(SR SERIES #2) My Italiana Girl

Chapter 4: First day

CATERINA

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.

"Forced me then.. babe."

My blood boils the moment he calls me by our old callsign and I push him away. The nerve of this guy!

"Damn playboy, get the hell outta here!" I yelled at him which made him laugh a little and walk away to sit on dad's chair.

"Sorry honey but I can't do that, wether you like it or not I'll be the one who'll teach you everything. Your dad assigned me to." he said it while holding a paper. I ignored what he said and walk towards a chair.

"Show me an evidence that he said that?" he then put the paper he was holding to the table and gestured me to read it.

I then walked to him closer and reached for the paper and read it. It was 4 years ago, and it was really said that if either of us, Zion and I, might take over the company Owen will be the one who'll teach us how to run it.

And it was signed by my dad tsk.

"Are you sure this is his signature? Or did you just duplicate it?" I said still suspicious about the paper he gaved.

"Why would I duplicate it? Mukha ba akong scammer?" he said frowning.

"Cheater lang." I whispered which I guess he heard cause his tounge clicks showing his disapproval.

"I'm still not convinced, I can handle this so I won't be needing you. You can leave now." I said to him with finalization on my tone and wait for him to leave.

It took a minute before I glanced at him when he didn't even moved nor talk a bit.

I raised my brows when I saw him staring at me, at first I saw emotions on his eyes but it suddenly went blank when I wake him up from his reverie.

"Haler earth to you sucker! Get outta here, I don't freaking need yo—" I still haven't finished my sentence and yet he leave without saying a word.

Well that's good, I guess that means he'll never coming back!

I sat down on the chair and stared at the piled papers on the table. This will be easy!

Now, what should I do?

I called Marissa so I can ask her what to do, she then arrived and stood beside me waiting for my question.

I wonder if .. Owen is still there? I mean duhh he was insisting that he should be my mentor awhile ago so I'm curious if he's still around coz i will kick his ass again.

"What are dad's appointments for today aside from these piles of paper that need to be signed and check?" I asked her still checking the papers, damn I know nothing about this revenues, budgets, services, amenities etc.

"As for today yan lang po ang tatrabahuin nyo po sabi ni sir Owen." my brows raised when I heard his name.

"I don't care what he says tell me what are the other appointments dad has need to do for today?" I demand and drop the paper I was reading. She then open her tablet and view the schedule.

"There will be a meeting at 1pm and sir Owen will attend there later." she said which made me scoffed, how dare he takes over my job?

"I'll be attending that meeting." I said with finalization in my voice and put down the paper I was holding. Damn I don't understand any words being written on the paper. If only it was cloth and scissors I would've made it easy.

"Y-yes ma'am." She was a bit hesitant but agree later on.

I ask her about some of the things she knows on the pile of papers infront and heck she said she doesn't know a thing which I'm pretty sure she knows some!

"Are you freaking kidding me? Are you sure you don't know anything about this?" I angrily said which made her nod and look down on the floor.

"Yes ma'am."

I scowled at her still feeling dissatisfied, I had a feeling that someone stops her of teaching me just so that mothafucker will stay and will be the one who'll teach me!

"If I know that you're siding with that guy I will really fire you! Now leave." I coldly said to her which made her tremble and leave.

Gosh this gave me headache!

Since I know nothing about this and it's still early, I grabbed my earphones and call my baby Clinton.

"Ciao Mamma!" he greeted which made me smile.

"Hi baby! Have you eaten already?"

"Si mamma! We rayd caroshel at Florence yesterday! " he excitedly said which made me smile widely, he always wants to ride that carousel whenever we visited Florence. Our mansion is at Florence, and we currently resides at Milan to open my business. I guessed Riley had an important business to attend the reason why she brought him there.

It's alright tho since some people who knows me thought Clinton was Riley's son.

I mean it's not that I'm happy, I hate to deny him from other people but I need to do that for our sake.

But I don't know until when will I do this, I'm pretty sure once Clinton will have woken up from reality he will be sad about it. I'm being a bad mother now, I sighed.

"Are you okay mamma?" he suddenly asked which made me immediately smile, I forgot I was talking to him for moment.

"Yes baby, I am. I'm sorry, tell me about your day." I said to him which made him smile and starts yapping, I just listened to his stories the whole time while staring at him.

How I miss this kid, can I bring him here? Nvm, I'll never gonna do that not when he's around.

It took us lunch time before we bid goodbye since he'll be playing with other kids outside.

"Take care okay? I love you!" I said to him which made him smile and gives me a flying kiss.

"Love you too mamma! Mwah!" I also gave him flying kiss and wave goodbye to him before he ends the call.

I was smiling intently while turning my phone off, when I heard a shuffling sound the I immediately lifted my gaze and I was freaking startled seeing Owen near the door leaning the wall.

What the heck is he doing here? I didn't notice him! Was he here the whole time? Did he heard my conversation with my child?

I was panicking when I realized I was using my earphones pala.

I sighed in relief before raising my brows to him.

"What do you want?" I asked him rudely and grab the paper infront acting like I know anything about it.

"Don't attend the meeting later." he said coldly looking so dark.

"What if I will?" I said to him and competed with his staring game. I should not wavered just by looking at his eyes.

I'm no longer that delicate woman who gets soften just by his gaze.

"You know nothing about this, you'll just embarrassed yourself there." he said which made me scoffed. How can he be so sure? I'm still not there? I'll definitely gonna proved him he's wrong!

"How will I learn if I won't be there? duh!" I said to him before standing up and walk past him.

I'll never listen to him!

"If only you let me teach you then I would've allowed you to be on that meeting later." he suddenly said which made me stop from walking, why does he keeps on pushing me to learn everything from him? I don't want him! Never!!

I faced him and glared at him.

"Shut up! If only you didn't let Marissa stop from teaching me I would've learned alot awhile ago!" I yelled at him, feeling frustrated. Now my poise is already breaking! He really gets on my nerves!

"Don't be such a kid. You're no longer 18 to act like hardheaded kid." he said which made me laugh.

"You're the one who's acting immature right now! You're just complicating things when you could've just let Marissa teach me! You're a shithead as always!" I said to him before leaving. I freaking want to slap him!

My blood boils I want to break things! Can I just break his face?

I left the resort to have a lunch and to calm down myself.

I just came back when it was the time for the meeting.

I called Marissa to assist me and entered the meeting room. When I arrived there Owen wasn't around yet, but everyone was already inside.

There were atleast 8 people there and they looked very professional and some were strict so I was kinda taken aback, but then I compose myself cause I want to learn.

Damn, I nervously tapped my pen when the other old guy not too far from me was kinda look like he's unhappy.

"Good morning," I squeaked. "By the way I'm Caterina Aria Luan, Mr. Luan's daughter. Since my father is still unconscious and ill I will be the one who'll be in charge for awhile in managing the resort." I said and glanced at the door when I saw Owen entering quietly. No one noticed him cause they are all looking at me.

"Where's you brother? mas maganda sana kung yung kapatid mo ang nagtake over, he's much more experienced when it comes to this field. Tsk, oh well let's just continue para matapos na to." the old guy said, which made me scowled a little. The heck is wrong with this oldie?

As far as I know he's Mr. Parno, the grumpy head chef in the resort. I requested a list of names of who will attend the meeting to Marissa awhile ago and I've read their names and backgrounds.

Mr. Reyes, the manager, a kind but worried man, spoke up.

"Miss Caterina, we have problems. Our occupancy is kind of low unlike the previous months, then the new wing is behind schedule, and some of the fishermens were angry."

My eyes widened but I didn't let them notice it. "Occupancy? Fishermen? What does fishermen had to do with our resort?" I mumbled and glanced at Owen who was currently staring at me waiting for my response. Yeah right, so this is what he said awhile ago? Tsk who cares, I thought of something to answer and glanced at Marissa, but heck Marissa looks a s**t glancing at the accounting head who's also flirting at her.

Mr. Parno scoffed.

"Clearly, you know nothing. I wouldn't be surprised if the resort will be falling apart in your hands! Hey Owen why don't you be the one who'll take over?"

Ms. Santos , the reservations manager who's also another oldie, also added,

"Your father would never let this happen. You're just a child playing CEO."

I was completely overwhelmed with their statements. It hurts but I won't cry noh! I don't want to show Owen that he's right. NEVER!

But the real problem here was what should I respond to their concerns?

Just then, I was about to lose my sanity on what to answer when Owen suddenly stood up and spoke with a seriousness on his face.

He has dark aura and he looks scary and intimidating.

I don't want to admit it but yeah he's.. incredibly hot. Eww what the heck was that?

"Enough." he said coldly which made the gossips silent.

"Ms. Caterina is in charge in running this resort already. Show some respect! This isn't a playground. We're a team, and we need to work together, or this resort will sink faster than a leaky boat!"

Mr. Parno mumbled something about "inexperienced kids." which made Owen glared at him.

"One more disrespectful word, and you'll be cleaning toilets mr. Parno."

I don't know but I looked amazed by the way he handled everyone. Damn, now I know why dad choses him. But still I don't want him to teach me.

Even if hell break lose.

I immediately looked away when our eyes met and I gulped before glancing at the old geezers who looks mad.

Ms. Santos, who usually quick with a snide remark, fell silent. Even Mr. Reyes looked surprised.

Because of what Owen did I immediately go back from the concerns that Mr. Reyes was stating awhile ago.

"Mr. Reyes, can you explain the occupancy problem? And what's this about fishermen?"

Mr. Reyes, relieved by the change in atmosphere, he started explaining.

He talked about marketing strategies, the need for better online presence and the importance of maintaining good relations with the local community. He explained that the fishermen felt their traditional fishing grounds were threatened by the resort's expansion.

I just listened carefully on what he said, and taking notes. I was still nervous, but I know I'm not alone.

Owen's firm intervention had changed everything. I hate it, but since he did a great job right there I'll give him thumbs up for awhile.

The meeting continued, with the staff now cooperating and offering their expertise.

I might not have known much about running a resort, but I'm getting confident because I get to understand everything slowly.

Owen sometimes explains whenever I don't understand something which just made me nod.

I never glanced at him ever since our eyes met awhile ago.

I'm determined to save and have a solution. The future of the resort was still uncertain, but with the support and the staff's grudging cooperation, I know I can do this. I had a long way to go, but I'm ready to learn.

After the meeting when everyone was already leaving I didn't talk to Owen, I didn't glance nor talk to him. I don't want to admit my defeat.

A girl will always be right even if they're wrong. That's my new motto! hah!

I was about to leave but then I stopped midway when I heard him saying something before I walked away.

"You did a great job..

babe."