Chapter 5: Lavender

Archer's POV

My phone rang causing me to wake up. I picked up the phone roughly from the nightstand and answered it.

"Hello" I growled into the mobile not appreciating the disturbance.

"Hello. Good morning sir," my assistant replied alarmingly.

He knew better than to disturb me today. I had canceled all my meetings so why was he calling me now?

"What is it now?"

"Sir the clients from Dubai have arrived today. I had scheduled them for yesterday. But they couldn't come. I re-scheduled their meeting for tomorrow. But, but ..."

"But what Simon?" His shuttering angered me more.

"They have come now. And I do not know what to say to them, Sir."

"I guess I'll have to fire to for irresponsibility," I stated calmly when anger lacing my tone.

"I'm sorry Sir. I had done all the arrangements accordingly."

"We'll see to that when I come. Get the meeting room ready and get them seated. I'll reach there in half an hour."

I cut the call and put the phone down on the nightstand. I didn't have time for such idiots.

As I was about to get up my phone started ringing again. This time it wasn't Simon it was Celesty.

Franko's sister. I only slept with her once but this woman is not willing to leave me alone.

Grazie a Dio ho visto il nome. (Thank God I saw the name.) I switched off the phone and went straight to the bathroom.

Non ho tempo per questo fastidio. Chiederò a Simon di bloccarla.

(I don't have time for this nuisance. I'll get Simon to block her.)

I took the shower as soon as possible. I dressed up and got out of the house, heading towards my car.

Jeremy had already got the car ready the was standing outside with Mario and Blake.

Mario was my trusted bodyguard. He had been with me since my dad hired him when I was four years old.

Blake had joined a few years ago and Jeremy was my dad's driver who was now working for me. Pretty much to keep eyes on me to report Dad.

I couldn't leave the house without my bodyguards. These days the paparazzi wasn't being easy on me. So I had to have them with me.

Mario sat opposite to Jeremy. Blake was following our car with Alex (another bodyguard).

I switched my phone on and dialed Enzo's number.

"Sai dell'incontro." (You know about the meeting.)

"Sì, Simon mi ha informato di questo." (Yeah Simon informed me about it.)

"Alright then come soon."

"On the way Capo."

......

......

I arrived at the main gate and got down with Mario and Blake in the queue. The receptionist glanced at me and straightened her posture to make her assets prominent.

"Good morning Mr. D'Romano." she smiled. I nodded my head in response.

The doors of the lift were open. Mario hurried to stop it before it starts to shut.

I followed him towards the lift. I looked up to see a girl standing there fiddling with something in her hands. Her head was hung low like a sad kitten.

Enzo patted my shoulder and started walking with me. He didn't give me a chance to look at her again and began to talk.

"Hey man. You seem to be in a bad mood. Why don't we go out and chill after the meeting."

"We'll see to that now come now."

"Mario 5th and 12th floor."

"Yes, Capo."

As soon as I entered the fresh scent of lavender hit my nostrils.

It was hidden between the masculine scents. But was prominent enough to be noticed.

"Enzo go with Mario and Blake to the conference room. I have to collect some files." I instructed.

"Yes, Capo." He answered.

"Sento odore di lavanda qui. Spero che la ragazza sia anche appetitosa come puzza."

(I smell lavender here. Hope the girl is also as appetizing as she smells.)

For some reason, I didn't like what he was talking about her. The girl seemed completely oblivious to what he said.

"Stai zitto. Per una volta concentrati sul lavoro almeno in ufficio." I breathed out. We had some serious matters on our hands to handle and his childish and carefree attitude was getting me on the edge.

(Shut the fuck up. For once concentrate on work at least in the office.)

"Okay. We are going." He surrendered showing his hands and walked out with the bodyguards.

I was busy thinking about this deal. I had some ideas regarding the building we are to make if I crack this deal. And the profit we get from this is tremendous.

Unexpectedly, the lift halted causing me to groan. I was late and this would take up more time. The lights went out.

I heard a shriek coming from the girl somewhere behind me.

"No, no, no."

She walked up to the doors banging the life out of them.

I felt her hand hovering above my arm for less than a second. A thud sounded from the back wall of the lift. I turned around a walked towards a sobbing girl.

"Hey, I'm here."

I cupped her cheeks and felt the warm liquid pouring from her eyes. The way she touched me and hugged me took me by surprise.

I stroked her soft hair.

"Everything's fine Princess. I'm right here. It will start in a few minutes."

I moved my chin from her head to the crook of her neck.

When her hands reached up to my hair. She caressed my hair ever so lightly. The sudden urge to keep feeling rose in me.

I wanted to feel more of it, more of her.

I moved my face along her cheek causing a giggle to escape from her mouth.

Her breath fanned my ear lobe. The sound of it is so sweet it made me smile. Everything I had in my mind before vanished.

All I could feel was her. How perfectly she fit in my arms. As though she was carved to fit in mine only.

The way her laugh made me feel happy at once. The need to comfort her when she was crying.

All of this was foreign to me. I have never felt it before. I don't know her. I haven't even seen her.

I moved back to ask her name. The lights switched on and made me look at the person I had never expected to see again.