Chapter 4: The First Day

Gage walked into the gym with the worlds biggest smile stuck on his face. "Look at you all glowing and shit." Vince spoke loudly as he got off the leg machine and the other two just smiling up to him. "How the date go?" Axel asked in a sing song voice. "I spilled both our drinks on her beautiful dress ruining it, felt her by accident trying to clean it up and when I got her safely out of her my truck I celebrated by tripping over myself and her slippery ass gravel scraping my knee badly on the ground it's ok though because she and her tiny ass body broke my fall." Gage told them still smiling. "DUDE SERIOUSLY?!" Dre' asked loudly. "WHAT THE HELL?!" Vince spoke at the same time. "Is she ok?" Axel question being louder than all of them. "Yeah she's fine might be a little bruised in her shoulder blades but she is fine. "How are you so happy?" Dre' asked looking at him with so many questions.

"Other then that we had a great time. Tess is great and we are going to go out again soon. What's even better is she starts work at The Dark Rose Monday. I'm going to meet her there early show her around and stuff." Gage mouth was starting to hurt but he couldn't stop the smiling. "You mean to tell me after all that she agreed to go back out with your big ass?" Vince asked in shocked. "Is that why you come in here like a damn fairy on drugs who jus got laid? WAIT, you did didn't you? You got some? On the first date?" Dre' asked. "No, no he didn't." Axel told them with a straight face. "How do you do that?" Gage asked his cousin. "You can tell. You just got to know how to read people." Axel shrugged to him. "It was just a good night kiss, that was awesome. The whole night was just the best." Gage was beaming and he guys were happy seeing this side of him, happy for him.

"When you going to take her out next?" Axel asked him. "I was thinking of maybe dinner Tuesday as celebrating her first day and then again Friday for her first week. Maybe a lunch in there somewhere between." "Smooth man. I'm sure she'll love it." Ace told him with a big smile. "I know it's been like two dates but do you see this going anywhere or is it to soon for you to tell? Like does she seems invested?" Vince asked a fair question by now Gage would already be able to tell if a girl was being around for a negative reason there were just so many signs. "Being around her is changing me a little. Like I am a different person a more carefree person, I like it. I think if it stays going this way it could definitely be something great for both of us." Gage said smiling to his crew as they finished their Sunday evening work out. He made sure to lay out one of his favorite suits to make a good impression on her first day.

Walking up to meet the smiling gorgeous man holding two cups of cold blended coffee. "I hope you don't mind I remember you said you like blended mochas and blended cappuccino. I just got two blended cappuccinos as a welcome to the building thing." "You really are the thoughtful gentlemen aren't you." Hugging him and taking the drink as she kissed his cheek as a thank you. "I know you're time is limited I just wanted to be able to show you some important places inside. If that's ok?" "That would be great thank you. "When I first started they had a map on the wall and it was not very helpful since they renovated and nothing was where it was supposed to be anymore, so I got in the system and made one of my own. Also made a line of connections for phone since oddly enough no one hade that either. I made you a copy of both trust me you'll be glad you have it when you start answering the phone lines." Gage told her smirking.

"This is helpful. Thank you. Would you mind if I made copies fort he rest of the managers secretaires and receptionist on the floors?" "Go for it. They may thank you for the cheat sheet. There's always new girls and guy in that position since everybody comes in trying to sleep their way to the top. It never works out for them though." Gage shrugged. "Also there are actually like fifty floors. You should be at the top the closest copying room is on my floor which is forty-seven." "Wow you really the important section of the company according to the main bosses forty-seven is more important than any other level." "Seriously?" Gage asked looking surprised. "Well yeah Gage I mean sure the CEO's, CMO, CFO yeah they are all important but it's you tech guys that keep everything going. Anyone can make a deal, not anyone can keep our assets safe." Tess told him making him blush. "Well if you ever need tech help hit me up I'm the one with the star." Winking to her making it her time to blush.

After showing her the copy rooms, the conference rooms, the café, the different sections for water/coffee/tea/vending machines/ice maker and most importantly all the bathrooms. Making sure it's important to know where every single thing including the janitors closet is since she was working with the heads and may need to point out some of them to their guest who come in for meetings, tours and such. She was amazed at how much detailed he down. How thoughtful he was and how well other workers responded to him. "Gage , hey bro I got a file I need you to check. Oh hello I'm sorry bro didn't know you had company." Axel smiled to them both. "It's alright Tessenia Moretti this my boss the superior of the whole floor and division actually. Also my best friend and cousin Axel Brooks. Axel this is Tessenia she's new to the building and works close with your boss. First day in main building." Gage said with a smile.

"Well welcome to your first day Mrs. Moretti." "That would be Ms., but please just call me Tess or Tessa. Do you have any word of wisdom for me?" Tessa asked smiling brightly to him. "I got plenty of words now, aint one of them wise though. You should definitely have lunch with us sometime though. We a pretty friendly bunch you would meet a lot of nice hard-working people. How would have pearls of wisdom then us." Axel motioned between him and Gage making them all laugh harder. "I will be doing that soon. I should be going looks like you got to get started and I will be right on time. I need the special elevator if you could point me in the direction though." Tess asked both men. "I'll walk you over there." Gage told her putting his things down in his office. "It was a pleasure meeting you I will see you soon Mr. Brooks." "It's Axel for you sweetness and I look forward to it." Shaking his hand one more time. Tessa liked him he seemed like someone she could easily get along with.

"You're lucky you get to work with your best friend he seems like a great guy. Funny." "Oh yeah he's a hoot in a half. Listen I was wondering if maybe you would like to get dinner with me tomorrow night to you know celebrate your first whole day." Gage asked her looking down into her beautiful eyes. "That sounds wonderful. Just text me the details. I would ask you to lunch but I got a rather packed three days so dinner tomorrow sounds great. What time do you usually get here, and get off?" "I start normally about 8:45 and get off normally around four. If I aint got nothing else planned some days I leave at five just to get the work load by Friday. Sometimes I would hit the gym when I leave here, or just go home." Gage shrugged. "What time do you leave and start?" Scratching the back of his head. "Well the rest don't get here until 9 but I will start earlier then that because they all leave at four sometimes there will be working dinner meetings and lunches. Sometimes we will have to travel but I think I will be about 8ish sometime to about four." Tess was using her hands to wave around the time difference.

"Well this is the special elevator that no one is allowed to use except anyone working on the fiftieth floor. Use that key card we got you at H.R. and pay close attention to it. That's your golden ticket to do anything here even the copy rooms. It only access this elevator the others are regular button pushing." Gage told her making her blush hard. "Thank you for everything Gage I will be sure to send out those special cheat sheets we made. I appreciate you taking time to show me around. I'll see you soon?" "Sure will." Gage said smiling to her. Kissing his cheek making him smile ear to ear. "Text me." She winked as the elevator door closed. A few men around looking at the building nerd with their mouths dropped open. Looking at them smiling. "Yeah you saw that. Now keep them eyes to yourself." His voice was deep and raspy scary and intimidating to most especially since he's always the quiet guy.

Making his way back to his office. He sat down. "Three. Two. One." He whispered. His door busted open showing his cousin smiling ear to ear. "Well I'm no real expert but I think that all went rather well this morning. She seems like a sweet person Gage. Something about her though is…" Axel trailed off. "Is what?" "Scary man. That woman you was with right now. Her aura is like powerful man. It was like being in front of a powerful source or something. Her eyes like her eyes are so beautiful Gage but there's so much in them. There's a raw power, fierceness something demanding respect its intimidating bro. That may just be way to much woman for you. For anyone. I really like her though because she also seems humble and nice. I like the respect she had for you in them eyes to. Like they may have even sparkled looking at you bro." Axel sad smiling.

"You paying a lot of attention to her eyes there man, something you want to tell me?" Gage asked him raising an eyebrow to his cousin. "Yes the eyes are the windows to our soul. I'm just making sure she good enough for you man. I don't think anyone really is but she maybe close. I saw them asses in accounting popping in staring at you two walking down the hall biting their fist and shit. Paint them green man when she kisses you, telling you to hit her up. That shit was priceless man." Axel was laughing hard holding his stomach. Shaking his head laughing with him it felt good to be a man others envied for a minute.

"I don't about all hat. Like I know she strong and independent. I know she has got to be some type of powerful to be working where she working right now. I know she crazy smart. When it's us though she got jokes for days. It's as simple as breathing we are just us like better versions of us. I feel more I guess loose with her. I'm a little more out going in ways and the only thing I know is so far I like who I am with her." Gage told him as he was waiting for his computer to fire up and load everything he needed it to. "Well you know everyone changes a little when they get with someone new just remember who you are and if you have to change just due it on your terms because if she keeps rising in this company a lot of serious competition coming your way. Be the man she going to need by being who you really are." Axel told him walking out the office sending his cousin a wink. Xavier could not take the smile on his face the rest of the day.

"How are you done with so much shit at only one in the afternoon?" Jaxon asked her coming into her office. Rubbing his hands down his face. "I Work hard and fast what do you want me to say?" Tessa shrugged as her out box when down faster than Jaxon's. Your in box is almost empty why don't you take some of mine." He pouted while staring at her. "Fuck no. Get your lazy ass up and get that shit handled on your own. You have plenty of time if you in here whining to me, right?" Giving him a pointed look. "Don't need to be so mean now I'm just checking on you. You know how I worry so about my little beast." Smirking to her. "Speaking of which do we have anything going on later I need to know about?" "No tonight is clear. Just keep up with all the work here we got a meeting Wednesday at ten, and another one at one in the afternoon and Thursday we have a lunch meeting. Thursday night at ten we got a shipment coming in and we got one going out an hour before that. I want you to make sure Dre is on that. I want Hunter in on the lunch meeting with us. Both need to be there Wednesday meeting both of them. In three weeks I want a meeting with all the managers on every department and I want all reports for the month turned in the Thursday before that." She told him as he took notes and sent texts to the guys.

"You think maybe you should get a secretary?" "Not yet I don't." "Three weeks you would be here a month and Dimi and Tony would be in town. You know they are staying for a few months right?" "MONTHS?! WHY?" "Why not? You ever think maybe they miss us. Maybe they have work. Chill boss lady." "That's just. Do you think they would be around here much?" "The city yes. The building maybe a few times I mean they do have meetings set up so it would make sense and all. Look I know your nervous of them coming but they are still respectable heads of their family now and they are still our friends. Suck it up buttercup. You are their boss too if they try to get in your pants shoot them." Jaxon shrugged to him. "Than again maybe you'll be claimed by than?" Wiggling his eyebrows.

"You're so funny." Tessa told him flatly while still working away before she looked down to her fingers for a minute taking a breath. "Do you think he would want to be with me?" "The mysterious new guy? I think he'd be crazy not to." "I told daddy about him." "Wow big step for the dark Angel. Are you ok?" Jaxon now looking worried knowing what a huge step that is for her to open up like this and tell Angelo. "I don't know. Lately I've been feeling. I guess maybe that's it I've just been feeling. I don't like some of the things I felt but I like some at the same time I guess." Tessa shrugged trying o make sense of it. "Well like what are feeling. Jealous, territorial when other girls start looking at him like eye meat candy or something it gets me angry. Other times. I feel relaxed, calm, I feel like I am finally releasing a breath that I didn't know I've been holding this time. Like it was suffocating me and I finally got up to air. The worse one is I think I start to feel even a little vulnerable and that's the one I don't like, because I don't do vulnerable." She told him getting mad and putting her hands in her hair.

"I've never seen you act his way ever. I got to say it's a little scary but kind of nice. Look Tessenia normal people all feel this way and you're supposed to when you meet someone special that's what they do to you. When you meet someone who's going to impact your life in ways you can never imagine this is how you feel. The only problem is sometimes it leaves you open to being hurt by that person in ways you never imagine they would hurt you in. It's a chance you need to take. That's why you feel all those things and its ok to be scared about it for the first time. You just got to put your trust in this guy as he earns it. Hope for the best. Maybe you will get something great out of this. Either way with all due respect boss you need this. Chances to feel like this. Hell just to feel. You are more than the Queen of Kings. The Donna of Dons you are more than the beast, the dark angel. You need to realize that sometimes its ok to just to be Tessenia. The problem with being to strong is you never give yourself time to be weak for a minute, to let someone else be strong for you and that's not a sign of strength to be strong all the time. Honestly it makes you weaker. If you never give yourself time to go through life's experiences and feelings, to be able to fall apart to learn to piece yourself back than how do you know your actually strong in the first place. If you can't learn to build yourself back you will always have a small weakness from lack of knowledge of what you can really do. Just this once Tessa give yourself this. Give into this and just let it play out." Jaxon was encouraging her.

Always wanting her to have the best out of life and not miss out on things. "What if it blows up in my face?" "Then it blows up. You pick yourself up and keep on living. Hell you can even shoot me a 'I told you so shot'." Smiling to her. "What if when he finds out, he doesn't want to be apart of this? What if it's too much for him? What if he leaves me because I can't be the woman he needs?" "What if the sky busts into flames and your nose fell. You can what if shit the rest of your life. Here's some other what ifs to waste our time on. What if you are exactly what he needs. What if you are the soul thing missing from his life. What if he can't be the man you need. There's a long line of suitors for you Tessa. I swear to you, you will find your love. You just got to bring yourself for once to be smart enough and strong enough to reach and grab it. To reach out and try. Can you do that?" Jaxon sarcastically asked her.

"I am finally willing to try. Do you believe in love Jaxon? Like soulmate love?" "I do actually I had a great example my whole life. I know when I least expect it ready or not it will happen when it is meant to. If not then my friendship with you and he guys, mainly you. Will be enough for a lifetime, because no matter happens in our life I will always love you Tess. You're my best friend that's just as close as any soulmate can get to my heart." Kissing the top of her head he walked out her office. Feeling all the love she can muster for that strange psycho man. He was right. He always had a great example. Who knows maybe Gage can teach me a few things about it. I feel like I could learn a lot from him. Even about myself.

Her laptop went off. UGGHHH!!!! Accepting the call. 'Nico what a pleasant surprise what can I do for you?' 'Ah there she is my beautiful Angel. Why you not have come to see me? You don't even tell me you are going to be taking over, I hear it like the rest of the common Dons. How my heart breaks and bleed from this my angel.' 'Laying it in a little extra thick today Nico no? I didn't even know and if I did trust me sweet hear your ass wouldn't even come upon the top ten to call. 'Why you have to hurt me my love? I would give you everything. Everything for you. How can you say such hurtful things to your future husband?' 'Future husband? You think you will be my husband. Did you fall and hit your head again?' 'No not again, at least not as hard this time.' 'Nico sweet heart I don't know if it's the drugs you're taking or the some drugs you need to be taking but we are never getting married. Besides daddy would shoot you down.' She told him smiling widely.

'Why not don't say it's because of Dimitri. DO NOT TELL ME IT"S DIMTIRI Mein Liebling (my love). I will challenge him to a fair fight.' 'It's not Dimitri. You will do no such thing. You're crazy Nico.' Raising his eyebrow to he screen and looking at her dead eye flatly. 'Really you of all people are going to call me crazy mein Liebling. Yeah pot this is the kettle your black.' Nico told her sarcastically with a chuckle in both their voices. 'We've been over this too many times Nico I respect you. I like working with you. I trust you. I will not marry you. You ask me one more time and I will tell Don Angelo you are bothering me.' 'NO!!! No I will tone it down I promise. I just wanted you to know my intentions my sweet Queen.' 'Ok well they are noted now leave me be I'm working take care and send my love to your mother and best to the family.' Waving him off as she shut down the screen.

Looking down to the cell phone she uses just for underground business. "What?" She snapped to the phone. Boss we got a runner on payment." "Who and how much." "Benny. Over hundred grand supposed to meet me for a payment of fifty grand the first payment. He saw me and ran." "Alright what did he use for collateral?" "His daughter fresh from high school, always in trouble with the law works at one of the brothels for funsies as she says and is nineteen." "Alright Jared I want you to go get Kane and Lincoln and bring him to the basement. I want to speak to him personally and make sure you have nothing else planned tonight it's going to be a messy clean up." "Yes boss." Shaking her head using his own daughter who is already a massive whore about town as collateral no thank you, although she will have to repay it. Hopefully she can use his life insurance policy, selling off everything in his home."

Picking up her phone. "Keith I want you to get into the banking system and get Benny's personal assets put into our bank account I mean every last dime. He wont be needing it. Call Lincoln and get all the details of him. If it doesn't reach a hundred and fifty thousand dollars then pull from his daughter account as well and put a lean against all her wages until it's paid in full. I tacked on fifty thousand fee for me having to deal with his bullshit. Thanks love.' No one steals form me and lives at least not with all their body parts anyway. A part of her was getting giddy it's been too long since she had something new to play with she smiled sinisterly to herself. Picking up the office phone. "It's four come on let's leave I have a special guest about to waiting and how I would hate to disappoint him or keep him waiting to long." She sang through the intercom.

Walking out of the building she sent a text to Gage telling him she was leaving a great first day of work. Putting here phone in her pocket walking out with Jaxon, Hunter, and Dre' next to her. Walking together through the office left people feeling scared by the power they gave off even Tessenia. Men drooled; woman gave her filthy looks she understood why. Her position to them looked appealing as they must be some of the ones Gage said try to sleep their way to the top who get dropped in the semi middle. She couldn't wait to see the look on some of these suck up bitches face once they find out she was the one who gave them a paycheck and could backlist them from everywhere globe wide. How she wishes she could be so petty, maybe she will. How she hated to test Karma though.

Getting into the basement her boys already had Benny tied down to the chair. "Benny, Benny it seems we have a little problem that I am here to square up." Tessa said in a sweet voice. "Who the fuck are you?" Benny spat out. As Jared back handed him across the face. "You will watch your mouth in a woman's presence." She loved that about her boys they truly appreciated women. "Thank you dear." Jared smiled with a nod. "Forgive me Benny I am the dark angel and you have caught my special attention and I'm afraid the beast will be coming out for you tonight." Looking at him as the life drained to make his face pale. "I was going to pay I swear." Benny started as she cut him off.

"Now, now Benny let's not start by lying to me. You were not going to pay or you would not have ran from your collector now would you. You made a deal. We have kept up our part. I will not be taking your daughter, however she will have to pay your debt. See now you owe a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to me for having to deal with your ass. See Benny I run a tight business and I have other people to pay so for me to use these great men services I need to make sure they get their tender. Now as I was saying you did not hold up your side of the deal Benny. Which also leaves you being a liar and that is something I despise. I don't like being lied to Benny. It's ok though. I have settled the issue. See you managed to save quiet a bit of my money left you had a whole whomping eighty-seven thousand left in your bank account which I have already took, before I even walked into this room as well as the deed to your home. Now your daughter had a whole twenty-five thousand in her banking account which I have also took. All your daughter has to do know is pay the rest of which should be thirty-eight thousand left." Tessa told him as his face dropped looking at his bank account and his daughters.

"Now boys would you please put our guest in a more comfortable position on the table." Tessa asked with a smile. "NO! Wait please. I can pay you back. I can earn you more." Benny was protesting. AS they strapped him down to the table arms and legs spread out to look like an X. Grabbing the potato peeler. "Now why would I believe a liar Benny?" Tessa asked him as she went up to his collar bone and started to peel in a certain way as she slowly and carefully peeled all of his skin off as he passed out from the pain a few times. As she left his face and neck untouched. Putting a rag to his mouth. "Lincoln pour the water on him please." Benny started gagging and drowning in a way.

"Ben, thought you passed out for a minute. Well since your back, it should only be fitting you get to see what we get to do next. Seeing as you thought you could rob me off it's only fitting to lose your hands as old law states. Boys." Before Benny could cry a man on each side of him chopped his hand right off with a machete. "Aw Benny looking a little down there. Don't worry Ben, we're not done, yet." Hours later Benny was in pieces and everyone was in a decent amount of blood left. "Lincoln you guys make sure this gets cleaned up." "Yes beast." He responded a little shaky. The men all backed away and bowed to her as she walked by. Some of the things that Tessenia has done things that made most grown men shuttered in fear, some who work with her still have nightmares. Making her way up the steps she looked in the mirror of their warehouse bathroom hat had a special shower and room set up for each of the four of them.

Looking at herself she was smiling as she washed off the blood from her face. Her inner beast was calmed now and sated. Feeling on top of the world she changed and quickly got home just in time for Gage to call and ask her about her day. After two hours talking to each other on the phone she went to sleep happily. She got up early and grabbed two blended strawberry and mango smoothies for Gage and herself. Walking into his office seeing the smile on his face in shock. "Hey this is a great surprise." Getting up to hug her and kiss her cheek making her blush. "I just wanted to thank you for the coffee yesterday. I had a great day yesterday and wanted to make sure I started today the best way possible and that starts off with seeing you." Smiling to him.

"Well. Thank you. For starting my day off to a great start. Looking down in her eyes for a minute it almost felt like he was asking for permission until he finally went for it and pressed his lips next to her sweet ones. Meeting his need with her own. It wasn't until Axel and two other men came walking in and stopped in shock. "Oh my, sorry about that. Anyway are we still on for tonight?" "Yes we are. Just text me when you're off and I'll meet you down stairs." He pecked her lips one more time. "Want me to see you to the elevator?" "No, I wasted enough of your time. Please continue gentlemen it was great seeing you again Axel." "You too Tess." Axel smiled to her as she went off. In the elevator she couldn't help but think maybe I really could have it all. The day was going so great well that's the way it seemed.