TAMING THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Luciana was getting tired of hearing the ladies fantasize about working for Salvatore and all the dirty things they wished they could do with him. Their incessant noise was starting to annoy the f**k out of her, and she was starting to sport a headache.

What helped her situation was the fact that the hall had good air conditioning even though it was overcrowded. She had concluded that she would leave in the next 30 minutes if no one showed up to update them about the first phase of the interview.

Only 20 people would be chosen, so she saw no reason why she had to sit with these dead brains when she was certain they wouldn’t even spare her CV a glance.

‘I will just have to apologize to Aria and tell her I have been disqualified,’ Luciana mumbled under her breath while trying to distract herself from the things going on around her with the game she was playing.

Which didn’t seem to work since the women around her kept getting louder with each second.

With a frustrated huff of defeat, Luciana grabbed her bag and started to count down the few minutes she had left before she bolted out of the hall when the door burst open and a lady she recognised as one of the staff walked right in.

The lady cranes her neck in search of someone for some time but stops when she realises it will be difficult to find whoever it is she is looking for in the midst of hundreds of candidates.

Luciana almost laughed as she watched the lady look down at something in her hand before stepping up onto the small stage that was in the hall and picking up the microphone.

‘Miss Luciana Marinello,’ she announced into the mic and Luciana felt her eyes widen.

Of all the things she expected the lady to say right now, her name didn’t even make the list. Different questions start running through her mind.

Have I been chosen? Am I one of the 20 lucky ones that were chosen for the next stage? Is there something wrong with my CV? Why did she call my name only, what happened to the other nineteen that were supposed to be called?

All those jarring thoughts were silenced as she heard her name being called for the second time.

‘Can Miss Luciana please step forward if she is here in the hall with us?’ The lady announced again, this time throwing the entire crowd into a frenzy as they clamoured to see the face of the person who got lucky to be the first candidate whose name was announced.

Luciana suddenly felt conscious of everyone staring, her hand shook from the anxiety she was feeling. Knowing there is no way she can escape being seen without passing through the midst of the hundreds of eyes probing, her hand tightened around her bag

She tried to find comfort in the small leather material as she stood up from her seat and made her way forward.

She could hear the hiss, and mumble from ladies who boasted of being picked first nor did their tone of disapproval evade her sensitive ear. Only a few of them praised her for being so beautiful.

Finally, she stopped in front of the lady who announced her name.

‘This way ma'am,’ she gestures to the door, and Luciana followed behind her.

Luciana was led from the hall to the elevator and all she could think of was why her name was the only one being mentioned. She was so sure that she wouldn’t be picked or was she praying not to be among the lucky twenty who would make it to the next round?

Having been cooped up in her world for far too long and not associating with anyone aside from Aria, Luciana was certain working here would throw her out of balance and people would easily see that she wasn’t talented nor capable of working in De Rosso Empire.

She had never felt this anxious, not even when it had to do with “Her”.

In order to distract her mind from what was waiting for her, Luciana tried to take note of what she saw in the elevator. Her eyes trailed from the operation panel with buttons that light up when pushed to the red emergency stop button and the slot for a key, she stared up at the digital readout and the sign that states the maximum weight load.

But none of that was able to distract her the way she wanted. The elevator shuddered as it slowed down and binged to announce its arrival on the top floor.

Without waiting to see if Luciana followed her, the lady walked out of the elevator leaving Luciana no choice but to chase after her. They walked past the front desk and onto the top-floor staff cubicle, their laughter and murmur wafting through the air.

Strangely, Luciana noticed that the sound of her heels clicking on the marble floor matched her heartbeat, it was beating so fast, and she concluded that it was the result of having to run after the woman in front of her.

She caught up with the woman and tried to steady her heartbeat but it refused to yield so she took a deep breath and moved to stand side by side with the woman whose name she didn’t even bother to check all this while.

‘I am so sorry to bother you, but can you tell me why I was the only one you called amidst hundreds of candidates?’ That was the first thing she wanted to ask as soon as she heard her name.

‘You will know in due time, just a little more and we will get to where we are going.’ The lady gave her a perfunctory response, not even turning to acknowledge her presence.

‘You can at least tell me where we are going right? You don't just expect me to keep following you like a sacrificial lamb?’ If frustration was a person, it would be Luciana.

Her heart has been beating out of order since she called out of the hall. Somehow in that crowded place, she had found herself a little sanctuary in that tiny corner where it was just her and her thoughts. Being out here in the open and not knowing what awaits her isn’t something she is used to.

Luciana had been so occupied with her thoughts, and the questions running through her mind that she didn't know when the woman stopped. She suddenly found her face squashed against the woman’s back, her nose twisted at a weird angle.

Swiftly, she eased back and apologised for her behaviour, she looked up to see the irritated look on the woman’s face.

‘I'm so sorry,’ she apologises.

Rather than give her an answer, the lady pressed a button on the wall, and the door slid open. Luciana felt her jaw go slack, as she marvels at the sight in front of her.

‘Is this heaven?’ she mumbled out loud, not caring that she was staring so openly.

‘No my dear, this is just an office.’ A firm yet old voice chuckled behind her.

Luciana turned around to behold the greenest eyes she had ever seen, and right next to the owner of that eyes, were another pair of brown eyes.

‘I'm so sorry,’ she muttered for the second time in the span of one minute.

“What is wrong with you? Why are you apologizing?” She mumbled to herself.

‘There is nothing to be sorry about, you have eyes for good things and you acknowledge one when you see it.’ The green-eyed woman walked towards her.

‘Forgive my manners, my dear, I am Emilia De Rosso,’ she paused to let her grab the name, before dropping the next bombshell on her.

‘And I am going to be your mother-in-law soon.’

A gasp slipped through Luciana's lip and she stepped back from Emilia.