I am the boss - English version

Chapter 9: Two months of my salary

Luca returned with the bill and handed it to Bennett, who did not allow me to see it, he told Luca, extending him a gold card. 

- Please include a twenty percent tip.

- Oh, thank you very much Mr. Jones, you are always so kind. 

Bennett said nothing else and just took his cell phone out of his jacket upper inner bag. 

For an instant he was careless and I was able to clearly see the total of the bill. 

Whaaaaat the heeeeeeck!!!!??? 

This meal has cost him what I make in two months, two months of my salary. 

It can't be, never in my entire life could I have ever paid this amount of money for a single meal, super delicious obviously, but the bill is complete madness, I can't believe it, but Bennett didn't even make a gesture of surprise or disapproval of the cost of the meal, on the contrary, to that ridiculous and totally over exaggerated amount, he just added an extra twenty percent for Luca, as a tip.

I definitely see now the difference between our worlds, it is not just a big difference, it is abysmal, I am not even remotely similar to what he is and surely nothing to do with what he has lived or likes. 

He finished with his phone and turned to see me and obviously he noticed my expression. 

- What's up little one? 

- Hmm, give me a moment and I will tell you. 

- Okay. 

Luca finished doing everything he had to do and he wished us a wonderful afternoon while he left and then we were alone. 

- What happened? 

- Ben, I didn’t know that this place was so expensive, I will pay you for my food- 

- Of course not, I invited you, and a gentleman must always pay, besides for me this is nothing. 

- I know but- 

I tried to answer something to him but I couldn’t and I just lowered my face. I remained silent thinking, I am nothing, nothing close to what he is, he is a millionaire, businessman, a rock star, I am nada, just a poor little orphan. 

- What's up little one? What is going on inside that beautiful head of yours? 

- I really don't understand why 

- Why what? 

- Why did you bring me here today? 

- Do you want the arrogant in me to come out again? 

- Excuse me? 

- Because I wanted to do it and because I can do it, that's it, I said it, I didn't say I was the boss. 

He lets out a loud laugh again that rubs off on me and makes me laugh heartily too. 

- Oh well, once Mr. Arrogant, always Mr. Arrogant. 

- Bad habits are difficult to change, right? 

- Now that I know you a little more closely, I no longer think it is a bad habit, it is something that you earned, with your hard work and all of your effort, I think you have every right to be arrogant. 

After hearing me, he just smiled slightly as he watched me with those beautiful blue eyes, damn, if I am not careful this is going to be a total disaster for me, I must be very very careful. 

- Ready to go? 

He told me and I nodded yes at him. 

He stood up and extended his arm to take my hand and to help me get out of the seat. I took his hand and now instead of feeling nervous, I think I like this feeling. 

What's happening to me? Wake up, this is impossible, this cannot be, it is something totally improbable in any parallel universe that you can picture or imagine. 

LAYLA WAKE UP!!! 

We started walking and Luca came to accompany us, to escort us to the door. 

As we were leaving, all the employees smiled and waved goodbye to Bennett with huge smiles and showing him great respect, this is surreal, right? 

At the door was the older man who received us when we arrived, he was standing there waiting for us. 

- Mr. Jones, how did you find everything? 

- It was a delight Giuseppe, please tell Massimo that he really did shine today, and that he helped me to please this little lady. 

As he said that, he placed his hand on my back, I felt how the colors started rising up all over my face. 

- It is great to know that you Sir and your beautiful girlfriend enjoyed the food. 

- Mm- 

I tried to say that I am not his girlfriend, but Bennett hugged me, preventing me from speaking. 

-He is an angel who deserves everything life can offer, what can I say. We are leaving now, thanks again Giuseppe. 

- See you later, sir. Hmm Sir… 

- Yes Giuseppe, tell me 

He stopped when the gray-haired man called out to him. 

He turned around and waited for Giuseppe to continue talking. 

- Is the idea of selling the restaurant still in your plans, Sir? 

Whaaaaat? 

Is Bennett the owner of this very expensive and luxurious restaurant? 

And if he is the owner, why did he pay for the food? I mean, everything here is his. 

I did not expect that, nor in a crazy drunkenness and mollies night I would have thought that he is the owner, well I have never been drunk or I have never taken drugs, but wow, this man never ceases to amaze me, as all the articles in the magazines and newspapers said about him, 'he is someone surrounded by a mystery halo', wooow, he definitely is.

- I am still considering several projects, although as of today, the love I have for this place has grown so much that I do not think I can sell it now, I do not know, I will inform you as soon as I have a final decision. 

- The employees- 

- Do not worry, in the remote case that I would sell the place, as I just told you, because of today I think I could not sell it, but in that case, I would make sure in the sales contract that everyone had security on keeping their jobs, but do not worry, today it was a real game changer. 

He said and then turned to see me. 

What is this expression on his face? He hadn't done it all day. What does it mean? 

- Very good sir, I'm glad.      

- You, keep up your excellent work as a manager and don't worry. 

Ahhh, this man is the manager of the place. duh! 

When we stepped out of the restaurant his car was already at the door with a valet parking on each side with the doors opened. 

Bennett walked with me to the passenger door, took my hand to help me get in, buckled me up, closed the door, and went to the other side. 

He got inside the car and the valet parking closed his door, he gave each one of the boys a generous tip and said goodbye to them so we can get out of there. 

- Now, I will take you home, Layla.

- Bennet, really, you don't need to.

- I am not asking for your permission, I am just informing you that I am going to take you home.

- Ben, really, I can take the subway, there’s no need.

- Why would you do that if we are going to your house by car, now, where? Or you just want to be with me and you are letting me drive wherever I want?

- No no, Ben, seriously, my roomie is waiting for me.

-That’s why asked

-Ok ok, fine, please go to Yorkville, I live on First Avenue and Eighty-Eight street.

- Very well, there we go!

Bennett said with a cheerful tone and expression on his face, I do not know what happened to the arrogant guy from this morning, but this is definitely a completely different Bennett than the Bennett I met in the lobby of the 'HIS' building at the revolving door and I am so glad of being so lucky to have been able to see this side of him.

- Ben, can I tell you something?

- Of course, anything

- Hmm for sure? aren't you going to get offended?

- Ha ha ha I do not know what you are going to tell me, so it is very difficult to tell you that I am one hundred percent sure I am not going to, but I am not someone who is easily offended by others, so go ahead.

- I am afraid to offend the owner of the company.

- Right now, I am just Ben, not Mr. Jones, so we are just a couple of friends, don’t worry, besides friends must have confidence and in this way be able to say things as they are, right?

- You are right in the latter, but we have been friends for just a couple of hours, so, I worry that you may take it the wrong way.

- I promise you that I will not take it any other way, seeing how you are worried about the idea of offending me, I know that whatever you are going to tell me is with good intentions, so tell me now whatever it is, please do not edit it to make it sound more polite and kind, tell me.

- This morning, I hated you!

- Ha ha ha, How do you expect me not to be offended by that statement?

- Wait, wait, let me continue without interruptions.

- Mm hmm, ok, go on.

- Since you have a personality, very, hmm, how could I describe it? dominant maybe, but at the same time arrogant, you are always with the 'my car, my office, my place, my company' attitude, but right now, after eating with you I was able to see another side of you, that if I am honest with you, I love it!

-Hmm

- Wait, I guess few people are lucky enough to see this side of you, or am I wrong?

- Again, your audacity and shrewdness are noticeable.

- Beeeeen, I am not kidding.

- Neither do I, those two specific qualities of yours caught my attention since the morning, the way you always find how to answer me, I find that beautifully entertaining, although at first you made me angry, the truth is nobody has the boldness to answer me, not even by mistake, not a bit close to what you did.

- Oh, by the way, why were you fighting with me in the lobby in front of Richard?

- Because I can

- Argh! you are so hateful when you give me that answer.

- Then do not ask me the obvious.

- Here here, I live here!

- Did we arrive?

- Yes Ben, thank you so much for everything, honestly, it was the best and most delicious food of my entire life.

- You did not say when we can go for a walk

- Hmm we will see that later, I will see you tomorrow at work, thank you very much for everything.

- I already told you, it was nothing, rest and I will see you tomorrow

- Ok, bye

- Goodbye Layla

I got out of the car and my heart was beating so freaking hard that I felt like it was going to get out of my chest, I thought I had already mastered this.

It is him, my pulse speeds up like crazy and I feel like I faint if he stares at me, like he just did.

I walked into my apartment and Naty wasn't there.

I was preparing everything that I will wear tomorrow and then to take a bubbly long relaxing bath.

A while later, I got out of the tub, wrapped myself in my bathrobe and threw myself on my bed.

I heard the door closing but I remained silent.

Naty waltzes into my room with a bouquet of lilies, my favorites, and the lilies are purple, my favorite fav’s.

- Babyyyy congratulations, How was your first day?

- Crazy, you cannot imagine the day I had

- Oh boy, sounds complicated, tell me.

- My immediate boss is a mega hunk, blond, honey-colored eyes, huge and beautiful.

- Single?

- Oh, I don't know, we couldn't talk that much, he accompanied me throughout the induction though.

- And at what time did the induction end and what did you do after it, away from your hunk boss?

- At 2:00 pm I made the largest and most humiliating thing in the entire universe

- Bigger than when you were in the crazy tennis class?

- A loooooot bigger, didn't you hear that I said it was the biggest humiliation in the universe?

- Oh baby, what did you do?

- I fainted in the company’s owner office

- Whaaaaaat did you do?

- What you just heard, I got called to the owner's office and as I left in a hurry this morning, I did not have breakfast at all and I did not take anything, so as soon as I entered the mega office, I freaking fainted, can you believe it?

- Of you? Obviously yes!

I hit her with a cushion, she just could not stop laughing at me.

- Shut up Naty!

- Ok ok, I stop, hey where are we going to celebrate right now?

- Not Today my friend, if you are so kind, please let’s reschedule for the weekend, I am feeling very very tired and I want to sleep earlier, I cannot walk around fainting at work, you know? I will get up earlier tomorrow, so I can get ready and have enough time to prepare a good breakfast, eat it and also to take the subway.

- Woooow who are you and what did you do with my friend Layla?

- Seriously Naty, it was the most mortifying thing in the world that the owner of the company lifted me off the floor.

- Hey and how is the owner?

- He is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on

- More than your hunk boss?

- A thousand times more, but he is the owner of the entire freaking company, Naty, I am not even dreaming about that, he is not going to look at me someday, he is just from another league, there is no way he would look at me.

- Never say never baby!

- Hmm, hope is the last thing that dies, right?

- That is what they usually say baby, you are looking blurry to me, you need to rest now

- Thank you Naty, I will see you tomorrow

- Yes baby, rest, and again, congratulations on your new dream job baby, sweet dreams.