Starting Fresh (Lorica Series #1)

Chapter 4

Tovi took days for her to think about her decision about the unexpected promotion that she received from Damon Lorica, the CEO of Lorica Inc. After weighing her pros and cons, she finally decided to accept the position.

The next day, she brought some of her things to the Director of the Operations Office. She would be staying at the desk area, where Cole's visitors will be coming in to ask for Cole's schedules and appointments. The salary is high enough for Tovi, enough for her to put her daughter in a good school that covers special education for autistic kids like her.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Secretary Tovi Reese." Cole came out from his office as Tovi took out some of the stuff from the box. He pouted as he peeked through Tovi's back, looking at the stuff that she placed on her desk.

Tovi just ignored him and kept arranging her things on her desk.

"Say, why did you accept Ramon's offer? Being my secretary will be a bit . . . " Then he slowly slid his finger at Tovi's arm that sent bolts throughout her whole body. But Tovi flinched her arm away from him, her face turned red and gave him a glare.

" . . . dangerous," he continued. Then he smirked at her with his chin raised.

Tovi raised her chin up as she crossed her arms on her chest and raised an eyebrow on him. "Look, Mr. Young and handsome but irresponsible boss of Lorica, you think that's because I became your secretary doesn't mean that you can pull off my panties with your charms. Even if you took away your clothes in front of me, I still won't kneel in front of you."

Cole remained his smirk and found Tovi's statement amusing. "Really? Are you really sure about that?"

Tovi flinched a little but still tried maintaining her glare at him. "Y-Yeah! So don't ever think about—"

Before she could even finish her sentence, Cole unbuttoned his shirt in a fast pace that exposed his chest and abdomen that have four-pack abs on it. Tovi's jaw dropped as she caught herself staring at those well defined muscles. Her eyes darted away as her cheeks turned pink. She felt a little heated and couldn't deny the s****l feeling that she felt after seeing Cole's chest and abdomen.

"That is so inappropriate," she hissed then she walked out with her pointy shoes click-clacked on the tiled floors. She pulled the glass door then left it unclosed, slowly moving until it closed itself.

Cole smirked as he buttoned his shirt back on then he noticed a picture frame placed on Tovi's desk. He took it then stared at it. He looked at Tovi smiling while holding the one-year-old Tori with a beautiful smile, looking at their right. A corner of his mouth lifted as he placed the picture frame back to its original spot.

Tovi met with Amy and Tiana at the cafe shop next to the Lorica Inc. building. They were sitting on a circle-shaped table at the corner of the establishment, eating slices of cakes and drinking coffee that was placed on thick paper large cups.

"And he was like, trying to get on my panties, you know? God! Why is he so annoying and arrogant!" Tovi complained throughout their conversation as Amy and Tiana attentively listened to her rants.

Tovi took another scoop of the slice of cake. Her mouth was full that her words could barely be heard and understood. "I don't understand why women leeched on him. He was such an ass and he looked like he couldn't give a good future to one of these girls because of his behavior!"

"Girl, slow down! You're going to gain more weight because of your stress eating!" Tiana said as her and Amy chuckled.

Tovi groaned as she stared at one of the drop lights at the ceiling. "Oh god! This blueberry cheesecake is delicious!"

"You're just stressed because you just promoted and you switched environments. I bet your tasks and the amount of work that you will take care of are a lot heavier than the rest of us," Amy said then Tiana nodded as she agreed with her girlfriend's statement.

"Yeah. After Ramon gave me the details, I think my head's going to explode with too much information," Tovi said as she stared blankly at the air then she saw Cole approached the counter, talking to a female employee whose cheeks turned red and put tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. He lent her money as he flashed her a charming smile. The employee gave him a slice of chocolate mousse cake and a cup of hot coffee. Afterwards, he turned his direction at them and his grin went wider.

"Oh god. He's here!" Tiana said in a whispering voice as the two of them composed themselves while they took side glances at Cole who was walking towards their table. Tovi, on the other hand, glared at him and chanted her own thoughts that Cole shouldn't sit here with them. But unfortunately, Cole was already in front of them, giving them his overused charming smile.

"Hello ladies," he greeted.

Tiana and Amy smiled at him sweetly. "Hello, Sir."

Cole glanced at Tovi. "We bumped each other again, sexy Tovi."

Tovi scoffed as she glanced at her cake. "Oh please. Don't call me that."

Cole sniggered as he took a seat in front of the three of them. He placed his plate of cake and coffee at their table as Tiana and Amy were continuously gazing at him.

"You didn't even ask us if it was okay to sit here," Tovi said, without looking at him but giving him a sly tone.

Cole shrugged his shoulders as he took a bite from his cake with a small spoon. "I don't have to."

Tianna and Amy chuckled nervously. "Yeah! He didn't have to, you know?" they said in overlapping sentences.

"See?" Cole said as he gave Tovi a shot of smirk. 

"Well, I do mind you asking us first before sitting down. Didn't your parents teach you some basic manners?" Tovi hissed then Amy and Tiana silently mouthed "whoa" as they gawped at each other..

Cole slightly twitched his head as he crossed his arms across his chest and slumped his back on his seat. "You are really something, aren't you, Miss Tovi Reese?"

His eyes gleamed at her as Tovi tried to look fierce as much as she could but his ocean eyes were making her heart flutter and her cheeks turned pink. She abruptly stood up then grabbed her purse.

"Hey, you haven't finished your blueberry cheesecake yet," Amy said.

"I don't have the appetite anymore," she said then she left.

Tiana and Amy glanced at each other as they glanced at Cole who was looking at the blueberry cheesecake.

"That's a shame. That flavor hasn't been available nowadays and now she's not eating it?" Tiana said while her lips pouted then took a bite from her cashew flavored cake.

Cole's lips pursed then he stood up and picked the blueberry cheesecake along with his cup of coffee. The two of them looked at each other once more with their eyebrows raised.