Chapter 6

• Giovanni D'Errico is a bastard.
• Not only had he failed to inform me of the wake-up time, but I also found myself startled awake by an unfamiliar alarm clock, the origin of which I couldn't comprehend. It nearly gave me a heart attack.
• It took all my willpower not to strangle his smug face as he sat by the kitchen island carefully sipping coffee. He looked incredibly handsome in a well-fitted suit that accentuated his strong shoulders and neat physique.
• "Not a morning person I see." He says looking at me over the brim of his mug.
• I roll my eyes and sit down for breakfast. I wasn't in the mood for any irrelevant chit-chat.
• I had on a simple blue blouse and a Christian Dior pencil skirt, prepared by Esmeralda. My hair was done up into a neat bun.
• After breakfast we rode in his Mercedes Benz, it smelt exactly the same as that night. The drive was accompanied by a lovely tune on the radio. The ride was silent, I entertained myself by looking at the news online. I look up as we approach a spectacular building.
• His office building was impressive looking. I had only ever seen it on television. It was even more magnificent up close. I couldn't believe I would be working somewhere like this.
• As we pulled up to the grand entrance of the company, I could feel the stares of the employees on me. I could almost hear their thoughts -
• 'Who is this woman and what is she doing here?' I could feel my cheeks turning red as I stepped out of the car, trying my best to maintain a calm and confident demeanor.
• As we walked through the bustling lobby, I couldn't help but notice the curious looks of the staff. Some of them were whispering to each other, while others blatantly stared at me.
• From the way Giovanni walked you didn't need rocket science to figure out who was the boss here. The employees all stopped and greeted us- him to be specific as we passed and entered the elevator.
• Giovanni stayed on the other side looking at something on his phone, I fidgeted with my handbag. An awkward silence filled the space.
• "Relax".
• I look up. Giovanni started at me, his face neutral. I relax my shoulders a bit.
• What exactly was I going to be doing today? I mean I had never worked in a place like this before. The three years I had with Zachary I was a housewife and I wasn't allowed to work. Zachary had told me that I didn't need to work, I agreed and stayed at home.
• "What qualifications do you have?" He finally breaks the silence.
• "I majored in marketing at Berkeley College. I have a BA in digital marketing and an MBA in marketing. I worked at JXK as a content marketing manager for four years " JXK was a renowned app-developing company.
• "Impressive." He nods, "Why marketing?" He asks.
• "I guess I love the idea of creating and promoting products that connect with customers, find out what they love, what sells". I say.
• The elevator door opens "Let's see what you got" He says as he leads me to his spacious corner office, which had a stunning view of the city. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as I looked around the room, imagining myself working here.
• He presses a button on his desk and two minutes later, a tall, slender woman with blonde hair walks in. She was very attractive. She wore a fitted skirt with fishnet tights and a white blouse. She had a very lovely figure.
• "Good morning sir," She greets.
• "Good morning Sia, this is Emily Rivera, she will join the marketing team today"
• I catch her slight look of shock before she reverts to her neutral face. She glances at me.
• "Yes sir." She says "Let me show you to the marketing team." She says as I get up and follow her as she leads me out of the office.
• My first task was to attend a meeting with the marketing team. Giovanni had warned me that it would be a fast-paced and intense meeting, but I was determined to prove myself. As we walked into the conference room, all eyes turned to me.
• "Good morning everyone this is Emily D'errico, she will be a part of our team from now on" Sia says.
• I could see the shock on their faces when they realized that I was going to be working with them.
• I take a deep breath and take a seat at the table, trying my best to blend in. I greet them and they greet me back while I take a seat at the end of the table beside an Asian woman with bright red hair on a ponytail.
• Once I was settled, Sia excused herself. They begin the meeting and I listen, taking notes furiously, trying to keep up with the discussions and proposals being thrown around. I could feel the pressure building up, but I refused to let it get to me.
• Someone gets up and comes to my side, I didn't know what happened or whose fault it was. A loud thud interrupts the meeting and my coffee spills over the papers in the room. I stare shell shock at the mess. My blouse had a big ugly stain, the room fell silent as they all stare at the stain spreading on my shirt.
• "Um excuse me please." I say quickly as I rush out of the office. I rush to the bathroom and frantically try to clean the mess. Oh no, not today, why does it always have to be me? I feel tears at the brim of my eyes and I force them back while taking more tissues.
• I hear footsteps and voices coming towards the bathroom and I quickly enter into a cubicle.
• The door opens shortly and the sound of footsteps rushes in.
• "I heard she cheated on her husband with him, what a slut",
• "She's with the marketing team, I don't like her, she seems dumb"
• "She definitely married him for his money. A gold digger"
• "I heard she was sent packing from Zachary's house"
• "He'll leave her soon enough, everyone knows that Giovanni and Mia were destined for each other.
• I take a deep breath and walk out of the bathroom as soon as she says that last statement.
• They freeze like a deer caught in the headlights.
• There were three. I recognize one of them from the meeting.
• "Oh do go on, don't mind my interruption, just imagine I'm fly-on-the-wall".
• I look at the one with bright red lipstick. Surprise and fear plastered on her face. She visibly gulps
• "And next time you gossip try to have correct information before spreading lies about people okay?"
• I walk out of the bathroom, angrily digging my heels in the ground. I needed to find Giovanni.
• I take the elevator up. A stack of newspapers was sitting pretty on a stool. I grab one of them.
• I heat up as I see the words written on them.
• "Former wife of Zachary Lockwood involved in a love scandal with billionaire tycoon, Giovanni D'errico".
• "Emily Rivera assaults Mia Leonardo at the Gala" A picture of me slapping Mia was plastered on the front page.
• I look at the paper disbelievingly.
• I make my way to Giovanni's office and throw open his office door violently.
• I stop in surprise, a group of people was seated around his big table. He was apparently having a meeting. They all looked at me like I had come out of a circus, It seemed like they were in the middle of a heated discussion.
• Oh shit!