The Coldwell

Knowing your target

Darius left his room and headed towards his mother's room, where Celine was applying a facial mask in front of the mirror. She heard someone knocking on her door.

Upon opening it, she was surprised to see Darius standing there, his irritation clearly evident.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"How could you send my sister to do this? She's still inexperienced," Darius replied.

"What better way to prove her worth than a test like this? Your cousins have made us proud, so my daughter has to surpass them," Celine explained.

"You're insane," Darius muttered.

"Don't you dare disrespect me. I haven't spent millions on your education for this," Celine retorted.

"For God's sake!" Darius stormed out of the room, slamming the door. He briefly considered talking to his grandmother, but she was just as stubborn as his mother, so he dismissed the idea.

He returned to his room, determined to find a way to be close to Vane and protect her from harm.

Days later, Vane was nervous, standing at the entrance of a large building. Her heart was racing as she had dressed up elegantly for the occasion.

She wore a black tailored suit, with a fitted skirt that went just below her knees and a three-quarter sleeve black blazer. Underneath, she had a pearl-colored blouse with a discreet neckline that hinted at her well-endowed attributes.

She had tied her hair back to appear more professional and to add a few years to her age. Despite her family thinking she was flat, she was anything but. Her slender waist accentuated her hips and shapely breasts. While her cousins had more curvaceous bodies due to surgeries, Vane's figure was entirely natural, slim but with pronounced curves.

A friend had helped her secure that interview, of course, the girl had no idea about her true intentions. She had convinced her by saying that she wanted to make it on her own, without any help from her family.

She hated lying, but she would never betray her family by revealing what they actually did, even to her best friend. People who knew them knew they were powerful businesswomen, and their victims ended up staying quiet under the threat of exposing all their dark and intimate secrets.

The Coldwells typically changed residences constantly, having lived in several cities, but always returned to the city where the old Coldwell mansion was located.

Vane entered the splendid building with slow steps, her hands sweating due to nervousness. She had sent her documents in advance for review because, despite her young age, she was well-prepared in many aspects and was very intelligent.

She took the elevator to reach the top floor. Upon arrival, she saw several beautiful girls waiting to apply for the position. Instead of a job interview, it seemed more like a modeling audition.

As she walked through the room, the other girls fixed their gaze on her. They thought she was a pretty girl, but insignificant compared to them, and she was too young. The boss would want a woman with experience, and by that, they meant someone who could fulfill all of his desires.

Vane headed toward a chair to sit down, picked up a magazine, and pretended to read it. She could feel the inquisitive looks of the other girls on her.

She had researched Dante and knew he was a terrible boss. The salary was excellent, but he demanded a lot from his employees.

One by one, the girls went in for their interviews, and when they came out of the office, their expressions were serious. Gradually, the waiting room emptied, and a couple of hours later, Vane heard a man's voice calling her name.

"Miss Vanessa Sanders, please come in." Vane had changed her last name for obvious reasons. She hoped the company wouldn't investigate her references too thoroughly, keeping her real name to avoid complications.

Vane hurried to enter the office, extremely nervous. As soon as she set foot inside, she stumbled and fell flat on her face, right onto the man who would be her boss. The man was standing, leaning against his desk.

Dante looked at her with an annoyed expression. This girl seemed to have two left feet. She felt herself pressed against his firm chest. When she looked up, she met the intense gaze of his deep blue eyes.

"Are you comfortable? Please move away from me immediately," he said.

Vane felt embarrassed and withdrew from him. With her head bowed, she turned to head for the door. She thought her cousins would tease her. She had failed on her very first day. She was about to step out when she heard Dante's voice.

"Where are you going? I didn't tell you that you can leave," he said. She turned immediately.

"But you said..."

"For God's sake, girl, I said to move away from me, to get off me, not to leave. Now, sit down."

She timidly obeyed him, and he turned to go back to his seat on the other side of the desk. Vane unconsciously bit her lip while observing his broad back and his firm rear, the muscles accentuated through his clothing.

He began to explain the job to her, and Vane kept her gaze fixed on him. However, his voice sounded distant, as thousands of thoughts raced through her mind. This man had the most perfect face she had ever seen, with exceptionally fine features.

"So, are you aware of this?" he asked.

Vane opened her eyes wide, wondering what on earth he was asking. What was he referring to?

"Sorry?" she asked.

"Are you aware that you will have to travel with me constantly, both domestically and internationally, if you are chosen for the position?"

"Oh, that, yes, that's not a problem for me. I have all the time in the world to dedicate to my work."

"I've read your documents thoroughly, and I have good references for you. What I want to know is, why do you want to work for this company?"

"I believe it's one of the best companies in the country. As you can see in my documents, I worked for a couple of years in the Coldwell family company. You can verify my references if you'd like. The thing is, I think working here will be an excellent reference for a future job."

Vane said the first thing that came to mind. After leaving, she would call her mother in case they needed to verify her references. She felt like a fool. Who could concentrate in front of such a stunning man?

"I liked your answer. You haven't given me a whole lecture trying to convince me," Dante said. That was what Dante hated the most, people talking too much.

"Thank you," Vane barely audibly replied.

"So, Miss Sanders, wait for our call. It will inform you whether you're hired or if you'll have to wait for another job opening if you really want to be part of our team."

Dante got up to accompany her to the door. He watched her as she walked down the hallway to the elevator. The girl walked clumsily. He stayed there for a while, staring at where she had disappeared.

He thought that this girl smelled incredibly good. He could sense the fragrance of her hair when she was on top of him. He lifted his shirt to smell it, and the soft and delightful scent had become embedded in it.

He was an experienced man and noticed the effect he had on the girl. She was looking at him like a fool, and he noticed her naivety, which pleased him. The other candidates were acting like wolves. Perhaps he would choose her; she was a diamond in the rough, and he could mold her to his liking.

He needed a personal assistant who would not be capable of betraying him, someone who would give everything for him and excel at her job. He needed a perfect assistant. It was clear that this girl was not that, but under his guidance, she could become the best in no time.

Furthermore, she had a good presence, and her body had an excellent shape, so he wouldn't be embarrassed to have her accompany him to some events. He didn't usually bring his lovers. If the press saw him with them at important events, they would think the relationship was serious.

Vane returned to her home, and the Coldwell clan awaited her impatiently. When she entered the mansion, they practically pounced on her.

"You have to tell us what happened immediately," her cousins surrounded her.

"Let Vane catch her breath, girls. Come, daughter, sit here by my side," her grandmother said.

Vane sat next to her grandmother, as requested. Darius observed attentively from a corner.

"I did very well. Dante himself interviewed me. They said the company will call to let me know if I'm chosen or if I have to wait for a position to become available in the company later," she explained.

"We hope they call you and, most importantly, accept you," her grandmother said.

"I can see that someone put in extra effort in their appearance today. You look like a real professional, cousin. But tell us, is the man as handsome and sexy as he appears in photos and videos?" Marianne asked, always curious.

"He's much more than that," Vane dared to be honest.

"Be careful with that. You can't afford to fall in love, and you know it, especially not with a man like that," Celine did not like her daughter's response.

"Don't worry, I know that, Mother. I've been told that repeatedly for years. If you'll excuse me, I'll go upstairs to rest."

Vane walked away to go to her room, and Darius stood up. He gave his mother a disapproving look and then went after Vanessa.

He knocked insistently on the door, but the girl did not respond. He understood that she wanted to be alone, so he turned and walked a few steps. The door suddenly opened.

"Brother, come in," she said.

He turned back, and she bolted the door. She didn't want their mother to come in.

He thought that this girl smelled incredibly good. He could sense the fragrance of her hair when she was on top of him. He lifted his shirt to smell it, and the soft and delightful scent had become embedded in it.

He was an experienced man and noticed the effect he had on the girl. She was looking at him like a fool, and he noticed her naivety, which pleased him. The other candidates were acting like wolves. Perhaps he would choose her; she was a diamond in the rough, and he could mold her to his liking.

He needed a personal assistant who would not be capable of betraying him, someone who would give everything for him and excel at her job. He needed a perfect assistant. It was clear that this girl was not that, but under his guidance, she could become the best in no time.

Furthermore, she had a good presence, and her body had an excellent shape, so he wouldn't be embarrassed to have her accompany him to some events. He didn't usually bring his lovers. If the press saw him with them at important events, they would think the relationship was serious.

Vane returned to her home, and the Coldwell clan awaited her impatiently. When she entered the mansion, they practically pounced on her.

"You have to tell us what happened immediately," her cousins surrounded her.

"Let Vane catch her breath, girls. Come, daughter, sit here by my side," her grandmother said.

Vane sat next to her grandmother, as requested. Darius observed attentively from a corner.

"I did very well. Dante himself interviewed me. They said the company will call to let me know if I'm chosen or if I have to wait for a position to become available in the company later," she explained.

"We hope they call you and, most importantly, accept you," her grandmother said.

"I can see that someone put in extra effort in their appearance today. You look like a real professional, cousin. But tell us, is the man as handsome and sexy as he appears in photos and videos?" Marianne asked, always curious.

"He's much more than that," Vane dared to be honest.

"Be careful with that. You can't afford to fall in love, and you know it, especially not with a man like that," Celine did not like her daughter's response.

"Don't worry, I know that, Mother. I've been told that repeatedly for years. If you'll excuse me, I'll go upstairs to rest."

Vane walked away to go to her room, and Darius stood up. He gave his mother a disapproving look and then went after Vanessa.

He knocked insistently on the door, but the girl did not respond. He understood that she wanted to be alone, so he turned and walked a few steps. The door suddenly opened.

"Brother, come in," she said.

He turned back, and she bolted the door. She didn't want their mother to come in.

"I can see that you're sad," Darius said.

"I don't like what I'll be doing. Dante is a very attractive man. You know I haven't had any dealings with any man except you. Mom always made sure I went to schools where my classmates were only girls," Vanessa replied.

"I know, and believe me, I don't agree with all of this. Are you afraid of falling in love?" Darius asked.

"I'm afraid of everything that will come after this. What if he takes revenge and hurts me? You saw what happened to our aunt," Vanessa confessed.

"I won't let him harm you, I promise. Go, have a bubble bath to relax," Darius reassured her.

"Thank you, Darius. Thank you for loving me the way you do," she said.

He just smiled, gave her a hug, and headed towards the door. Now he was glad he had come back. He needed to protect her.

Among the Coldwells, Vane was the most vulnerable, perhaps due to her inexperience. Their grandmother believed they needed to strengthen her so she wouldn't be an easy target for any man.

Days later, while they were having a meal, Vane's cell phone started ringing insistently. The grandmother had the habit of turning off cell phones during meals and gatherings, but this time, she allowed it to stay on because it was important. Vane checked the number and answered immediately.

"Hello."

"Miss Sanders?" A woman's voice answered on the other end.

"I'm calling on behalf of Damasco Corporation."

A terrible chill ran down Vane's legs at that moment. She would find out if she had succeeded.