Falling for the Enemy

Ch.11

Althea

I’ve spent a month working alongside Mr. Valenti. He mentioned that the journey wouldn’t be easy, yet surprisingly, it has been. Mrs. Limbs warned me that his mood shifts like the hands of a clock, but somehow, I’ve managed to work for him without receiving a single shout.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve made an effort to remain unnoticed by him. After going over our daily schedules and the tasks he assigned, I stayed at the staff residence with Amanda and the others.

Every day, I discovered more about Eros Valenti—his preferences and aversions, his moods, his rules, both his positive and negative qualities, as well as his adventures, past relationships, family, their business, and much more. Amanda provided me with a wealth of information.

He was also quite the workaholic. According to Amanda, he frequently spent hours in his office. There were times when he would doze off in his chair, only to wake up and continue working.

"I don’t understand why he’s putting in so much effort; he’s already incredibly wealthy," I remarked.

"His parents and siblings are constantly jet-setting around the globe, indulging in shopping and parties," Amanda responded.

"But why doesn’t he collaborate with them and pass on some of his responsibilities?"

"His father requested that he manage a significant client who will be arriving in a few months, and he’s putting in a lot of effort to prepare for that," Mrs. Limbs clarified.

"Really?" I was taken aback by this information.

"Yes, it’s set to be the biggest deal he’s ever encountered."

After finishing my tasks at two o'clock and with everyone else having left for the day, I lingered in my office a bit longer. Why? Because of the fast internet connection available in the building.

No, I’m not talking about twerking or flaunting my assets on t****k, f*******:, or i********: like many young women do today.

I was actually enrolled in an online course for Business Administration and Fashion Design. I chose one of the most budget-friendly colleges that was supportive and designed for working students.

One morning, I was at home enjoying my day off when I received a call from Pascal. Pascal was responsible for the illustrations and designs of a clothing.

"Althea, could you come to the office and assist me with the design of a new clothing?"

Pascal has made it a routine to ask for my assistance with his drawings and illustrations. I always agreed to help him because I wanted to avoid any conflict with anyone.

"Sure, no problem," I responded.

"Thank you, Althea, you’re so sweet. I’ll be waiting for you," Pascal said before hanging up.

I received a notification from the Bank of America app indicating that $800,000 has been deposited into my account.

At last, I unlocked my phone and sent $5,000 to Miss. Cressel’s account and $795,000 to Gary’s account.

I can finally breathe; parts of my debt have been settled, and they are gone. Miss. Cressel won’t be knocking on my door, nor will the police.

Eros

"Eros, we have an important issue." Mrs. Limbs told me immediately after closing my office door and walking over to my desk.

What could it possibly be? I haven't slept well in weeks. The excitement and stress of finalizing a crucial deal have kept me on edge: sleep has become a low priority.

"What’s the issue?" Fatigue has taken over.

"We’ve lost our entire illustration and design team, except for Pascal."

"What?" I rose to my feet, taken aback by her comment.

"They said Rebecca is willing to pay them four times more than what they receive here."

Damn those greedy fools! I groaned in frustration. All the hard work I’ve invested to make this deal happen, and their only concern is boosting their share.

Bloody hell! That woman is trying to sabotage my deal in Paris. I would love nothing more than to rip her apart right now. I took out my pear phone from my pants pocket and called Rebecca’s number.

"So the great and powerful Eros is calling. I assume it’s about your team that abandoned you, right?" Rebecca remarked in a high-pitched tone.

"Well, listen to this, you cold-blooded bastard. I’ll ensure you regret what you did to me, discarding me like I was nothing."

"Never engage in a fight you can't win, Rebecca."

"HA! We’ll see about that. I’ll guarantee you won’t get the deal you’re so desperately craving, like a wolf."

"Rebecca, I always believed you were foolish, but I had no idea you could be so incredibly stupid."

"Asshole." She hung up.

"What are we going to do, Eros?" Mrs. Limbs inquired.

I was ready to respond when I noticed a disturbance outside. Who can truly be joyful when my pants are ablaze and their paychecks are at stake?

I stepped out of my office with Mrs. Limbs following closely. Outside, I saw Althea embracing Pascal. What on earth is happening here? And why is she here on her day off? Most importantly, when did they grow so close?

"Althea Dawson," I bellowed.

She released the embrace, yet her smile remained on her face.

"What’s happening here?" She gazed at me, puzzled, as I shot her a serious glare.

"We..."

"I’m not blind. I don’t pay you to embrace your boyfriend while on the clock." I interrupted her.

"Mr. Valenti, you’ve misunderstood. We..."

"Be quiet, my office now." I stormed off in anger.

"What was the meaning of what you just did?" Althea inquired as soon as she entered my office.

"I should be the one posing that question to you," I said, trying to avoid her eyes.

“Pascal and I collaborated to devise a solution for the current crisis we are facing.”

“He detailed everything to me as soon as I arrived. He was aware that I was enrolled in an online course about designs and illustrations, so he reached out for my assistance.”

“Our happiness stemmed from the concept we developed, despite the losses we’ve endured.”

Damn, Damn, Dammit! What have I done?

"It was related to work," I inquired.

"What else were you considering?" she exclaimed, leaving my office in evident frustration.

What is wrong with me? Just look at the mess I've caused. She came to assist, and I ended up shouting at her. I feel so foolish. I must make this right.

I grabbed my pear-phone and called a number.

"Good morning, Mr. Valenti," a man said on the other end of the line.

"I need a HOUSE."