Mr. Gallo was a real controlling jerk. After the initial scare where he made me believe he would fire me, things only got worse. Every day, he sets aside exactly 20 minutes to interrogate me… Yes, interrogate and complain.
He would say:
"Romano, where did you get this information?
Did you check this calculation correctly?
Where did you even graduate from?
We have a meeting today at 11 am, your boyfriend won't mind, will he?
I'm sure if you have a boyfriend, he's a poor, unhappy soul, after all, Miss Romano can test anyone's patience. Tell me, Romano, is he patient?
Romano, this coffee is watery, did you do it on purpose?
Now my secretary has become the company gossip, who did you have lunch with today?
Do you know what professional confidentiality is?
I hope you maintain professionalism and don't get too friendly with employees here, remember who your boss is?
Reorganize my schedule, it's all messed up.
Change laundromats, my kimonos smell horrible.”
It was like this all the time, and I had just completed one month. Why wasn't I selected to work with Fernando or even Frederico? They are sweethearts.
"Pam, my dear, is there room in your heart for me, flower?" my boss's brother was always so flirtatious. "Tell me you'll have lunch with me?"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Fernando, but your brother reminds me every second how much my life boils down to being his slave secretary," I say, irritated with my boss's schedule.
"Wow, you're really stressed, Pamzinha. But I promise I can get my brother off your back if you give me a chance," he says, winking at me.
My boss opens the door.
"The conversation seems very lively, Miss Romano, working is no fun, is it?" the arrogant hottie says.
How can he be so handsome and be such a well of arrogance?
"Dear brother, you could let me have your secretary, after all, it's clear that she hates you…" he smiles. "Just like it's clear that you, my dear, are in deep trouble." He bursts into laughter. "Dear Pam, you have a lunch break, and so we don't get sued or you end up fainting, I insist on paying for your lunch." I try to argue but when I look at my boss's face, who thinks I'm going to refuse because of the amount of complaining he did when he saw me having lunch with other employees, ahhh… That made the rebellious girl in me want to rip off my bra.
"You're right, Mr. Fernando," I say, letting everything go and relaxing my body. "I need a break, and nothing like lunch to cheer me up." I look at my boss, who is fuming. "And don't worry, boss, I won't be telling your brother any secrets about your schedule or contracts. I assure you that the confidentiality clause will always be my priority when it comes to your schedule or my work." I observe his indignation. "But I guarantee you…" I look at my watch, and I'm already on my lunch break, he follows my every move. "I guarantee you that your ears will be burning because I'm going to take advantage of your brother here to vent about how nice you are."
I grab my purse, walk around the table, and head for the elevators.
"Yeah, brother, like I said… You're screwed." Fernando comes up to me. "Honey, let's take the private elevator."
I don't miss the opportunity to give my boss the best "go fuck yourself, asshole" look and follow his brother.
I only realize everything I've done when the doors close and I look at Fernando's face.
"I'm fired," I say, putting my hands on my temples.
"Relax, Pamzinha… You're not. My brother would never fire you," he says, smiling at something on his cell phone.
"I'm sure we're not talking about the same brother; we're talking about my boss, Fernando, that womanizing, spoiled brat who's making my life hell because he thinks I'm going to reveal the great secrets contained in the contracts I analyze for him. Honestly, that's not even my job. And he could very well tell one of those supermodels something, since he's always drunk," I declare. He raises an eyebrow.
"Ask for a raise, honey. I can guarantee he'd do anything to have you," he says mischievously.
"Don't joke about that." I say, getting out of the elevator and following my new best friend.
"Tell me, Pam, what do you do for fun?" I'm about to be fired, and he changes the subject like that. "Come on, honey… Brighten up my sad existence; if my brother is crazy enough to fire you, you'll be my new secretary."
"You swear? Then I hope he fires me." We burst out laughing.
"Come on, girl, tell me something about yourself." He insists, and I realize this is the best opportunity I've had in years to have a normal conversation.
"You know, Mr. Fernando…" I begin, rambling.
"Leave the 'mister' aside, you can call me Nando or Fer, whichever you prefer." I adore my boss's brother.
"Nando, I don't have that much to tell… The most exciting thing I've done was come here with you." He smiles. "It was always just me and my mom. She worked a lot so I could study, and sometimes we didn't have enough at home. I was the poor girl at the rich kids' school, besides being the ugly duckling, so I didn't have friends, and the ones I did make weren't important bonds. My plan was to be a great businesswoman. I got into college, and when I was about to graduate, my mom started getting sick," I say, feeling the tears welling up. "I graduated, and a short time later, she was really bad, you know, and then she died, and I was alone."
"I'm so sorry, Pam." He seems truly compassionate.
"Today, I chase our dreams, so here I am, living this moment, even if your brother is a pain in the ass, he's my chance," I say.
"So, my brother is a handsome guy?" he says with a sideways smile.
We arrive at the restaurant and sit down.
"You'd have to be blind not to see it! He dates all those beautiful models. Even if it's just for his looks, because he's not nice at all." He starts laughing.
We get into a conversation about his life and his brothers, and I have fun listening to the three of them's antics. I can even see a certain humanity in my boss. Everything was flowing well when I notice the chair next to us being pulled back.
"What a coincidence, brother? I came here for lunch and ended up finding you here." My boss speaks with his usual sarcastic tone.
"Well, my dear Felipe, I never thought I'd see you here; after all, you're allergic to seafood," Fernando says.
I see my boss glaring at him.
"They serve the best wine in the region here," he retorts.
The discussion between the two permeates our entire lunch. I eat everything in silence, after all, I don't feel comfortable with my boss. As soon as we finish, Fernando receives a call and gets up to answer it.
"Let's go, Miss Romano, my brother has a meeting now and won't be able to take you back to the company." How does he know?
"Don't worry, sir, I'll take a taxi," I say, getting up.
"No way, you're coming with me." He stands up and leads me by the arm.
As soon as he touched me, I felt an electric current run through my entire body. I was embarrassed; after all, it was the first time this had ever happened, just like it was the first time he had touched me.
Did he feel anything? He paused for a few seconds as if he had felt it too, but soon started walking again.
Arrogant jerk.
"-
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