Colour Me Shocked.

Mimi was finally able to breathe after Macy left. She wondered if Marcel knew he had a tigress by his side and how are they even able to work together?

"I'm glad that you are here," Marcel started the conversation, rousing her from her thoughts.

"It's not like I exactly had a choice," She blurted out the words before she could stop them. But that was the truth anyway, her boss had not even bothered to ask for her opinion when he sold off her services to him.

Marcel laughed, "I like you, you're amusing,"

"Thank you?" Mimi said, feeling a bit awkward because she remembered Macy's bitchy word about being a bed warmer. As handsome and rich as Marcel might be, if he tries any funny business with her without her permission, she'd bash him in the head.

"So here are the papers," Marcel lifted them from off the couch where he was sitting and placed them on the glass table positioned in the middle.

"You'd work exclusively for me but it's your choice to serve others. Although it would work best for me if you lived here -"

"Live here?!" Mimi shouted, an accusing gaze in her eyes. Could it be that Marcel was hitting on her and this was an attempt to bring her closer to him so he could make her fall for him just like they do in those romance novels? But then, she was sure he was hitting on Arianna that day. Was he a womanizer? Is that why Macy was hostile to her? Did she see her as a competition?

"It's not a compulsory condition - just a suggestion," Marcel said with emphasis having recognized her misunderstanding, "It's just that I have erratic working hours and might need a drink in the dead of the night. But don't worry, I believe that's asking too much,"

"I'll have to think over it," Mimi could only say. She was not going to lie, the idea of living in this house was quite tempting.

"It's alright," Marcel said, taking a sip of the drink as she went over the contract.

Mimi went through the contract and it was quite good, especially the working hours. She had almost little to nothing to do here compared to the hours she spent standing at the café. It just bothered her how she was going to tackle Marcel's irregular working hours. Would she have to make trips here even in the middle of the night? Well, just like he said, they would figure that one out later. However, when she came to the remuneration part, her jaw almost dropped. 

"Holy mother of God, you'd pay me this much? I'm not even a Professional barista!" Mimi couldn't believe it. She felt like this ignorant rich man was just wasting his money on her. Perhaps, he had more than enough to throw away. 

"You're worth more than enough," Marcel assured her, "Besides, you'd get professional training," 

"Professional training?" 

"Yes?" 

"Why would you get a novice barista and hire professionals to teach her? Why don't you hire a professional instead? You have enough money to do so anyway." It seemed too good to be real. What kind of buy one, get one program was this? Even her former boss wouldn't do this. 

Marcel chuckled, "Trust me when I say I've never had a bad investment,"

"It sounds like one to me. You don't even know me. Why would you invest in me," It was quite suspicious, to be honest.

Marcel breathed, "Just say I have eyes for spotting out gold among the rubbles and don't tell me you don't need my help because I know you do," His eyes bore into hers and she had a hard time refuting his words.

Marcel was right, she really needed this money. Unlike Arianna, she didn't have student loans to pay off, however, for how long was she going to rely on her parent's help. She needed cash to be established, you know? And this job seems to be the right one.

Mimi didn't reply, rather she picked up the document and kept reading it until she got to the contract breach part. Her gaze lifted in disbelief, "Where would I get this much?"

"That's why you shouldn't breach the contract," Marcel said calmly, much more interested in his drink or so she thought because he asked, "What are you going to do? Sign or leave it?"

Mimi chewed the inside of her cheeks, going over her options. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and It's not like she would have any job after she rejects this one - her boss would surely fire her for rejecting this offer. 

With a deep breath, Mimi picked the pen that was strapped into the document and signed the contract.  And just like that, it was done.

"You forgot the confidentiality document," Marcel reminded her.

"What?" Mimi was startled and looked down to discover there was another document, although the pages were much smaller than the ones she had signed in the contractual document. But then, she had been distracted by the thought of the money and breach of contract sum she hadn't thought of.

Mimi picked the document and went through the pages as Marcel  explained, "That is to make sure you don't go spilling what goes on in this place to others - not even family members nor friends,"

"You speak as if you do shady stuff," Mimi said without much thought while still going through the papers.

"Oh yes, I do," Marcel said and that single comment made Mimi's brows shoot up. 

"Rich men have kinky hobbies, ever heard of that?" Marcel winked at her and Mimi breathed a sigh of relief. 

She had thought he was carrying out illegal activities, who knew he just had those sort of fetishes.... a-hem. This was none of her business. But then, there goes the man of her dreams. Sigh.

Without a second thought, Mimi picked the pen and sighed, completing all the signatures needed on the pages of the documents. 

"And you begin tomorrow officially. Have as much rest as you can today," Marcel said to her with a bright smile. 

"Thank you for this opportunity," Mimi said, leaving the documents on the table, "I'll be taking my leave then," she was already on her feet when Marcel said. 

"Your friend," 

She turned, "What friend?" 

Marcel gestured, "The one with the red hair?" 

"Why? What about her?" Mimi asked and then got a real good look at him as a smile crossed her lips, "Oh. Trust me, she's not that kind of person?" 

"What kind of person is she?" Marcel didn't bother to hide his intention. 

"The kind who would kick you in the forbidden spot if you tried a funny move on her. Trust me, she's not up for your kinky stuff," Mimi advised him. 

"You never know until you test people. There's always this darkness in us, it can be quite enthralling," He tried to convince her. 

"Well, it's quite a pity you won't be able to test that out since she's left already," Mimi unintentionally gave him the details he has been craving for. 

"She left?" His gaze narrowed, "Why?" 

"I believe that's private matters. Thanks for the job, Sir Marcel and see you tomorrow," Mimi was wise enough not to give too many details of her friends to strangers. 

As soon as Mimi left, Macy was back and he wasn't even surprised when she asked, "You have a barista already, why did you hire her?" 

"Because I want to, is there any problem with that?" Marcel asked icily, his gaze trained on her with a warning. Macy's been a bit overbearing lately, it seems he would have to cut down her wings a little. 

"Of course not," Macy said, lowering her gaze immediately as she sensed Marcel had reached his tolerance gauge. 

"How's the progress with Ruth's assistant?" He moved ahead to the next matter at hand without giving attention to her upset expression. 

"We have a little problem," She said, drawing Marcel's attention. Why were his people experiencing lots of problems lately? 

"What is it now?" 

"Big Joe has her?" 

He frowned, "Who's Big Joe," 

"The Red Giant. It's a small gang but they hold quite a lot of power due to their clubs and prosperous loan shark business," Macy updated him. 

Marcel rubbed his chin, "You think they have her because we want her?" This was not the first time gangs took away their opponent's prey. 

"I hardly doubt so. Her uncle took money from them and was unable to pay up, she was collected and now has to marry Big Joe. According to what I heard, she has a lucky fate marrying him," Macy said. 

"Unfortunately, that marriage can't stand, at least, until I have what I want from her - I can't kidnap someone's wife, can I?" Marcel sighed, "It seems I'd have to take care of this myself. Let me see what this troublemaker looks like," He ordered Macy. 

Macy at once opened a picture of Ruth's assistant on her tablet, handing it over to him. Marcel never prepared himself for the shock to come because when he saw that redhead, a gasp left his lips, "Oh my, color me shocked,"