The Italian Devil

Four

“The eyes are one of the most powerful tools a woman can have. With one look, she can relay the most intimate message. After the connection is made, words cease to exist. ”

~Jennifer Salaiz

Four years later.

‘Today is going to be just another day’ was what Varisha thought as she dresses up for work this morning. Upon her arrival hearing the co workers side talking about boss Keenan’s return, she knows it isn't going to be just another day.

It wasn't some cliche story where a super rich boss and a simple girl falls madly in love and that wasn't her case, at least she wasn't going to let it be her story. Keenan Hilton was her boss and they both had each other's company and had lunch a couple of times and that was all it was and although it drew attention of some her colleagues at work, they didn't dare ask her question for fear of falling into Keenan hands. Keenan wasn't bothered by how it looked, and neither was she.

Well so it was until Keenan left four years ago two week after he stood up for her with Max.

She didn't expect anything from him because their relationship was always a formal one and though it came with a few lunch break, and that didn't change it, well that was what Keenan's sudden disappearance said to her.

Keenan had suddenly left the country and company four years ago and according to the rumor, he had left the country with his lover, who was then best friend’s fiancée and although Vary knew little about her boss, she wasn’t completely sure Keenan was the bad guy. He never involved her in his personal life but she knew he was in love and she could see that. Call it finding the good in everyone, but she still believed there was so much unsaid and unknown about the whole issue.

She was no ease dropper, but she’d walked in on her boss talking to her older sister Bethany once about the girl he was in love with.

Flashback

KEENAN had asked her to submit her survey and finding on the rural hotels around the state and find out how the Hilton hotel would survive if it was to be opened in the rural community. He personally assigned it to her after seeing her approach on the Paris expansion. It was a three days assignment and she reported directly to his office immediately she arrives at the office and although he’d called her in, he was on the phone when she came into his office. He was talking to someone Vary placed as a close person because he seem to be pouring his heart out to the caller on the other line with no hold back on his emotions.

“No.” he took in a heavy breath and waited a while listening to the other voice on the line.

“I know I am not supposed to feel this way especially because how complicated that is, I’m not a freaking child, but I can’t reverse my actions, I love her.” He ran a shaky hand through his hair and sighed.

“No. she can’t stand me and I can’t be around her while I have this damn feeling for her.” He explained getting frustrated and tired. His emotion was everywhere and Vary wondered if he was still the same boss she and the papers knows him to be tough. She’d never thought that rich people had so much problem with love since they could literally have anyone they so desire. And that day she learnt a lesson and it was that love could never be bought even with millions.

The person on the other line says something and he grunted before nodding. “It’s not so easy sister,” he scoffed and shook his head. “I want her so much and I can’t even say hey without putting my heart at stake. I know I’ve been selfish with a lot of things in the past, but not with Taylor, never have I been with a woman that makes me want to change this much, every time I think about her I wish we had met under different circumstances.” He chuckles at something Bethany says and turning around he saw Vary standing, looking gingerly around and the emotions on his face vanished and the new looks that appeared on his face is one she recognized composed, in control, endearing and bold.

“I’ll call you back.”  He said in a calm voice, ending the call while studying her and wondering just how much of his conversation she had heard. He knew that although Vary was a smart and brave young lady, he also knew she wasn't the strongest under pressure and would say everything she just heard as soon as she's asked about it and it was only just a matter of time before the world finds out about his feelings for Taylor.

He thought about firing her that moment, but thought about it. If he decided to fire her, he would only give her the reason to make his private life a public affair and that was the last thing he wanted because he knew that would be putting Taylor in danger and that was on the top list of what he didn’t want to do.

“Take a seat Ms. Klean.” He instructed and she obeyed immediately and sat down.

Keenan analyzed her feature and realized she was trembling from fear and her hand holding the documents looked like they were going to drop them on the floor any moment so he stretched out his hand forward.

She glanced up at him and narrowed her eyes at his hand not understanding why his hand was stretch to her. They were close but Keenan never for once on their lunch break spoke about his personal life and now he probably thinks she ease dropping. He was probably going to fire her.

But that still didn't explain why his hand was stretched out to her. Was he requesting for a shake or something?

Rolling his eyes he said, “Hand me the file Ms. Klean.” he requested impatiently.

Vary gingerly handed him her survey file and he took it and went through it. He had to admit he was impressed with her finding and he looked up to see her chewing on her bottom lips anxiously.

He wasn’t going to fire her; he was going to make her an offer. “I must say I’m impressed Ms. Klean.” He said and she looked up at him trying to suppress the smile that tried to take over her face.

He entwined his hands and dropped them on the desk in from of him as he continued. “I was going to fire you a while ago,” he bluntly told her, confirming her earlier fear and her eyes fell sadly.

Oh well so much for being friends and it wasn't even like she came uninvited, he summoned her to his office. But she kept all that to herself.

“But you’re so smart and ambitious and it would be a shame to see all that destroyed.” She breathed down in relief because she knew when he’d seen her earlier he was angry and she knew she was in trouble. “So I’m going to make you a deal.” His voice cut into her thought and she looked up at him to see his weakening blue eyes fixed on hers.

“Okay.” she replied in a whispered and nodded. “What is it Sir?”

“I want you to forget everything you just heard.” he replied and lean back on his seat and rubbed his beards lightly.

“I didn-‘t hear anything.” She stuttered as she shook her head.

“Yeah,” He smiled and dropped his fingers and tapped on his desk melodiously, “and you’re such a terrible, terrible liar.” He got up and walked to where she sat and took his seat on the desk in front of her, his hand stroke her hair and smirked down at her uneasiness to his gesture “I know you heard everything, and I also know you’re a blabber mouth, you can barely keep your own thought to yourself and it’s only a while before the whole world find out about my feelings for Taylor so I'll need you to forget and name your price.”

She didn't understand what he was talking about what price? In the last few days they'd had lunch together she thought he would know that she wasn't that type if person.... Well they just ate and Vary felt awkward all through, but still she thought that would mean something

Her brows furrowed deeply, “You don’t have to pay me any money, I can keep your secret, I promise.”

He nodded his hand still playing with her curly hair, “I know darling, but I will have to so I can have a reason to kill you if you ever decide to run your mouth.”

There was no trace of sarcasm in his tone as he made his threat and she swallowed nervously before nodding. “Okay.” not knowing what else to say.

Impressed with his game on her, he said, “Good girl. Now name your prize.” He knew he wasn’t going to hurt her, but he just had to make her feel like he was. He let go off her hair and walked back to his seat and pulling at the drawer of his desk, he bring out his chequebook and opened it, all the while waiting for her to name an amount.

“It’s not a crime to love someone you cannot have you know.” She spoke up with a little courage, making Keenan pause to look up at her.

He gave her a small but genuine smile, “Not when you’re in love with your best friends fiancée.” he replied and his eyes dropped to the cheque book. "Say the number hun."

She felt pity for him, he had enough money  and looks that could get almost any girl but here he was about to pay her off in order to keep her from telling anyone else about the girl he could never have.

She got up quickly and backed away towards the door and this made him look up with questioning eyes. “Keep the money. If I open my mouth and say this out to anyone, you can kill me, but I don't want your money.”

He closed the chequebook and dropped it back in the drawer, “What do you want in return then?” he ask, looking back to her.

She frowned and he knew say she was pisses off at him but he didn't know why, well not until she began to speak.

“Haven’t anyone ever done anything for you without them expecting something in return?” she asked, her eyes and voice sounding kinda lost.

He blankly stared at her for a while wondering what she was getting at and after a few minute he shrugged. “No.”

“Then I’ll be the first to,” she replied stubbornly saying to hell with his money, “I get it, you’re insecure about your personal life, but you might as well as kill me now ‘cause I won’t take your money.”

He got up to his feet and strolled towards her at the door where she was standing and folds his arms over his chest; licking his red lips temptingly and provocatively and she groan at the open reaction her body was giving him.

She may have liked him more than she let off. He was a hot god on legs and he had the physical s****l appeal so it wasn't so hard and after standing up for with Max a week ago she couldn't stop herself.

She scolded herself many times on the account of the wrong imagination going on in her mind, because she did have a boyfriend and it was wrong to think of anyone in an inappropriate way. Not even if he was so hot and sexy and had the blue eyes she had always day dreamed about since she met him.

“Okay Ms. Klean, I’ll take your word for it.” He said in a formal tone, "We should have lunch later." He said returning to his seat and she couldn't believe the man she was standing in from of.

"I still got work and tasks to complete." She ramble out her excuse clumsily.

He smirked mischievously, "You know me hun, I don't take no for an answer."

Flashback ends.

Varisha walks to her office not wanting to get engaged in any discussion Keenan, she had promised him four years ago she wasn’t going to say anything to anyone about him and Taylor Snowfall. She knows that if she dares join in their conversation even if it's a little, she would end up running her mouth about what had happened in his office four years ago and how he had threatened to take her life if she said a thing about him to anyone.

Half way into the day, the time clocks one p.m. and she gets up, taking her purse and jacket from her seat before going towards her door. She walks out of her office hoping to get something and satisfy her ever growling stomach before she continues with her work.  She searches through her purse for the $10 change she'd kept there and begins to calculate all the expenses she is about to make as she makes her way out of the building.

She gets so lost in her calculation of everything she has to buy that she bumps into someone and she falls down hard on her butt. She hisses out loud, groaning in frustration as she stares up at the person she just bumped into, in hope to properly glare at him. She's unable to though because, she sees her Italian devil of a boss smirking down at her and the anger disappears at once and her mouth drop open in surprise and confusion.

Holy s**t!!

She struggles and pulls herself up from the ground and looks down as she brushes her black jean and hopes that while she does this, he will get tired of waiting for her to look at him and go inside, but instead he bends down so he now is looking up at her and smirking devilishly.

“I’ve got at day to wait, just so you know.” He tells her as if reading her thought and damn his Italian accent is so obvious now.

Her cheeks burns in embarrassment as her eyes locks in his. “I wasn’t avoiding you, if that’s what you’re talking about.”

He shakes his head, this past four years has done nothing to change her, “You’ve always been such a terrible, terrible liar Vary.”

Vary? Since when did he start calling her Vary? She wonders to herself. She isn’t complaining though.

She stands up straight and he does likewise. “Welcome back Mr. Hilton.” She says, forcing a polite smile to her face.

“It’s nice to be back.” He replies and he suddenly loses his playful spirit and puts on the formal, business and serious look “I’d like to talk to you in my office Ms Klean.” he says and begin to walk away.

She frowns in confusion, what did she do now? “You mean now?” she asks.

“Now!” he thunders and makes his way past her.

Her stomach growls aloud from emptiness, but she knows she one need is higher than hers and Keenan her boss' need is more than her stomach's.

So much for her lunch break.