GIANNA'S POV
Stepping into Mr. Locan's office, I was met with an unexpected sight: a throng of men. My throat tightened. Just keep your head down, Gianna. Do your job.
"Coffee, Sir." I presented him with his usual black coffee, trying not to fixate on the one man who'd been watching me since I entered. He offered a smile, and recognition sparked in my mind. That's him. The guy from the elevator. This is getting awkward.
"Anyone else care for coffee, Sirs?" I inquired, addressing the group. There were three men in total, none of whom I'd seen around before. "No, thank you. I'm not a coffee person," replied the smirking stranger, his gaze lingering a beat too long. He was strikingly fair, with a captivating, almost Asian cast to his features, and a physique that spoke of dedication. I glanced at the other two, but they politely declined with a shake of their heads. With a nod, I retreated slightly, awaiting instructions from my boss.
"Ms. Magsandingan, is it?" the fair-skinned man spoke again, breaking the silence. My gaze flickered to Francis, who merely sipped his coffee, seemingly unconcerned. "Yes, Sir," I replied, keeping it brief. "A lovely name. I'm Carl, by the way." He rose to his feet, extending a hand in greeting. "Carl Silvena." I hesitated, my eyes darting from his outstretched hand to my impassive boss, before finally accepting the gesture. So, this is the man from the elevator. The boyfriend, most likely. A wave of unease washed over me at the thought.
"Pleasure to meet you," I murmured, releasing his hand perhaps a little too quickly, a move that seemed to raise his eyebrows in amusement. "She's the new secretary," interjected the man lounging on the far end of the sofa, his voice a low drawl. He possessed a maturity that set him apart from the others, perhaps a few years my senior, but his rugged features were undeniably handsome.
Wow, talk about silver fox!
"Indeed," was all my boss offered in response.
"She's rather cute, wouldn't you agree?" he continued, a hint of playful teasing in his tone. Damn it, I think I'm blushing. "Asher Lux Locan, older brother to this devastatingly handsome boss of yours," he introduced himself, offering his hand. Older brother? Okay... but they barely resemble each other! And who's calling whom handsome? Francis is hardly a Greek god. Instead of voicing my confusion, I simply smiled and accepted his handshake. His touch was warm, his hand surprisingly smooth. So, my demon of a boss comes from a family of angels, and his older brother is a stone-cold hottie!
"Hi, Jake Monsato," the final man chimed in, adding his own introduction. Another handsome face! Wait a minute... he's the one who caught me when I almost slipped the other day. So, he was also a friend of Francis. The guy's got an embarrassment of riches when it comes to attractive friends. Especially that older brother...
"Nice to meet you all," I said, my gaze sweeping over the group, cataloging their features. Seriously, they're like a collection of fallen angels... but as my eyes landed on my boss, the smile faltered on my lips. All except for him, that is. Tsk.
"Ms. Magsandingan." The clipped tone of my boss's voice immediately put me on edge. "Yes, Sir?" I responded, stepping closer. He beckoned me nearer with a subtle gesture, until our faces were mere inches apart. A shiver traced my spine as I felt his breath ghost across my ear.
"Get out," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent a jolt through me. Then, without another word, he turned and strode towards his desk, leaving me standing there, flustered and confused. Damn him! I thought he was actually going to say something meaningful for once. He was giving me a headache again. I took a deep breath, composing myself before excusing myself and beating a hasty retreat. Tsk. His brother has more charm in his little finger than he does in his entire body. What a jerk!
The next two days were a blur of frantic activity, leaving me little time to catch my breath. A sudden crisis had engulfed the company, leaving me swamped with paperwork and scrambling to assist with damage control. I was constantly running errands, attending meetings, and even visiting clients at their homes when they couldn't make it to the office. The work was grueling, but I clung to the knowledge that the salary made it all worthwhile.
"You holding up okay?" My cousin, Gael, appeared at my side, offering me a bottle of mineral water, which I promptly drained. "Ask my aching back and feet," I groaned in response. My feet were throbbing, swollen from pounding the pavement in these ridiculous sandals. If I could get away with wearing flip-flops, I would, but the security guard would never allow it. And we weren't exactly on good terms, not since the incident when they practically dragged me across the floor when I came in to apply. My arm was still sore from that!
"That's just how it is, I guess... gotta suck it up. Oh, by the way, there's a birthday party at Jeneel's place, are you going?"
"Who's Jeneel?" I asked, racking my brain.
"Girl! Have you already forgotten our rich friend?"
I frowned, trying to sift through the mental Rolodex of my acquaintances. There were only two in our circle who could be described as "rich."
"Oh, you mean Nhiel?"
"Yeah," she confirmed, tearing open a packet of crackers. "Apparently, it's her birthday. And she couldn't get a hold of you, so she asked me to let you know. But get this, it's a birthday party slash engagement party," she revealed, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Oh? She's getting married? To whom? That ex of hers who cheated on her like a dog, but she took him back anyway?" I asked, my tone laced with skepticism.
"Who else?" my cousin replied, rolling her eyes. I just shook my head, lamenting the foolishness that love often inspired. Tsk. "So, are you going?" She prompted. I nodded. "Then what are we waiting for? It's Saturday tomorrow, so you're probably free," she said.
"Yeah, I'm free. Why?" I asked, taking another swig of water. "We're going shopping! We need to find something fabulous to wear and a gift that screams 'congratulations!' It has to be over-the-top, right?" She giggled, already planning the expedition. I nodded in agreement, relieved that I had managed to squirrel away enough money to cover the expenses.
Before I could even finish my lunch, I received a summons from my boss, calling me back upstairs.
"Gotta run. San Pedro's probably missing me upstairs," I quipped sarcastically to my cousin before heading for the elevator. The doors were already closing when two children squeezed inside: a girl and a boy, both around nine or ten years old. Wait a minute, why are they alone? Thought kids weren't allowed on the elevator without an adult. I hesitated, expecting a parent or guardian to follow, but no one appeared.
As the doors slid shut, I found myself sharing the elevator with two unaccompanied minors.
"Uh... where are your parents? Why are you two all by yourselves? Do you know that--" I began, but my words were cut short by the girl, who was sporting a pair of oversized sunglasses. Seriously, this kid is dressed to the nines! Definitely a rich kid.
"You," she declared, jabbing a finger in my direction.
I glanced around, then pointed to myself in confusion. "Me?" I asked, incredulous. "Yes, you. Press the button for the 30th floor," she commanded, pointing imperiously to the button labeled "30." Wow, this kid has zero manners. My patience was already wearing thin, and I was tempted to give her a piece of my mind. Instead, I bit my tongue and simply pressed the button, since that was where I was headed anyway.
My gaze drifted back to the two children. What in the world are they doing on the 30th floor?
"Kuya, I'm hungry," the girl whined, breaking the silence. She was a regular chatterbox, while her companion remained unnervingly quiet. "Just wait, Xai," the boy replied, his English surprisingly polished for someone so young. Okay, these two win the award for precocious rich kids. The girl must have noticed me staring, because she suddenly turned her gaze on me, her eyes narrowed behind her designer sunglasses. That kid has a seriously intimidating stare!
"What's your name?" she demanded, her tone bordering on imperious. She sounded like a tiny, pint-sized CEO. "Gianna. What's your name?" I replied, offering a tentative smile, but she completely ignored my attempt at friendliness. "Do you know our daddy?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion. What do I care about your daddy? "Who is your daddy?" I countered, deciding to play along.
"I want you to take us to our daddy," she ordered again, her tone leaving no room for argument. One more command, and I was going to lose it on this spoiled brat. "What's your daddy's name? Maybe I know him, and I can take you to him," I said, trying to keep my voice even, but she just rolled her eyes at me, clearly unimpressed. I didn't usually lose my temper with children, but sometimes, my patience wore thin, especially when they were raised to be so entitled. Seriously, what is wrong with these kids?
As the elevator doors slid open, the girl practically shoved past me to exit first. The boy was about to follow, but he paused in the doorway, turning back to face me, his expression surprisingly hesitant. "Sorry to ask this, but... can you take us to Daddy Francis?" he asked, his back still turned to me.
"Huh?" I stammered, completely thrown by his words. I wasn't sure how to process the information that had just been dropped on me. Did he just say Francis?