Chapter 2: Beat Brain

"Uh...." I looked at the floor trying to escape her deadly glare.

I started cleaning up the files as I stack them on top of each other messily. I stood up while grabbing my purse and the files.

"I'm so sorry for bumping into you! I wasn't looking," I apologized as I handed her the files. Her glare was still burning through me which made me feel like I needed to put my head down.

But I'm a CEO, I have to show confidence, not someone who's scared when someone's glaring.

She ripped the files from my hand roughly. I look down at my pointer finger once I felt a slight burn. Great, she gave me a paper cut. "You should be sorry, Traffic light!" Traffic light? I looked down to see I was just wearing my red blouse. Does this make me look like a traffic light?

I shook my head, trying very hard not to hate her. I'll be working with her for who knows how long. "Hi, my name is Summer Evans, CEO of Reflection designs," I introduced myself, hoping she doesn't call me a traffic light again.

"You don't look like a CEO," yeah I get that a lot. "And why should I care who you are?" She added.

"Um... Because Ms. Cunningham I'll be working with you and your fiancé," I explained. She looked at me curiously as she tried to figure something out.

"Wait, Reflection designs as in an interior design company?" She questioned almost looking furious.

"Yeah, I'll be designing your honeymoon home in Rome," I smiled hoping this was the answer she was looking for.

Wait? Was this meant to be a secret?

She looked me up and down looking beyond raged. "And my fiancé hired you?!" Aw great, if I give her this answer she will be incredulously inflamed!

"Um....yes?" It came out more like a question but I guess she got the answer. She pushed me aside and walked the way I came from. I exhaled, hoping she doesn't run to her fiancé and demand to have me fired.

I looked at the ground to realize I almost forgot my phone. I bend down to pick it up, glad that it didn't crack. I typed a quick reply to Becky while walking back to my car. Just seeing Evelyn made my crave for coffee go away.

I quickly hop into my Ashton Martin as I drive towards my company. All I need to worry about now is making sure everything is set up for June, making sure my best employees and partner will know what to do with the clients while I'm gone, and making sure I know what to do once I head off to Rome for a couple months.

Not much to worry about, right?

~*~**~*~**~*~
3 days later

I finally felt relaxed once I sat down near the window of the private jet. It's been a hectic 3 days with June not knowing what to do and yelling out all her frustration upon my employees.

I almost laughed when I read a text from Spencer, asking why I like to torture him. 

I looked at my watch as it read 12am. Me being me, I searched up everything about Rome and I found out it takes 8 hours and 15 minutes to get from New York Manhattan to Rome.

I would have to say today was the most hectic day ever.

Hectic meaning, I had to say goodbye to my entire family. Well my moms side of her entire family. That meant having my 19 cousins, 4 uncles, 3 aunts, 3 nephews, and 2 nieces in one house.

My mind went elsewhere once the pilot spoke. 

"Miss Evans, everything is ready to go. We will be taking off in 5 minutes," he smiled as he went back to his seat.

"Thanks for informing me Henry," I smiled as I reached over for my bag, shutting my phone off.

I grab my purse as I head towards the back of the plane where the bedroom is located. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep now and wake up once we've landed. I hate waiting for so long with nothing else to do, especially for 8 hours.

I crawl into the bed with my business attire still on. I was way too tired to change into my sleepwear. I lay down waiting for sleep to take over.

Too bad I can't sleep through all the months I'll be working with Thaddeus Logan.

~*~**~*~**~*~

"House keeping," a women shouted from the other side of the door. Why is she so early? I just got here. Well I got here an hour and a half ago.

The plane landed at 8:30am. Once I walked into the hotel I got a text from Thaddeus to meet me at his house at 10:30am. Ignoring the fact of how he got my phone number, I hurried up the stairs of the hotel to quickly change into something more...appealing.

Now here I am in a business casual attire. With white jeans, I tucked a light green T-shirt in, putting a blue jean jacket over it. I slipped into my white ballerina flats as I wrapped a belt through my belt loops.

I left my dark brown hair in it's natural waves. Looking at myself in the mirror I totally forgot about the house keeping.

"Oh uh... Yeah come in!" I said in a high squeaky voice, throwing my red stiletto under the bed. I can be a pretty messy slob when I wanna be.

I go over by the door, opening it wide enough for the cart to fit through. "Thank you sweetie," she whispered as she walked in. While she walked in I got the chance to take a peek at her name tag.

I grabbed my handbag and my planner while opening the door again. "Thank you Emilia, I'll be back soon!" I walked through the door as I closed it quietly. While doing so I heard a faint voice from inside the room. "Okay darling," I smiled as I walked down the stairs instead of using the elevator. To me, the stairs were faster since I was just on the second floor.

I walk out of the large hotel to see my chauffeur waiting. I have decided not to drive around by myself when I'm here, since I don't exactly know where I'm going.

This was a new chauffeur, a chauffeur who actually lives here. He walked around and opened the car door for me. "Ciao signorina, Benvenuto a Roma, Italia." He spoke in Italian. I replayed the words in my head, trying to figure out what he said. Okay, I know Ciao means hello, I also know Benvenuto means welcome, and he said Roma, Italia. So he must be welcoming me here.

Like I said, I did a lot of research on Rome. So I picked up on some basic Italian. "Grazie," I replied, thanking him. He smiled at me surprised that I responded him in Italian.

"In cui si desidera andare signorina?" He questioned in Italian. Man, I shouldn't have answered in Italian. He must've thought I knew how to speak the language.

"I don't know how to speak Italian," I admitted sheepishly. He nodded his head, understanding.
"Where do you want to go, miss?" He asked again in an Italian accent.

"Oh," I got out my phone and clicked on Thaddeus's contact since he's the one who texted it to me. I handed my phone to him once I pulled up the directions. He looked at it and nodded his head, knowing where to go.

"What's your name?" I questioned my chauffeur. He made a quick U-turn as he spoke again. "It is Luca," he drove straight again, paying attention to the road. "Well Luca, you can call me Summer," I looked out the window to see all the beautiful architecture of Rome. I see lights hanging down some of the buildings, meaning it might light up at nighttime. That would look amazing at night if there were lights everywhere.

"Estate," Luca spoke again in Italian. I turned around, confusion painting my face as I try to take in what he just said. What does that even mean?

He looked over at me once he saw my confusion. "It's your name, Estate means Summer," he explained. Well he must mean the actual word summer as in the season. Not my name, even though it's the same difference.

"Siamo arrivati," the car stopped moving as he cut off the engine. I look up to see a large beautiful house.

I look over at Luca, even though I didn't know what he just said, I thanked him.

"Grazie," I waved my hand as I got out of the car. He waved his hand as well as he started backing up to go the way we came.

I walked towards the beautiful beige house. It has a dark red rooftop with little line carvings up and down the walls. There was windows, arches, and balconies cluttered all over the mansion in a good way.

There was also beautiful green grass that can go on for miles around the house. I then walked up the stairs that leads to the front door. Knocking the large wooden door, I waited for Thaddeus to let me in.

Instead the door opened, revealing none other than the Evelyn Cunningham. Once she saw me she snarled as she called for Thaddeus.

"Thaddeus, Traffic light is here!" She shouted loudly. Traffic light again? I looked down at my outfit for the second time today. I was just wearing a green shirt! Okay, maybe I did look like a traffic light by wearing this.

"Who is traffic light?" I heard Thaddeus yell from inside the house. I then hear heavy footsteps coming towards the front door. While Evelyn holds the door open, Thaddeus comes to stand by her as he sees who's really at the door.

"Oh, Miss Evans come in," he granted. I stood there smiling nervously with Evelyn's hawk eyes watching my every move.

Finally deciding to move, I stepped beside her, walking in. She slammed the door shut making me jump by the force she used to close it. I looked straight to see a tiled double staircase. I love how the double staircase is at the entry of the house. The steps is a beautiful white marble tile with gray streaks. I take the first step on the stairs, holding onto the white wooden railing, I turn back around to face the both of them.

"Has this home been recently renovated?" I questioned knowing this all looks too new to just be bought off the market. I can practically smell the fresh paint on the wooden railing.

"Yes, it was just finished a month ago. The walls are already painted the way we've wanted it so you don't need to worry about that," he answered loudly. He then let go of Evelyn's waist and started up the stairs. I trailed behind him, listening to him as we go.

"This house has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It also has a large living room space and a newly finished kitchen. There are also some extra spaces I have no idea what to do with," he explained as we reached the top.

He then walked into a large room, which I suppose is the master bedroom. It had chair rails  in the middle of the wall, creating two halves of the wall. The top part of the wall was a light gray while the bottom was a clean white. The gray color on the wall was the same color as downstairs.

"You can take a look around. I'll be waiting downstairs with Evelyn if you need anything," he said as he walked hurriedly out of the room.

I stood there shocked. He should of stayed with me and told me what he would want to do to this room and all the other rooms. I can't take any notes if he doesn't tell me what he would like to do to the house. I shook my head as I walked over to the wall, grabbing my medium sized measuring tape out from my purse, I start to measure the size of the room.

Once I finished writing down the measurements, I head towards the bathroom.

It was a creamy white color with a huge shower taking up the corner of the room. I looked to my left to see an immaculate white tub, I looked to my right to see double sinks with the same white marble granite that I saw on the tiles down stairs.

I don't think this bathroom needs much work. Maybe a few matching rugs and towels. I can put some extra decor around this room that goes well with the walls. I can't exactly be sure what to put in here until I go online or to a couple of stores around Rome.

About ten minutes later I managed to get all the measurements from upstairs, including the hallways.

I walked down stairs to see no one.

I walk around the staircase to see a ginormous room. Half of it was the kitchen and I'm guessing half of it could be the living room.

I look forward to see a 4-foot wide doorway, it must be the dining room area. I look towards the kitchen again to see Evelyn and Thaddeus leaning up against the counter, talking. Before they can notice me, I take a look at the entire kitchen.

I first noticed the polished black galaxy granite with the white drawers and cabinets. Next was the glass marble back splash that hid in between the counter top and the cabinets. There was also a silver range hood on the ceiling, below it was the matching stainless steel stove.

When they finally finished talking, they turned around to see me waiting. I slowly walked towards the counter, placing my planner book down I waited for either of them to speak, the whole room was quiet.

"Um..okay, I looked around a bit and took all the measurements," I explained to them as they stared back at me with a blank face.

"Do you know how long it'll take for you to finish this house?" Thaddeus questions, taking me by surprise at his bluntness. The look on his face makes it seem like he wants to get this over with.

"Uh well I think I can get this place furnished in 3 and a half months, just in time for the wedding," I pointed out.

Evelyn speaks up, and I can tell Thaddeus looks very annoyed once she opens her mouth. "Yeah okay great, but while you're doing that, I will not be here. Since I'm planning the wedding I am having Thaddeus stay here to make sure you don't mess up. So we need to get everything figured out right now," she concludes. I nod quickly as I open my planner book.

This will take awhile if they both want to figure out what they want today. "Okay so do you both have or want a color theme?" I asked, hoping they have one in mind.

"Gray."

"Red."

They both said simultaneously. They both look at each other, arguing. "Thaddeus, you practically made this entire house gray! It might be your favorite color but mine is red," she yelled at him. I can tell how angry he's getting, but before he can open his mouth I speak up.

"We can add both colors! We won't be making the entire house the same color, so we can clash in a couple of different colors to match both of your color themes," I decided. 

I think the best I can do is to try and see if I can make both of their ideas work. I usually have steps in my designing process, but it seems like most of the hard work is finished. The house is already renovated and they already painted the walls downstairs and in the master bedroom. So all I need to focus on is the decor.

Since there was no where to sit we all stood, surrounding the kitchen island. "Okay, so I've noticed so far that the guest bedrooms don't seem to be painted," I informed, hoping they have ideas for the extra bedrooms.

"I'll be deciding what gets done in those bedrooms," Evelyn had said. I guess for them it's only fair Evelyn gets what she wants in those bedrooms since Thaddeus already got what he wanted.

"Okay, shall we get started," I opened my planner while listening to their ideas.

~*~**~*~**~*~

Once I've finished sketching the sofas I wrote cream white right next to both of them so I can remember the color. I drew a normal looking coffee table right in front of the Lawson sofa. I decided the color of it will be black. Wait, that'll just look weird if I have the red pillows. I imagined the whole living room in my head and it definitely would look weird. Throwing the red pillow idea away I decided on gray, white, and black colored pillows. It sounds like a dull boring room but once I add in some colorful paintings and a bit of red and white decor, it'll tie the room up perfectly.

My brain hurts from thinking of matching up dull colors and having to rely on decor and paintings to really make the room shine. I threw my sketch book aside on the bed as I looked at the pictures on my phone that I took of the house. Looking at the pictures it reminded me of asking Thaddeus and Evelyn if they have a specific budget. They gave me a weird look like I was crazy.

They are billionaires, so I guess it wouldn't matter what their budget was.

I got off my camera roll to go check if I missed any phone calls or messages.

The first thing I saw was a missed phone call from my brother, August. Oh man, I promised I'd call him after I settled. I called him back immediately, waiting for him to pick up. After the third ring he picked it up.

"Hey, sorry it took so long to call you back. What's up?" I asked, not really curious.

"I'm fighting Jade for the remote while waiting for mommy to finish making dinner," a devious little boy answered.

August's devious little boy.

That devious little boy's name just happens to be Chance.

He may seem like a little sweet boy when people are around but when he's alone with me he turns into this monster. I've tried talking to August about his behavior with me but he brushes it off, not believing me!

And he just so happens to pick up the phone.

"Wait, who is this?" He questions.

"It's me," I replied knowing he still doesn't know who I am.

"Auntie June!" He says excitedly. Well at least I now know who his favorite aunt is. I really tried to make an effort when Chance was born to be his favorite aunt, but he was the devil's son from the beginning.

"No, it's Auntie Summer!" I fake excitement. He stayed silent and I swear I can hear his disappointment.

"Oh, It's you," he deviously said. See! He acted like he was just a sweet little boy when he thought I was June. But now his true colors are showing.

"Just give the phone to your dad, I don't have time to deal with you today." I deal with that brat every time I go to see my brother, which is pretty often.

"I probably will, on one condition," he negotiates. He sees his dad negotiate all the time so he surely picked up some good tricks. It's pretty impressive since he's only 5.

"What do you want, brat?" he always wants something every time I ask him to leave me alone. Last time he asked for 50 bucks which I reluctantly gave. I still don't know why I'm not his favorite aunt by now, he's practically a rich little boy because of me.

"I need a hundred bucks," he simply said like that's not a lot to a kid.

"What for?!" I find it hard to believe that he needs a 100 bucks.

"This new video game that came out," I bet it's one of those gruesome video games. I should really be recording this phone call but I just need to talk to August. I'll get him next time though.

"No way! Just bring the phone over-" Soon enough I heard a single beep indicating he hung up on me.

He is such an ungrateful child.

Only around me.

~*~**~*~**~*~

Published: September 8th, 2017

Hello fellow readers! I hope you all are enjoying my second book. These updates my take a little longer because of all the research I have to do. I'm trying to make this sound really professional so I hope I'm doing good so far. The problem is I know nothing about Interior Designing or Italian! I know it's crazy that the main setting is in Rome and I know nothing about speaking the language.

Fun fact 1: I will change the title of the book later on.
Fun fact 2: I wrote over my usual word limit!
Fun fact 3: I'm taking this book slow so don't expect some random feelings from both of them anytime soon.
Fun fact 4: I already got ranked #11 in Romance!

All the love,

~ Izzy