, proud.

"Luna, my daughter, you see that everything is solved," she separates me so she can take my chin lovingly. Let's tell Elena the good news together.

I nod, then kiss his cheek tenderly. My father is so handsome, he keeps himself very well even when he is almost sixty. He continues to maintain the sparkle in his greenish eyes like mine and the elegance in his bearing and way of being.

"Come on, we have to celebrate, dad.

"Of course you do, before you call your mother, come, I'll introduce you to Riccardo.