WORST FIRST ENCOUNTER
1404 Words
DIANA
I stared at the name on the file, reading it twice just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.
"I want you to interview him," Mr. Romano said firmly.
My head snapped up, my eyes widening in disbelief.
"You're joking?" I asked, searching his face for even the slightest hint that this was some kind of prank. For a second, I honestly thought I'd heard him wrong.
"I don't joke, Diana," he replied
A dry laugh escaped my lips.
"Sir... every major media house in Italy has tried to interview Adonis Castillo over the past year. They all failed," I said, trying to reason with him.
"I know."
I stared at him, stunned."And... you're sending me?"
"Exactly."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"So everyone else failed... and your solution is to send me?"
"If anyone can get him talking," Mr. Romano replied, "I think you have it in you."
I bit my lower lip so hard just to stop myself from saying what was really on my mind.
That wasn't reassuring.It sounded more like a polite way of saying, Good luck. You're on your own.
Mr. Romano checked his wristwatch.
"You have forty-eight hours." Before I could protest, he took the Bellucci Hotel report from my hands and walked away. Rosa followed behind him, shooting me a smug smile.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"What a witch," I muttered.
Bobby slowly turned toward me.
"Well..."
"I just lost my exclusive story..." I sighed, opening the file again. "...and gained an impossible assignment."
We walked back to my desk. I dropped the file onto it and slumped into my chair. Honestly, it hurt, and I couldn't even complain about it.
Bobby leaned against my desk with a sympathetic smile.
"Come on. Interviewing Adonis Castillo can't be that bad."
I looked at him."Would you like to switch places?"
He immediately straightened."Oh, absolutely not."
I folded my arms. "My point exactly."
"I heard the last reporter camped outside his company for three days," Bobby said. "Poor girl didn't even catch a glimpse of him."
I groaned and let my head fall onto the desk.
"There goes my Diamond Club dream." I mumbled.
"You can't say that." Bobby gently nudged my shoulder. "You haven't even met the guy."
"I don't need to." I lifted my head. "Any man who refuses every interview for an entire year is definitely a jerk."
"True... but a hot one." Bobby smirked.
"Whose side are you on?" I narrowed my eyes. "Don't tell me you're one of his fans.
He raised both hands in surrender. "You know I'm always on your side."
A smile escaped before I could stop it.
"I don't get it." I rubbed my temples. "Every media house in Italy wants an interview with Adonis Castillo, yet he keeps rejecting everyone."
Bobby shrugged. "Maybe he's allergic to reporters."
"Or maybe he's hiding something." The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Bobby raised an eyebrow.
"There she is." He pointed at me. "The conspiracy queen."
I ignored him. Something about Adonis Castillo never sat right with me.
"Good luck, Diana." He patted my shoulder before returning to his desk.
I let out a slow breath, picked up the Adonis Castillo file, slung my bag over my shoulder, and headed for the exit, muttering under my breath.
"If that man slams the door in my face... I'm writing an article about what an arrogant pain he is."
.................
Castillo Entertainment.
The towering glass building came into view just as the taxi pulled over. I paid the driver, stepped onto the sidewalk, and tilted my head back.
The building stood like a monument in the heart of Milan, its mirrored windows reflecting the afternoon sun. Luxury cars lined the entrance while security guards in black suits patrolled every corner.
Even before I walked inside, I knew one thing. This wasn't an ordinary record label. It was an empire.
On the ride over, I'd spent nearly forty minutes researching Adonis Castillo.
He was twenty-nine years old, an international award-winning singer and the CEO of Castillo Entertainment. Nicknamed "The Ladies' Man."
His fan base stretched across continents, with millions of followers hanging on his every social media post. Yet despite living in the spotlight, he hadn't granted a single interview in over a year.
The trending gossip was that every journalist who tried was turned away before they even reached the lobby. Others claimed he simply disappeared whenever the press showed up.
I slipped my phone into my bag and exhaled. The moment I reached the entrance, I understood why his security was legendary.
Hundreds of fans crowded behind barricades, screaming every time any luxurious car drove past. Some clutched handmade banners. Others held bouquets of flowers and expensive gifts.
A group of teenage girls shrieked so loudly that I instinctively covered one ear.
"He looked at me yesterday!"
"No, he looked at me!"
"I've been waiting here since six this morning!"
I blinked.Were these people serious?. Taking a deep breath, I slipped past the crowd and entered the building.
The lobby was breathtaking. White marble floors gleamed beneath enormous crystal chandeliers.
Modern artwork decorated the walls, while a massive gold logo of Castillo Entertainment dominated the reception area. Everything screamed wealth.
A pair of security guards stepped forward before I even reached the reception desk.
"Identification."
I smiled politely and handed over my press badge.
"Diana Harrison. Darlington Press House."
The older guard barely glanced at it.
"No appointment with the press," he said.
"I only need five minutes."
"No appointments," he repeated, gently blocking my way.
"I came to interview Mr. Castillo." I forced another smile. "If you could just let him know I'm here."
"No appointm—"
"No appointment!...I get it" I cut him off, annoyed.
Seriously? Was this man allergic to journalists?.
"I'm afraid you'll have to leave." One of the guards gestured toward the exit.
I sighed. This was going exactly how I expected.Just as I was about to argue again...
The entire lobby fell silent. Every employee straightened. The receptionists stopped typing. Even the guards instinctively stepped aside.
Curious, I turned toward the elevator.The doors slid open. A man stepped out in a perfectly tailored red suit.
Adonis Castillo.
He was taller than I'd imagined. Well over six feet, with broad shoulders that filled the expensive coat effortlessly.
His jet-black hair was neatly styled, and a pair of dark sunglasses rested on the bridge of his nose.The moment he removed them...I froze.
His eyes look cold and sexy at the same time. The kind that looked straight through a person's soul. His sharp jawline and effortless confidence explained why magazines called him the most handsome man in Italy.
Every step he took commanded attention.No wonder women lost their minds over him.
My brain stopped working. Instinct took over.
"Mr. Castillo!" I called out.
Ignoring the guards shouting behind me, I darted past them.
"Come back here!" one of them yelled.
I stretched out my hand to get his attention.
"Mr. Castillo, I only need five minutes—"
Before I could finish, someone grabbed my arm.I tried to pull free but my heel caught on the polished marble floor.
Everything happened at once.I stumbled forward.My press badge snapped from its clip.
The world tilted.Pain shot through my knees as I landed hard on the marble.
My press badge slid across the floor...Stopping neatly against a pair of polished black Italian leather shoes.
Gasps filled the lobby. I felt so ashamed, I slowly looked up, silently wishing the earth would swallow me whole.
Adonis bent down and picked up the badge between his fingers.
His brown eyes studied my photograph, then he walked toward me.
The guards immediately let go of my arm. I scrambled to my feet, brushing invisible dust from my blazer before forcing an awkward smile.
"Mr. Castillo, I'm Diana Harrison from Darlington Press House. I was hoping I could ask you a few—"
He lifted a hand, cutting me off before I could finish.His expression remained stern as he held out my press badge.
"So..." His deep voice was calm, smooth... and intimidating.
He stopped directly in front of me, close enough for me to catch the faint scent of his cologne.
"Two seconds," he said.
"Give me one reason I should grant you an interview."
My mind went completely blank.
- Writer
