Lead by the Luna

Chapter 2

The usual staff were present, the building manager James was waiting in the same station as each moming. I had no time for him, despite his persistence. He was rude and arrogant and I always saw him speak to staff like he was god's gift. I would always scoff at his behaviour and ignore him as I spoke with Samuel the doorman.

Samuel was a kind man in his sixties. His face was riddled with wrinkles and his eyebrows were white and bushy. He was kind and warm and he was always what I wished for in a father. I approached the door, once again ignoring James' attempts to initiate small talk. He was blabbering about the weather.

"Good morning Samuel." I smiled. "Good morning Miss Romano." He said with the biggest grin on his face. His teeth were a little crooked but his smile was warm and one that I looked forward to each day. "How many times must I ask you to call me Loretta?" I chuckled, knowing we would have the same conversation everyday. "Till the day of my retirement young miss." He nodded his head. I could feel his submission arise which I did not like.

I could sense James' seething eyes on me as I spoke to his staff but not him. "How are the grandkids Samual?" I asked. "They are good. They are visiting this weekend. My wife is excited but my daughter's husband is still ill." He replied solemnly. "Still no improvement?"

"No the cancer still appears to be spreading. They are moving him to the city's main hospital tomorrow and my daughter is going to spend her time with him while we take care of the children." The sadness on his face was clear. The love for his family was apparent. He was a good man with a good heart who wanted what was best for his children. He is what every father should be like. "I'm sorry to hear. If you need anything Samual, all you need to do is ask." I whispered and rubbed his forearm soothingly wanting to offer him some comfort. "Thank you dear, but you know I wouldn't ask that of you." He replied. He was such a proud man, not wanting the help that his family clearly needed. I couldn't let him work himself to the bone to help pay for the medical bills.

"Well if you change your mind, you know where I am." I smiled wistfully. He opened the door and nodded his head as I exited the lobby and entered the streets of Manhattan. The streets where busy. People were hustling there way through, knocking past each other without a care in the world. The black town car was parked outside and one of my driver Ronnie was stood by the door. As I made my way to the car he nodded his head and wished me good morning as he opened the door. I quickly slid in my car and made a quick phone call to Roger.

"Roger, speaking." A husky voice peaked through my ear. "Roger, it's Romano here." "Ah Miss Romano are you calling about Unity?" He asked. "No Roger, I am calling about my doorman Samual, his daughter's husband is sick with cancer and I want to pay for their medical bills while making sure that he is getting the best care possible. Can you make it happen?" I asked in a quiet tone. Scared anyone could hear what I was saying. "Of course Loretta, I'll ensure it's done by the

end of the day." His tone was warm and I could feel his smile through the phone. He was one of the few people I trusted with my secrets and one of them being that I had a heart.

"Such a big heart you have." "Shut up Roger." I murmured, knowing he won't let it go anytime soon. He loved teasing me and as much as I hated it, he was the best at managing my affairs, albeit personal or professional. I heard his bellowed laughter echo through the phone. The sound was harmonious and I could tell from the acoustics he was in the office. I always had such a keen sense of hearing. "Do you ever leave your office Roger?" Hoping to change the subject. "Now why would I do that Loretta? You give me so much work to do and you have fitted my office to my desires. It is nicer than my own apartment." He retorted. I smiled at his joke. Always the workaholic.

"Well, I am glad my friend is satisfied," I chuckled.

"Friend? I think you are getting sentimental in your old age, Loretta."

"Shut up, I'm only 26," I replied with frustration.

"Yet you act 46," he teased.

"Anyway, Roger, what do you have on Unity? Benjamin said it was limited and there is something fishy about the company. I have this weird third sense," I said.

"Well, he's right. Not a lot, but my spies are searching. They seem very reclusive as a company, and the CEO is unknown. Only those in the higher ranks know his identity, and they all seem tight-lipped," Roger replied.

"Interesting. Well, I moved the meeting to 8 am, hoping to get them to show their hand sooner. And when I get some names and faces, I will contact you. Hopefully, I will know what they are after when we have this meeting."

"Very well, be safe." Roger hung up.

I pushed my head back into the seat in the car and closed my eyes. I don't know why I felt so on edge. My anxiety was building, and I hadn't felt like this for years. My heart was pounding. I tried to dismiss it, but no matter what I did, it wouldn't go away.

I thought about what was different this morning, and all I could think is about Samuel's family. The thought of family caused an emptiness to echo through my body. It was something that despite my years of saying that I did not need it, all I could do was wish that I had it. I wish I had the relationship with my family that Samuel did with his. Thoughts of my family were something that I had spent many years trying to forget. I had perfected it in the last three years and had given up hope on a reunion. Despite my success, they would never recognize me, they would never try to find me. They hated me.

I smiled at the love that Samuel had for his daughter and the willingness to do whatever he could to make his daughter happy, even if it meant sacrificing his own health. I sighed wistfully, wishing that someone loved me that much. A small tear leaked out of my eye as the car pulled to a stop. I shook my head and took a deep breath. There was no time for feeling sorry for myself. It was time for the heartless Queen of New York City to make her appearance. Game time.

My Louboutins carried me across the Woolworth Lobby where my office resided. The click and clank of my heels echoed across the marble floor. The same prestigious faces graced the lobby; they were always the same. Men in tailored suits, crisp white shirts, polished shoes. Women in dresses and blazers while their skyscraper heels tapped across the floor. As I walked across the lobby, I could see the men's eyes fill with lust and the women's seep with jealousy. I smirked, feeling the need for blood this morning. My small display of humanity in the car made me feel angry and weak. The need to be dominant becomes apparent in my blood.

I make my way past security to the elevator. Each morning is the same as I lightly tap my foot waiting for the elevator to come. No one dares to share an elevator with me, their fear for the Ice Queen of New York apparent. The ding of the elevator hums in the lobby. The doors swing open as I make my way into the elevator. I check my watch and see that I have fifteen minutes until my 8 am meeting. Benjamin did not call to advise there were any problems, so I am expecting the CEO to be there on time

.

As much as I don't show emotion to Benjamin, he has become a very treasured acquaintance. He has proved himself as a great assistant. The many years in business, I have fired countless assistants due to them being incompetent. They would either be pompous and rude or flirt with every client I had. I remember feeling irritated at being unable to have a consistent and reliable employee. It wasn't until I came across young Benjamin, when he just out of college, when I realized what a diamond he was. Benjamin came from a wealthy family who had disowned him after college when they found out he was gay. He was a waiter, and he was barely scraping the barrel when I witnessed two men abusing him and taunting him with homophobic slurs. My anger was forefront when I waltzed up to them and told them to f**k off. They tried to tell me to mind my own business when I punched one of them in the nuts

And the other on the nose. I think I broke more than the nose when they started to threaten me. It was then that I bent down and whispered my name along with a threat of suing them for everything they had. They soon scampered off like the little rats that they were.

I remember gently grabbing Benjamin by the arm and asking if he was okay. The tears in his hazel eyes were brewing and he told me the horrid story of his parents.