"So another meeting with the big boss?" Josh asked.
It wasn't really a question like he made it sound.
That idiot had called me up to his office again. It's been happening really frequently it's infuriating.
My colleagues are jealous and fearful for me... Well except Aisha and Leo who thinks we are having office sex which is so not true.
My flower is still very much intact and I'm not giving it to that arrogant man who thinks the world is at his feet.
"You know just a meeting, that's all" I dismiss any idea of getting a favor from him.
"You must have done a good job in New York for the big boss to be so impressed" Josh says again.
I just nodded my head in agreement as I took my office issued laptop and my jotter. I might as well get some real work done. Any time he calls me up it's because he wants me "close to him".
The asshole says things like that and disturbs the settled butterflies at the bottom of my stomach.
It's not like I'm bothered by it....pftt.
" I'll be back" I say in general as I went to the elevator and headed to his floor.
His receptionist is still as she is. I've never talked to her and she never really talk to me but the fact that she works here makes me aware that she knows who Marcelo really is and anyone in cahoots with Marcelo is certainly not one I want to be dealing with but to be polite like I was taught I gave her a small smile before heading to his office.
******
I don't usually think about Marcelo work attitude, seeing as he has tens of thousands of workers all over the world and hundreds in this office building alone but he certainly works hard.
He likes to oversee things and it's frightening to say but he also keeps an eye on his workers but as far as I know he doesn't give a fuck about them...well unless they fuck with him, so good luck to whoever tries.
I put my attention on my system completing the task I was assigned by Joe, completing this and sending it to him would prove that I am actually working up here.
My side eye caught Marcelo's form. Is there something attractive about a man working.
His black jacket and coat were hanging on a gold coat rack behind him and the sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up to his elbows revealing his defined hand muscles.
His face was hard and it was obvious he was focusing. His hair was disheveled but in a good way, he has an habit of running his hand through his hair... Oh and clicking his silver pen over and over again absentmindedly.
A few strands of his hair were falling to his fore head giving him a boyish look making him...adroable.
He raised his left hand to his chin as he stared at his computer screen, his right thumb continued clicking the tip of the pen over and over again.
It's common knowledge that the boss is a very attractive man but..... It don't know if its possible for someone to be more.... attractive?
His eyes caught mine and I immediately turn my attention back to my laptop trying to pretend like I didn't just get caught staring like a freaking pervert.
I tried to act like my attention was on my laptop but it wasn't as I could feel his eyes on me.
" You may want to turn on your laptop" a sly grin was on his face.
"What?" I looked at my screen to see that during my course of staring at him my laptop had automatically put itself on sleep due to inactivity after a long time.
How long did I stare at him!!!!!
My face was already red in embarrassment as I immediately turn on the laptop and focused my attention on it trying to act like I wasn't aware of the sly smile that was on his face.
Gah....I hate him!.
********
The man in the wine vest on his white shirt and black pants opened the door for I and Marcelo bowing his head a little in the process.
I gave him a small smile as I and Marcelo entered the VVIP section of the restaurant.
WOW! Is this a restaurant or a freaking palace. I can't say.
The wallpaper was red with the embodiment of gold delicate patterns.
The black rug also had gold and red patterns. The furniture in the room was a dark oak.
Three men and a woman were sitting on the esquisite furniture it was then I noticed Miller who was sitting ajacent an empty three sitter couch that sat at the head of the small semi circle formed by the chairs where the unknown guests were sitting on.
The long round table at the middle was filled with different looking delicacies that looked like an art work rather than food.
The people at the sight of I and Marcelo stood up including Miller.
Their faces were filled with smiles that I could discern as the smile that normally occupy the faces of ass kissers.
The man in his mid fifties with the black greying hair in a grey plaid suit seems familiar but I can't discern where I've seen him before.
The other two men, one of them looks in his sixties and the other one looks a lot younger like his late thirties to early forties. The woman looks elegant from her dressing I could discern that she is someone with an high status and power. Her hair was in a bob cut that landed above her shoulders, her lips were painted in a bold red lipstick.
I seem odd here, I felt odd. The look in their eyes as their eyes landed on me also approves the fact that I shouldn't be here.
I don't know why I'm here. Marcelo just insisted I followed him.
His hand was at the small of my back and he directed me to sit next to him on the three sitter couch at the head on the semi circle.
One waitress offered me a glass of wine and I gladly took it as I needed something to keep my hands busy. I don't want to be here. This place feels darkly important and i was right, it was.
For the next hour I witnessed a grown man kiss ass like never before. He is a professional in ass-kissery and his mistake is that, he is making it so much obvious.
They all seemed to fear and respect Marcelo. I don't know who they are but they stink of power and authority but here they are sucking up to a man in his man almost in his mid thirties who is currently paying little to no attention to them as he scrolls on through his phone.
Miller seems to be doing the talking on behalf of Marcelo.
"You don't have to worry Mrs Harrington, the deal belongs to you as the name of the brand also belong to you"Miller explained to the woman.
She had a small satisfied smile on her face as she looked from Marcelo to Mr Miller.
"I'm greatful. Thank you."
Miller just nodded his head giving her a small professional smile.
"Of course you shouldn't be so surprised Harrington, Mr King never goes back on his word. You should have been rest assured. Mr King is like no other man" the man in the blue plaid suit praised. He turned to the man in his sixties "am I right?" He asks.
The man also nodded his head hurriedly praising Marcelo like he was some sort of god.
If I saw this people elsewhere, I would respect and be intimidated by them but seeing them kiss Marcelo's feet because of nothing but power and wealth made me pity them as I was also filled with disgust.
"If I may ask who this lovely lady is sir?" The man in his sixties ask with a sick smile on his face as his eyes trailed my bare legs.
"No... And take your eyes off her before I help you with it" Marcelo threatened.
This is just part of the few words he has spoken since we came here.
"I'm sorry. Of course" he apologizes immediately casting his eyes on the floor as his body obviously trembled in fear.
"You are going for a second term aren't you... Smith" Marcelo's voice was filled with malice as he glared at the shaking man.
The man head shot up in fear as he looked at Marcelo with obvious fear and remorse.
"He made a stupid grave mistake" the talkative man immediately intercede.
"He is sorry, Right?" He turn to glare at the man.
"I of course am" the man responded.
Marcelo just turned his attention away from him, that is where it all hit me. All this people are not unfamiliar, they are familiar.
They are not just anyone.
The man in the blue plaid suit also known to be the professional ass kissers is familiar because he is the director of the biggest telecommunication company in the world. They have a branch everywhere. The man is very influential and stinkingly rich.
The man in his sixties is a senator and the son-in-law of one of the most powerful families in Europe.
I have to rack my brain for the woman but I immediately recognize her as the wife of the late governor and the chairwoman to Harrington Inc.
I don't really know who the younger man is but the three people I could identify are the one percent of the one percent of the world's population.
They are crazily and stinkingly rich and powerful people with enormous connection.... And here they are kissing my boss's ass.
I thought Marcelo's other world is the Mafia, but if this people are here trying to impress him...who exactly is Marcelo?. And the question was enough to send enormous shiver down my spine.
I stood at the balcony trying to calm myself as I used the excuse if going to take a call and figure out what I just saw there. I thought I figured out who he is but I know nothing. who exactly am I living with?
The number of questions flooding my brain was suffocating me physically and I tried to calm my breathing and take it a little.
"Your reaction is understandable"
I jumped at the sound of Mr Miller's voice.
I turned around to look at him with wide eyes. He doesn't look surprised by my reaction, it was like he was expecting this.
"And I'm sure you have lots of questions but the dominant one being who is the boss?"
He walked further into the balcony, looking around and taking in the view of the city.
"Marcelo King is a powerful man, a really powerful one. He has wield this power since the day he was born. His grandfather chose him as the heir of his foturne, and raised him to take lots of power and to own lots of it.
Those who wield power are dangerous Susan and the amount of power this man wields even more so. The boss rebeled against his grandfather using his grandfather's connection to rise to where he is today. He have a hold on so many powerful people without his grandfather's name. It's who he is Susan. It who he was raised and tortured to be.
The heir to a legacy of immense power.
Marcelo King does not think like us Susan. To him this world is a game, an unfair one. It's holds no importance to him but it's fun to play it. He doesn't know what love is and he certainly does not care about it."
I willed myself to talk but it seems to be proving difficult. I could just stare into space trying to soak in everything.
"Why are you telling me this?" I ask.
"It's my fault you are in this"
"So you are feeling guilty" I laughed at the thought of it.
"Even if I want to stay away, you just explained to me how powerful and influential he is, how the hell would I get away?" I felt hot tears pricking the back of my eyes.
"I'm willing to help you with that....that is if you are willing"
I searched his eyes to see if there is a truth there.
I am not sure. I certainly am not. It's been months since a everything happened almost close to a year. Now... I'm... I'm confused.
I don't know what I want.
"You are telling me to go away from him?"
" Susan, Marcelo is dark and toxic. Not that it's his fault. It's how he was raised by his cruel grandfather but that doesn't change what he is...and...and I fear you would only destroy yourself by being close to him"
"Can you gurantee my family's safety?" I asks.
"I can do my best"
I could hear the assurance in his voice but it isn't enough.
I'm scared and confused and feeling a lot of things all at once.
Something about Miller's sudden warning felt off. That doesn't mean he is lying but that didn't mean something isn't off.
And until I get all my facts right and all the answers I want. I'm on a neutral ground.
"Thank you" I walked away from the balcony.
What the fuck I'm I going to do?