Chapter 1
Liana
The light pours in, filing the room with bright sunlight. I smile to myself. Today is my day.
I quit my job yesterday hoping to find something more....me.
Getting off my bed, I go to my connecting bathroom and do my daily routine.
I didn't even have to check the time. God I'm so happy.
After making my bed and checking my texts, I sigh and look in the mirror.
Today's outfit consists of sky blue blouse, sweet pink blazer and matching pants and sky blue four inch block heel glossy pumps that have bows at the back.
My blonde hair is pulled up into a tight bun with side braid connected to it. I've worn black rose stud earrings with a matching necklace and bracelet. My face is done with nude make up.
My manicures are perfect.
I grab my bag, it matches with my suit. I look perfect.
I walk downstairs to the kitchen and I'm greeted by the lovely aroma of breakfast. My roommate prepared eggs, bacon, chocolate waffles, sausage, fruit salad and toast.
"Ah, you look ready for your interview mi amiga." She says with a thick spanish accent.
"Because I am babes!"
"Notice something..."
I smile.
"Ahh yes, you didn't forget that it's your turn to make breakfast today!"
She giggles.
I met Carla at the university. She was thi- actually she's this GORGEOUS BAD and i mean BAD girl. You know, the motorcycle, leather jackets, tattooes, piercings and yeah you know the drill. Polar opposites. Is what they say we are. I, myself, don't know how we became friends. She used to observe me from afar, it creeped me out after a month or so. One day, there was a frat party that I went to and she approached me there, asking me about how I manage to always stay positive, how I manage to have this welcoming aura around me, how I always smile despite every wrong thing that surrounds me.
I became friends with her, and we shared EVERYTHING and still remained close even after graduation.
"You know, you didn't tell me the name of the company you're going to today."
"Oh I didn't?" I feign ignorance and stuff my mouth with food.
"You know you didn't and you're now stalling." She smugly says,"god you're so predictable!"
"How am I predictable?"
"When you lie, when you're stalling, I know your every move and now you think by asking questions, I'll focus on answering you and putting you in your place thus forgetting all about my former statement." She crosses her arms smirks.
I groan.
"Argh you know me too well!"
"Nope, that won't work too. Tell me."
"Okay, okay," I sigh, "Russo Enterprises."
3...2...1
"Hell to the no!" She laughs. "You're joking."
"Knew it. What now? The CEO molests his PAs?"
Silence.
I stop eating and look at her. She's pale and that's saying something, her skin is never pale.
"You're...scaring me, hon..."
"Not Russo as in CEO Severo Dimitri Russo...rrrighhhht?"
"How is it that you know ev-"
"Tell me he isn't"
"He isn't...?"
"Holy crap! He is, isn't he!!" She shrieked.
"Yes. Why does it bother you so much?"
"You haven't heard about this man, have you?"
"He's very VERY successful."
She scoffs
"He very VERY cruel, I've heard that he may be part of the mafia, maybe even the boss, he's very intimidating, rumour has it, he murders people who oppose him, fuck with him, he buys your company, fires you, strips you of your riches, humiliates you, not just you hun, your entire family and its next generation. Then kills you. Tell me, would you like to work closely with this kind of man. And that's nothing compared to the kind if person he really is"
"One, I'm a hundred percent sure that you don't know him on a personal level nor did you ever meet him. Two, the keyword is 'rumour' so I'm disregarding that. Three, let's hypothesize, say that's true, I wouldn't be on the end of the sword now, would I?"
"You do-"
"Breathe in, breathe out." I mock demonstrate for her. "It's just an interview, we're not sure if I'll be hired. And if I get the job, don't worry I won't get myself killed." I smile grabbing my bag.
"Wait wait wait! Since it's 'just' an interview, why not skip it and move along to next company.." she gives me puppydog eyes.
I take one bacon and take a bite.
"Oh? What if I get killed for wasting his time?"
"Oh my god," her face pales again. "You're right! Go go go go!" She pushes me out the door.
I laugh and continue eating my bacon.
"Carl I need a ride!!!"
"Argh you're annoying!!"
She jogs out. She really wants me to go.
Ten minutes of listening to Cardi B and her deafening language. I play my playlist.
I play Believe In Us by Luke Beasley and sing along.
"And sometimes it gets a little hard to belie-"
"Stoooooop!!"
I decrease the volume.
"What's wrong?"
"Can we listen to something we both like?"
"You know Luke Beasley-"
"Blah blah what's wrong with you. I don't hate Aidan's music, nor Luke's but come on. Atleast play Ariana's music.
"Okay then."
I reluctantly play Into You by Ariana Grande. My favourite song.
NB:- I don't have a boyfriend or anyone I'm into.
Oh I'm lonely.
"I'm so into you, I can barely breathe. And all I wanna do, is to fall in deep. But close ain't close enough, til we cross the line. Yeah so name a game to play, in a roll of dice hey. Oh baby look what you started, the temperature's rising in here, is this gonna happen. Been waiting and waiting for you to make a move, before I make a move. So baby come light me up, and baby I'll let you on it. A little bit dangerous but baby that's I want it. A little less conversation and a little more touch my body. Cause I'm so into you, into you, into you ooh yeah. This could-"
"Unfortunately, we're here." She sighs.
"You're genuinely sad that I applied for this job aren't ya? I mean, I can always mess up." I shrug. Oh how I love her.
"Don't babe. You're right. They're just rumours."
"I love you." I hug and air kiss her.
"Yo tambièn te quiero" she whispers.
I smile and get out of the car, I straighten my already straight outfit.
"How do I look?"
"Uhm...more lipstick and mascara will do."
I fix my makeup and smile.
"Oh and don't show him you're intimidated by him."
My eyebrows crease.
"I'm not."
"Yeah yeah break a leg!"
I quickly walk away from her and shout from afar.
"Oh god no!"
This place is huge! And marvelous.
I take a look at my watch it's 10h32 so I'm 28 minutes early.
"Good morning, I'm Liana Callen here for an intervi-"
"Yeah yeah Miss Callen. Mr Russo just got out of a meeting so you don't have to wait for 20 minutes. Just go to the Seventy Second floor." She gives me a visitor's badge and leads me to an elevator.
'Actually it's 27 minutes'
Something about this girl makes me want to punch her face. She's wearing 7 inch pink stilettos with a short pink bodycon dress and her face is caked with make up, mostly pink. Her lips are painted with hotpink lip gloss and she's chewing gum so bad, I'm pretty sure she's had her jaw dislocated more often than not. Her dirty blonde hair is pulled into a messy bun and frankly, if I were to minus the excessive make up and the skimpy outfit, she really looks gorgeous. Her features are symmetrical and pronounced. Tsk tsk what a shame.
I press the up arrow button. And get in when the doors open.
I find it weird that nobody enters.
Ping!
I walk out and see a redhead and I think she's in her fifties.
Atleast this one is decent.
"Uhm...Good morning ma'am, I'm-"
"Mr Russo's 11 o'clock?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Follow me Miss Callen."
She beckons me.
God! How can a lady with such short legs walk so fast.
"You're early, Mr Russo doesn't like ramblers so say what's necessary and don't stutter."
Doesn't like ramblers huh. You seem like a rambler to me. Too oversharing for my liking but then again, it will help in the longrun if I make it of course.
I sigh subtly and roll my eyes.
We stop at dark oakwood door.
"Goodluck Miss Callen." She gives me a sympathetic look, nods and scurries off.
I knock.
"Come in." I heard a faint soothing masculine voice, heavy with an italian accent.
I get in and walk to the desk. His back facing me.
God he looks good even from behind. Standing at 6'3" with rich chocolate brown hair.
I clear my throat loudly, trying to grab his attention he turns around.
My breath hitches and my eyes widen slightly.
really good chapter ☺️