The Vindication Gents

Chapter 2.8

Antonio Romano’s POV

“No, that’s wrong. That is salt,” I said as I was taking the jar that contained salt in it. I think I have to get all the jars and bottles to be labeled as I don’t think Christina can identify them without any identification.

“Well, what do you think about this one?” She asked as she was holding sugar in my face. I sighed as I only took cubes because they were precise and I had to tell her that.

“That’s powdered sugar and I don’t take it with my tea. Now, where is the Earl Grey jar?” I asked her as I just ran down a couple of jars that were available in the pantry. I had to make sure that she knew everything.

“This one?” Christina said as she was showing me Daejeon tea leaves. I sighed inwardly as I was slapping myself on the head before I pinched the bridge of my nose.

I think I have to get those labels as soon as possible.

“We’ve just gone over these. How can you forget them already?” I asked as I was looking at her. She was rubbing her neck before she was smiling at me.

“Well, I have a tendency to forget new things I see, but I can improve it if I see them daily,” she said as I was looking at her under my lashes. She was determined, so I smiled at her determination.

“Very well. I will teach you again,” I said as I picked up the Earl Grey leaves.

“This is the jar and you only take 3 leaves before you smash it in the filter,” I said as I was taking three leaves from the jar and I ground them with the mortar in the filter. It was crushing nicely before I poured some hot water into it. Christina was looking intensely at my work as she was making some notes in her mind, I hoped.

“Now, you put the sugar in and stir it until it dissolves,” I said as I was stirring the cup, where I just put a cube of sugar. I stirred until I couldn't see the sugar before I took a slice of lemon and let it soak into the tea.

“And you’re done,” I said as I was showing her the final product of my tea. She was in awe before she smiled at me and clapped her hands.

“That was so awesome and you’re so graceful,” she said as she was looking at my face. I felt my heartbeat pick up as it was beating wildly in my chest. What was happening to me?

Huh.

I cleared my throat as I was smiling at Christina. Her face was so animated as she looked at the leaves as she was examining the sugar as well as the lemon. I hoped she would remember it tomorrow when I asked for my tea.

“I will have the tea schedule to be put on your notice board so that you can make it for me on time,” I said as I was crossing my hands in front of my chest as Christina was nodding to me without looking at me. She was eyeing the tea.

“You can taste it and maybe compare it tomorrow before you bring it to me,” I smirked at her before Christina turned sharply at me and glared murderously.

“Well, I hope I can beat it,” she said as she was tasting the tea.

“I doubt it,” I said, as her eyes were big as saucers. She was holding her hand to her mouth as she was swallowing the tea. I can see the shock in her eyes.

“What did you put in this tea?” She asked as she was smiling at me. I smirked as I shrugged at her.

“I will be damned to top that now,” she said as she was shaking her head, making her flowing blonde hair move.

I wanted to run my fingers between them.

I blinked a few times before I realized what I had just said in my mind. Get your head in the game, Antonio. You cannot fall for your PA. That was against your rules.

No romance between employer and employee.

It was complicated and you don’t want things to be complicated. You just see her as your little sister and nothing else. That should put you in your damn place, my mind whispered before I shook them off.

“So, can we go home now?” Christina asked me as her wide grey eyes were looking at me and I think my stomach flipped at that sight.

Christina Dobulski’s POV

The experience that I had with the tea was amazing. I did not know that Antonio could make such a nice tea. I needed to up my game if I wanted to be the best PA that he ever had. I have to make my tea better than him.

If only he liked to taste another tea, I guess.

I was packing my stuff into my backpack as I was trying to organize my desk. It was such a mess and I think I was making myself look like a fool by comparing Tony’s desk with mine.

I was a failing PA for him.

“What you can’t do right will never stop you from trying, right?” His words were echoing in my mind as I was walking out of the office. I was plastering that stupid smile onto my face before Tony was snapping me to reality. We were in front of the elevator as he looked at me like I was a madwoman.

“What are you thinking about that you have to smile so broadly?” He asked as he was looking at me. Instantly, my face heated up because I was thinking about him and how he made me feel towards him.

Ugh! I want to kill myself right now.

“Nothing, sir.”

“Christina, we have established this. You don’t have to call me ‘sir’,” he said as he chuckled at me when I was tucking my hair behind my ears. I let my hair down before we were descending the spiral stairs.

“I think you should braid your hair,” Tony said as he broke the silence during our walk.

“But I don’t know how to do it,” I replied to him as he sighed.

“Of course you don’t,” he mumbled, but I heard it very clearly.

“Well, sorry to be a disappointment then,” I grunted at him before he chuckled again.

“Well, can you make it early tomorrow?” He asked me as we were walking out of the boutique. It was a chill night as I was rubbing my arms together. I was wearing my sundress but I forgot my jacket.

“Here,” Tony said as he was handing me his jacket as he put it on my shoulder. I arched my eyebrows at him as I was grabbing the jacket. It was warm from his body heat. I think I can smell his signature cologne as well.

“Well, I never thought that you would be a gentleman, Tony,” I said as we were walking before he stopped in front of his car as he laughed at me.

“Bella, you never know who I am,” he said as he was smirking at me. I shook my head, smiling as I was looking in the direction of the hotel.

“You need a ride?” He asked as he was looking at me. I tucked my hair behind my ears as the wind was making them wild.

“No, I pass. I can just walk to my hotel from here,” I said as I was smiling at him.

“Are you sure?”

“Tony, I will be fine. I don’t think people will attack me on the way back. It was very lit,” I said as I was smiling at him. He seemed to contemplate leaving me here all alone or walking with me to my hotel. I hoped it was the latter.

“You know what, I think I will walk you to the hotel,” he said as he was getting out of the car and locked it. My heart was jumping as I was trying to control my smile on my lips.

“So, have you been looking around for your apartment after this room?” Tony asked as we were walking down the sidewalk. It was a romantic scene as the moonlight was dimmed and we were illuminated by the streetlight.

“Well, I think I might find some room around here. It was close and I think it would be good for me to be at your beck and call,” I said as we were entering the hotel, as he held the door for me.

“Thanks,” I said as he smiled at me before he was walking with me up the stairs to my room. “You don’t have to. You’re the boss. You should not be doing all this,” I said as I was looking at him. He smiled.

“It’s fine. I want to. So, about the apartment…” he said.

“Yeah, I will look into that starting tomorrow,” I said as I stopped in front of the room before he stood in front of me. It was like the scene in the movie, but when he moved to hug me, my hopes were all dead.

He will never see me more than his employee.

“Have a good night,” he said as he was ready to leave.

“What about your jacket?” I said as I was taking it off my shoulders. Tony paused to look at me before he smiled.

“Keep it. It might give you some warmth,” he said as he waved goodbye and he was out of my sight.

Yup, it did, but not the warmth that I was hoping for.