Chapter 3: Curious Gaze

Elena Davis,

 I am so frustrated that I have to cancel my visit to dad as this new CEO decided to put his nose in my life and he is barging into today. Patty is so happy about that.

I got ready for office early as according to my new unwanted job description; I need to assist him in work and be ready for his help as he needs it.

Is he a baby? That I have to present for his service every second? Something is very fishy about his demands on his assistant. Now, I don’t have any way out of it. I complained to the old CEO. Maybe that’s why I have to bear it.

I ate my breakfast hurriedly, as Patty wasn’t there to scold me. She always leaves early in the morning for her office as she is a news reporter.

She mostly works outdoors on her news channel. I got in my car and drove towards my office while listening to music. My mood faded. I don’t know, but music always had a magical effect on me.

As I reached my office, I dropped my purse and headed to Theo’s office and knocked. I saw him embedded in some files, sitting on his chair, looking prim and proper in his suit like always.

“Good Morning, Theo.” He looked up from his files as he heard my voice. He had a frown on his face, but it immediately turned into a smile.

“Good morning, Sweetheart.” He got up from his seat and approached me with the same file in his hand. He looked overjoyed.

“Why are you so happy today? Have you gone on a date that you haven’t told me about?” I teased him while sitting on the sofa, which is located away from his desk near the window. He rolled his eyes at me and sat near me.

Our Theo doesn’t date, I don’t know why? But he said he is waiting for that girl to approach me. God knows, what does that even mean? Sometimes he talks nonsense. I suppressed my laugh.

“You could have told me before taking that step.” God, is he never going to leave that thing? He already lectured me a lot about that stuff. If something wrong is going on in our office, we have to report it.  

“We already discussed this stuff.” I turned from him and gazed outside of the window. How it is difficult to understand that I already did it.

“Ok. Ok. We will not discuss this again.” He pleaded, turning me to face him with my shoulders. He shook his head a little with a subtle frown.

“I am just worried about you, El.” He is right in his place, Elena. Don’t stress him out. He did so many things for you. His eyes were begging me to understand him. His face was creased, too.

“I am sorry, Theo.” He rubbed my shoulders to console and flashed his smile at me. He nodded at me and handled the file in his hand to mine. I took it and started reading it.

It was the file about our new CEO; there wasn’t any photo of him, just his basic contact details. His name wasn’t familiar at all, Arius Accardo. Wait, Accardo? I jerked my head in his direction to confirm by doubt. 

“Accardo? Chairman’s son? Why?” He just nodded his head at me. Chairman never showed up in the company or his son. Well, we didn’t even know that he had a son. They all are very reserved. Only the Ex- CEO contacted him. Let it be. It has nothing to do with me. I just have to do my job.

“You are freed from your previous duties and from today, you will assist him while working.” Theo informed me. It’s crystal clear that he didn’t like that, but we both are bound for this.

“Yes, Boss.” He smirked at me and I was about to go, but he pulled me into a hug. I was surprised by his move, but hugged him back. He put his hand on my back of head for a moment and broke the hug.

“Just know, I am here for your help.” My eyebrows arched in confusion. What’s wrong with him? Maybe he needed a hug from his friend. Something is definitely wrong with him.

I and Patty will talk with him later. Right now, I have to deal with someone. I nodded and left his office. Maybe he was just worried about my decision to mail the chairman.

Sometimes, we have to do such things in our life that we think it’s wrong or not designed for us but only time made us understand thing was bound to happen in our life to become the person we will go to become for us, for the people we love and care for.

Time teaches not only us new lessons but also makes us forget the previous one, the same time which holds the power to transform something or someone for greater purpose.

I read the entire file and got to his floor to arrange a few files regarding upcoming projects and schedule an introductory presentation for him, as he had never worked on a hotel chain before.

I reached his floor. As I got out of the elevator, I saw a lady walking towards her desk with her coffee mug in her hand. I think she is his secretary, as her desk was exactly behind the door of Mr. Accardo’s office.

She had a name written on her front desk, which was Liza. She dressed professionally, a simple black skirt and White blouse with the first two buttons open. I laughed internally at her, but approached her.

“Hello, Liza. I am Elena Davis, Assistant Manager. I assume you are the secretary of the CEO?” She smiled at me and nodded in agreement, while getting up from her chair.

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you. We are going to work together from now onwards.” She said it’s nice to meet me, but her plain and bored face showed something else.

We shook hands, and she resumed her coffee, eyeing me up and down with her small smirk on her face. It’s not long since she joined the office, maybe a week or two. I gave her a curt node.

“Is everything ready for Mr. Accardo? He is going to come today.” According to protocol, she needs to arrange an apartment and a car for him.

“yaa, I am going to pick him up from the airport in a few minutes. I have arranged everything for him.” She confirmed everything to me, it’s good that everything I have already prepared. We don’t have to face any further problems.

“Good, I Will prepare his office and rearrange the documents according to urgency.” I said, while approaching the office door. She gave me a key and left to do her work.

I opened the door of his office; it had white and dark gray theme. A large desk was placed just behind the glass wall. I could see the beautiful blue sea waves playing with the perfect yellow sand, surrounded by a few tall palm trees and some people enjoying themselves on the beach.

Awesome benefits of having an office near the beach. It was so soothing to the eyes. Anyone’s mood can cheer up with such a sight. I see that beach every day while coming to the office, but every time it feels new to me.

Just beside the glass wall, there is a floor to ceiling mirror that was fitted. It was a separating wall from the bathroom.

Three couches were placed exactly in front of the desk with a coffee table at the centre. Few lavender strands were kept in water holding transparent, slender vases.

As I turned to my left, I saw all the files were kept on the bookshelf and few files were on the desk. I approached the desk and took all the files to re-arrange it according to our current priorities. 

There were some files which we don’t work on anymore as the project is already done and a few files of collaborative contracts. I separated files which will go for shredding and some contracts.

I thought we need to rethink about renew or we can go for further full collaboration. I had to read a few files to understand them and segregate them. While doing my work, I lost track of time.

A horror passed over me as I felt a sudden pressure on my back of neck and within a blink of my eye; I got slammed on the desk with pinning my body with dominant force.

Air is knocked out of my lungs. I tried to scream but nothing came out because of someone’s hold on my neck tightens. My eyes watered as pain erupts in my neck and head.

Suddenly I felt someone behind me, making air denser than before. My whole body went rigid. I tried to speak, but his hold on my neck increased, showing me to shut up.

“Stealing information, not a wise decision.” A shiver ran down my spine as I heard his deep hoarse voice with his lips moving around the edge of my ear. Stealing information? I was about to tell him I was not stealing information but couldn’t, as I felt his hand roaming around my waist.

I was so shocked by this man’s actions. This man is a pervert. His move made me so much angry, making my fear go far, far away. I felt his grip on my neck loosen and he backed. I got my chance.

I straightened up, and I pushed that man with all my power. He backed two steps. He was wearing a pristine blue colored suit.

“I don’t need to read files to steal information and stay away from me, you pervert. Who are you? What are you doing here?” I spoke while glaring at him, wondering how he can just touch anyone inappropriately. I was fuming in anger as I lifted my head at that perverted man.

He straightened his composure and stood like a mountain in front of me with his hands in his pockets, like he was proud of his doing. His aura of screaming stayed away from me and his height just multiplied it.

“I should ask you that ragazza delicata (delicate girl), what are you doing in my office?” He questioned back with his piercing green eyes. He had a thick Italian accent, and he also speaks in Italian.

It didn’t require me a lot of time to understand that he was Italian. He was holding a plan, an expressionless look on his face. His office? My body froze for a second when I heard his words.

He is Arius Accardo, my boss. Shit, what a pleasant introduction to have with your boss. I called him a pervert, but he is. Few beads of sweat gathered on my temples.

“Welcome, Mr. Accardo. I am Elena Davis, your temporary executive and Assistant Manager.” I welcomed him and forwarded my hand to shake but didn’t shake my hand, just stare at me with frowning his eyebrows, but when I tried to retreat my hand, he captured my hand in his with a jerk, making me startle.

This man is really abnormal. His hand was larger and very rough. Taking my complete hand in his completely, he started walking towards me, holding a strange curiosity and peculiarity in his eyes.

I took steps back by his actions, but had to stop as I got trapped in between him and the desk. He stopped just a step away from me; he leaned down and put a hand beside me.

“Have I met you before?” he asked while scrutinizing my facial features. He is super weird. I released my holding breath when I heard his question. He could have asked like a normal person.

I shook my head negatively as I was in haze because of our proximity. He narrowed his eyes at me. I was controlling my breathing, as he was standing too close to me.

“No.” I confirmed, but he didn’t move a bit, but he came closer. Instinctively, I put my hands on his chest to push him, but he didn’t budge from his place. He accidentally brushed his stubble over my cheeks while smelling me.   

“Are you sure you haven’t slept with me before?” he inquired. What’s wrong with this man? His question left me openmouthed.

I just couldn’t compose myself to answer anything, just lost in his forest green eyes, who were trying to find something in me. His gaze shifted between my eyes and lips.  

“Absolutely not. Blushing women are not my type.” His voice broke my trance, and he backed away from me. After hearing his comment, the heat just increased on my cheeks.

Seeing me embarrassed and flushed, he just smirked and walked to sit in his chair while staring at me. He said, but his eyes weren’t convinced of something, it’s still holding a curious gaze in them. I signed loudly and turned to face him.

“Your introductory presentation is ready, Mr. Accardo. See you in the conformance room.” I gave him a curt node and turned without waiting to listen, his thoughts about it, to approach the door of the office. I need an escape from his perverted man.

“Elena, call me Capo.” I stopped as I heard his voice and turned. Capo? What does that even mean?

“Miss. Davis, see you in a few minutes, Mr. Accardo.” I refused to call him that. What he thinks, he can misbehave with and I will bend in front of him. I disobeyed him, but he was holding a crooked smile on his face and looked like he liked my disobedience.

I need to be careful around him. God knows how my first presentation in front of him went? It’s better I stay away from him.