Violetta's POV

What is happiness?

People like my children, and my family, as well as music and novels, give me joy. Being joyful means you're happy, but feeling happy is temporary because it can be changed by the things around you.

Happiness is being happy without a factor. Without a reason to be happy. No activities, no person, no objects, just plain you. Everything on earth is temporary including the factors that make you happy. So to truly have happiness, don't depend on anything or anyone but yourself.

I've never truly experienced happiness. I don't think anyone has.

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I wrote the following words in my diary, striving desperately to keep my warm tears back. I've been trying hard to stay asleep till I needed to wake up, but it was pointless. Back then, before I even had my children, I always woke up by 4 am so I could get ready for school. If I woke up late and my father was already up, I would miss school for his beatings.

When I moved out to Paul's place after the pregnancy, I struggled to sleep and it affected my health. Eventually, I started sleeping early and waking up by 5 am. It's been the same till now, except I don't sleep early.

Once again, I have nothing to do. It was 5:07 at the moment and I had finished writing in the diary. Two weeks have passed with me working for Mike and living in this grand apartment. I've learned a lot of things about my environment, and I've gotten used to working.

Everything is as usual. Mike being a dick head most of the time, my kids going to school and eating good food, me having my bad dreams and weird sleeping patterns, Mateo and I spending a lot of time together, and I earning my first paycheck.

The ten grand I was given was all gone, but it wasn't by spending it. I opened ARM accounts and invested $5000 so that in a few years it would become more. Then I opened accounts for each of my children, so I could save up money for them for later in the future. I put in $200 every week.

I had used only $500 for things that I needed to buy at home, invested $3000 into stocks which I made some profit from, and I was left with about  $300 by the time I was done plus the twenty grand I was paid.

It was a bit unusual, but they paid people half their salaries every two weeks. They said it was beneficial for people who needed the money and it made it easier to fire people and easier for people to quit which didn't happen often.

I had divided my salary to be shared into 5 different accounts already. The first was for investments, which was $2000, and the next was for my children's savings, which was $1,200 in total every two weeks. The next was my stock investments which summed up to $3000, and then the ARM account which was $2000, the second to the last was the money I was saving so I could open a bakery downtown which was about $4000, and the last was for my current account which was $2,800 and I could spend as I pleased.

I made a lot of investments that I will continue, because as I said earlier, nothing on earth lasts forever, just like this job, so I need to stack up on cash. It would be great if the cafe was up and running in six months so even if after a year, I'm fired, I'll have a source of income.

I opened the laptop that Mike had given me and logged into the work email that he had created. There were a few assignments that were undone, so I got to work and sent it to him.

It was 5:45, so I made pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast, had my bath, brushed my teeth, and woke up my kids by 6:30. We did the same thing as usual. Dressed up, ate breakfast, and chatted till Heli came around to pick them up.

I made my day's outfit casual, wearing a black tank top, high-waisted ripped blue jeans, a cream wool jacket, white sneakers, and a black bag.

I decided to straighten my hair, just to try it out and it turned out looking pretty good without so many curls. I wouldn't do it much though so I don't damage my hair.

Mateo arrived and took me to work, and as we always did, we talked and talked till we arrived at the office. He walked me in where I then hugged him and went to the tenth floor. I got Mike's coffee and then went over to Mike's office to uncover the horrific sight of a black-haired girl who was topless, making out with him.

I shut the door instinctively, getting the attention of the receptionist who looked at me weirdly and loitered outside, contemplating whether to knock or just leave and wait for him to call. Before I left, he opened the door and the lady left the room, making sure to scowl at me.

"This is why people knock," I commented, handing him his coffee. "I get it now," Mike said before walking into his office. I stepped in and shut the door behind me then walked over to his table. "You have two meetings outside the office and one inside", I said.

"The first is in two hours in Mr. Lexer's mansion, the second is by 2:30 pm at the Eklo Hotel, and the last is 5 pm here," I explained. "Ok. Don't go to your office today. Just stay here so it's easy to go about the meetings. Write a letter to the owner of Sileri Hotel, telling him I'm no longer supplying him electricity, and after, edit the proposal letter and send it to Mr. Deni. Sit on the couch or something and get to work."

I did as he said, settled down, and got writing. I wrote the letter and sent it to Mike for him to approve it which he did, then I sent it to the man. Mike eventually came to sit beside me on the couch, putting on the TV to watch an action movie. "Your curls look better by the way," Mike said, with his eyes fixed on the television.

"So does this look bad?" I consulted curiously. "No, it looks good but I just think the curls look better." he countered. "Oh ok, thanks I guess."

Time passed by with us both sitting on the couch. I eventually stopped what I was doing and watched the movie with him. "No! Why is it always the black guys that die first? He was the smartest of them all."  I screamed at the television, earning a loud laugh from Mike. "I didn't know you were even capable of smiling", I mumbled.

"Hey, don't insult me. You see, when people like me get too friendly, others take advantage. So just because I don't smile much and I'm a bit mean..." he began. "Vey mean," I commented, cutting him off and reaping a glare. "As I was saying, just because I'm a bit mean, doesn't indicate that I'm wicked or bratty like you probably think I am." he said, emphasizing 'a bit'. "You're so good at reading my mind", I said, indirectly insulting him. "And I'm the mean one."

Time went by and Mike got back to work. It was eventually time to go to Mr.Lexer's mansion, so we both left the room, receiving stares from the receptionist. I don't know why she always looks at me weirdly when I come out of his office.

We got down to the ground floor where many people were waiting for different things. Mike was on a call so I walked over to Mateo's car and got in, his eyes following me. I began to chat with Mateo after explaining that he should follow Mike's car when Mike knocked on the window earning our attention.

"What are you doing?" Mike asked, interrupting my conversation with Mateo. "You aren't here to chit-chat. We're going to be late for the meeting if you keep wasting time." he finished.

"Mateo's gonna follow your car, don't worry. We're right behind you", I explained, earning a harsh scoff from him. What's his problem? "Get your ass out, and get in my car. I don't have time for this", he uttered rudely and walked off to enter his car. "What's so wrong if I take you there?" Mateo questioned. "Maybe he doesn't want too many people following him. I don't know honestly"

To avoid trouble, I left Mateo and got into the car with Mike and his driver. He was back to his ordinary mean self. Just excellent. I thought we were getting towards acquaintances.

The car took us to a similar location and stopped. The driver opened my side of the car while Mike got out himself and walked to the familiar house. I was so sure this was Jack's house.

WAIT... Jack Lexer. That must be his surname. We knocked on the door and were greeted by an elderly woman. "Hello sir." she acquainted, opening the door for Mike and me to enter, disclosing the inside of Jack's house to us. We were taken upstairs to his office where we knocked on the door and waited for his reply. "Come in," Jack said, permitting us to enter the closed room.

Mike and I stepped in and greeted Jack, who looked at me with aghast eyes. "It's been a while, Mr. Mirando. This is my new assistant Violetta", Mike said, introducing me to my long-time friend. "I'm aware", Jack let out, still staring at me, leaving Mike confused and curious. "Well, you can have your seats", Jack announced.

We both sat down and I got to my job, which was to write down important things they said what they agreed on, and what they didn't. I got to my jotting as the two handsome men conversed about their business matters with one another. Mike was planning on opening a restaurant near his hotel, but the spot that would've been perfect was already occupied by Jack's massive restaurant.

They concluded the discussion agreeing that Jack's restaurant would be expanded to join Mike's hotel. It was a smart idea as Jack's customers would be aware of Mike's hotel and Mike's customers would be aware of Jack's restaurant.

They finished up their meeting, signed the contracts, and greeted themselves goodbye. As we opened the door, Simon was spotted running into me and hugging my legs. "Aunty, I missed you" Simon exclaimed happily. "Me too", I admitted, hugging the little boy wearing a large shirt that dragged on the floor.

"Violetta", Mike called, getting my attention. "He missed you a lot", Jack confirmed, putting his hand on my back, and smiling at me. Mike looked displeased at my lack of professionalism, so I got to my feet and greeted Simon. "Simon, I promise I'll visit on Friday, ok," I assured, locking my pinky finger with his.

I shook Jack's hand, telling him goodbye, and departed the house... Or mansion— with Mike. We got into his car and drove off. "I'm guessing you were some Queen bee with a bunch of boyfriends in high school", he stated. "No, I was the loner with three kids in high school", I retorted, ending the conversation. We went back to his office and I was cramped up in the room, doing work. I eventually got lunch brought up to the office

It was a handful more awkward than before for some reason I wasn't very sure of. He probably thinks I've been fucking multiple men, but who cares. I know for sure he's been banging many women, so he can't judge.

It was finally time to go to the next meeting so I braced myself, hoping I didn't meet someone I knew again.

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Mike's POV
It was another day of work and things were much easier with Violetta around. I had more time to myself. More time for this.

Stephany, one of my hookups was sitting on my lap with her top off, kissing me intensely. I held her waist tight, hoping not to leave a mark as I kidded her back. We were cut off from our make-out session when Violetta barged into my office, starting us both.

She didn't waste time to shut the door after what she had seen. Stephany attempted to continue kissing me but I pushed her off and threw her shirt at her. "We don't have to stop, she already left", Stephany said, slowly walking towards me, attempting to look sexy. "That's my assistant, and It's high time I got to work. Leave!" I told.

She rolled her eyes and put on her shirt, and as the gentleman I was, I opened the door for her to take off. Violetta was standing outside my door, her cheeks slightly red from embarrassment, her hair straight, different from how it usually was.

Whichever way she dressed, whatever makeup she wore, and however her hair was, she was still so gorgeous. Of course, I wouldn't tell her though. Every chance I got, I would stare in awe at how beautiful a human could look, even though I didn't have a crush on her... I think.

"This is why people knock," Violetta commented, handing me my daily coffee. "I get it now," I acknowledged before stepping back into my office with Violetta straddling behind me. She shut the door and then walked over to my table. She set a new record. The first time an assistant of mine shut the door of my office for something other than sex. "You have two meetings outside the office and one inside", she warned.

"The first is in two hours in Mr. Mirado's mansion, the second is by 2:30 pm at the Eklo Hotel, and the last is at 5 pm here," she explained. "Ok. Don't go to your office today. Just stay here so it is easy to go about the meetings. Write a letter to the owner of Sileri Hotel, telling him I'm no longer supplying him electricity, and after, edit the proposal letter and send it to Mr. Deni. Sit on the couch or something and get to work." I requested, telling her what to do.

Violet did as I said. She settled down and got to writing the letter on my behalf. She was getting better at it. After a while, I finished the work I was doing and decided to take a small break. Now that Violetta was here, I've been much more relaxed. I sat beside her on the couch, putting on the TV to watch an action movie.

I couldn't help but notice her long straight hair once again. "Your curls look better by the way," I said, making sure not to look at her. "So does this look bad?" she asked, touching her hair curiously. "No, it looks good but I just think the curls look better." I clarified. "Oh ok, thanks I guess."

Time went quickly as I enjoyed my action movie, sitting on the couch. "No! Why is it always the black guys that die first? He was the smartest of them all." Violetta cried out in frustration.

I laughed loudly at her comment, comparing her to my younger brother. "I didn't know you were even capable of smiling", she murmured, indirectly abusing me. "Hey, don't insult me. You see, when people like me get too friendly, others take advantage. So just because I don't smile much and I'm a bit mean..." I began, trying to explain the cause of my attitude.

"Vey mean," Violetta stated, cutting me off, and causing me to send her a scowl. "As I was saying, just because I'm a bit mean, doesn't indicate that I'm wicked or bratty like you probably think I am," I said, finishing my statement.

"You're so good at reading my mind"

"And I'm the mean one," I grumbled, defending myself from her last ridicule.

A few more minutes went by and I got back to work. It was eventually time to go to Mr.Lexer's mansion, so Violetta and I both left the room. I noticed the suspicious stares from the receptionist who seemed to be judging Violetta. She didn't have the right to do that because I had already slept with her before. Besides, Violetta wasn't like the other and the made me happy to have her around.

She had a kind of self-respect that was so unique. She was so focused on her children that she didn't even have time for romantic relationships except for that bastard idiot driver. Maybe she's not attracted to me.

We got down to the ground floor with many people scattered around the room. My phone rang, snapping me out of thought. I picked up the call to be met with my mother's voice. "Hello dear, how are you?" she implored as I watched Violetta walk off.

"Hey mum, I'm good, and you?" I asked as I watched Violetta shut the door of the car, leaving me unaware of what was going on inside due to the tinted window. "Darling? Darling, are you there?" My mum's voice said, grabbing my attention.

"Mum, I have to go. I'm getting late for a meeting", I explained, hanging up and ambling over to the car. I thumped on the window which was soon rolled down. "What are you doing?" I scrutinized. "You aren't here to chit-chat. We're going to be late for the meeting if you keep wasting time." I completed.

"Mateo's gonna follow your car, don't worry. We're right behind you", Violetta explained, earning an annoyed scoff from me. What did this Mateo guy have anyway? I was happy Violetta wasn't a slut, but a part of me was disturbed that she didn't seem to like me much.

"Get your ass out, and get in my car. I don't have time for this", I spoke rudely and commenced to walk off to my car. I got in waiting patiently inside, looking through the window to find Mateo's irritated facial expression.

Violetta left Mateo's car and got in the car with me and Jason, my driver. I once again began to ponder on what was going on between Violetta and Mateo. Maybe I could fire him. I don't want her distracted from work by such things.

The car took us to my business partner, Jack's house. Jason opened the door for Violetta while I got out myself. She seemed to stare intensely at the house for a long time. Possibly, she liked the way it looked.

We knocked on the door and were welcomed by an old woman. "Hello sir." she acquainted, freeing the door for me and Violetta to enter, and disclosing the inside of Jacks's house. We were taken upstairs to his office where we tapped lightly on the door and waited for his reply. "Come in," Jack said, giving us approval to enter the sealed area.

I strode in and greeted Jack, who barely paid me attention as he was focused on Violetta. Why is he so thirsty? "It's been a while, Mr. Lexer. This is my new assistant Violetta", I introduced.

"I'm aware", Jack said, still staring at her. Did they know each other? What if she's like me? Sleeping around with many people.

"Well, you can have your seats", Jack declared, clasping me out of my thoughts. I sat down along with Violetta and discussed with Jack.

I intended to open a restaurant near my 5-star hotel, but the location that would've been excellent was already occupied by Jack's restaurant. We eventually decided to join forces. I would build a pathway and break down the wall that divided the restaurant and hotel, bringing them both into the same compound.

That way we would both earn from the change. We agreed and ended the meeting after signing the contract of agreement. Violetta and I got up to leave but as we opened the door, we were entertained by Jack's son. He ran to Violetta, hugging her legs tightly.

Did they have a child together? "Aunty, I missed you" the little boy wearing a big shirt exclaimed happily, proving my theory wrong. Was that her Nephew? That's not possible though, because Jack looked at her with lustful eyes and I'm sure he's not incest.

"Me too", Violetta responded, hugging the little boy. We had other things to do apart from this reunion. "Violetta" I called, receiving her vigilance.

"He missed you a lot", Jack confirmed, putting his hand on her back, making sure to smile. Why is he getting all touchy? "Simon, I promise I'll visit on Friday, ok," Violetta said, guaranteeing the boy, locking her pinky finger with his.

She shook Jack's hand, telling him goodbye, and fled the mansion with me by her side. We got into my car and Jason drove off. She seems to know a lot of men and get along with them. I can't even blame them, the girl looks like a Greek goddess and her clothes never fail to show her curves.

"I'm guessing you were some Queen bee with a bunch of boyfriends in high school", I asked, hoping to prove my assumption. "No, I was the loner with three kids in high school", she answered, halting the discussion.

We went back to my office and I got back to work. Violetta eventually got lunch brought up for us both to eat. The room felt more uneasy than before, most likely because of my question.

It was finally time to go to the next meeting so I put my act together and got ready to leave, praying the married men I would be with for the next hour, wouldn't undress Violetta with their eyes.

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Hello my lovely readers, how are you all doing?

Please bear with my slow updates and forgive me. I'll try harder this month either way. Feel free to comment, vote, and even share the book as it would mean a lot to me.

Stay Peachy❤️

Q and A
1. What do you think is going through Jack's mind?

2. Do you think Mike has taken a liking to Violetta? A romantic one maybe?

3, What's your opinion on Mike's reaction towards Mateo?

                                        Stay tuned for the next chapter...  Out of it