THE BILLIONAIRE SECRET

CHAPTER-6

LUCIANA POV

The week passed by quickly, and my time at the office became more enjoyable thanks to Madison who introduced me to her friends from several departments at the office during lunch the next day.

There was twenty one year old Ryan who was from the IT department and I'm suspecting might have something similar to a crush on me due to the way his eyes always settle on me whenever he sees me around the office and he lets out a dimpled smile whenever I'm speaking, even when I don't say anything remotely funny. There's also Morgan and Malinda who are in the Sales Department, alongside me. Although Morgan has been nothing but kind and friendly, if a bit too playful, Malinda never really gives me a friendly attitude, makes snarky comments, and tends to turn away or do something else or just change the topic entirely whenever I'm speaking. I heard from Morgan that she tried for the position of Financial Secretary, but didn't get accepted by MacCarthy. I presume that's why she treats me like air when she's not being snide towards me. Then finally, there are Isabel and Flynn who were both welcoming and work in department.

I did find out that not everyone working in the company was good looking, though, as I met more people from other departments. So, I guess my week's been productive in its own way. I haven't set eyes on the CEO though, ever since the report on my first day.

I park my car in the parking lot of this small but famous Italian restaurant Sheila directed me to for the date I'd agreed to go on during the week. And although I did agree to go on this date, I fully intend to just reject him outright and hightail out of here after doing so. This is probably a major b***h move, but I literally cannot start seeing a man when I just don't feel ready. I doubt I would ever truly feel ready. And if my Ma tries to accuse me of not showing up for the date, as she put it the other night, I would at least be able to prove that I did.

I dropped Rodrigo off with Claire who I'm somewhat afraid will initiate my kid into some coven before I'm back, or do the opposite and overfeed him on those amazing pastries she always bakes during the weekend. But I'm not too worried as she's taken care of him before, when I was still working multiple part-time jobs. I really feel grateful to her for that. And I make a mental note to get her a gift from my salary when I get paid.

As I walk into the high-end restaurant, which was really packed full, a waiter comes up to me and asks for my reservation.

"Table thirteen," I say and I follow him to the table which was more like a booth. My blind date apparently reserved the table closest to the terrace. It's quieter here and definitely more expensive than the other ones in the restaurant. I feel a small surge of guilt coming on, but my horrible ex comes to mind and I shrug off all of the guilt I felt and my brows furrow in determination. I take a seat at the table, while avoiding to look in the direction of my date. I notice that he has already ordered for the both of us and while I mentally cheer myself to begin the blunt speech I had prepared for him on my way here, I dig around my purse for some money to pay for my part of the meal he had ordered; a meal I would not be eating from since I plan on running off after finishing what I'm about to say.

"Look, my man, I'm sorry," I begin, my eyes still refusing to meet his, although my nose does catch a whiff of his soothing and expensive-smelling cologne since he's sitting quite close to me. Something woodsy with a hint of dark chocolate.

"But the truth is I was pressured into going on this date and I am really not looking to date anyone right now, so I just came here to turn you down and stop Sheila and my mum from trying to set me up on any more dates. I'll pay for my part of the dinner," I continued speaking, dropping the cash neatly on the table, "But I won't stay..."

When I raise my eyes at that last part, my words get cut off due to the surprise I feel right now as I stare at forest green ones which I haven't seen since Monday of this week.

My eyes almost pop out of my head as we continue locking gazes, his looking more playful and humorous than they were when his blank but intense gaze practically bore through me during Monday's report. It's really a pity that, at moments like this when I earnestly pray for the sky to fall or the ground to open up and swallow me or just for me to pass out, nothing happens. My face practically undergoes different shades of crimson due to the embarrassment I feel right now. I really want to crawl and hide in some corner in shame. Or even move to another corner of the globe and change my name and if possible, my entire skin.

"You're my date? But that's impossible," I say in a befuddled whisper as I try to calm myself down.

"Hello to you too, Miss Alejandro," his velvety voice begins, tinged with humor. "I definitely didn't expect to be your blind date today, and a rejected one at that," he says the last part with a tone which I cannot really decipher. And although he is slightly smiling, something tells me that isn't really a true smile.

"Ah," I croak like a broken record. I then take a deep breath and blink, my eyes looking anywhere but at him, as my nails dig into my thighs through my black body wrap dress. I clear my throat before trying again. As I begin to speak, he interrupts.

"We wouldn't want you to choke now would we? You may take a sip of the wine I ordered for you, Miss Alejandro. It's your right. You are paying for it after all."

I literally almost fall off my seat at that underlying sarcastic tone of his, before I shake my head, refusing the wine.

"I insist, Miss Alejandro," he says, his tone now more serious and commanding than the slightly teasing one he used for me earlier. This was more similar to the way he spoke in the office when I first met him. Was this man trying to command me outside of work?

My eyes squint slightly in annoyance and I bite back the urge to go against his orders. I don't want to be out of a job less than a month after I get it. I take a small sip of the wine, its rich flavors bursting as the liquid meets my tongue. I almost sigh in happiness. It must feel nice to be rich. This must be some really expensive stuff. I wonder if my money would cover this and the food he ordered.

I collect myself after a few seconds and put down the wineglass, trying not to spill or break it due to my clumsiness.

"Mr. Maverick, I begin. I'm so sorry for all this. I think this must be a mix up or something." And, as if on cue, as I say this, his gaze fixed on mine like it was when we first met, my phone chimes. I look down and see a message from Sheila telling me that the actual table was 15 and not 13 like she typed earlier.

"I just got a message from the matchmaker and like I said, turns out you really aren't my date. I'm so sorry about the mix-up and I'll leave you now before your actual date comes. I'm really really sorry. Good-bye," I say all this in a rush, rapping in a way that would make even Eminem jealous as I pick up my purse.

I almost break into a sprint as I quickly make my way away from him, not even allowing him to input anything before I leave, as I'm sure anything he would say would probably kill me right now. I even forget to reject the original dude I was supposed to do this blind date thing with.

As I quickly make my way out of the restaurant, I almost bump into a gorgeous shapely blonde in a red dress which hugs her body like a second skin, making her way towards the terrace.

"I'm so sorry," I say scurry around her and continue towards the door, my ears faintly catching her voice as she speaks to my boss and I hear him respond in a warm tone which I've never heard from him before.

I walk out of the restaurant, my mind going through a rollercoaster and praying not to get fired come Monday. But somewhere in my mind was a feeling I really didn't want to pay attention to. I felt really small inside.