After the lively chat with her mother, Arya heads to her room and picks out a black pencil skirt that falls below the knees, a dark green button-up shirt, and black pumps with metallic silver heels. She enters the bathroom, turns on the shower, and takes a bath. After getting dressed, she applies moderately elaborate makeup considering the time of day. Securing her hair into a high ponytail after blow-drying, she slips on a pair of long earrings, a delicate necklace featuring a thin, silver-colored chain and a small pendant to match the earrings, a few bracelets, and a ring on her index finger. She stows her cell phone and documents in her GUCCI clutch, one of the many gifts she'd received from her former boss's wife as a farewell present. Giving herself one final glance in the mirror, she descends to wait for her boss to pick her up.
"I might be biased, but you look beautiful, my daughter," her mother says with a broad smile.
"Good to know you're aware of your bias, but I suppose I do look rather nice," she replies with a laugh.
Her phone rings, displaying her boss's private number. She pulls a face and answers it, then bids her mother and children farewell before stepping out of the house and approaching a beautiful sports car parked outside. As she gets in, Kilam gazes at her for moments without blinking.
"Mr. Pagano, is everything alright?" she inquires, bringing him back to reality.
"Yes, everything's fine," he replies somewhat awkwardly.
"Mr. Cuper has decided to sign the contract in person instead of sending his nephew," Kilam states, his attention back on the road.
"I'll need to call the restaurant to arrange some menu changes," she voices with worry.
"And why is that?" he asks, glancing at her before focusing on driving again.
"Mr. Cuper has some dietary restrictions," she reveals, reaching for her phone in her purse.
"You know him?" he inquires, surprised.
"Yes, Mr. Carter had some dealings with him," she responds while searching for the restaurant's number.
"What May said was true," he remarks, and she looks at him.
"You are indeed an excellent choice. I think I might let her off earlier than agreed," he mentions with a smile, evoking a blush from Arya.
Upon arrival at the restaurant, he parks the car and quickly opens the door for Arya, who is shy at his gesture. Inside, after giving the reservation name, they are led to an empty table. He orders a whiskey on the rocks, and she opts for water also with ice. She opens the folder to review the documents.
"Don't worry, I've already checked them multiple times before leaving the company, so just relax," Kilam assures with a chuckle, sipping his drink.
"Okay, I guess I can trust you," she responds, surprised to see him smile for the second time in less than an hour.
"You don't need to call me 'Mr.' the entire time; we're off company grounds, and I'm not that old," he remarks, looking into her eyes.
"If I recall, on my first day you warned me to remember my place," she counters, holding his gaze.
"As I remember, I asked to be treated with due respect," he asserts, leaning closer.
She looks away at the distant sound of investors' voices, and they settle into their seats. As the guests arrive, they exchange greetings and sit down.
"I didn't expect to see you again, my dear," Mr. Cuper says with an affectionate smile.
"It's a pleasure to see you," she replies politely.
"Carter has yet to find someone of your caliber as a replacement," he laughs warmly.
"I'm sure he will find someone even better," she responds with a smile.
"Look, Kilam, I hope you appreciate this girl. She's one of the finest professionals I've met, despite her young age; she's very responsible and never disappoints," he articulates with a stern tone.
"Indeed, she's only been with me for a week and has already shown great dedication; don't worry, I'll take good care of her," he replies, with Arya noting an undertone in his words.
After placing their orders, Arya expertly explains all the documents and steps for the construction to the investors while Kilam admires her poise. Following dinner, the dishes are cleared, and he unfolds the building blueprints, addressing any remaining questions. Once the contracts are signed, they head back to the office to secure the paperwork. Kilam asks Arya to join him in his office and proposes she sit on the couch. He retrieves a drink from a small cabinet and offers her one, which she accepts. Handing her the glass, he seats himself in an armchair opposite her.
"Congratulations, you've made me lose twenty thousand dollars," Kilam says, loosening his tie and rolling up his sleeves for comfort.
"Sorry, Mr... Kilam, what did I do wrong?" she asks, puzzled.
"Please, I've already asked you to call me Kilam after hours, and the problem is exactly that you did nothing wrong, on the contrary," he says, looking at her intently.
"Apologies, Kilam, but I still don't understand," she says, taking a sip from her glass.
"I made a bet with May that you would stumble without her at dinner, but she claimed you were the best she'd ever seen," he reveals with a seductive smile.
"Of course, you still had your doubts, which is understandable," she remarks, laughing.
"But making a bet is quite risky without knowing the person."
After their talk in the office, Kilam drops Arya home before heading to his own residence.
"Arya, you truly are an interesting woman; it will be fun working with you," Kilam muses while lying in bed staring up at the ceiling.
Instagram: @escritoraloladiasoficial
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 108 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments