Bold l

The drive down to the hotel was smooth and sleek. Elma perfectly enjoyed the view of the city and thought that Escades seemed like nothing Riccardo had previously said about pigs found in a coat. All she saw was a vast city filled with corporate firms and large houses. She also relished the view of the many fast cars that plied the roads in quick succession.

The prestigious DaCartei hotel and suites soon came into view. Elma's eyes glittered with a fascination at seeing the enormous glass walls. Pondering what Ted would think of her split-second fantasy, a cute smile danced upon her lips. She was still pretty much in her head when a print of cold hands tapped upon her shoulders.

"What!" she yelled savagely on impulse but soon regretted it when she saw who had touched her. "Sir? I didn't em…"

"You did in fact mean it," Riccardo stated with his mouth which was pressed into a grim line. "Remember not to live in the present while we are in there. If you screw up my chances, you wouldn't be having any more of such silly musings flying inside your head."

Elma started sulking, but really, all she was doing was reminisce about the last word he'd said before walking out of the car. When he'd said she shouldn't mess up his chances, what did he mean by it?

Shit! Elma thought she was still unaware of what she was supposed to be doing in that meeting.

"Mr. Di Mauro!" Elma, dashing out of the car, started her heels onto him with his suitcase in hand. He was nearing the two-way electronic door already. "Wait, I just remembered to ask.…"

Ignoring her all the way, Riccardo, along with two other men as his escorts, walked into the lobby of the hotel.

Elma had managed to slide herself in between the doors when she saw a woman hurry out of her desk to meet up with Mr. Di Mauro. Elma liked how sleek and black her hair looked but she didn't think she made a good choice for her hairstyle. She had her high pony packed too tightly that Elma feared she might enjoy a migraine headache really soon. The woman looked smart in her white long-sleeved shirt and red pencil skirt. Her face was pale enough, but her cranberry red lipstick made her look chic.

Elma caught up with her and Riccardo fast enough.

"Sir, I was trying to ask…"

"Not now, Ms. Grey." Riccardo shut her up as smoothly as he turned his attention to the lady with the red lipstick. "What did you say was the problem with my suite, Raffi?"

"Oh, em… Mr. Di Mauro, your suite is in order. It's em… just that we had to move you up to the other penthouse suite."

Riccardo halted abruptly. Turning to face her, he said, "Why, for whatever sake, did you have my suite changed?"

"It was, um, the decision of management, Sir. Actually, I could take you there," Raffi, stopping in between her talk, flitted her eyes nervously to Elma and said, "I could show you around the suite, and if you encounter anything that you'd like me to change, then I will."

"That would not be necessary, Raffi. Get on to your desk," Riccardo waved her off dismissively, continuing on his way.

Elma also sauntered along, but she could swear that she'd seen Raffi shoot her a disdainful stare before turning away.

Elma had tried to reopen her talk before by asking him what it was she shouldn't screw up. But the death glare Riccardo's orbs struck her with, sent her mutely quiet for the rest of the elevator ride.

Elma, taking out her phone, started with the selfies and even managed to steal a snap with him in it when Ted's incoming call interrupted her fun.

"Your boyfriend is calling, I presume," said Riccardo suddenly.

"Sir, Ted isn't—"

The lift dinged open just as Elma was about to provide him with an answer. Leaving her behind, the three men stepped down from the elevator whilst Riccardo stole a turn to mutter some words.

"Are you not getting out of there? or you'd much rather have some privacy to chat with your lover?"

"No, no, sir. You see, Ted is…"

"I don't care to know about that, as long as you can tell when it's the time for work from when it's a time for pleasure."

Elma saw as his jaw muscles ticked and jumped along with his eyes thinning into slits. She understood the message and walked out of there, dumping the dancing phone inside her bag.

"You're right about that, sir," Elma said, once she was close enough. "I should be able to tell the difference."

"Good."

"Oh my god!" yauped a shrieky female voice as soon as the door opened to usher them into the Penthouse suite llB.

Elma could not help her eyes from bulging out as they did. The scenery was too thrilling to ignore.

"Dante," Riccardo said to one of the men who'd escorted him. "Have the boardroom ironed out before Mr. Marseillemo's arrival."

"Will do, sir."

"You too, Enzo. Run along."

"But sir——"

Elma watched as Riccardo's cold gaze silenced any further questions interruption. He left, he and that man.

"You should also get something to do, Ms. Grey." Riccardo shot her a disapproving stare and disappeared inside the suite.

How strange was that? Elma thought before fetching out her phone to see if Ted had texted or anything.

Of course, he had.

1122345—TEXT ME WHEN YOU SEE THIS.

Releasing the strain on her forehead, Elma giggled to herself. That code was something Ted had made up for when she was too busy to take his calls. He would think that only a more interesting male than himself could keep Elma from taking his calls immediately.

'…1122345 in the mud, Ted.' Elma typed as she clicked on her tongue. 'I am too busy with work to think about men's drama.'

Elma quickly put her phone away after she'd SMSed that to him. Knowing Ted as much as she did, she could tell that he was going to freak out by calling her nonstop after that. There was a way his mind worked. Elma liked to think that Ted often understood most of what she said in 'reverse' mode.

She dropped her bag onto the central glass table, stealing a peek at the beautiful view of the horizon from the window. She then steered her heels towards the other components of the room, taking in as much of it as she could. This would be her first time processing all that happened today. Her life was such a dream right now.

"Ted would be so freaking jealous, I know."

Her eyes picked the dining spot, a private spa, two really large sitting rooms that were heavily furnished, and the most colour of all she saw was black amber and delicious red.

"I wonder where the room's at?"

Pitting her foot carefully as she walked, Elma was more cautious about stumbling in on Riccardo by chance. So far, his personality confused her. He'd shown her that he could be the suavest and yet most savage motherfucker she would ever meet. Elma thought she could cope— although she wasn't sure of how being his personal assistant would pan out for her eventually— but still...She was willing to try.

"What the ——"

Elma bit back her next word which was obviously a curse word. What was staring right in front of her was something she'd least expected to see; an enormous walk-in closet packed with female clothes! How wasn't that enough to make anyone in her shoes freak out? She would.

As Elma staggered some light steps backward, her back met with a wall; pretty hard stuff but warm. It felt like a tremor was happening to it because of how she could feel it heaving against her back.