Mine to Claim

New York City Spring 2015 Coletta It had been a month since I began my official internship as an executive contractor for Mozentano Empire. My father’s empire. Jackson Mozentano was a man who had gone down in business history for being the first man to build such a profitable business from the ground up in 25 years with no degree or education to speak of. Mozentano Empire was first built in order to provide quality materials and tools for other construction companies after my father witnessed first hand the atrocities that labor and construction workers had undergone when materials were cheap. Many lives were lost and many workers were severely injured on the job. They were then left without any way to pay for medical and long term disability which effected not only them but their families as well. My father’s best friend Pedro had been one of those men. Ever since then, my father has built a company that not only supplies safe materials and equipment but also advocates for those workers who have been left to fend for themselves. He gives them opportunities to build secure lives. Of course, because my father is adament on discipline and humility, all of his children have started working at the very first level of the company to understand the intensity of labor work and to have an appreciation for it. All five of my siblings work in some area of the company. Being the middle child, I had finally reached the level in which I finished my college degree and began my internship. I was currently 22 years old and ready to face the world. Victor, my eldest brother, was currently holding the executive CEO position. My elder sister Julieta, was working as a coordination manager for events within the company. And now I was finally working towards an executive contractor position. Someone who would deal with making contracts with other companies and businesses to continue to build Mozentano Empire. “We have 10 minutes before guests begin arriving,” Julieta warned those who were in attendence. Today was an important event. The company was recruiting potential new and upcoming businesses to eventually contract with. I wore my high waisted cream colored suit pants with a blush pink blouse tucked into the waistband. My hair was pulled back into a bun with a few strands left loose to frame my face. If one wanted to make a good impression, then they had to dress for the part. Being a woman in the coporate world was definitely no easy feat especially when most were thought to be less than. My father never thought that way bless his soul. He encouraged my sister and I to be fierce with the attributes we were born with both physical and personality wise. It also helped that we had a fierce mama as a role model. So today, I would stand here confidant in my place and do what I could to draw in potential contracts. As the first guests arrived, I smiled serenely and welcomed them to find a seat. I could hear Julieta continuing to direct employees to do no less than perfection. A tingle of awareness prickled my senses and I became all too aware of a powerful presence. It must be a guest. By this point I had moved off to the side observing the current guests talking amonst themselves. The meeting room was a bustle of energy. But the moment that presence took precedence, most eyes turned to the door. My eyes included. A tall man with a body built to make any woman’s panties wet walked in like a predator stalking his prey. Even beneath his tailored suit, one could tell the muscles that rippled beneath were impressive. But then my eyes traveled upward only to be captured by the most intense stare I had ever witnessed. His eyes were the color of green jade and they were so light they were an incredible contrast to his black hair. Speaking of, it was styled in that sexy business cut where the sides and back were closely shaven but the top was kept in a professinal messy style that made you want to dig your fingers in and hold on while he ate you. f**k! What the hell was I thinking right now?! I noticed a smirk on his perfect face as he solely watched me. I pursed my lips before giving a soft smile. But his smirk only grew and it made me instantly want to squirm. It was as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. Before I could take in more of his perfect facial features such as his neatly trimmed facial hair, long straight nose, full lips, and strong jawline, I turned to see if Julieta needed anything from me. “Julieta,” I said to get her attention. Her eyes came up to meet mine, her schedule on her clipboard forgotten. Although we had tech to do a lot of that stuff nowadays, Julieta alwasy insisted on having a hard copy. “What is it?” she asked. “Who the hell is that guy?” I asked attempting to inconspiciously point the man out with my gaze alone. She seemed to get the hint and looked quickly in that direction. Her eyes quickly widened before flitting back to me. “That’s Dimitri Vlaskevitichi. He’s beginning to make big waves in the architectual sphere,” she explained. I had heard of him and knew he was going to be in attendence. But I hadn’t known just how….intense his presence was going to be. I could still feel his gaze on me and it took everything in my power not to turn and look.